Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Special Counsel Jack Smith's decision to dismiss President-elect Trump's election destruction and classified documents case was a “grave mistake.”
“I think this is a grave mistake by the department,” Schiff told MSNBC's Jen Psaki, adding that Smith had tried to dismiss the case without prejudice, meaning he would not be able to sue Trump after his term ends. He said that it means that it is possible to cause “Maintaining the status quo” means not indicting the president.
“But nevertheless, this is a very serious distinction, because the status quo is against the president. It's not an accusation,” he continued. “Instead of simply postponing the case, the status quo would have to be reversed to bring the case again later. In that case, it would be presumed that the process would continue even after he leaves office.”
Mr. Schiff's comments came after Mr. Smith announced on Monday that he had asked for two federal lawsuits against Mr. Trump to be dismissed, based on his long-held view that sitting presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted while in office. Ta. The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that said the president's core powers are immune from prosecution.
Schiff added that Smith's team's “mistake” in solving the case was compounded by a number of other concerns.
“What makes the mistake you alluded to even worse is that they waited a year to bring this case or launch an investigation,” the California Democrat told President Biden’s former press secretary Psaki. “Then the Supreme Court will issue this immunity decision.”
“And now Pam Bondi, who says she's going to prosecute prosecutors, could be a candidate,” he continued, adding, “All of this goes back to what Jack Smith said in his short motion. , which is contrary to the fact that no one is above the law,” he added. Therefore, although we often hear the word, we do not give it legitimacy by these actions. ”
Trump is still charged in two other cases.
The first was the New York hush money case, in which he was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film stars to buy silence over adultery allegations during the 2016 election. . The case has stalled after the president-elect won the election earlier this month, with sentencing pending until the end of his second term.
His other lawsuit, as well as the federal election interference case, is related to efforts by President Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. But this case is particularly relevant to Georgia, which is also at risk.
The Peach State trial has not yet begun due to pretrial disputes. Trump's team is trying to force the removal of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D), who filed a lawsuit against Trump alleging misconduct.
The president-elect also asked for the hush money lawsuit to be dismissed.
