Attack on Pelosi's husband should be part of Trump gag order hearing: ex-FBI prosecutor
Andrew Weissmann, former FBI general counsel and NYU law professor, hopes that the New York Appeals Court considers people like David DePape, who attacked former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer, when deciding whether to uphold the gag order against Donald Trump.
The attacker of Paul Pelosi was found guilty of assault and attempted kidnapping of a federal official on Thursday.
Speaking about the attacker and how he became radicalized by MAGA Republicans, the conversation on MSNBC turned to how the GOP has responded to the attack with mockery. Donald Trump, in particular, mocked the incident and spread conspiracy theories casting doubt on Pelosi being an innocent victim.
Pelosi at the time called the comments from Trump "traumatizing."
"Anyone can be a target," she said.
"It's difficult. We're sitting here talking about, gee, wouldn't it be great if politicians had the fortitude to not normalize violence?" said Weissmann.
"It's such a low bar!" said Alicia Menendez, stand-in host for Nicolle Wallace on MSNBC.
Weissmann agreed.
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It's "worth remembering in light of this, the clip you played of Nancy Pelosi and also what you played of Donald Trump belittling the hammer attack — a near-fatal attack on an 82-year-old man. As we now know, he was convicted by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt of doing this because of her position in the government.
"On Monday, the court of appeals in D.C. will be deciding whether there should be a gag order on Donald Trump, and this is exactly what you were asking in that the words have effects."
Trump's gag order, issued by fraud trial judge Arthur Engoron, was lifted Thursday pending appeal.
When DePape took the stand in his own defense, he admitted that he was influenced by the words being served to him by Donald Trump and others on the right.
"And Donald Trump's argument on appeal is speculation people are going to act on what I say, and I'm not responsible for that," said Weissmann. "I think what we have seen this week, this conviction, it really should be a clarion call to the Court of Appeals deciding whether violent rhetoric that the former president uses is going to be allowed to continue."
See Weissmann's comments in the video below or at the link here.
Ex-FBI counsel hopes Appeals Court looks to David DePape in when ruling on gag order www.youtube.com