Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., denounced the legal actions against former President Donald Trump, calling them an "abuse of process" and "malicious prosecution" during an interview with Newsmax on Saturday.
Responding to the $83.3 million award in a defamation case against Trump, Tenney expressed disbelief, stating, "I mean, people keep calling this lawfare, which it is. I think it's an abuse of process, and it's a malicious prosecution case.
"All of these. They're trying to disgorge President Trump of his assets to try to drag him through all these court proceedings. And they're really just trying to hurt him while he's trying to run for president, so it's a clear case also of election interference."
Appearing on "Wake Up America," the member of the Ways and Means Committee said, "I don't even know where she has any kind of income that would match that, which is what it's supposed to be. You're supposed to have some kind of relationship to what could have been lost by defamation."
Tenney raised concerns about the fairness of a trial for Trump in New York City, saying, "I don't see how Donald Trump could actually get a fair trial in New York City because the media is 100% just insanely negative about him. And so anyone who even picks up a newspaper and has any access to media would already be predisposed to having a negative view of him, and he's dead on arrival in front of a jury."
She further criticized the disproportionality of the damages awarded, mentioning the judicial concept of remittitur, which allows judges to reduce unfair or unreasonable jury verdicts. Tenney expressed skepticism about the impartiality of judges in New York City, particularly referencing the judge in the case against Trump, stating, "If you look at the judge in the case against Trump, [Judge Lewis A. Kaplan] or whatever his name is... Obviously, very biased as his behavior is unbecoming of a judge."
Tenney questioned the judge's discretion in handling what she deemed an "absurd jury verdict" with punitive damages, pointing out the First Amendment implications. She argued, "Donald Trump can't speak openly about somebody. And where is the direct harm? It just seems there's a missing connection here in terms of legality."
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Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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