Dershowitz: Mueller a 'Zealot' on Trump, But Not Unethical

Special counsel Robert Mueller isn't unethical, but he's "a zealot" whose focus is on charging either President Donald Trump or someone very close to him with breaking the law, Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz said Tuesday.

"He is in the business of protecting the FBI and prosecutors at all costs," Dershowitz told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" anchor Bill Hemmer about Mueller, a former FBI director. "I don't suggest he is unethical, but he is very zealous and uses tactics."

Mueller, as a result, is effective at his job, Dershowitz continued, but "the job of a prosecutor is to do justice, not to get as many notches on his belt as possible."

As special counsel in the Russia/Trump investigation, Mueller has an enormous budget and is aiming his efforts at Trump, "a man with a target on his back," said Dershowitz. "The president of the United States. He won't be satisfied until he gets to the president, very close to him. That's the danger of a special prosecutor."

The legal action involving former campaign director Paul Manafort and deputy Rick Gates, both of whom pleaded not guilty in a 12-count indictment on Monday, and against former foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, are part of that tactic, said Dershowitz.

"This tactic is dangerous whether it's used against you or me or Democrats and Republicans," said Dershowitz, calling the three men "low-hanging fruit" that Mueller can "prosecute and squeeze" until they "sing."

The problem is, when witnesses agree "sing," they make up stories and exaggerate, said the famed legal expert.

"They know the better the evidence, the sweeter the deal," said Dershowitz. "It is a very dangerous tactic. If an ordinary person walked over to somebody and said 'unless you give up your rights I'll have you criminally prosecuted,'" we call that extortion. It is allowed by prosecutors."

Such tactics are becoming more pervasive, Dershowitz continued, and he thinks it's dangerous.

"It broadens criminal statutes," he said. "Today's it's used against Trump, tomorrow against Hillary Clinton. The day after it's used against you and me. It can be used against anybody."

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