Rove said a sentencing for the GOP nominee before the election could have been the “October surprise.”
Former White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove said that if Donald Trump had been sentenced before November’s election it could have been the “October surprise” and helped his chances in the race.
Appearing Friday on Fox News, Rove was asked about Judge Juan Merchan’s decision to delay Trump’s sentencing until after the election, in connection with his conviction in New York for falsifying business records regarding a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Rove responded: “Well, first of all, it’s a reasonable decision. I think that even the judge figured out that it would be enormously disruptive to the country and reflect badly on the judiciary if he attempted to insert himself into the middle of the final stages of a presidential campaign.”
Rove continued, “And I also agree with the notion.that if [Merchan] had gone forward with this, it would have, ironically enough, served the interest of Donald Trump.”
Rove also said that Trump has risen in the polls “the more the people have reacted negatively to his treatment in the courtroom. And if the judge had gone ahead with this, it could have easily been the October surprise.
