Former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker recently provided a critical analysis of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of former President Donald Trump. The case, focusing on alleged payments made prior to the 2016 presidential election, has garnered significant attention. Testimonies from key figures such as former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney, ex-attorney Michael Cohen, and adult film star Stormy Daniels are central to the prosecution’s strategy.
During McConney’s recent testimony, the prosecution aimed to lay the groundwork for upcoming testimonies from Daniels and Cohen. The anticipated narratives from Daniels are expected to shed light on payments allegedly orchestrated by Cohen to maintain her silence before the 2016 election.
Appearing on a Fox News program, Whitaker discussed the prosecution’s contention that Trump and Cohen devised an intricate scheme to obscure the true nature of the payments. Whitaker, drawing from his experience as Acting U.S. Attorney General, highlighted the importance of establishing a case beyond a reasonable doubt. He criticized the prosecution’s approach, suggesting that “every witness has gone to undermine the core of their case, which was that these payments were known by Donald Trump to be illegal. They were not illegal.”
Whitaker expressed skepticism about the prosecution’s efforts to elevate alleged document falsifications to felony charges by linking them to interference in the 2016 election. Despite the prosecution’s assertions, Whitaker asserted that “this is a card trick that they’re trying to do. It’s wrong on the law. It will be overturned, there’s no doubt.”
Prosecutors maintain that Trump played a role in a conspiracy to manipulate the 2016 election’s integrity, which included suppressing damaging information such as Cohen’s payment to Daniels. Trump faces 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
In a separate development, Judge Merchan reiterated concerns about Trump’s adherence to the court’s gag order, which prohibits public discussion of the jury. The judge cautioned that further breaches could result in punitive measures, including potential jail time for Trump.
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