Trump's Playbook Again: 'It's the Leakers'

Over the past few years, Trump and his associates, along with media allies, have frequently employed a strategy of deflecting public attention from investigations into the president or his alleged wrongdoing that the media reports on. Instead, they focus on anonymous sources who leak information to the press.

For example, in 2017, when information was leaked to the press about the controversy over Trump's contacts with Russian officials, which led to the resignation of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, Trump attacked those who leaked the information. Similarly, during his impeachment in 2019, he accused the person who provided a whistleblower with information about his call with Zalensky of being a "spy" and guilty of treason, before noting that treason is punishable by death.

This tactic is still being used by Trump, along with Fox News' Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson, as well as other right-wing media, to shift focus away from the perceived crimes of the former president.

Now, with news leaked this week that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg would be indicting Trump on 34 felony counts, Trump had no choice but to resort to attacking those who leaked the facts regarding the number of counts, and focusing on Bragg himself.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump posted:

"Wow! District Attorney Alvin Bragg just illegally LEAKED the various points and complete information...This means that he MUST BE IMMEDIATELY INDICTED."

Trump's post suggests that the DA, who got a Grand Jury to indict him, should also be indicted for leaking information that will be publicized sometime this morning. However, there is no evidence that the DA or his office leaked any material to the press. It is also entirely possible that Trump or one of his allies leaked the information to create this narrative.

Regardless of where this case heads, one can be almost certain that unless the judge issues a gag order, Trump will continue to target, the investigators, the prosecutors, the judge and even the jury.