Trump’s name, presidential bid real reason behind ex-prez’s ‘hush money’ case: ex-NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Ex-President Trump’s hush money case should never have made it to indictment, according to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
During an appearance Friday on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the disgraced Democrat said the prosecutors in District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office pursued the former president’s conviction only because of who he is and what he wants, reports The Hill.
“The attorney general’s case in New York, frankly, should have never been brought,” Cuomo told Maher. “And if his name was not Donald Trump and if he wasn’t running for president… I’m the former AG of in New York [and] I’m telling you that case would’ve never been brought.”
Added Cuomo, the former New York attorney general: “That’s what is offensive to people, and it should be because if there’s anything left, it’s belief in the justice system.”
Trump was found guilty late last month on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to a payment that was made to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign.
Trump denies he ever had an affair with Daniels. His lawyers have stated they plan to appeal the verdicts.
Cuomo, who resigned as governor during the summer of 2021, said the public loses faith in its institutions when politics comes into play.
“You want to talk about a threat to democracy: when you have this country believing you’re playing politics with the justice system and you’re trying to put people in jail or convict them for political reasons, then we have a real problem.”
Cuomo stepped down on August 10, 2021, three weeks after an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James found he had sexually harassed or mistreated 11 women during his time in office.
Since leaving office, the former governor has reportedly been eyeing a political comeback, with insiders telling The Post recently that he may challenge Eric Adams for New York City mayor in 2025.
