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Posted: 2020-08-21T07:18:39Z | Updated: 2020-08-21T12:41:13Z

CNN s chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin on Thursday highlighted the Trump administrations extraordinary record of sleaze as he broke down what is so revealing about the arrest of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon .

Bannon and three others were arrested earlier Thursday on federal fraud charges, accused of stealing money donated to a We Build The Wall online crowdfunding campaign.

Bannon, who also served as a top aide on President Donald Trump s 2016 campaign, pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon.

Toobin, appearing on CNNs Outfront, told host Erin Burnett that what makes this case so revealing is that it shows the contempt with which Bannon views his own supporters, views the people who were supporting the wall.

They are marks, they are suckers, they are patsies to pay money for this wall project that all theyre doing, at least according to the indictment, the commentator explained.

Toobin also predicted a further problem for Bannon.

Bannon is the most famous of the four defendants, that is just an invitation to one or more of the others to flip, to plead guilty and cooperate, said Toobin. Because in federal court, defendants are rewarded strongly for cooperating against other defendants and Bannon looks like hes got nowhere to cooperate.

Burnett noted how Bannon was just the latest Trump associate to be charged with a crime.

What does it say to you? she asked Toobin.

Its just extraordinary, he replied. There hasnt been a presidency like this since Watergate. And even in Watergate, you didnt have a scenario like youve had here.

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Check out the exchange:

There hasn't been a presidency like this since Watergate, and even in Watergate, you didn't have a scenario like you've had here, @JeffreyToobin says about 10 associates of Trump being charged with crimes.

It is an extraordinary record of sleaze. https://t.co/kikZ0Y1nZb pic.twitter.com/TsMUnGmxZY

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There hasn't been a presidency like this since Watergate, and even in Watergate, you didn't have a scenario like you've had here, @JeffreyToobin says about 10 associates of Trump being charged with crimes.

It is an extraordinary record of sleaze. https://t.co/kikZ0Y1nZb pic.twitter.com/TsMUnGmxZY

OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) August 20, 2020

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Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

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