The retired Harvard Law professor weighed in on the New York case.
Retired Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz said last week that he believes the prosecutor who brought the New York criminal case against former President Donald Trump should instead be investigated.
In a social media post late last week, Mr. Dershowitz said that a “major [issue]” in the case is how prosecutors will have to prove to the jury that payments President Trump sent to a former associate and lawyer, Michael Cohen, are actually illegal. In the case, prosecutors alleged that President Trump allegedly initiated a reimbursement plan for Mr. Cohen so he could pay an adult film performer to remain silent about an alleged affair the former president has denied.
The Major Issues in Donald Trump’s Case pic.twitter.com/7u1SFmekUO
— Alan Dershowitz (@AlanDersh) May 23, 2024
“The only justification for paying the money is avoid a lawsuit,” the retired professor said, adding that if he made those payments to “avoid exposure” and “publicity,” it’s “extortion, and he’s then the victim of a serious crime.”
“The only way it’s not extortion is if the money was paid to avoid a lawsuit, and if the money was paid to avoid a lawsuit, it’s a legal expense,” Mr. Dershowitz said.
Describing the case as a “fabrication of a crime” against the former president, Mr. Dershowitz added on social media that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg “made up a crime” and used a “witness” who he knew “could not tell the truth,” referring to Mr. Cohen. “There are so many ethical violations” at play, he added.
The Epoch Times contacted the district attorney’s office for comment.
Last week, prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their respective cases in the trial, which has lasted more than six weeks. The judge, Juan Merchan, then said that the jury should return on Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day, to listen to closing arguments in the case.
Earlier this month, meanwhile, Mr. Cohen had testified that he believes President Trump directed him to make the payments to the adult film performer and did so to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, concurring with prosecutors’ arguments.
