Bill Barr: Prosecutors should ‘do the right thing’ and dismiss Trump cases: ‘Respect the people’s decision’
Former Attorney General Bill Barr, who served in President-elect Donald Trump’s first administration, is urging prosecutors at both the state and federal levels to drop the ongoing legal cases against Trump before he resumes office.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Barr emphasized that voters had all the information about the allegations against Trump when they re-elected him for a second term in office. He believes it is in the nation’s best interest for prosecutors to heed the voters’ decision.
“The American people have spoken and overwhelmingly chosen President Trump to lead the country for the next four years,” Barr stated. “They did so fully aware of the accusations brought against him by various prosecutors. I believe it is imperative for Attorney General Garland and state prosecutors to respect the people’s choice and dismiss the cases against President Trump at this time.”
Barr pointed out that the legal basis for some of the cases has been significantly weakened by recent court rulings and that the issues have been extensively debated and rejected by the American public.
As Trump is set to assume office in January, Barr highlighted that prosecutors will be unable to pursue the cases during his term. A Trump-appointed attorney general could terminate the federal cases brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith, one in Washington, DC, for alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, and another in Florida concerning allegations related to retaining classified documents after his first term.
The Florida case was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on procedural grounds regarding Smith’s appointment, while the Washington case was impacted by a Supreme Court ruling granting presidents immunity from prosecution for certain official actions.
“We have immunity from the Supreme Court,” Trump told Hugh Hewitt in a recent interview. “It’s a simple matter. I would terminate [Smith] immediately. It will be one of the first matters addressed.”
However, Trump would not have the authority to halt state cases filed against him in New York and Georgia. There is an ongoing state criminal case in Georgia based on alleged efforts to overturn the state’s election results in 2020. Additionally, Trump has been convicted in a New York criminal case for falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for later this month.
Barr stressed the need for local prosecutors and judges to move past the spectacle of prosecuting a soon-to-be sitting president.
“Continuing to pursue these cases in the coming weeks serves no legitimate purpose and only diverts attention from the critical issues facing the country and the incoming administration,” he said.
“The public interest requires us to come together as a nation and focus on the challenges we face domestically and internationally. Attorney General Garland and all state prosecutors should do the right thing and dismiss the cases,” Barr added.
This includes the New York criminal case where Trump has already been found guilty but has yet to receive a sentence. Despite the conviction, Barr called on state prosecutors to dismiss the case, citing legal errors and abuse.
“That case is riddled with legal misconduct and mistakes,” Barr explained. “If it were to continue, it would likely be overturned, but we should not tolerate such distractions. The prosecutors should dismiss the case.”
When asked about the likelihood of this happening, Barr responded straightforwardly, “We will see what they think of democracy.”
In conclusion, Barr’s stance on dismissing the pending legal cases against Trump aligns with the voters’ decision and the need for unity and focus on pressing national issues. As the nation transitions to a new administration, it is essential for prosecutors to consider the country’s best interests and move forward from the legal battles of the past.
