Conservative retired federal judge and former Vice President Mike Pence advisor J. Michael Luttig has stated that there is no longer a Republican Party and that former President Donald Trump poses an even greater danger than he did after the 2020 election. Luttig made these remarks during an interview on “CNN This Morning” with Poppy Harlow. He emphasized the essential role of two strong political parties in American democracy and expressed concern that the absence of a viable Republican Party puts the nation’s democracy at risk. Luttig, known for his conservative credentials and ties to the Supreme Court, has been increasingly critical of the GOP, referring to them as “spineless” for their continued support of Trump.
In addition to his comments about the state of the Republican Party, Luttig also addressed potential legal defenses that Trump could employ to address the federal charges he is facing. Luttig argued that by charging Trump with criminal offenses of conduct rather than speech, special counsel Jack Smith eliminates the possibility of a First Amendment defense. When asked about the defense that Trump may have genuinely believed he won the election, Luttig dismissed the notion, stating that the evidence overwhelmingly shows that the former president knew he had lost the election. Luttig emphasized that the standard would be whether a reasonable person could have believed otherwise in the face of the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Luttig’s remarks come in the wake of his pivotal role as a witness during the January 6 committee hearings. Throughout his career as a judge on the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals, Luttig was known as one of the top “feeder judges” for the Supreme Court, with 45 of his 47 clerks going on to clerk for justices on the high court. Luttig’s influence is also evident in his association with Trump ally and attorney John Eastman, who drafted a memo asserting that Pence could stop the certification on January 6. Pence relied on Luttig’s guidance when he decided to defy Trump and certify the election results.
During his testimony before the House Select Committee investigating January 6, Luttig characterized Trump as a clear and present danger to American democracy. In his recent interview, Luttig doubled down on this assertion, stating that he believes Trump is an even greater danger now due to his continued false claims that the election was stolen from him.
Luttig’s outspoken criticisms of the Republican Party and his assessment of Trump’s ongoing danger have drawn attention in political circles. As the nation grapples with the consequences of the 2020 election and the events of January 6, Luttig’s perspective provides insight into the challenges facing American democracy and the future of the Republican Party.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-09 18:26:00
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