Watch: A 'goldmine for prosecutors': Legal analyst weighs in on Trump witness tampering probe
02 July 2022
A former U.S. Attorney is weighing in with her perspective on the witness tampering investigative probe into former President Donald Trump, according to Raw Story.
On Saturday, July 2, former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade appeared on MSNBC's "Katie Phang Show" where she insisted that the House Select Committee's investigative team might find it beneficial to launch a major inquiry into the matter.
She also noted that she believes a probe into Trump and his associates could uncover the involvement of more individuals. The topic of discussion was addressed when Phang asked McQuade: "If you are still a federal prosecutor, and based on the evidence so far, would you be willing to prosecute a case for witness tampering?"
McQuade explained how witness tampering and obstruction of justice could turn out to be a "real goldmine" for prosecutors.
"Well, I don't know if we would be in prosecution's state yet but I would sure be interested in investigating," she replied. "Katie, as you know, investigating things like witness tampering and other types of obstruction of justice can be a real goldmine for prosecutors. Because it can lead to a path that the person may not have exposed themselves to without making those kinds of statements."
She went on to use Cassidy Hutchinson as an example. Hutchinson, who worked as a former aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, delivered a jaw-dropping testimony before the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. "So, for example, here, we have someone communicating a message, Cassidy Hutchinson says on behalf of Mark Meadows -- who is that someone?"
McQuade explained why a person like Hutchinson could e very valuable to this type of investigation.
"Talking to that someone could be very valuable," McQuade added. "It is clearly an intermediary, and that person has some problems if they are conveying a message intended to tamper with witnesses. So talking to that person can get you to the person who made the statement, whether Mark Meadows or anyone else. In that way, prosecutors can work their way up the chain and use this charge as leverage to get cooperation for maybe bigger more substantive matters."