Francey Hakes Tells Newsmax: Trump Indictment Is Unsubstantiated
Former federal prosecutor Francey Hakes believes that the four-count federal indictment issued against former President Donald Trump should be dismissed because all the charges are related to his time in office. The indictment, issued by special counsel Jack Smith, accuses Trump of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump, who is currently the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, denies any wrongdoing. Three of the four charges are conspiracy charges, covering the period from November 14, 2020, to January 20, 2021, Trump’s last day in office. The fourth charge is obstruction of an official proceeding, covering the same dates. Hakes argues that the indictment is problematic because crimes committed by a president in office should be addressed through impeachment, not criminal cases. She also points out the timing of the indictment, which came after testimony from Devon Archer, a former business associate of President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. Archer’s testimony contradicted Joe Biden’s claims of being disconnected from his son’s business dealings. Hakes believes that the indictment is likely to face challenges and may not hold up.
