Recovering journalist and Nashville-area public policy expert Clint Brewer said former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign should amplify the story of Jamal Trulove and his connection to Vice President and Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris leading up to the November 5 general election to sway independent and Democratic voters.
Trulove was wrongfully convicted in 2010 on a first-degree murder charge in San Francisco during the time Harris was serving as San Francisco District Attorney.
After serving six years behind bars, a California appeals court overturned Trulove’s conviction in 2014. He was retried in 2015 and acquitted.
In 2016, Trulove sued the city of San Francisco and received a $13.1 million settlement.
During a 2019 interview with Vice, Trulove said Harris – whose office prosecuted the case – appeared twice in the courtroom during his trial to “take pride in getting a conviction.”
Trulove said Harris also fought against his appeal, which he added “felt personal” at the time.
On Tuesday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Brewer said amplifying Trulove’s story is an opportunity for the Trump campaign to sway independent and Democratic voters away from Harris leading up to the general election.
“This is a story that is going to resonate with Democratic voters and the question is who’s going to tell the story…It’s certainly an opportunity for the Trump campaign,” Brewer said. “It’s got the potential to [influence Independent voters].”
“I cannot imagine in a city the size of San Francisco that this is the only story like this,” Brewer added.
Brewer went on to add that Trulove’s interview with Vice about his wrongful conviction and Harris’ involvement was credible and “not from a partisan source on the right.”
“Vice, which is not around anymore, unfortunately, you can say what you want to about the political leanings of some of its reporters and its choice of stories, but that was a very aggressive televised news magazine. Those reporters were not afraid to go into some very dangerous places and tell stories. It’s not coming from a partisan source on the right. That is coming from their own camp,” Brewer pointed out.
Regarding the Trump campaign’s usage of Trulove’s story, Brewer said Trump himself should “take a hard look” at it before debating Harris next month.
Brewer also said it would be a good idea for a pro-Trump super PAC to “drive the messaging home” by amplifying Trulove’s story.
Watch the full interview:
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
