Newsman Dan Rather is stepping up his criticism of former President Donald Trump, using his online newsletter to rip the GOP presidential candidate’s reliance on old friends who have had brushes with the law.
Under the headline “The White House to the Big House,” with the subhead, “Felons present and pardoned in Trump-world,” the controversial former CBS News anchor hit Trump’s allies as a “surreal revolving door of criminals.”
He added, “Truly, you can’t make it up.”
Rather’s hook was the jailing of former Trump economic aide Peter Navarro this week for refusing to appear before Congress to discuss the events of Jan. 6, 2021. He was subsequently convicted of contempt of Congress and is in jail pending an appeal.
Rather also focused on the reported return to the Trump inner circle of 2016 campaign manager Paul Manafort who was jailed in a drawn-out tax case.
Forgive my language, but this stood out to me: As Peter Navarro entered prison, he told reporters, “I’m pissed.”
No doubt a similar sentiment many felt when he refused to tell investigators what he knew about the plot to overthrow the 2020 election.
And there’s even more:…
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) March 19, 2024
“The commonality between Manafort and Navarro is, as they say in prison parlance, they never ‘ratted out’ the boss,” said Rather on his substack, Steady.
He added, “It’s another day of disbelief in Republican politics.”
Rather, 92, followed Walter Cronkite into the top CBS News job in 1981. He left in 2004 after his negative reporting on former President George W. Bush’s military service was debunked.
He suggested this week that Trump’s legal problems and his association with felons could hurt his chances to win over independent voters.
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And Rather indicated that he will continue to call out Trump’s legal troubles in his newsletter.
“Surely Democrats are tempted to be happy the GOP is welcoming back the likes of Manafort, Navarro, Steve Bannon, George Papadopoulos, Roger Stone, Rick Gates, or any other former Trump confidant with a prison sentence in their past,” Rather wrote. “For the country as a whole, it reflects the sad reality of present-day politics. Regardless, at Steady we consider it an honor and a privilege to keep you informed. Your trust is what keeps us going.