Conservatives Reject MSNBC Report on Hayes’ Prosecution Doubts

The conservative media has pushed back against a recent report from MSNBC suggesting that Maryland U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes has reservations about prosecuting Senator Adam Schiff. The report, released on Thursday, claimed that Hayes expressed doubts to her superiors regarding the strength of the case against Schiff, which is centered on alleged mortgage fraud.

According to MSNBC, Hayes indicated that the evidence may not be robust enough to warrant legal action. This has sparked a wave of criticism from conservative commentators and outlets, who have rallied to defend her and challenge the credibility of the report. Susan Crabtree, a reporter for the right-leaning news site RealClearPolitics, stated on social media that “Maryland U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes did not say that she didn’t believe the mortgage fraud case against Adam Schiff was strong enough to pursue.” She highlighted Hayes’s role in indicting former National Security Advisor John Bolton, emphasizing that Hayes remains committed to the Schiff investigation.

Prominent conservative voices, including Jack Posobiec and Alex Lorusso, echoed similar sentiments, disputing the accuracy of the MSNBC report. Lorusso remarked, “This is false,” asserting that Hayes is indeed continuing her investigation into Schiff.

In a related development, Hayes reportedly met with Todd Blanche, the Deputy Attorney General, earlier in the week to discuss the ongoing investigation. Following this meeting, she was directed to seek additional evidence. However, Blanche later took to social media to deny that such a meeting took place, stating, “Excited to hear more about this made-up meeting! Also, unequivocally: U.S. Attorney Hayes has told me no such thing.”

The controversy surrounding Schiff extends back to 2020 when former President Donald Trump targeted him during the impeachment proceedings. Since then, Trump has consistently criticized Schiff, labeling him as “one of the lowest forms of scum I’ve ever dealt with in politics” and accusing him of dishonesty.

The investigation into Schiff, alongside New York Attorney General Letitia James, has been under scrutiny for several months. James was indicted recently and pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

As conservative figures defend Hayes, some speculate about the potential ramifications of her position. Legal analyst Michael Scotto commented, “You’ve seen it yourself in the papers. There are times when people have felt they were forced out and either resigned or were outright fired.” He drew parallels to the changes in leadership following investigations involving political figures, noting that some prosecutors have faced pressure when handling cases related to Trump’s adversaries.

Recently, Erik S. Siebert, the head federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, resigned after refusing to indict James. Following his resignation, Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, a former member of his legal team, who subsequently brought charges against James and former FBI Director James Comey. Critics have pointed out that many legal experts have found these cases to be weak.

Hayes was appointed as the interim U.S. attorney for Maryland in March 2023 and was officially sworn into office in June. Questions regarding her job security were referred to the Department of Justice by the White House, which did not respond prior to publication.

The political landscape remains charged as Trump continues to express his disdain for Schiff, indicating that the case is far from settled. The developments surrounding Hayes and the Schiff investigation reflect ongoing tensions within the political realm and the complexities of prosecutorial discretion in politically sensitive cases.