Former President Donald Trump’s Thursday courtroom tirade could backfire, legal experts warn.
Trump attorney Chris Kise asked Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing Trump’s New York fraud trial, to allow Trump to speak on his own behalf during closing arguments. Engoron asked Trump if he would agree to stick to the facts and relevant law but the former president launched into a lengthy diatribe, accusing the judge and New York Attorney General Letitia James of waging a “political witch hunt” and demanding “damages” because the real “fraud is on me.”
During one portion of his rant, Trump referred to a key allegation in James’ lawsuit alleging that the former president’s Trump Tower penthouse was valued at three times larger than it actually is.
“They made a mistake. It was an honest mistake,” Trump said.
James’ team allowed Trump to speak until the judge ultimately shut him down and pleaded for Kise to “control your client.”
“There may be a reason that James’ staff didn’t interrupt,” wrote NBC News legal analyst Lisa Rubin. “The AG’s office may have struck gold because some of what Trump said was so damaging to him, especially his explanation of the triplex square footage ‘error.’”
Of course Trump wanted to do one of his usual “omg witch hunt” speeches. He didn’t seem to realize that the trial was already over, and in the penalty phase, or that the speech would not be on TV. The email chain between Trump’s incompetent lawyer (who had previously been reported on as one of his ‘good’ ones) was hilarious but also just sad, I mean, the guy can’t even be bothered to capitalize words starting sentences and the request to ‘delay until Jan 29th because Melania’s parent died’ is ludicrously transparent. Anyway, his lawyer needs to be fined or formally censured some more.
I am convinced his 'incompetent" lawyers are just a means for appeal. He will say his defense was inadequate and that his lawyers did not do their due diligence to give adequate defense or some such bullshit.
I’m not sure “I’m such a fucking deadbeat that no reputable lawyer will go near me” is a winning proposition.
I didn’t say it would work but at this point, I think everything is on the table for this shit show.
So appoint a public defender! 🤣😂🤣🤣
To me it feels like the lawyer was trying to make sure Trump wouldn’t be allowed to do the speech (because allowing your client to talk is always bad), but couldn’t convince him to do it himself. So he tried to get the judge to do it for him (and eventually failed anyway).
Perhaps, and also some of the emails practically read like they were dictated by Trump. I doubt if the lawyer has 100% control since surely Trump insists on things and tries to micromanage it himself.
I saw a pundit claim that you can tell some stuff was pasted in because it was in a different job, so wouldn’t surprise me.
He knows he’s lost the case, and has nothing left to lose. He might as well try to make the whole thing political. He’s backed in ca corner & his only hope is to become president again. (Notice I didn’t say win the election. Winning would be great, but the means is unimportant to him)