Fox Must Release Judge Napolitano [OPINION]

Fox News legal analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano has got to go.

Anyone who even casually watches the Fox News network is familiar with Judge Andrew Napolitano, the former New Jersey Superior Court Judge known for his bad dye jobs, his hearty laugh and unwavering defense of President Donald J.Trump.

Judge Nap fans were stunned recently when Napolitano did a complete 180 on his Fox Nation program Judge Napolitano’s Chambers by suggesting that, according to the Mueller report, Trump may have broken the law:

“Prosecutors prosecute people who interfere with government functions, and that’s what the president did by obstruction. Where is this going to end? I don’t know, but I am disappointed in the behavior of the president," he said.

"If he had ordered his aides to violate federal law to save a human life or to preserve human freedom, he would at least have a moral defense to his behavior,” he went on. “But ordering them to break federal law to save him from the consequences of his own behavior, that is immoral, that is criminal, that is defenseless, that is condemnable.”

Well, Trump kinda spilled the beans on Saturday night, tweeting that Nap's sudden change of attitude might actually be nothing more than sour grapes. According to the tweet, Napolitano asked Trump for a couple of favors and Trump declined.

Fox News has got to fire Napolitano now. How can it continue to pay an analyst whose views are tainted by the fact that the president refused to do favors for him? Sorry.

Judge Napolitano should know better and certainly, Fox News should as well. Anything that Judge Nap says from this point forward will be clouded by this incident.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.