'Politically dangerous' for Garland to overrule Jack Smith on indicting Trump: former GOP AG

During an appearance on CNN on Thursday morning to discuss the possible Department of Justice indictment of former President Donald Trump, former attorney General Alberto Gonzales poured cold water on any hopes that current AG Merrick Garland would intercede on Trump's behalf.

Speaking with hosts Poppy Harlow and Phil Mattingly, Gonzales, who served under former president George W. Bush, stated it would be "politically dangerous" if Garland refused to go along with special counsel Jack Smith's recommendations, whatever they might be.

Noting that Smith has likely been reporting to the assistant attorney general on his multiple investigations of Trump, Gonzales claimed the only way Garland might intercede is if Smith broke the rules in some manner or if a new witness or evidence popped up.

"There are specific rules and regulations that the special counsel has to follow throughout the entire process," host Mattingly prompted. "Is there any situation where you as a former attorney general could see the attorney general going the opposite direction of whatever his special counsel recommends or says he wants to do?"

RELATED: Trump-picked judge Aileen Cannon lurks as threat to Mar-a-Lago indictment: Florida prosecutor

'Well, the only situation that I think that the attorney general would perhaps disagree with moving forward is if he is convinced that in fact the normal processes and rules and procedures of the department were not followed because they are intended to ensure everyone is treated the same," Gonzales replied.

"We want to make sure in this particular case no one could make the claim that Donald Trump has been treated any differently than any other American, or any other person, in our criminal jury system," he continued. "But that's the reason you have intermittent conversations between the special counsel and the D.A.G., the deputy attorney general, about what is the process, what have you found, what are your conclusions?"

"So it would be extremely unusual, and quite frankly, it's politically dangerous for the attorney general to disagree with the recommendation or decision of the special counsel and it would take extraordinary circumstances for that to occur in my judgment," he added.

Watch the video below or at this link.

CNN 06 08 2023 08 04 57youtu.be