CNN legal analyst Elie Honig clashed with former New York City Councilmember Joe Borelli on Friday, telling the MAGA-friendly guest that he was “out of your depth” regarding the Trump Department of Justice's failed attempts to prosecute New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The exchange occurred after President Donald Trump referred to James as “a slob” and a “real slob” during a rally on Long Island, New York. Trump also reiterated his claim that James avoided prosecution on mortgage fraud allegations due to a technicality.
"She got off on a technicality. They had her, but she got off on a technicality. But let’s see what happens," Trump said.
During the CNN segment, Borelli pressed Honig to be “honest” about the case. Honig responded by detailing the legal setbacks faced by the DOJ.
"Because the prosecutor was unconstitutionally appointed," Honig explained. "Then, they tried to indict her again, and a grand jury rejected it, which almost never happens. Take my word for it. And then they tried again."
Borelli acknowledged that the DOJ "probably wouldn’t have good luck" in a fourth attempt to secure an indictment. However, he maintained Trump's assertion that the initial indictment was dismissed due to a procedural issue rather than a lack of evidence.
"If the president wants to call her a slob, it’s not a it’s not a newsflash that the president is not exactly kind to people he doesn’t like," Borelli added.
Honig emphasized the rarity of a grand jury rejecting an indictment for a third time, a development he described as "almost historic."