Watergate prosecutor compares Trump to King George, a ‘flimflam artist’

Assistant Watergate prosecutor Nick Akerman said Saturday that the idea the president can’t be charged with obstruction of justice was reminiscent of King George’s rule over the American colonies.

“First of all, the whole idea that he can’t be charged with obstruction of justice — the last time that ever happened in this country is when we were ruled by King George,” Akerman told MSNBC. “That’s what the whole rule of law is about. The president has to faithfully execute the laws.”

“If he winds up having the corrupt intent to put the kibosh to an investigation, that’s obstruction of justice … If I advise someone to take the Fifth Amendment … that’s fine. But if I advise them with the corrupt intent to do it to cover up crimes I committed, that’s obstruction of justice. That applies to the president,” Akerman added.

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Akerman’s comments come after The New York Times obtained and published a confidential letter from President Trump’s lawyers to special counsel Robert Mueller that argued Trump couldn’t have obstructed justice because he has constitutional authority over all federal investigations.

The 20-page letter from January says Trump can’t legally obstruct justice and that he has the power to “terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon.”

Akerman criticized the Trump administration for trying to discredit Mueller’s probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, specifically targeting Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who has been a vocal critic against the investigation.

“They’re just trying to put up a bunch of flimflam,” Akerman said. “Donald Trump is just a flimflam artist trying to sell more snake oil, and this is another way to package the same snake oil he’s been selling to the public through Rudy Giuliani for the last week.”