Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig delivered a scathing analysis of Donald Trump’s legal proceedings on CNN’s The Michael Smerconish Show. Honig suggested that the Department of Justice (DOJ) could have acted earlier to ensure federal trials against Trump concluded before the 2024 presidential election. These comments arrive amidst heated national debates over the former president’s indictments and his stunning election victory against Vice President Kamala Harris.

A Key Gap in DOJ Timing

During the discussion, Honig pinpointed a 20-month delay between Attorney General Merrick Garland’s appointment in March 2021 and the naming of Special Counsel Jack Smith in November 2022. He argued this delay allowed Trump to avoid facing significant trials before Election Day.

“What if Merrick Garland had appointed Jack Smith right away, let’s say April of 2021?” Honig speculated. By his estimates, indictments could have been filed by mid-2022, leading to trials and verdicts as early as late 2023. This timeline, he claims, would have made it “impossible for Donald Trump to run out the clock.”

The U.S. Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling granting presidents immunity for official acts further complicated Trump’s cases. The decision shielded him from certain accusations while narrowing the scope of evidence admissible in court. Honig contended that swifter DOJ action might have prevented this legal landscape from taking root.

Weighing Trump’s Legal Battles

Trump’s four indictments include a federal case over classified documents, an election interference case, and a state-level charge in Georgia. Notably, the only trial to proceed so far has been the hush-money case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records but has yet to be sentenced.

Critics like Honig argue that starting with Bragg’s case, which he described as the weakest, undermined efforts to hold Trump accountable. “By the weakest of the four cases going first…that really undermined the entire process,” Honig said.

Trump’s federal cases remain in limbo, with reports indicating that Jack Smith is preparing to drop charges before Trump’s inauguration. Trump has vowed to fire Smith and his entire team within moments of taking office, raising concerns about the future of these prosecutions.

Netizens React to Legal Drama

Honig’s hypothetical scenario ignited passionate debates on social media:

• @LegalEagle24: “Honig’s timeline makes perfect sense. Garland wasted precious time, and now justice might be out of reach.”
• @MAGARealist: “Another biased expert trying to rewrite history. Trump is unstoppable!”
• @Justice4All: “Why wasn’t the DOJ more proactive? The public deserves accountability, not excuses.”
• @ImpartialVoter: “Interesting analysis, but let’s not ignore the strength of Trump’s legal team.”
• @FreeSpeechFan: “This proves nothing! Courts are slow, and Trump knew how to play the system.”
• @FutureHistoryNow: “Imagine how different 2024 could have been if these cases were resolved earlier. Missed opportunity!”