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'Oh my lord!' CNN legal analyst astounded by 'all the crimes' Trump and his lawyers could be charged with
August 17, 2022
Former President Donald Trump is facing a criminal investigation into whether he violated the Espionage Act, and CNN legal analyst Elliot Williams argued on Wednesday that Trump and his attorneys face exposure to a wide range of potential charges.
During a discussion about last week's FBI search of Mar-a-Lago that recovered top secret government documents, host John Berman quoted at length from a New York Times report that described behind-the-scenes actions that led up to the decision to execute a search warrant.
"Let me read another quote from Maggie Haberman's reporting that dealing with surveillance footage and the fact that they were alarmed with what they saw," Berman said. "'At that point at least one trump lawyer signed a statement saying material with the classified markings had been returned, according to four people familiar with the document, but officials used a subpoena to obtain surveillance footage of the hallway outside a storage room at Mar-a-Lago and saw something that alarmed them. They also received information from at least one witness who indicated that more material might remain at the residence."
Williams responded by expressing astonishment.
READ MORE: ‘You got problems’: Trump ridiculed over his inability to hire competent lawyers
"Oh my lord!" he exclaimed. "It's like a law school exam question where you have to count all of the crimes. I'm dead serious here. Number one, signing that document could itself be a crime because it's a false statement to the government. Number two, not complying with the subpoena, it's a misdemeanor but still a crime. Number three, what you're seeing are potentially crimes or at least gross abuses in judgment happening on camera."
Watch the video below or at this link.
Legal analyst astounded by 'all the crimes' Trump and his lawyers could be charged with www.youtube.com
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Former President Donald Trump is having problems hiring attorneys as he faces investigations in Florida, Georgia, New York, and Washington, D.C. — and many find that to be hilarious.
"The struggle to find expert legal advice puts Trump in a bind as he faces potential criminal exposure from a records dispute with the National Archives that escalated into a federal investigation into possible violations of the Espionage Act and other statutes," The Washington Post reported. "'Everyone is saying no,' said a prominent Republican lawyer, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential conversations."
Trump attorney Alina Habba was the general counsel for a parking garage company.
"Ordinarily, the prestige and publicity of representing a former president, as well as the new and complex legal issues at stake in this case, would attract high-powered attorneys. But Trump’s search is being hampered by his divisiveness, as well as his reputation for stiffing vendors and ignoring advice," the newspaper reported. "'In olden days, he would tell firms representing him was a benefit because they could advertise off it. Today it’s not the same,' said Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for Trump who was convicted of tax evasion, false statements, campaign finance violations and lying to Congress in 2018. 'He’s also a very difficult client in that he’s always pushing the envelope, he rarely listens to sound legal advice, and he wants you to do things that are not appropriate, ethically or legally.'"
READ MORE: Liz Cheney defeated by Harriet Hageman in Wyoming GOP primary: report
Maggie Haberman of The New York Times reported, "Trump is on his 7th/8th (?) legal team since becoming president, and finding a new one has been a challenge amid his desire to treat this as a short term PR issue as opposed to a longer term legal one
Former prosecutor Katie Phang tweeted, "Makes you wonder about the lawyers who *do* agree to represent him…"
Attorney Mark Zaid predicted, "Lawyers who act to undermine democracy will also be held accountable by the law."
Zaid noted one of Trump's current lawyers may be facing their own difficulties.
Zaid said "Trump's lawyer apparently signing a statement saying all material 'marked as classified' had been returned is absolutely key. In fact, it is that false assurance that, in my view, could lead to indictments."
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti said, "There’s no question that Trump desperately needs experienced, first-rate federal criminal defense attorney."
"It’s remarkable that a wealthy former President can’t find a single lawyer fitting that description who will take him on as a client," Mariotti noted.
"Seasoned lawyers won't touch this guy but seasoned politicians stick with him," wrote political scientist Seth Masket. "The big difference, of course, is that to defend Trump you often have to say things that aren't true. Lawyers get in trouble for doing that. Politicians not so much."
Former Ted Cruz speechwriter Amanda Carpenter said, "I’m imagining a scenario where Trump is appointed a public defender."
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova said, "when you can’t find a lawyer to represent you you got problems…"
\u201cCheck out this article from @nytimes. Because I'm a subscriber, you can read it through this gift link without a subscription. https://t.co/n2z1vuz5H4\u201d— Morgan Fairchild (@Morgan Fairchild) 1660702071
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Former Republican rising star Liz Cheney has lost the GOP re-nomination for Wyoming's lone seat in Congress.
Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney who held seat for a decade and rose to the position as the number two House Republican, was stripped of her position as the number three Republican after voting to impeach Donald Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection. She went on to be the vice-chair of the House Select Committee Investigating the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump referred to her as "Crazy Liz Cheney," "Loser Liz Cheney" and called her a RINO or "Republican In Name Only."
The former president used Cheney to repeat his lies about election fraud.
"With an approval rating at 19% in Wyoming, people are wise to Liz Cheney," Trump emailed supporters in November. "She is a threat to free and fair elections, which are the cornerstone of our country, because she caved so easily on the Crime of the Century."
"If we had a free and fair media, instead of a corrupt media, those election results would never have been allowed to happen. The proof of irregularities and fraud is massive!" Trump falsely claimed.
On Tuesday, Cheney lost to election denier Harriet Hageman, according to projections by NBC News and CBS News.
After voting in Teton County on Tuesday afternoon, Cheney said that the election would just be the "beginning of the battle."
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who replaced Cheney in GOP leadership, put out a statement praising Hageman.
""Harriet is a true America first patriot who will restore the people of Wyoming's voice, which Liz Cheney had long forgotten," Stefanik said.
Trump praised the outcome on his Truth Social platform.
"This is a wonderful result for America, and a complete rebuke of the Unselect Committee of political hacks and thugs," Trump posted.
"Liz Cheney should be ashamed of herself, the way she acted, and her spiteful, sanctimonious words and actions towards others," he continued. "Now she can finally disappear into the depths of political oblivion where, I am sure, she will be much happier than she is right now."
Watch Cheney's election night speech:
Liz Cheney addresses supporters during Wyoming primary www.youtube.com
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