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.’”
He means “the real fraud is on me” in the same sense the Milky Bar Kid says “the Milky Bars are on me!”
“It’s that thieving dick again”
“The milks on you dick”
https://youtu.be/K1vzAmcUj54?si=_sLABsv_maAmNgvM
Dunno if this was an Australian only milky bar ad but it’ll always hold a special place in the back of my mind at 3am when I’m laying bed trying to sleep.
Show of hands, please.
How many people have gotten into trouble at work over a $30.00 error?
No, but I was almost shot in the back over a matter of $80. Thankfully, some guy in a pastel leather jacket named Clint Eastwood helped me out.
So, the jacket was named Clint Eastwood. Did you get the man’s name, too?
So if Clint was good, and your manager bad.
What does that make you?
When I worked in fast food if we were off on our tills by more than $0.05 per $100 we were fired on the spot.
No errors, but when I was a cashier at Kroger I got in trouble because I wasn’t doing my job fast enough
$30 error gets you in trouble.
$650,000 error, you phone up the vendor and laugh about it.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Never interrupt your opponent while they’re making a mistake.
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!
Best and Brightest
Brilliant play, Justice Engoron.
"Former federal prosecutor Kristy Greenberg, who was in the courtroom, told CNN she was stunned to “see somebody have so much disrespect” for the judge and the court.
"The attacks on — the personal attacks on the judge — this is a judge who had a bomb threat this morning. That’s why the amount of security that was in the courthouse was unlike anything I have seen. and I have been other days when various Trump family members have testified, and this was heightened. They were very concerned about threats,” she said.
"I’m waiting for the judge to tell him ‘You’re done and if you continue you’ll be held in contempt!’” she added. “That’s what happened to me and any other lawyers happening in courts and it was not done.”
Engoron is expected to issue a ruling by Jan. 31."
2020 - S05E12 - Never Regret Thy Fall, O Icarus
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. James’ team allowed Trump to speak until the judge ultimately shut him down and pleaded for Kise to “control your client.” Former New York prosecutor Charles Coleman Jr. agreed that Trump “hurt himself” with the outburst. - TV-MA, 61 mins
SD, SHD, UHD, Dolby Vision; Dolby Stereo, Dolby Surround, Dolby Atmos
The sentence, “Former President Donald Trump’s Thursday courtroom tirade could backfire,” is so fucking funny. I’m sorry, was this a strategy?? Did a team of legal experts come up with a plan which included a senile fascist screaming at a judge for 6 minutes? Did that seem like it was going to go in his favor???
Apparently so. Rolling Stone ran an article where they claim to have been informed by sources that the rant was rehearsed.
According to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to Rolling Stone, in recent weeks Trump had told several close allies of his intention to personally deliver a closing argument, and at times previewed some of the things he wanted to say before the judge. One of the sources describes it as the ex-president informally “rehearsing” his spite-filled court monologue for his friends.
This idiot thinks he’s in a courtroom drama.
Bootleg Hitler just practicing his speeches like real Hitler
“Dollar General Hitler”
Yep. Is “Certified Idiot” a new kind of career?
Only if you are white and rich.
I’ll believe it when he’s sentenced.
It’s been 9 years of these headlines. Christ. I’ve heard this shit so many times.