![Influence Peddling? Trump Called State Attorney Aronberg About Dropping Lewandowski Charges [Video]](https://victorygirlsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/341971.jpg)
The Trump campaign and Corey Lewandowski especially are breathing a sigh of relief this afternoon. David Aronberg, the State Attorney for Palm Beach County Florida announced this afternoon that no charges will be filed against Corey Lewandowski in regards to Michelle Fields.
As I said above, the Trump campaign is thrilled and wants to move on.
Trump campaign: "Corey Lewandowski is gratified by the decision to drop" misdemeanor charge. https://t.co/IsVLrLOdVH pic.twitter.com/NcArnCdc1W
— ABC News (@ABC) April 14, 2016
Well, maybe THAT particular part of the matter is concluded. But that may not be the end of the story. For starters…
For those asking, office of prosecutor asked 2 weeks ago if I'd be ok with an apology from Corey. I said ya but haven't heard back about it
— Michelle Fields (@MichelleFields) April 14, 2016
Fields may or may not be considering a defamation lawsuit, and she is entirely free to do so. But the press conference this afternoon did take an interesting turn or two. Did you catch what the Aronberg said in his statement? In fact there were a few eyebrow raising moments throughout.
First up:
"It is not uncommon that candidates inner circle & staff members are given authority to assist in clearing a safe pathway" report says @wsvn
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) April 14, 2016
Sure. There’s clearing a path and then there is “shoving” a path through.
Second:
State att @aronberg :"we agree probable cause exists for @CLewandowski_ , but our standard is higher than probable cause" @wsvn
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) April 14, 2016
Because….
"The facts show Mr. Lewandowski did grab Ms. Fields against her will,"Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg https://t.co/IaPzRf3a9A
— Jackie G (@JackieJackielg) April 14, 2016
Oh, ok. So there’s probable cause and then there is PROBABLE cause. Got. It.
Third:
State att talks ab "protective bubble" around @realDonaldTrump -Says @CLewandowski_ could have called sec service instead of taking action
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) April 14, 2016
Is that the equivalent of ‘no son, you shouldn’t have taken those cookies and you really shouldn’t have back talked me… but I’ll just give you this little slap on the wrist and you can still go on that playdate with your friends.’ kind of talk?
Fourth and most interesting of all:
NOW: @aronberg says #Trump called him directly re: #lewandowski charges & "urged us to do right thing" @wpbf25news pic.twitter.com/burkmULL8B
— Terri Parker (@wpbf_terri) April 14, 2016
Let’s see that one again…
Prosecutor: Trump personally called and spoke with several people in our office, told his story and urged us "to do the right thing."
— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) April 14, 2016
Wait what? Isn’t something like that a YUUUUGE No No??
That makes it sound like Trump bullied the prosecutor to not take action. https://t.co/u6OfQvP50O
— Aaron Bandler (@bandlersbanter) April 14, 2016
Yeah, pretty much.
Its been very evident that the Trump campaign, Trump, and Lewandowski himself wanted this whole mess to disappear. I’ve no doubt Trump or attorneys with the Trump campaign did their best to badger David Aronberg’s office. However, for Aronberg to say that on national tv??
The fact that Aronberg and others in the office actually TOOK calls from Donald Trump on this is a very BIG DEAL. Something smells and its not pretty. In fact it quite honestly reeks of a combination of influence peddling, coercion, and prosecutorial misconduct.
Johnny says: Are we talking about the same Dave Aronberg?
The Dave Aronberg who was named part of Hillary Clinton’s “Florida Leadership Team” last November.
The Dave Aronberg who went to law school with Ted Cruz.
The Dave Aronberg who called Donald Trump rhetoric “divisive and inflammatory.
Sorry, don’t buy it.
GWB says: OK, again, I don’t like Trump, either, but “influence peddling”? “Coercion”? Trump isn’t President yet, nor does he hold an office that could have “influence” over the State Attorney for Palm Beach County. And, unless you can show that Trump threatened to send a bunch of his anti-protesters over to rough up the man, I fail to see how Trump could coerce him.
People call the prosecutor all the time (usually through their attorney, or they simply get “I’ll take a message and see if he can return your call”) to try and work out a deal. The fact it’s Trump makes this seem sleazier, but that’s not due to the case, but due to the men involved. (This whole thing has been the definition of a kerfuffle.)
See, that’s where this is so weird. If that’s all it was – he called and all the people in the office just took a message – then why was it brought up in the press conference?
Why specifically did Aronberg state that Trump was urging them to ‘do the right thing?’ To me that indicated that they actually spoke with Trump. Which could potentially mean the office walked onto or fell over a legal ethical line.
GWB says: To me that indicated that they actually spoke with Trump. Which could potentially mean the office walked onto or fell over a legal ethical line.
How so? How is Trump’s phone call any sort of indicator of “undue influence” or “coercion”? If my boss called a local prosecutor and urged them to do the right thing after extolling my virtues, would that be inappropriate – given that my boss would have no power over them or inducement he could offer them?
Now, if Trump called up and offered him $250 of money to gamble in one of his casinos, that would be bribery, and a crime. But we don’t hear any evidence of that.
Johnny says: “See, that’s where this is so weird. If that’s all it was – he called and all the people in the office just took a message – then why was it brought up in the press conference?”
It seems to me that Aronberg first brought the charges with encouragement from his friends Clinton or Cruz or both – whether they actually asked him to do so or not is irrelevant – his links to them would make such a move on his part plausible.
Aronberg knew from the beginning that the charges would not survive a trial – he didn’t want a conviction anyway, just the negative publicity associated with the charges.
Then, when he dropped the charges, he got some extra mileage with this “Trump spoke to me” shtick.
Perfect resolution if all he ever wanted was to throw dirt.
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