Legal Expert on Trump Indictment

Reporters looking for an expert to discuss issues around the possible arrest of former President Donald Trump, I wanted to bring to your attention William Banks, professor emeritus of law and national security and constitutional law scholar at Syracuse University.

Banks, the founding director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law, had this reaction to the pending arrest of Trump:

• “The potential indictment and arrest of former President Trump in New York is, if unprecedented, also unsurprising. New York prosecutors have signaled their intentions to pursue the investigation of alleged unlawful hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, and they are now nearing the decision point as the grand jury wraps up its work. Trump is following his usual playbook – accusing the prosecutors of a politicized ‘witch hunt,’ and broadcasting his potential arrest more or less as a badge of honor,” said Banks. “That he also took the occasion to urge his supporters to ‘protest, take our nation back’ in reaction to a state criminal charge not in any way connected to federal or White House influence simply reinforces that Trump is milking his New York exposure for maximum political benefit in the early days of his presidential campaign,” said Banks.
• “If Alvin Bragg does charge Trump, the two alleged law violations – falsifying business records to cover up a violation of campaign finance laws – will be difficult to prove. The two violations have never been joined like this in one prosecution before. The principal witness, Michael Cohen, has questionable credibility, and it is impossible to know in advance how a jury will react to the novel legal theory or to witness testimony,” said Banks.
• “While Trump’s conduct in the Daniels matter is just one snapshot of his long history of exploiting and dehumanizing women, and finding a measure of justice for his coverup of hush money days before his 2016 election would be a modest win for the rule of law, far more significant law-breaking by Donald Trump remains in limbo – election interference in Georgia, incitement of rioters on January 6, and interference with a classified records investigation in Florida. Any of these could provide greater legal jeopardy for Donald Trump, and all of them promise more fuel for the Trump-as-victim machine that will surely persist in the weeks and months ahead,” said Banks

For interviews, reporters should contact Ellen James Mbuqe at ejmbuqe@syr.edu or 412-496-0551.