In a recent interview on CBS News, former Attorney General Bill Barr expressed his willingness to testify in the latest criminal case against former President Donald Trump. Barr referred to the indictment against Trump for alleged 2020 election interference as “legitimate” and dismissed the argument made by Trump's legal team that his statements were protected by the First Amendment. Barr stated that he believed the case was valid from a prosecutor's standpoint and would testify if called to the stand. However, he avoided answering questions about his cooperation with the Special Counsel's inquiry that led to the indictment.

Former Vice President Mike Pence also commented on the case, indicating that he would testify if compelled to do so. Pence had previously raised constitutional concerns about testifying before a grand jury but ultimately took the stand earlier this year. Barr had previously expressed skepticism about the Jan. 6 case, citing First Amendment interests. Trump's lawyers have raised similar concerns, arguing that his actions were protected as free speech.

Trump's lawyer, John Lauro, appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" to defend the former president's actions, claiming that they were within the bounds of free speech. Lauro insisted that Trump's actions were not a fraud on the government and referenced a relevant Supreme Court case to support his argument.

Trump himself has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment in Washington, DC federal court. He has expressed a desire to have the case moved out of the Democratic stronghold and to have a different judge assigned to the case. Barr had previously stated that he believed a DC jury could be fair to Trump.

Barr's tenure as Attorney General was marked by controversy, with a falling out between him and Trump over the former president's election fraud claims. Barr has since been critical of Trump and has urged the GOP to move on from him in the 2024 election. He previously called one of the indictments against Trump weak and unjust but defended another federal case in Florida regarding alleged hoarding of classified documents.

In a separate development, Trump's lawyer, John Lauro, accused the Biden administration of being involved in the latest criminal case against Trump. Lauro claimed that the protective order being suggested by the Biden administration was an attempt to keep important non-sensitive information from the public. CNN host Dana Bash refuted this claim, stating that there was no evidence of Biden's involvement in the case. Lauro argued that the public had a right to know the evidence against Trump during the 2024 campaign season but was met with opposition from Bash throughout the interview. The judge in the case has given Trump's legal team until Monday to reply to the call for a protective order.

Trump's arraignment in the case occurred recently, during which he wrote on his Truth Social platform, "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!" This post was cited by the special counsel's team in their request for a protective order. Trump has denounced the charges as a "sham indictment" and referred to the special counsel as "mentally ill." Lauro defended Trump's posts on Truth Social as exercising his First Amendment rights and following the advice of his lawyers.

Lauro also disputed the allegations in the indictment, stating that there was no fraud or trickery on Trump's part. He downplayed Trump's involvement in an alleged scheme to furnish an alternative set of electors before Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, stating that none of those electors were counted. Trump and his allies allegedly pressured Pence to decertify the election, but Pence ultimately refused, citing a lack of constitutional authority.

The case against Trump is ongoing, with a trial date expected to be set at his next hearing on Aug. 28. Barr and Pence's potential testimonies could provide further insight into the allegations against the former president.