Former Attorney General Bill Barr has made headlines with a recent call for prosecutors to respect the will of the American people and dismiss ongoing cases against former President Donald Trump upon his re-election. Barr highlighted that voters had full knowledge of the allegations against former President Donald Trump when casting their ballots for his re-election on Tuesday. Barr asserted that, in light of this informed choice, prosecutors should consider the will of the people and prioritize the country’s best interests by respecting the outcome of the election.
In an statement to Fox News digital, Barr explained: “The American people have rendered their verdict on President Trump, and decisively chosen him to lead the country for the next four years. They did that with full knowledge of the claims against him by prosecutors around the country and I think Attorney General Garland and the state prosecutors should respect the people’s decision and dismiss the cases against President Trump now.
Once Donald Trump takes office in January, legal actions against him are expected to be put on hold throughout his term, as noted by former Attorney General Bill Barr. A newly appointed attorney general under Trump would likely have the authority to end ongoing federal cases brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. These cases involve allegations around Trump’s handling of classified documents after leaving office and alleged attempts to challenge the results of the 2020 election.
Already, the Florida case has seen dismissal from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, citing procedural issues tied to Smith’s appointment. Additionally, a recent Supreme Court ruling has reinforced presidential immunity for specific official actions, creating further obstacles for the Washington case against Trump.
In New York, Trump faced a conviction over charges involving altered business records tied to a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election. His sentencing is scheduled for later this month. Again, Barr argued that the pursuit of these cases is trivial and effortless.
“Further maneuvering on these cases in the weeks ahead would serve no legitimate purpose and only distract the country and the incoming administration from the task at hand. The public interest now demands that the country unite and focus on the challenges we face at home and abroad. Attorney General Garland and all the state prosecutors should do the right thing and help the country move forward by dismissing the cases.”
Barr argued that prosecutors should drop the New York cases against Trump before his appointment in January, saying, “I think the right thing to do would be for the prosecutors to dismiss the case,” considering that these cases were full of “abuse and error” to begin with.