As former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York entered its second week, conservative commentator Mollie Hemingway came forward with evidence of a coordinated effort by Democrats to target the former president through legal challenges.
The trial, which resumed Monday with opening statements and the testimony of the first witness, is unfolding amid accusations of partisanship from the left. Hemingway, a senior editor at The Federalist and a well-known figure in conservative media, pointed to personnel moves involving key figures in the legal community as indicative of a deeper strategy.
“Matthew Colangelo, who used to be the number three under Merrick Garland at the Department of Justice, left that cushy job to be a line prosecutor in a city office? That shows how coordinated this is,” Hemingway said during an appearance on Fox News. “This is part of a widespread and coordinated effort.”
Colangelo’s shift from a high-ranking position in the DOJ to a role in a local prosecutor’s office is seen by Hemingway and others as a maneuver linked to ongoing cases against Trump, including the New York trial where Trump faces multiple charges.
WATCH:
The trial itself has been marked by significant media attention and public interest. David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer and a central figure in one of the controversies surrounding Trump, testified on Monday. The court also addressed procedural aspects, including a debate over a gag order affecting Trump’s communication about the trial. With the legal proceedings set to continue, the defense and prosecution are preparing for a detailed examination of the evidence and further witness testimonies.
On top of this, the judicial authorities in New York have decided to make daily transcripts from Donald Trump’s trial in Manhattan publicly accessible, as stated in a recent press release.
“With current law restricting the broadcasting of trial proceedings and courtroom space for public spectators very limited, the release of the daily transcripts on the court system’s website is the best way to provide the public a direct view of the proceedings in this historic trial,” Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas explained in the announcement on Monday.
“This measure is in the interest of the public good and aligns with the court system’s commitment to judicial transparency and its ongoing efforts to enhance public access to, and understanding of, the courts and justice system.”
Trump faces 34 felony counts for allegedly falsifying business records tied to payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from disclosing an alleged affair during the 2016 presidential campaign. Shortly before the trial began Monday, Trump took to Truth Social to question why authorities are preventing his supporters from getting closer to the courthouse while pro-Palestinian protestors around the country are allowed to “riot” and “block traffic” without serious consequences.
Supporters of the former president have rallied around these claims, saying the charges are part of a larger attempt to discredit Trump and deter his political ambitions for November. As the trial progresses, it continues to generate a maelstrom of media coverage and political attention.