Former Justice Minister Once Called a 'Loyalist' Criticizes Prosecution
"Weak Legal Basis... Chasing Non-Criminals"
William Barr, who served as the U.S. Attorney General during the Donald Trump administration, has criticized the prosecutors who indicted former President Trump.
Former Attorney General William Barr appeared on Fox Business on the 31st of last month (local time) and stated, "Since the indictment has not been made public, I can only speculate to some extent," but added, "However, if the news reports are accurate, this (Trump indictment) is a disgraceful act." He continued, "Bringing charges in a case that would not have been pursued against anyone else is a classic example of prosecutorial abuse," and claimed, "They are going after someone who is not a criminal."
Barr, who was the last Attorney General under the Trump administration, was once considered a loyalist to former President Trump but was ousted after opposing Trump during the post-election refusal process. Since then, he has often expressed critical views of Trump and attempted to reinvent himself. He has also expressed the opinion that the special counsel likely secured sufficient evidence to indict Trump regarding the classified documents removal incident during Trump's tenure.
In the interview that day, Barr pointed out that the legal theory underlying the indictment against Trump is "weak," stating, "This case is held together by steel bars, paper clips, and rubber bands. It is a despicable act, and it is a shameful moment in our history that this local prosecutor (Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney) is using this case to influence the political process."
Regarding the fraud allegations against Trump, Barr said that it must be legally proven that the act was done with "intent to deceive," but in this case, it is not a valid claim. He also argued that the prosecution is pushing the case into a felony by claiming that minor offenses were covered up by document forgery.
Earlier, the Manhattan grand jury in New York abruptly indicted former President Trump on the 30th of last month on charges of paying hush money to cover up a sexual scandal with an adult actress and falsifying accounting documents.
Trump strongly opposed the indictment, calling it "political persecution," and Republican figures, including potential candidates for the next presidential election, have also raised their voices in criticism. However, immediately after the indictment, there was an influx of donations and a consolidation of the conservative base, making it difficult to predict how this case will affect Trump's bid for the next presidential election. Trump is scheduled to appear at the New York District Court on the 4th to proceed with the arraignment.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
