Greta Van Susteren urged former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields late Wednesday to drop her case against Donald Trump’s campaign manager, explaining in a blog post and on social media that these type of lawsuits are difficult and expensive.
“Anyone encouraging Michelle Fields to bring a civil law suit is not doing her a favor,” the Fox News anchor and vocal Trump supporter wrote. “She does not want to take the stand in a civil case, subject to rigorous cross examination, that is likely to be on television to discuss a case that the DA won’t prosecute because he does not believe the evidence shows assault.”
“Yes, the burden of proof is less in a civil case, but she is just not going to win and it will be expensive and a heartache,” she added. “Anyone encouraging this young woman to bring a lawsuit is irresponsible to her.”
Fields brought charges against Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski in March after she said he injured her at a campaign event in Florida. She said he pulled on her arm violently when she tried to ask the 2016 GOP candidate a question. Fields said Lewandowski nearly knocked her off her feet and left her stunned.
Trump and his team have maintained several different positions since the incident, including that it never happened and that Fields “started it.”
Lewandowski was arrested in late March for simple battery. He was released the same day, and his court date was set for May 4.
Law enforcement officials have released security footage of the incident, which shows Lewandowski did grab Fields’ arm. The tape does not show her touching Trump, contrary to claims from the casino tycoon’s camp.
Now, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg is expected to dismiss the charges against Lewandowski Thursday morning, according to Politico.
Van Susteren said it would be best for Fields if she dropped the issue altogether.
“[A]nyone advising her to drag herself thru the legal system by filing lawsuit is using her,” she said on social media. “[A]nyone who has had ANY experience in criminal courts knew the DA would not prosecute Lewandowski based on that video.”
She added that it is “terrible” that certain people in media have pushed Fields to pursue charges.
“She is young and people w/no experience encouraged her,” the Fox anchor said. “Anyone in the media telling Michelle Fields to prosecute that claim was using her. It was not brilliance that predicted DA would not prosecute Michelle Fields’ claims, it was experience.”
The Fox anchor’s words of advice did not go over well with everyone, and a few social media users, including an attorney who blogs at conservative websites, including Hot Air and the Federalist, pushed back on her remarks.
“I am disgusted. I am appalled that [Greta] would say that a woman should not sue a man who abused her because it is expensive and difficult,” tweeted attorney Gabriel Malor. “[Greta] You are supposed to be a better person than that. You sold your soul for politics.”
“It is appalling. There are no words strong enough to condemn [Greta] for this,” he added.
Fields shrugged off the anchor’s concerns late Wednesday evening.
I think I’ll pass on getting legal advice from a Trump shill. Thanks tho. https://t.co/YoPznOC9LB
— Michelle Fields (@MichelleFields) April 14, 2016
This isn’t the first time that Van Susteren has pooh-pooh’d Fields’ claim against Lewandowski. In March, she dismissed the story entirely, writing in a blog post that people sometimes lose their tempers.
“Sometimes tempers flare, and regrettable things happen, but we should not make this an international crisis and it is not a First Amendment crisis,” she wrote. “It is a flap we should all get over.”
