New York probe may be ‘greatest threat’ to Trump
President Donald Trump should be more worried about prosecutors in New York than about the ongoing Russia probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller, retired Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz said Sunday.
Mr. Dershowitz, an informal Trump adviser, said in an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week” that the expanding probe by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York could spell the greatest peril for Mr. Trump because of the lack of constitutional protections for the president at that level.
“I think he has constitutional defenses to the investigation being conducted by Mueller,” Mr. Dershowitz said. “But there are no constitutional defenses to what the Southern District is investigating. So, I think the Southern District is the greatest threat.”
Mr. Trump’s legal team has cited the Constitution in arguing that the president should not sit down for an interview with Mr. Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election as well as potential collusion with Mr. Trump’s campaign and obstruction of justice. Mr. Trump has routinely denounced the probe as a “witch hunt.”
The president’s legal quandary in New York, meanwhile, continues to deepen after federal prosecutors granted immunity last week to Allen Weisselberg, chief financial officer for the Trump Organization, and David Pecker, a longtime Trump ally who is the executive of the National Enquirer magazine’s parent company.
News of the cooperation deals came days after former Trump attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight felonies, including two counts related to hush money paid just before the 2016 election to women who alleged affairs with Mr. Trump. Mr. Cohen saidhe made the payments at Mr. Trump’s direction.
The Cohen case is unlikely to lead to any legal consequences for Mr. Trump while he is in office, experts say, although it could prompt calls for his impeachment should Democrats retake the House in November.
Mr. Dershowitz said Sunday that “it would be great” to have Democrats in charge on Capitol Hill so that they can conduct investigations into Mr. Trump’s actions.
Buthe continued to play down Mr. Trump’s failure to report the hush money, arguing that the person at fault for the campaign finance violation would be the campaign’s treasurer, not the candidate.