Trump Just Tweeted Again ‘DEATH PENALTY!’ for the NYC Terrorist. Legal Experts Say He May Have Tainted the Jury Pool.
‘The President May Have Just Ruined DOJ’s Case’
President Donald Trump went on a strange tweetstorm Wednesday, posting 19 tweets throughout the day, starting at 7:24 AM and ending at 11:43 PM. For a president preparing for Friday’s two-week trip to Asia, it’s curious he had time to tweet so much (and yet waited 24 hours to call New York’s governor and NYC’s mayor after Tuesday’s terror attack.)
Among Trump’s tweets were a happy birthday wish to golfer Gary Player (“a truly great Champion and Person!”), a Fox News video on coal production (“It is finally happening for our great clean coal miners!”), and a call for the New York City terrorist who killed eight people to “GET DEATH PENALTY!”
NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017
That’s a problem.
And it’s a problem Trump compounded Thursday morning, when he did it again:
…There is also something appropriate about keeping him in the home of the horrible crime he committed. Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017
Prosecutors and legal experts say Trump likely tainted the jury pool with his tweet, which will make it infinitely harder to prosecute the terrorist.
“Presidents are typically advised never to weigh in on pending criminal cases because such comments can be used by defense lawyers to argue that their clients cannot get a fair trial — especially when the head of the executive branch that will prosecute the charges advocates the ultimate punishment before a judge has heard a single shred of evidence at trial,” The New York Times reported.Â
Former federal prosecutor of 21 years, Elizabeth de la Vega, says the Dept. of Justice should step in to stop Trump from doing this again:
Trump’s use of presidential platform to call for death penalty for defendant in ongoing federal case MUST be soundly rebuked by DOJ. Enough. https://t.co/rZt93zqpJu
— Elizabeth de la Vega (@Delavegalaw) November 2, 2017
RadioLab’s legal editor:
Don’t be surprised if the #NYCTerroristAttack suspect doesn’t get the death penalty — the president may have just ruined DOJ’s case.
— Cristian Farias 🮠(@cristianafarias) November 2, 2017
Matthew Miller, MSNBC Justice and Security Analyst, and former Director of the Office of Public Affairs at DOJ:
Well, so much for DOJ convincing a jury they carried out the careful procedures layed out in DOJ rules to make this decision. https://t.co/7fgzYUU2kW
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) November 2, 2017
Former Chief Asst. U.S. Attorney Andrew C. McCarthy:
Mr. President, we all know he should get the death penalty. But when *you* say it, it makes it harder for DOJ to make that happen. https://t.co/m19gHTLg7R
— Andrew C. McCarthy (@AndrewCMcCarthy) November 2, 2017
Mark S. Zaid attorney specializing in national security:Â
This is called potentially tainting jury pool & could impact alleged perpetrator’s ability to secure fair trial. SMH #Unpresidential https://t.co/b6ELLJZ0zy
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) November 2, 2017
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti:
Trump helped the terrorist with this tweet. Now prosecutors will have to spend time dealing with motions that the jury pool is tainted. https://t.co/YJk05aem6U
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) November 2, 2017
On Wednesday, Trump lashed out at the American justice system, calling it a “joke” and a “laughing stock” because it will take years to prosecute the NYC terrorist:
Trump lashes out at US federal justice system as “joke” and “laughing stock.” pic.twitter.com/Aa5vJumWvd
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) November 1, 2017
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