Former Attorney General Bill Barr said he believes the indictment of former President Trump over his alleged involvement in the 2016 silence money scandal is “distasteful” and “an example of abuse of prosecutorial power.”
Trump made history as the first former president in US history to be impeached.
Barr argued how the legal theory behind the indictment was “pathetically weak” and that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office was “prosecuting the man, not a crime.”
“Obviously, we don’t have the indictment, so there’s a bit of speculation, but based on the news reports, if it’s accurate, that’s abhorrent,” Barr said. Fox News.
It is an example of abusing the power of the prosecution to bring a case that would not be brought against anyone else. They’re after the man, and it’s not a crime. And legal theory, frankly, is pathetically weak.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr called Trump’s indictment “distasteful” and “an example of an abuse of prosecutorial power.”
“The legal theory is pathetically weak. The case is held together by chicken wire, paper clips, and rubber bands. It’s a lousy case. It’s a shameful episode in our history that this local attorney is trying to influence the political process by bringing this case.”
He delved into the legal arguments likely to be made, noting how the case likely revolves around how Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, recorded payments to him from Trump as “legal payments.”
Barr explained how the law requires that any misclassification of funds be done with intent to defraud, which may not be the case in this case.
“The allegation is that (recording Cohen’s payments as legal payments) is false and therefore in violation of the misdemeanor statute in the first instance against false documents,” Barr said.
I don’t actually think that’s a valid claim in this case, because the law actually requires it to be done with intent to defraud. But I don’t understand the basis of the fraud claim.
Former President Trump’s legal team launched an attack Friday after his historic indictment, vowing that the former president would never seek a plea agreement and was prepared to “fight back.”
Barr also disagreed with the claim that the payments were a campaign finance violation because she was an active contributor to Trump’s campaign.
They assume the payments were a campaign finance violation because they were an effective contributor to Trump’s campaign. I can tell you that is not the law. “I don’t think that’s how the Department of Justice is going to look at it,” Barr added.
Barr explained that “silent money payments to maintain affairs and things like that are not inherently illegal.”
‘I I think it’s a weak case all together. Unfortunately, I think it will achieve its political goal of sowing chaos in the Republican process. I think the intent of the ruling here is to help Trump and focus all the news on him This sort of thing over the next two years and turning the Republican primaries into a circus.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, Alvin Bragg, has been investigating the alleged financial hush-hush scandal for years, which includes payments of $130,000 to Daniels and $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, Alvin Bragg, has been investigating the alleged money silence scandal for years
The case against Donald Trump revolves around hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who says the two had a tryst.
President Joe Biden dodged reporters’ questions about the indictment of the Republican who beat him in 2020 and is likely to face it again in November next year.
“I have no comment on Trump,” Biden said.
Trump’s legal team launched an offensive Friday after his historic impeachment, vowing that the former president would never seek a plea agreement and was prepared to “fight” all charges.
The 76-year-old Trump, who hopes to regain control of the White House in 2024, has engaged in attacks on the prosecutors who brought charges against him and even the judge was expected to hear the case.
“Election interference, kangaroo court!” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, adding that Juan Manuel Marshall, the judge who may preside over a final trial, “hates me.”
Trump is scheduled to be booked, fingerprinted and a forensic photo op in a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday afternoon before appearing before a judge as the first US president to face criminal charges.
“The president is not going to be handcuffed,” said Joe Tacopina, one of Trump’s attorneys, adding that he didn’t think prosecutors would “allow this to become a circus.”
Tacopina said the hidden money case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against Trump faces “significant legal challenges” and that the former president will plead not guilty.
He said on NBC’s Today show that there was “zero” chance Trump would accept a plea bargain. ‘It won’t happen.’ There is no crime.
Currently in his lavish home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Trump was initially shocked by the indictment, his lawyer said, but is “now on standby to confront it.”
Anticipating condemnation, Trump called for the protests and warned that they could lead to “potential death and destruction” for the country.
In a statement, the former president said he had already raised $4 million for his 2024 presidential campaign within 24 hours after news of the indictment.
