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.’

  • Telorand@reddthat.com
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    10 months ago

    “There may be a reason that James’ staff didn’t interrupt,” wrote NBC News legal analyst Lisa Rubin.

    No, really? You think maybe they were giving him rope to hang himself? /s

    This expert analysis brought to you by the best legal analysts at NBC. FFS, of course that’s what they were doing, you ignoramus. The judge is interested in maintaining an orderly courtroom, but unhinged rants are gold mines for prosecutors.

    • bean@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      The articles in news are often written for a wide range of readers. Not all of whom understand it like you. Certainly I imagine many republicans probably have trouble even reading 🫢

      • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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        10 months ago

        I was discussing GOP obstructionism with a MAGoo last night. He brought up a 1980 Government shutdown caused by the evil Dems. A quick search showed that it was caused by an arcane law, and exactly one agency was affected.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_United_States_federal_government_shutdown#:~:text=On May 1%2C 1980%2C five days after the,agency due to a lapse in appropriations.

        So, the guy knew all about this tiny hiccup from five decades ago, but couldn’t see things that happened in the last few months.

        They can read, but with selective blindness.

        • Billiam@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          No, that chud didn’t even read that. Bet you dollars to donuts his propaganda outlet of choice told him that it’s not bad for Republicans to shut down the government because a Democratic Congress did it before. Of course, they’ll leave out all context and nuance so they can scream BSABSVR.

        • butt_mountain_69420@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          “discussing with a MAGoo”

          Why you would waste your time talking to someone who delights in lies and only ever argues in bad faith is beyond me. If they’re a family member, cut them out of your life and tell them it’s because they’re an “untrustworthy lying piece of shit, devoid of character or any redeeming value.”

          All the trumptards in my family were always the ones getting a divorce, begging for money, or just being a fucking moron. Life has been so peaceful since we trimmed the fat.

          • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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            10 months ago

            It was only after a few exchanges that I realized what I was dealing with.

            He was playing the ‘both sides are the same’ card. Unfortunately, a lot of people have brought into this idea and it’s hard to separate the unaware from the malicious.

    • HopeOfTheGunblade@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      They didn’t even give him rope! The man got his own damn rope manufactured in China, planted a seed, watered it for 20 years, and then hung himself!