'Now he comes to his senses?': Former AG Bill Barr slammed after eyebrow-raising defense of Donald Trump in hush money trial

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Former attorney general Bill Barr has launched scathing criticism against New York prosecutors, branding the ongoing Donald Trump hush money case as an "abomination" and condemning it as "obviously political".

Speaking on Fox News' 'America's Newsroom' on Wednesday, April 17, Barr, who served under former president Donald Trump, criticized the case, asserting it represents the "excesses of the progressive left" and poses a threat to democracy.

Bill Barr alleges political motivations in Trump's hush money trial

"This case is an abomination," Barr declared during the interview. "It's obviously political. Seven years after he pays hush money to try to come up with this case. It's also, as you say, it's not only far-fetched… they're trying to predicate it on a federal crime which wasn't prosecuted."

Barr contended that the case's premise, alleging campaign finance violations, is legally flawed.

"And they're wrong about it. This was not a campaign contribution. They're just wrong on the law," he asserted. before adding, "But to me, this shows that the real threat to liberty, the real threat to our system, are the excesses of the progressive left… They're perverting the system of justice, and… that's where the danger lies. The corruption and subversion of our institutions by the left."

Meanwhile, jury selection continues in Manhattan for Trump's criminal trial, with seven New Yorkers selected so far to participate in the landmark case. The trial centers on allegations that Trump falsified business records in relation to hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump himself has vehemently denounced the trial and its charges as politically motivated, branding it "rigged" and attributing it to the Biden administration.

Addressing supporters outside an Upper Manhattan bodega, Trump declared, "It makes me campaign locally, and that's okay. We're doing better now than we've ever done, so I think it's having a reverse effect."

The former president vowed to prioritize law enforcement if he returns to power, stressing his commitment to combating crime in cities like New York.

"We're going to come in — number one, you have to stop crime and we're going to let the police do their job. They have to be given back their authority. They have to be able to do their job," Trump said, before adding, "And we're going to come into New York. We're making a big play for New York, other cities, too. But this city, I love this city." 

Despite his prior critiques of Trump's administration, Barr affirmed his support for the Republican ticket in the upcoming elections.

"Given two bad choices, I think it's my duty to pick the person I think would do the least harm to the country, and in my mind... I will vote the Republican ticket," Barr stated.

"I think the real danger to the country, the real danger to democracy, as I say, is the progressive agenda.... and I said, Trump may be playing Russian roulette, but the continuation of the Biden administration is national suicide, in my opinion," he added.

Social media backlash

Following Bill Barr's remarks, social media platforms were flooded with reactions to his remarks, with many expressing surprise at his apparent defense of Donald Trump.

"Now he comes to his senses?" one user posted on X.

"So he finally found his legal ethics?" another social media user wondered.

"Too little too late, Barr. Your legacy is also toast due to your wanton treason," someone else alleged.

"Bill bar is full of it republicans are all a bunch of hypocrites. The man was talking so much crap about Trump. It is all over the Internet and social media. Look it up and now he’s to play nice," a comment read.

"Bill Barr did an autobiography of his time as attorney general in his statement about a real threat to liberty. Obviously, somebody got to him. The question is what did they offer or what was the threat. An assessment needs to be done," another chimed in.

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