Conservatives Challenge MSNBC Report on U.S. Attorney’s Stance

The conservative media has reacted strongly against a report from MSNBC, which claimed that U.S. Attorney for Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, expressed doubts about pursuing a case against Senator Adam Schiff for alleged mortgage fraud. This report, released on Thursday, suggested that Hayes informed her superiors that the evidence was insufficient to proceed with the case.

In response, conservative commentators quickly rallied to defend Hayes, emphasizing her previous actions as a prosecutor. Susan Crabtree, a reporter for the right-leaning news outlet RealClearPolitics, stated on X that Hayes did not claim the case lacked merit. She highlighted Hayes’s track record, noting that the attorney had previously indicted former National Security Advisor John Bolton.

Other conservative figures, including commentators Jack Posobiec and Alex Lorusso, echoed this sentiment. Lorusso dismissed the MSNBC report as false, reiterating that the investigation into Schiff remains active.

Following a lengthy investigation, Hayes reportedly met with Todd Blanche, the Deputy Attorney General, earlier this week. It was suggested that she left the meeting with instructions to gather more evidence. However, Blanche publicly disputed this account, stating on X, “Excited to hear more about this made-up meeting! Also, unequivocally: U.S. Attorney Hayes has told me no such thing.”

Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who served under President Donald Trump, also contested the claims regarding Hayes’s comments, pointing to her successful prosecution of Bolton.

The investigation into Schiff, a California Democrat, has been ongoing alongside scrutiny of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who was recently indicted on related charges. Schiff has been a target of Trump since his significant role in the impeachment trial against the former president in 2020, with Trump frequently criticizing him publicly.

As the situation unfolds, some legal analysts have suggested that Hayes may face pressure similar to other prosecutors who have opted not to indict political adversaries of Trump. Michael Scotto, a legal analyst and former prosecutor, remarked to The Baltimore Sun, “There have been instances where people felt forced out or resigned.” He referenced the recent changes in the New York Attorney General’s office, where a new prosecutor was appointed who was willing to pursue charges that others deemed inappropriate.

In a related development, Erik S. Siebert, the federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, resigned last month after declining to indict James. Following his departure, Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, who subsequently moved forward with indictments against James and former FBI Director James Comey. Legal experts have characterized these cases as weak.

Hayes was initially appointed as the interim U.S. Attorney for Maryland in March and became fully sworn into office in June. The White House has redirected inquiries regarding Hayes’s job security to the Department of Justice, which did not provide a comment before publication.

Trump reiterated his disdain for Schiff during a recent statement, calling him “one of the lowest forms of scum” and labeling him “a horrible human being, very dishonest person.”

As this situation develops, observers are likely to keep a close watch on the evolving dynamics surrounding the investigation and Hayes’s role in it.