NEW YORK: Once again another first for any president of the United States, President Donald Trump has called for the death penalty against Sayifullo Saipov, the man charged with mowing down pedestrians and bikers in New York City, raising the question of whether his rhetoric could imperil prosecutors’ efforts in the case.

Trump has used the Halloween attack to push his agenda of tightening immigration laws and toughening anti-terror policies.

“NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room,” Trump tweeted late on Wednesday night. “He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. Should get death penalty,” CNN said in a report Wednesday.

Every law enforcement official noted presidents typically don’t comment on pending criminal cases because of the potential impact their statements can have. For instance, the defence could claim his comments will taint a jury pool.

Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbekistan native who was living in New Jersey, is charged with providing material support to ISIS, violence and destruction of motor vehicles, said Joon H kin the acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

During the Halloween attack, he killed eight people by driving over them in a pickup truck. He did not enter a plea in federal court on Wednesday.

“Mr President, we all know he should get the death penalty,” tweeted Andrew C. McCarthy, a former federal prosecutor. “But when you say it, it makes it harder for DOJ to make that happen.”

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2017