During a Saturday afternoon segment on MSNBC's MS NOW, host Alex Witt interviewed Rep.Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) about former Attorney General Pam Bondi's combative appearance before the House Oversight Committee.The conversation turned to reports that the Trump administration's Department of Justice may investigate E.Jean Carroll, the writer who successfully sued Donald Trump for sexual abuse.

Stansbury stated, 'Donald Trump, we all know that you are an adjudicated rapist, and now you're going after survivors that have held you accountable.

' She argued this reflects an effort to weaponize the Justice Department against critics, comparing it to the actions that led to Richard Nixon's downfall.

Witt quickly interjected to clarify the legal terminology, noting that Trump was found liable for sexual abuse rather than rape under the specific New York Penal Law definition.

However, the summary referenced Judge Lewis Kaplan's remarks, where he explained that while the jury did not find rape under the narrow legal term, the evidence showed Trump did exactly what many people understand as rape.The exchange highlights ongoing tensions regarding Trump's legal cases, including the E.Jean Carroll verdict, and partisan debates over accountability and the use of federal institutions.This moment underscores the highly charged political environment surrounding Trump's presidency and legal challenges as of mid-2026.