Trump Tweets Unlawfully to Intimidate Witnesses

"Federal criminal law contains a broad prohibition against illegitimately affecting the presentation of evidence in hearings.

For example, it is unlawful to knowingly use intimidation or corrupt persuasion with intent to influence the testimony of any person in an official proceeding.

An “official proceeding” includes hearings before Congress. Witness harassment also includes conduct intended to “badger, disturb or pester” and attempts to intimidate, even if the witness isn’t actually influenced, and even if the witness never actually received the threat. An act “with the intent to influence the testimony” has the purpose of getting the person to “change, color, or shade his or her testimony in some way.”

The government doesn’t have to prove that the testimony was, in fact, changed, as long as the intent was there. The government does have to prove that whatever statements were made to the person about the testimony had that improper purpose."

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/trump-tweeted-marie-yovanovitch-testified-was-it-witness-tampering-n1084176

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“The NY Times is calling for Twitter to censor the Pesident [sic] of the United States,” Trump Jr. tweeted about Swisher’s call for Twitter to delete the president’s false tweets. “If they can push for that who won’t they try to censor next? Given silicon valley’s leftist tendencies you all better watch out, they are coming for all of you.”

The president, meanwhile, seems sure of his impunity. Hours after the letter became public, Trump again accused Scarborough of possibly being a murderer.

“The opening of a Cold Case against Psycho Joe Scarborough was not a Donald Trump original thought, this has been going on for years, long before I joined the chorus,” Trump said in one tweet.

“I would always be thinking about whether or not Joe could have done such a horrible thing? Maybe or maybe not, but I find Joe to be a total Nut Job, and I knew him well, far better than most,” Trump said in another tweet. “So many unanswered & obvious questions, but I won’t bring them up now! Law enforcement eventually will?”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-false-murder-allegations-twitter-joe-scarborough_n_5ecd31f2c5b6de82df1e1192


" it wasn’t just the president who spread the conspiracy theory but his son as well. Donald Trump Jr. has been instrumental in publicizing the fake allegation.

“What show is Joe going to go on to discuss Lori Klausutis?” Trump Jr. tweeted in April to his more than 5 million followers.

And following an opinion piece on Tuesday by New York Times contributing writer Kara Swisher ― who first reported Klausutis’ letter ― Trump Jr. used the widower’s grief to paint his father as a victim of censorship. "