Bill Maher, the host of “Real Time,” warned Democrats that indicting Donald Trump over his alleged falsified business records with Stormy Daniels could backfire. Maher argued that charging Trump for sex scandals could lead to a “cycle of revenge” and referred to Bill Clinton’s scandal, which saw the former president’s approval rating reach 73% post-impeachment.
Maher stated that although the legal reasons behind a sex scandal might be significant, to the average person, it’s always going to be about sex. He added that Americans would tune out the falsified business records that Trump was accused of by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Maher urged Democrats to remember the past before getting excited over Trump’s indictment.
Clinton’s Scandal and Trump’s Case
Maher also mentioned how people during Clinton’s scandal were not talking about the perjury but instead the lewd details about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. The same will apply to Trump, and Americans will tune out the falsifying business records he was accused of. Maher mocked Republicans who claimed during the Clinton scandal that they “hated” to investigate Clinton but “their hands were tied by the rule of law.” Maher then added:
“Of course, Clinton’s situation and Trump’s have important differences. Clinton was in office and Trump is not. Trump’s case hinges on an NDA and Clinton’s was more about DNA.”
Maher acknowledged seeing Trump hauled into court could be “cathartic bordering on ecstatic” for Democrats but warns of having “shot our wad on Stormy Daniels” versus more serious crimes he is being investigated for.
Newt Gingrich’s Views on Trump’s Indictment
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich stated that Trump’s indictment by the New York prosecutor is the moment “Roman Law was shattered.” Gingrich said that the case against Trump is a threat to democracy, which could be abused by any prosecutor to bring down any individual they disagree with. Gingrich’s argument was that Trump’s indictment is a threat to the Constitution and the entire legal system. Gingrich claimed that the case against Trump is political and has nothing to do with the law.
Maher’s Final Thoughts
Maher concluded by stating that Democrats should avoid indicting Trump for his sex scandals and focus on his more serious crimes. The element that sets Clinton’s case and Trump’s apart, according to Maher, is that Republicans went after Clinton on sex because they didn’t have anything else. In contrast, Trump commits real crimes that he commits on TV. Maher urged Democrats to avoid giving Republicans a chance to defend Trump by focusing on his sex scandals, which could backfire on Democrats in the future.
