Former U.S. Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, suggested that Donald Trump should serve jail time if convicted on federal charges.
What Happened: Gonzales, on Friday, in an interview with former White House press secretary and MSBNC host Jen Psaki, said that Trump “should serve time” if convicted for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, The Hill reported.
Gonzales served under the administration of former President, George W. Bush.
Gonzales opined that Trump did nothing to stop the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, even if he didn’t directly order it. He believes it would be “fair” for Trump to serve prison time if successfully prosecuted by special counsel Jack Smith, while noting, "We're a long way from there."
"If, in fact, he's convicted of the crimes charged by Jack Smith and the Department of Justice…yeah, I think he should serve time, quite frankly."
Why It Matters: Earlier this month, a Washington grand jury indicted Trump over his efforts to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. The Justice Department’s indictment accuses Trump of leading a campaign of “dishonesty, fraud, and conceit” to obstruct democracy.
Trump faces four charges, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and conspiracy against rights. The obstruction-related charges could lead to a maximum of 20 years in prison, while the other charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 and five years, respectively.
The DOJ has proposed Jan. 2 as the start date for the trial, while Trump’s team suggested a date in April 2026.
The former president and his 18 associates are facing separate criminal charges in Georgia for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The developments add more complications to Trump's potential 2024 election bid. The former president and his associates have been ordered to surrender in Georgia by Aug. 25, with the District Attorney aiming to try all defendants within the next half year.
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