Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti believes that Republicans’ plans to challenge former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal conviction will not succeed. Trump was convicted of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Despite Trump’s plans to appeal the verdict, Mariotti stated on MSNBC that the conviction would not change before Trump’s sentencing in July. Reports suggest that Trump contacted House Speaker Mike Johnson to seek help in overturning the conviction, with Johnson indicating possible action from House Republicans. However, Mariotti believes that even if the case is moved to federal court, the outcome is unlikely to change.
In response to Trump’s conviction, House Republicans have sought to investigate Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over his successful case against Trump. Bragg and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo are scheduled to appear before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on July 12, the day after Trump’s sentencing. The House Judiciary Committee is considering legislation proposed by South Carolina Representative Russell Fry that would move state level cases against presidents to the federal level, limiting the power of district attorneys like Bragg. Fry believes that more Republicans are becoming comfortable with the idea of the legislation, as it is not a unique concept.
While Trump has denounced the criminal case against him as a “witch hunt” and maintains his innocence, his conviction on all 34 counts stands. Trump’s efforts to appeal the verdict and seek help from House Republicans are unlikely to change the outcome of his case. Mariotti argues that moving the case to federal court in New York would not alter the foundation of the case, as federal judges would still be interpreting New York law. Despite Trump’s calls to Johnson and efforts from House Republicans, Mariotti believes that their actions are more for Trump’s appeasement rather than having a meaningful impact on the case.
It remains to be seen whether House Republicans will take action to assist Trump in overturning his conviction. With the scheduled House Judiciary Committee hearing involving Bragg and Colangelo, the case against Trump is under scrutiny. Despite Republican efforts to investigate and possibly change the process of prosecuting presidents at the state level, the ultimate impact on Trump’s case may be limited. Mariotti maintains that the conviction will not change before Trump’s sentencing in July, regardless of any actions taken by House Republicans in response to his requests for help.
Overall, the likelihood of Republicans successfully challenging Trump’s New York criminal conviction is slim, as observed by former prosecutor Renato Mariotti. Despite Trump’s appeals and efforts to involve House Republicans in overturning the conviction, experts suggest that the foundation of the case remains strong. With legal proceedings ongoing and House Republicans considering legislation to impact the prosecution of presidents at the state level, the outcome of Trump’s case is uncertain. However, Mariotti’s assessment indicates that Trump’s conviction will likely stand regardless of any potential efforts to challenge it.
