Andrew Cuomo Says Trump’s Hush Money Case ‘Should Have Never Been Brought’ to Trial

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told comic and pundit Bill Maher the so-called “hush money” case against Donald Trump should not have been brought to trial.

The former president was found guilty on all counts in the case.

In May, a New York city jury convicted Trump on 34 charges related to falsifying business records to hide “hush money” payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. The payments were allegedly made in order to cover up an affair between the pair, so that it would not hurt his election chances, according to the case brought buy Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg .

In the “Overtime” segment of Friday’s Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, Cuomo claimed the case was only brought to trial because of Trump’s bid for the Oval Office and and his name.

Maher noted during the segment that the criminal conviction against Trump has not negatively affected his poll numbers to a significant degree and has helped Trump fundraise for his campaign. Cuomo agreed and added that the case should have never been brought forward.

MAHER: The trial in New York, the one he got convicted for, was the greatest fundraising bonanza ever. He is now. He was lagging behind Biden, and now he’s pulled quite a bit ahead. That trial was the greatest reason people had to send their checks for five, ten, 25, whatever dollars to Donald Trump. Yeah. So I mean, look, it’s it’s a it’s a Hobson’s choice always with him because he’s always guilty. Yeah. It’s not like he’s not guilty of any of these crimes, but the repercussions might be worse.

I mean, this is something politicians always had to face. Remember when Obama came to office? They’re like, how can you not put those people in jail, those Wall Street people? And Obama was like, yeah, that would feel good. And it is the right thing to do. But it’s also more the wrong thing to do because it’ll tank the whole economy. Those are the kind of tough decisions that you have to make. So I you know, I was always with you on on the one in New York, the hush money trial. I don’t think they should have brought that one. It was just always going to look like a sex case, and people were always just going to look at it that way.

CUOMO: That case, the attorney general’s case in New York, frankly, should have never been brought. And if his name was not Donald Trump and he if he wasn’t running for president, I’m the former AG in New York, I’m telling you, that case would have never been brought. And that’s what is offensive to people. And it should be, because if there’s anything left, it’s belief in the justices.

Watch the clip above via HBO’s Real Time .