A judge denied former President Trump's request to move his New York hush money case to a federal court Tuesday, The Hill reported. Trump immediately filed an appeal Wednesday in the hopes of delaying his upcoming sentencing hearing.

Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in Justice Juan Merchan's Manhattan courtroom in May. With his sentencing hearing scheduled for Sept. 18, the GOP presidential nominee could find himself behind bars weeks before the general election if Merchan imposes jail time.

Trump is again asking U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein to move his case to federal court. "The national public has an interest in free and fair elections, unburdened by the potential for the unlawful incarceration of President Trump by local officials in a single county," attorneys Emil Bove and Todd Blanche said in Wednesday's court filing on behalf of Trump.

"The public would therefore benefit from a stay that could allow Justice Merchan to avoid the ‘rat’s nest of comity and federalism issues’ attendant to the Presidential immunity defense and President Trump’s potential sentencing in the weeks before the election while the Second Circuit determines whether the appropriate forum is in this District," they wrote. It's unclear whether that will happen, however.

A Pivotal Issue

Hellerstein has twice turned down Trump's request for removal. The first time was before the trial began in Manhattan, and Trump's attorneys abandoned an appeal the first time around.

However, the Supreme Court's decision to broadly define Trump's presidential immunity in another case has opened the door to a fresh challenge. His attorneys argue that the issue now puts the case back into the federal courts.

The judge disagreed with this rationale in his most recent rejection. Hellerstein ruled that "nothing in the Supreme Court’s opinion affects my previous conclusion" when turning down his second attempt.

Trump's attorneys were undeterred by this flat refusal in their new motion. "President Trump respectfully disagrees with the Court’s view," they wrote as they took another crack at the move.

The motion also noted that Trump is petitioning the Second Circuit to delay the ruling while the appeal is considered. This is one of many tactics attorneys are using to delay sentencing until after the election.

In a Bind

Trump's sentencing could bring the American election process into uncharted waters. Meanwhile, the New York Times was working overtime Wednesday to shore up support for Merchan as he mulls the most divisive sentence in modern political memory.

Painting him as a righteous judge of impeccable character, the Times acknowledged that throwing a candidate behind bars could irreparably harm trust in the judicial system. "The judge is in an impossible situation, and one that doesn’t lend itself to easy comparisons," Indiana University Bloomington law professor Charles Geyh said.

He added that Merchan's ultimate decision would have "historical implications" but noted that he was up to the task. "Within some quarters of the judiciary, there is the possibility of a judge running screaming from the room, and sort of seeking the least difficult way out," Geyh said.

"But I don’t think that this guy is showing signs of that," he added of Merchan. Nevertheless, it's undeniable that this use of lawfare against Trump will have repercussions directly proportional to Merchan's commitment to jail Trump in this witch hunt.

Trump has faced many attacks from his adversaries along the way, but the threat of jail is the most severe yet. A lesser man would have buckled already, but Trump has remained strong and steadfast throughout this ordeal, even as his future freedom hangs in the balance.

A recent poll shows former President Donald Trump has overtaken Vice President Kamala Harris in Michigan, Breitbart reported. Although the lead is small, it represents a crack in the so-called "blue wall" vital for Harris to win.

The WDIV/Detroit News poll revealed that 43.5% of likely voters supported Harris over 44.7% of likely voters who said they'd vote for Trump. The survey was taken between August 26 and 29, just days after the Democratic National Convention.

Moreover, 4.7% of voters said they supported Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who the Associated Press noted dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump on Aug. 23, just days before the survey began. Another 4.8% were undecided, while 2.3% supported an unnamed third-party candidate.

Building the Wall

The survey results came after Harris spent Labor Day weekend in key states trying to build the "blue wall" of Democratic support, CNN reported. Harris popped up in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan to begin the final push that she hopes will propel her to Election Day victory.

These were the states that Biden clinched to win the 2020 presidial election, and Harris is attempting to repeat his strategy. She pulled out all of the usual Democratic pandering to labor unions, including steelworkers in Pennsylvania.

Harris railed against the Japanese-owned Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel. "The president mentioned it: US Steel is a historic American company, and it is vital for our nation to maintain strong American steel companies," Harris told the crowd.

"And I couldn’t agree more with President Biden; US Steel should remain American-owned and American-operated," Harris said in Pittsburgh. This was similar to her remarks in Detroit, where she touted the "dignity of work" while promising to side with unions against employers.

"We celebrate unions because unions helped build America, and unions helped build America’s middle class," Harris claimed. However, it wasn't what Harris said that made news over the weekend, but how she said it.

A New Accent

Harris was dragged on social media for her decision to use an accent while speaking in Michigan on Monday. "You better thank a union member for the five-day workweek," Harris said with a drawl.

"You better thank a union member for sick leave. You better thank a union member for paid leave. You better thank a union member for vacation time," she went on.

Trump adviser Stephen Miller expertly mocked Harris, Fox News reported. "This is her seventh new accent in four weeks. She has literally never used this accent before. She grew up in Canada. Phoniest politician in all of politics," Miller posted to X, formerly Twitter.

The polls show that Harris is having difficulty convincing voters in the states where she needs to win. This is not a good spot for Harris, who is effectively an incumbent, and she should be very, very worried.

Attorneys for former President Donald Trump and special counsel Jack Smith jointly filed for a status update in light of presidential immunity in the election subversion case, ABC News reported. Smith filed a superseding indictment last week that narrowed and adjusted charges to avoid the new ruling's pitfalls.

Smith attempted to salvage his case against Trump by making necessary changes to his indictment that would circumvent presidential immunity. Meanwhile, Trump's legal team has humiliated Smith by asking that the charges be dismissed entirely.

The conflict arose following a Supreme Court decision that granted presidential immunity to much of Trump's conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. How the court will proceed is still unknown, but Trump and Smith filed Friday to clarify that.

Trump's attorneys have requested that any further legal proceedings happen after the November election. Smith did not mention timing except to concede that the court's "decisions on how to manage its docket are firmly within its discretion."

Disagreements

Both sides disagree on the future of the case. Trump's team argued that the case be completely dismissed as their client has already submitted a plea of not guilty and that most of his conduct falls under his duties as president.

Attorneys have submitted a dismissal request for the immunity issue and another separate Supreme Court decision that ruled Smith's appointment was unconstitutional. Smith disagreed as both sides requested further consideration from the court on how to proceed.

"The parties recognize the types of motions and briefing anticipated in pre-trial proceedings but have differing views on how the Court should schedule these matters and the manner in which they are to be conducted," the filing noted. Normally, an evidentiary hearing would clear up legal matters before the trial.

This would mean a "mini-trial," requiring in-person hearings before Election Day to decide on these matters before the case proceeds in earnest. Smith seems reluctant to allow that and requested that the court admit briefs in writing that "distinguish [aTrump's] private electioneering activity from official action."

He wants any other legal issues that arise to be considered in writing simultaneously and expressed an eagerness to move things along. "The Government is prepared to file its opening immunity brief promptly at any time the Court deems appropriate," the filing noted.

Legal Complications

Trump's good fortune at the Supreme Court will likely mean he will appeal if U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan rules against him in Smith's case. The defense team has a third rationale for dismissal by considering Trump's conversations with then-Vice President Mike Pence, who was under presidential immunity.

Trump had spoken to him about holding off on certifying the votes in the 2020 election, but both were acting in an official capacity. "If the Court determines, as it should, that the Special Counsel cannot rebut the presumption that these acts are immune, binding law requires that the entire indictment be dismissed because the grand jury considered immunized evidence," the filing said.

Meanwhile, Trump faces other legal complications, with a sentencing date looming in his New York hush-money case. Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records earlier this year.

His legal team filed Thursday to move the sentencing to federal court since it would impact the 2024 election. "At that potential sentencing, President Trump faces the prospect of immediate and unlawful incarceration under New York law, which could prevent him from continuing to pursue his leading campaign for the Presidency," Trump's attorneys asserted.

Trump has been battling these politically motivated charges for months. The best he can hope for is that Smith's case proceeds quickly and justly, though that might be unrealistic, considering the point has always been about derailing his presidential run.

A man who was attending a rally for former President Donald Trump in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on Friday now faces misdemeanor charges after he forced his way into the press area and was tased by police and then arrested.

The incident occurred while Trump was speaking to the crowd and just after he slammed the press as biased toward his opponent Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

The man somehow got by the barrier ringing the media area and climbed up a riser where reporters and cameras were located.

Other rallygoers began to pull him down off the riser and police then moved in to subdue him with a Taser.

Friend or foe?

He was arrested and later released. He will face misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and disrupting a public assembly.

After he was led away, Trump said, “Is there anywhere that’s more fun to be than a Trump rally?”

The man's identity will be released when the formal charges are filed next week.

It was not clear whether the man was a supporter of Trump or a critic who wanted to cause harm.

"Crazed individual"

The Trump campaign seemed to want to distance themselves from the man.

“Witnesses, including some in the press corps, described a crazed individual shouting expletives at President Trump,” campaign senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said. “His aggression was focused on the president and towards the stage as he entered the press area.”

Alvarez also said the campaign appreciated the quick action of police and the Secret Service.

Another man at the rally was also handcuffed and led out, but it was not clear whether this man was related to the other incident with the media area.

Security at Trump's rallies has been heightened since July 13 when he was shot in the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump was also advised to consider not having more large outdoor rallies. The rally in Johnstown was held inside a large arena.

Though Vice President Kamala Harris -- or at least someone who is advising her -- seemed to that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was just the person to thread the needle and secure the support of Midwesterners come November.

However, recent polling suggests that Harris' choice of Walz may have been a catastrophic decision, at least if current political opinion in his home state is any barometer, as Breitbart reports.

Walz sends support into MN nosedive

As support for the thesis stated above, Breitbart's John Nolte points to polling data from July as compared to where it currently sits, now that Harris has tapped Walz as her running mate.

Nolte explains that in July, just after President Joe Biden exited his re-election campaign but before she picked a vice-presidential candidate, Harris boasted a 10-point lead over Donald Trump in Walz's home state.

However, the same KTSP/Survey USA study conducted in the wake of the Democratic National Convention at which Walz was formally introduced as part of the ticket reveals a dramatic downward trajectory for Harris.

In seeming defiance of the typical convention bump in polling numbers, Harris has seen the prior lead slashed in half, leaving her with just a five-point advantage over Trump in the traditionally left-leaning state Walz serves as governor.

Perhaps most interesting of all is the fact that ever after the convention hoopla and a media blitz of unfailingly positive coverage of the Democratic Party ticket, there is little difference between Trump's standing against Harris in Minnesota and his prior standing against the faltering Biden.

Walz remains on defense

Not only has Walz been forced to answer allegations of “stolen valor” related to misrepresentations of his military service, he has remained on the defensive regarding other potentially embellished aspects of his life and career.

As the New York Post reports, the latest such controversy stems from a story Walz has regularly told about events he says inspired him to go into politics.

However, his tale of supposed mistreatment at a George W. Bush campaign rally has since been called into serious question in terms of the participants involved and the circumstances leading to the events at issue.

Former Bush campaign aide Chris Faulkner, who was present at the rally Walz has frequently referenced, took issue with the governor's claim that he harbored no political intentions until after the event, saying, “It's clear he was politically involved before that moment. He was protesting in front of the ticket distribution center. It's all bulls**t. He was looking for an origin story. And he made one up.”

Bombshells ahead?

Any regret Harris may be feeling about Walz may be poised to intensify in the coming weeks, if recent reporting from the New York Post proves prescient.

According to the outlet, Tim Walz's estranged brother. Jeff Walz, has come out and declared himself “100% opposed to all his ideology” and stated that the governor is not the “type of character” suited to make critical decisions about the country's direction.

Hinting at a potentially massive trove of dirt on the Democrats' vice-presidential pick, Jeff Walz mused, “The stories I could tell.” Surely, Harris and the team guiling her are certainly holding their collective breath, hoping that he won't.

Michael Larosa, former press secretary to first lady Jill Biden, said Vice President Kamala Harris is making a mistake by hiding from the press this election cycle, the Daily Caller reported. The White House insider warned that voters will "lose trust" if Harris continues to shun the media.

Larosa made his remarks Thursday on Fox News' Jesse Watters Primetime. It was the same day Harris gave her first interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.

Harris sat down with CNN's Dana Bash for an interview with a friendly network with her running mate, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, by her side. Larosa thinks this kind of selective silence is a mistake that President Joe Biden ultimately paid for when he tried it.

No More Hiding

Larosa's main message to Harris was to learn from Biden's misstep. "It’s a process story, which is the worst thing you could do. And one of the things that, unfortunately, the Biden team did was they ignored the press," Larosa told host Jesse Watters.

"And the problem with that is when you need the press, you lose goodwill, you lose trust. He had none of it by the end, which is what really did him in," Larosa added.

He further noted that giving just a handful of remarks will overemphasize everything she says. "Every little thing you say is amplified and your mistakes are scrutinized even more. The pressure is really hard for her," Larosa said.

Watters interjected that she's following "the Biden playbook" to her peril. "It becomes that more important, every little thing you say will be scrutinized and amplified, and that's unfair to do to her, frankly," Larosa replied.

"She should be establishing a cadence of talking to the press off the cuff. Actually, people connect, voters connect, when you do make mistakes and mistakes are forgiven," Larosa pointed out.

Harris' Conundrum

The problem with Larosa's suggestion is that Harris is terrible in front of a camera and simply can't answer questions truthfully. This was evident in her CNN interview, which was done on a friendly network with Walz by her side, and it did not go well.

Harris was asked about her many changes to policy positions that just so happen to reflect voters' opinions in key swing states. "I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is that my values have not changed," Harris claimed.

However, as Real Time host Bill Maher pointed out, Harris should have just admitted to changing her position on fracking rather than sidestepping the question. "I mean fracking… Dana Bash had her dead to rights," Maher told his audience, according to Fox News.

"It was like ‘You said this, I have the quote. I’m reading it to you. You said there should be a ban on fracking.' Why can't they just go, ‘Yeah, you know what? I got it wrong," Maher pointed out.

Harris can't be truthful because she has only changed her positions to suit voters. She can't justify this without acknowledging she's playing politics, nor can she intelligently articulate her plans for the White House in a way that will connect with voters.

NHL start Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, are dead after being struck by a suspected drunk driver Thursday, USA Today reported. The 31-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets forward and his 29-year-old brother were struck and killed while bicycling on a rural road on the eve of their sister's wedding.

The accident occurred around 8:20 p.m. in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, which is not far from the town where the brothers grew up. New Jersey State Police say that the driver, Sean Higgins, 43, was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

The brothers were groomsmen in their sister's wedding that was happening the following day. Meanwhile, Gaudreau was poised for a promising season after spending his off-season training and playing for the United States team in the world championship against Czechia. He walked away from the tournament with three goals and eight assists.

During the regular season, Gaudreau led his team in scoring for the second year, finishing 81 games last season with a 12-48-60 record for the Blue Jackets. However, a series of bad decisions cut his life short.

The Accident

Police say Higgins was driving in his Jeep Grand Cherokee in the northbound lanes when he attempted to pass a sedan and SUV in front of him in the lane. Higgins crossed into the southbound lanes to get around the slower-moving vehicles.

State troopers believe as Higgins tried to reenter the northbound lane, the SUV moved over to the left to accommodate the bicyclists. It was then that Higgins attempted to pass the SUV on the right and hit the brothers.

Their injuries were fatal to both men, whom CNN reported were supposed to be groomsmen in their sister's wedding the following day in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, their family is now planning for their burials.

"Through further investigation, Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol," a statement from State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron revealed. In an affidavit filed Friday, Higgins admitted to having as many as six beers before getting behind the wheel that day.

"Mr. Higgins explicitly stated to the effect that his consumption of alcoholic beverages contributed to his impatience and reckless driving, which resulted in the motor vehicle accident," the legal filing said. Higgins was charged with two second-degree vehicular homicide counts and will remain in jail without bond until his hearing Thursday.

Brothers Remembered

Those closest to the brothers are feeling the loss most acutely. "Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing humans," their uncle Jim Gaudreau posted to Facebook Friday on behalf of the family.

"We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support, and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers," he added. The Blue Jackets also shared news of the loss of the beloved "Johnny Hockey" in a statement.

"Johnny played the game with great joy, which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets," the statement went on.

"He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him."

The circumstances of this family's loss are especially tragic as this was supposed to be a time of joy for the family. Instead, they're mourning the loss of beloved wo family members because of the alleged recklessness of another.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admitted she "totally failed" in her responsibilities for securing the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, the New York Post reported. The newly released footage was taken in the aftermath of the unrest.

House Republicans made the videos public Wednesday after HBO turned over the footage to the Committee on Administration which continues an informal examination of the event. The California Democrat's daughter, Alexandra Pelosi, captured the footage while filming a documentary about her mother.

Failures leading up to that day led supporters of former President Donald Trump to breach the Capitol. Nancy Pelosi scoffed at the notion that they assumed Trump's supporters would "act civilized" when planning security for the day.

"We have totally failed. We have to take some responsibility for not holding the security accountable for what could have happened," Pelosi admitted during the footage.

Startling Admission

Pelosi has spent the last three years hammering Trump about his alleged involvement in the so-called insurrection. Although her ire is reserved for the former president in many of the clips, Pelosi is often seen pointing out the glaring failures of her own office.

"How many times did the members ask, ‘Are we prepared? Are we prepared?'" Pelosi said in one of the clips as she was being driven away from the area.

"We’re not prepared for the worst. We’re calling the National Guard. Now? They should have been here to start out," Pelosi said to then-chief of staff Terri McCollough. "We have responsibility, Terri. We did not have any accountability for what was going on there, and we should have. This is ridiculous," she added.

Pelosi lamented that the National Guard wasn't activated. "You’re gonna ask me in the middle of the thing, when they’ve already breached the inaugural stuff, ‘Should we call the Capitol Police?’ I mean the National Guard. Why weren’t the National Guard there to begin with?" she said

"It’s not a question of how they had … they don’t know! They clearly didn’t know, and I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more," Pelosi claimed in the clip. Other reports show that Trump ordered thousands of guardsmen to be deployed, but his request was denied.

Attacks on Trump Supporters

Pelosi didn't take too long before she turned her rage to Trump and his supporters. "It’s stupid. They thought they had what? They thought these people would act civilized? They thought these people gave a damn? What is that is missing here in terms of anticipation," she continued.

One of the most telling aspects of the new footage is how Pelosi began crafting her attack on Trump using the day's events almost immediately. "I just feel sick for what he did to the Capitol and to the country today," Pelosi said of Trump night progressed into day.

"He’s gotta pay a price for that," Pelosi added. She would go on to admonish an official calling for Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund to resign, saying that the "focus has to be on the president," whom she'd later say was "a domestic enemy in the White House."

Before much information was available, Pelosi was already crafting her narrative about Trump. She has spearheaded the effort to smear him as an insurrectionist in the years since, and this video footage shows that she intended to do so all along.

The Justice Department will abandon obstruction charges against former police officer Joseph Fischer for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, Reuters reported. The decision comes after the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the definition for the charge, which may impact another 250 such cases.

The Jan. 6 defendants await their fate after allegedly participating in a riot to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election. These supporters of former President Donald Trump believed he was robbed of the election and sought justice by demonstrating at the Capitol.

Fischer was charged with obstruction but prevailed at the Supreme Court. The court found that Fischer did not cross the legal threshold that he "impaired the availability or integrity" of records and documents.

The government will still try Fischer on six other charges against him, including assaulting an officer. The trial has a tentative start date of February 2025 for Fischer, who has pleaded not guilty.

The Government's Case

Fischer was a North Cornwall, Pennsylvania, police officer when he was arrested for his role in the riot. The state charged him with obstruction based on a statute federal prosecutors believed broadly applied to those who breached the Capitol.

However, after hearing arguments from his attorney, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols dismissed the obstruction charge. This sent the matter up to the Supreme Court for an appeal, which found in favor of Fischer in a 6-3 decision.

Prosecutors have since dropped the charge for more than 60 defendants. Trump has similarly been pinned with two charges related to obstruction for his alleged role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, but will likely use Fischer's case as a defense.

Following the court's decision to drop the charge, Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was "disappointed" but would prosecute the "vast majority of the more than 1,400 defendants" facing other charges. "There are no cases in which the Department charged a January 6 defendant only with the offense at issue in Fischer," Garland said.

"For the cases affected by today’s decision, the Department will take appropriate steps to comply with the Court’s ruling. We will continue to use all available tools to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6 attack on our democracy," he added.

The Exceptions

Three other cases will proceed even after the Fischer decision. Prosecutors believe that some of the defendants pierced the new threshold applied by the Supreme Court.

The charge remains for defendants Donald and Shawndale Chilcoat, who are husband and wife, after prosecutors argued that they knew they were tampering with records required for the proceedings, "specifically, the electoral votes that Congress was to consider." Others like Christopher Carnell and David Bowman were already found guilty of obstruction and may face more litigation.

Prosecutors another trial to make the charges stick, noting that the defendants tampered with documents on the Senate floor, including photographing a letter signed by Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah. Defense attorney Nick Smith, who has battled over obstruction charges, is puzzled at why prosecutors are so intent on proceeding.

“It’s remarkable for the government to be going at this specific charge so persistently when the Supreme Court has told them 'no,'" Smith noted. This decision to pursue charges already at odds with the Supreme Court mirrors special counsel Jack Smith's decision to go after Trump with a retooled indictment after the high court decided in favor of presidential immunity, CNN reported.

It's amazing that prosecutors are so doggedly pursuing the Jan. 6 defendants and Trump despite legal obstacles. While there is surely a case to be made about the crimes of Jan. 6, the outsized reaction and determination from prosecutors perhaps point to political motives.

Florida State Attorney Dave Aronberg believes special counsel Jack Smith's delay in prosecuting former President Donald Trump is strategic, the Daily Caller reported. Smith requested the court push back a hearing by several weeks to reevaluate the case in light of a Supreme Court decision in favor of Trump's presidential immunity.

Aronberg made his remarks on MSNC's Morning Joe on Monday. He believes Smith may be delaying the trial and keeping his next moves under wraps to keep Trump's legal team off kilter.

"Jack Smith may not want the defense to see his cards. He may not want the defense to see the witnesses, be better prepared for the ultimate trial that’ll happen if Trump is not elected. And so that may be part of it," Aronberg said.

The Strategy

Smith and other Trump enemies hoped to disrupt Trump's 2024 reelection bid with charges and trials. The former president was accused of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, among other criminal charges.

However, Trump's legal team argued for presidential immunity in the case, which the lower court rejected on Dec. 1. The Supreme Court then took up the issue and ruled that Trump was indeed covered by the privilege of the presidential office, which was a game-changer.

This has ostensibly set Smith's prosecution strategy back, but he may be gearing up to go after Trump after November's election. "He also may want to protect his witnesses, like Mike Pence, from being harassed, from being threatened by the MAGA world," Aronberg said of the former vice president.

"Mike Pence would have to take the stand in this mini-trial. He also may want to protect Donald Trump from having a Sixth Amendment violation, where he loses the right to a fair trial because Jack Smith has tainted the jury pool," Aronberg added.

"And if that happens, then an appellate court could throw the whole thing out," Aronberg said. Nothing would be worse for Trump's enemies than for their efforts to prosecute him and stop him from getting elected to fail miserably.

Covering Their Tracks

Many rightly suspect this prosecution was a political ploy. Yet Aronberg believes that part of the delay may be so Smith and Attorney General Merrick Garland can salvage what's left of their credibility.

"There are some people saying that Jack Smith and Merrick Garland don’t want to look political. That’s why they’re not doing this because it’s so close to the election," Aronberg claimed.

"That’s not a good reason to avoid doing this. Because whether you do it or don’t, you’re going to be called political. The MAGA world’s going to say you’re weaponizing the Department of Justice," Aronberg continued.

"So go ahead and follow the evidence and the law and do it. Whether you decide to do it or not should not be based on politics. If you choose not to decide, you’ll still have made a choice," he added.

The original plan was to get Trump bogged down with these charges and trials during the campaign. Instead, Trump has notched legal victories that have delayed proceedings until after the election as he continues his campaign.

Patriot News Alerts delivers timely news and analysis on U.S. politics, government, and current events, helping readers stay informed with clear reporting and principled commentary.
© 2026 - Patriot News Alerts