Many prominent Democrats and a handful of Republicans continue holding out hope that former President Donald Trump will face criminal charges based on any of several alleged wrongdoings.
These proponents received some bad news recently, however, when a federal judge tossed out a request by the Justice Department to hold the former president’s office in contempt for failure to comply with a subpoena related to accusations that he still has classified documents stashed somewhere in his home.
The setback has not discouraged Trump critics like Preet Bharara, the former U.S. attorney for New York’s southern district.
During a recent NBC News appearance, he expressed confidence that the Department of Justice would take criminal action against the ex-president early next year.
“Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd set Bharara up by asserting that Trump has “already admitted” that he swiped confidential documents from the White House at the end of his term.
“What do you think Justice is waiting for?” Todd asked.
Citing his connections to two “very seasoned prosecutors” currently working on the case, Bharara shared his belief that there is a “serious possibility” of impending criminal charges against Trump.
“I think it will happen in a month,” he added.
Bharara pushed back against Todd’s question about whether the House Jan. 6 Committee made a compelling case for Trump’s prosecution, explaining: “It is not their role to make a criminal case, although they’re making a referral.”
As the congressional panel wraps up its work, Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said that he is willing to offer any relevant evidence or testimony requested by the Justice Department.
“If they would want to talk to some of our investigators or members of the committee, I think part of our duties and our oath of office is that we have to cooperate,” he said last week. “And I see that cooperation being ongoing.”
Left-leaning media outlets are obsessed over Jan. 6 Committee Chair Bennie Thompson's announcement that the committee plans to make criminal referrals. Is this a big deal? Dan explains why this is just the latest example of left-leaning outlets overhyping Jan. 6 committee news. pic.twitter.com/sLZ7ro1Jkd
— Dan Abrams Live (@danabramslive) December 8, 2022
For his part, however, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has accused the committee of refusing to share information thus far, explaining: “We would like to have all the transcripts and all the other evidence collected by the committee so that we can use it in the ordinary course of our investigations. We are asking for access to all of the transcripts. And that’s really all I can say right now.”
