Legal Analyst from CNN: New York State Rarely Prosecutes Crimes of this Nature

According to Elie Honig, a former federal and state prosecutor, the Manhattan district attorney’s case against former President Donald Trump was deemed a “ill-conceived, unjustified mess,” despite the jury finding the former president guilty on all 34 charges of falsifying business records. Honig expressed these views in an article for New York Magazine.

Honig criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s charges against Trump, stating that they “push the outer boundaries of the law and due process.” He further mentioned that the charges were unique and unprecedented, as no state prosecutor had ever charged federal election laws as a direct or predicate state crime before.

Following the guilty verdict, Trump, who became the first president to be convicted as a felon, denounced the prosecutors and the trial as being “rigged.” He announced his intention to appeal the verdict, citing unfair treatment during the trial and restrictions on using an election expert.

Honig highlighted that the charges against Trump were uncommon, as the Manhattan DA rarely brings cases where falsification of business records is the sole charge. He criticized the prosecutors for inflating the charges to the lowest level felony and alleging that the crime was committed with intent to commit another offense without specifying the unlawful means until late in the trial.

Regarding the verdict, Honig emphasized that the charges against Trump were custom-made for him, deviating from standard practice in bringing cases. He pointed out the lack of specificity in the accusations and the timing of providing notice to the defendant.