Trump Foresees DOJ Indictment: Is Giuliani Plotting Against Him?
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Following a recent revelation from ex-President Donald Trump, who admits expecting a Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment pertaining to the January 6, 2021, unrest, there’s conjecture that his long-term confidant Rudy Giuliani may betray him.
Trump shared through Truth Social on Tuesday an update about a letter he’d received from DOJ Counsel Jack Smith indicating him as the investigation’s focus.
He’s under scrutiny on account of his alleged instigation of supporters, who were ostensibly spurred by fallacious assertions of election fraud. These followers caused a commotion at the U.S. Capitol, aiming to destabilize President Joe Biden’s electoral college certification victory.
Trump has consistently proclaimed his non-involvement in the event, putting forth the argument that the charges against him are politically motivated, designed to undermine his potential 2024 presidential bid.
In the meantime, Paula Reid, CNN correspondent, stated that Giuliani’s lawyers assert that he ‘has NOT received a target letter in 1/6 probe’ after a ‘voluntary’ discussion with the special counsel in late June. This information led some legal pundits to hypothesize that Giuliani might go against Trump.
Under what’s been swirling about on social media, it remains uncertain whether Giuliani is collaborating with the prosecutors, as his legal representatives have yet to substantiate those claims.
Law experts who spoke to Newsweek noted several plausible reasons for Giuliani’s absence of a target letter, stating that it would be hasty to conclude he’s betrayed Trump.
Giuliani, acting as Trump’s legal advisor, actively promoted Trump’s groundless allegations that the 2020 presidential election was compromised due to rampant voter fraud following his defeat against Joe Biden.
It’s also alleged that Giuliani directed attempts to plant pro-Trump elector mock-ups onto the Electoral College, specifically in the contentious states that Trump barely lost.
In the midst of Tuesday’s speculations, Giuliani’s consultant Ted Goodman, in a conversation with Newsweek, categorically dismissed the conjecture that Giuliani turned on Trump, likening it to past rumors that dubbed Giuliani as a Russian agent.
To flip on Trump, according to Goodman, Giuliani would have to perjure himself because every piece of evidence he possesses suggests Trump’s innocence
Former federal prosecutor, Neama Rahmani, told Newsweek reporters, same day, that Giuliani’s non-receipt of a target letter is not an irrefutable indication that he turned against Trump.
Rahmani highlighted that while Prosecutor Smith appears to favor target letters, legal regulations don’t mandate their issuance before prosecution.
Rahmani went on to elaborate that several scenarios could emerge, from Giuliani not being charged at all, serving as a cooperative witness, to being charged at a later date. Rahmani mentioned that there was no news whether Trump aide Walter Naida, charged in the DOJ’s classified documents case, ever received a target letter.
However, Rahmani did not rule out the chance of Giuliani turning on Trump, referring to possible conspiracy charges Giuliani could be facing. Noticing an opportunity to cooperate in order to avert an indictment is usually seen to be in the best interest of the individual involved.
Dave Aronberg, the state attorney for Palm Beach County in Florida, told Newsweek that Giuliani’s current involvement with Smith is still a mystery. ‘I’m of the view that federal authorities are evaluating Rudy’s proffer and pondering whether to bring charges against him based on his actions. I don’t necessarily think an agreement with Jack Smith is already in place,’ Aronberg observed.
A similarly skeptical stance came from another former federal prosecutor, Shanlon Wu, who voiced in a phone interview with Newsweek, that people are putting too much weight on the possibility that Giuliani may have turned. Wu offered two reasons why Giuliani might not have received any letter from the DOJ yet.
The first is that Giuliani might have been able to convince the prosecutors that there is no criminal liability on his side based on his testimony in his last month’s interview. Providing DOJ with truthful and cooperative information doesn’t automatically translate into a deal with the prosecutors.
The second reason, as per Wu, is that the DOJ could still be contemplating whether Giuliani could be held responsible for any criminal actions in the case. Even if an indictment against Trump emerges soon, it could still be revised if they found Giuliani liable later on.
Giuliani’s present stance remains unclear as Wu puts forth, ‘We still don’t know his final status. If no one else has received a target letter, it doesn’t imply others won’t be indicted or have entered into an agreement. Making conclusions now would be premature.’
Despite the tentativeness, some legal professionals speculate about the likelihood of Giuliani’s supposed betrayal. Bradley P. Moss, a national security attorney, tweeted that it ‘Sounds like Rudy flipped to some degree.’
Morton Minsley, a Manhattan lawyer joined the speculation and tweeted, ‘He is probably a cooperating witness and will plea to an information at a later date.’
Trump disclosed that Smith has given him a deadline to appear before the Grand Jury for testimony. Rahmani considered the prospect of Trump testifying unlikely, labeling it as ‘not a great idea.’
Reacting to the announcement, Trump exclaimed, ‘Deranged Jack Smith, the prosecutor with Joe Biden’s DOJ, sent a letter (again, it was on Sunday night!) stating I’m a TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation.’ Meanwhile, the DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on Trump’s statement when approached by Newsweek