‘Why weren’t they home before?’: Trump attorney on prisoner deal

( NewsNation ) — Alina Habba , an attorney for former President Donald Trump and a senior adviser to his campaign, says she doesn’t “buy” that it took the Biden administration 3 1/2 years to win the release of three Americans from Russia .

“Why weren’t they home before? If you could cut a deal now, why couldn’t you cut a deal then?” Habba said during an appearance on “The Hill on NewsNation.”

“President Trump would never have allowed this to go on this long because there has to be something called ‘fear’ and ‘respect.’ And that is what is lacking currently in the administration.”

Habba said the timing of the release of Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and others was purely for politics.

“There has to be a difference between actual victory and election campaign moves. It is not for the benefit of those families. It is solely for the benefit of Kamala Harris and the destructive Democrat campaign,” she said.

Habba, the American-born daughter of Iraqi immigrants, also attacked the vice president and likely Democratic party presidential nominee in very personal language, including a veiled reference to Harris’ heritage. She also mispronounced Harris’ name.

“Unlike you, Kamala, I know who my roots are. I know where I come from. I do not respect Miss Harris at all,” Habba said.

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