Liberal TV host Bill Maher has had a change of heart regarding Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s “hush money” case against President Donald Trump, asserting that the trial could directly influence the upcoming November election.
The comments are a startling turnaround for Maher, the host of HBO’s “Real Time,” who previously expressed initial skepticism regarding Bragg’s case against Trump, as Fox News reported.
Maher now believes that the case, which focuses on allegations of Trump’s involvement in “hush money” schemes ahead of the 2016 election, could lead to a criminal conviction.
Initially, Maher dismissed the trial as the least significant among the various legal challenges Trump faced.
Previously dismissive of its gravity, Maher now argues that the trial’s outcomes could significantly influence the upcoming presidential campaign.
Maher’s change of heart came after hearing the testimony of David Pecker.
Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, was the trial’s first witness.
His account involved details of the “catch-and-kill” payments intended to suppress stories about Trump’s alleged extramarital affairs during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Pecker did not provide evidence linking Trump to any such activity, however.
According to Maher, Pecker’s testimony was a pivotal moment in the trial.
He told the court that the payments were aimed at influencing the election rather than protecting Trump’s personal life.
This assertion, Maher suggested, could be clearly understood by an American jury.
Maher argues that Pecker’s account shifts the narrative, making the actual intentions behind the payments evident.
“This is the key thing,” Maher stated, emphasizing the potential impact this clarity might have on the jury’s decision.
“And it’s so clear.”
Reflecting on the overall implications of the trial, Maher speculated that a conviction could drastically affect Trump’s image and political future.
He contends that both independent and Republican voters might change their opinion of Trump if he were to be convicted.
Moreover, Maher highlighted the Democrats’ plans for broader electoral consequences that a conviction could entail.
“And by the way, if this goes that way and Trump loses, it’s going to change the whole election,” Maher explained, indicating the potential shift in the political landscape.
Maher suggested that the public perception of Trump could transition from a contentious figure to a convicted criminal, influencing voter sentiment.
He remarked, “And he’ll look like a loser, not that he doesn’t already, but you know,” underlining the potentially decisive impact on Trump’s public image.
In light of his previous skepticism, Maher said his initial prediction was off the mark.
Last year, he called the indictment decision “a colossal mistake,” comparing it to other perceived unsuccessful efforts to legally challenge Trump.
He stated that he believed the “hush money” charges only energized Trump’s base.
Beyond the implications for Trump, Maher shone a spotlight on Bragg, the George Soros-funded Democrat prosecutor who is spearheading the case.
Maher predicted that a successful conviction by Bragg could catapult him to significant prominence within the Democratic Party.
He suggested that the successful prosecution of a high-profile figure like Trump could be a defining moment for Bragg’s career.
“And Alvin Bragg is going to be the rising star of the Democratic Party,” Maher stated.
Summarizing his revised stance, Maher acknowledged a complete turnaround from his previous critiques.
“I’m turning on this one because it’s not what I thought it was going to be,” he confessed, indicating a significant shift in his perspective on the proceedings.
In summary, Bill Maher’s changed position aligns with unfolding developments in the Trump trial, where he now sees potential for a substantive impact on future political dynamics.
From initially viewing the trial as an inconsequential effort likely to bolster Trump’s campaign, Maher’s current view is that the trial could decisively influence the 2024 presidential election, potentially reducing Trump’s likelihood of success and enhancing Bragg’s political stature.
From the beginning, however, the Democrats had always planned for the lawfare cases against Trump to impact the election.
Just how they impact the critical presidential race remains to be seen.
