A Former Prosecutor on the Novel Case Against Donald Trump

Last week, we got our first look at the case Manhattan prosecutors have brought against former President Donald Trump. However, some legal experts say the novel way Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg laid out the allegations is largely untested – and could be risky. In today’s episode, a former federal and state prosecutor breaks down the legal strategy on both sides and explains what happens next. 

Guest: Elie Honig, CNN Senior Legal Analyst

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40 comments

  1. Nobody cares what that former prosecutor thinks. It’ll all come out in the trial #GetLost 😂

  2. You tried and tried to indict Hillary Clinton with his prosecutors and they could not find anything to charger with

  3. As I remember this, Alvin Bragg paused the investigation when he took over and a couple of the investigators resigned on principle that they believed the case was ready. To say that Alvin Bragg had 6.5 years is misleading and he has used his time to review and possibly strengthen the case. Also wasn’t the previous DOJ/FBI insistent on all cases involving Trump being dropped. If I have this wrong, please don’t rip me to shreds, just politely put me straight. Thank you

    1. Not quite.
      Dunne and Pomerantz were brought in by Bragg’s predecessor to investigate charges related to misleading insurers, investors, lenders and tax entities as to the values of his properties for fraudulent reasons. Those charges could still be brought later.

    2. Essentially correct, but I would add that “when he took over” was only 15 months ago, 1 January 2022. His predecessor, Cyrus Vance, under DOJ pressure, would not indict because of that “sitting president” immunity — which is not a binding law, but an official DOJ *_policy._* Pomerantz and Dunne resigned less than two months after Bragg assumed office because he had his doubts.

      His hesitation was wise. It was *_after_* he took over the DA’s office that the details surrounding the Stormy Daniels hush money payments were developed. *_AND,_* it was after Pomerantz and Dunne left, that the Trump *_organization_* was convicted. That helped Bragg develop some confidence.

      So, the Republicans can get stuffed because the DOJ has *_not_* been politicized by the Biden administration; the DOJ has been *_freed_* to move forward because it is no longer the Trump *-administration-* regime. The only bias in this case was the bias *_in Trump’s FAVOR_* while he was still in office.

    3. A pot of non information was available at the time. Now that it is on again I personally dont care why the delay .. just wanna see the end of this saga.

    4. According to Cy Vance in a recent interview, the US attorney’s office for the southern district of NY reached out to him and asked he pause his investigation because they didn’t want it interfering with theirs. So Vance deferred to them. The USAO then dropped their case. Personally, I don’t think it’s a stretch to think it was done at the request of the USAG at the time, Bill Barr

    1. ​@Douglas Reagan yes, because an image of an email with no meta data and a time/date stamp that shows it was added to the hard drive AFTER Hunter allegedly abandoned it is completely credible. SMFH 🤦‍♂️

    2. @SuperMutant2099 Right up there with the clown show on the streets! I’ll see you in December.

  4. It seems insane to me that even the people defending him aren’t saying that he didn’t do it. The implication being that he probably did and but that’s ok because everyone knows the powerful are allowed to get away with crime in the US

    1. @Devon Wilson considered they’re federal charges and could possibly bar defendant Trump from ever running for public office again, I’d say more

    2. @Francis Hurley Is there any reason they would pursue this hush money case over the riots case?

    3. @Devon Wilson they’re two separate cases being pursued by two different entities. The hush money case is at the STATE level being brought by the Manhattan DA, Bragg. The J6 and Mar a Lago documents are being investigated by the DOJ at the FEDERAL level in DC. It’s not one or the other.

  5. I’m favoured, $230k every 3weeks! I can now afford anything and also support God’s work in the church…

    1. I just messaged her now and she introduced to me how it works I’m literally getting investing with her services right now! thanks.

  6. We’ve changed the definition of “recession”. Why not change the definition of “novel” too? Since we’re living in clown world, let’s just be clowns.

  7. 3:40 It doesn’t FAIL to answer what the second crime is. In fact the indictment needn’t state it.

  8. One’s thing’s I know Everyone Is a scammer bag’s None of who’s it’s perfect hah 👍

  9. 7:30 no, it’s not a “federal election.” It is run by the state in order to pick the state’s electors. Those electors’ vote tallies are the federal election of the president.

  10. 12:12 It is NOT an important question. Either it’s within statute of limitations, or it’s not. CPLR 207 says very clearly that if someone is absent 4 months or more, their time of absence doesn’t count against the time limit. But in fact we know the answer to the question: 1) TRUMP’S DOJ TOLD THE NY DA TO STAND DOWN in the investigation, so Bragg’s predecessor stopped work on it. 2) Bragg himself only came into office relatively recently and had to start from scratch on the case. Cases take a long time! 3) just extrapolating from Mueller’s ten charges of obstruction of justice, I’d guess the Team Trump continued to obstruct justice slowing things down yet more. There’s no “problem” with “fairness” over time delay. Trump has delayed in the courts more than anyone. This bozo goes on to say “some surrugates scratching and clawing, really aren’t able to point to much.” Bragg will bring his evidence to the public. That’s what the case is for. If Bragg were leaking stuff to friends to leak to the press, THAT would be a problem, don’t you think? Let’s credit Bragg with running a tight ship: there were ZERO leaks that the indictment was ready. All the media was saying, well the grand jury is taking a month off so there won’t be any progress for a while. Is that not commendable?

  11. No minds will be changed by what trump says. It is a shame for innocent people to suffer the wrath of this horrible person. I imagine the judge will stay away from a gag order unless someone suffers an attack like Mr. Polesi.
    Can the judge fine trump ?

  12. On the covering of a crime: does the NY law say whether the covering or furthering of a crime can only be a NY crime or any crime? This is the key point. You failed to discuss this. It is clear that the law does not say that the crime being furthered has to be NY because if it did, the attorney would not have mentioned the federal crimes.

  13. Well now. Now that Alvin Bragg finally charges Tiny, everyone is now backtracking. Wonderful.

  14. It is imperative to keep in mind the utter distinction between political and partisan.

    Good government is inherently political at its best. Justice is inherently political at its best.

    We cannot use party as evasion.

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