Legal experts warn that former President Donald Trump’s courtroom outburst during his New York fraud trial may have backfired.
Trump’s request to speak during closing arguments led to a lengthy diatribe, with him accusing the judge and New York Attorney General of a “political witch hunt.”
His comments, including an explanation of a triplex square footage “error,” were seen as damaging. (Trending: Anthony Fauci Questioned About Evidence Behind COVID Restrictions)
Experts believe Trump may have harmed his own case and created fewer grounds for appeal.
They also criticized his legal team for allowing such behavior.
“There may be a reason that James’ staff didn’t interrupt,” NBC’s Lisa Rubin wrote.
“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.’”
“I think that what he was trying to do was force the judge into a position where, by denying him an opportunity to speak, he would have created an issue for appeal for himself,” former prosecutor Charles Coleman Jr. said.
“Judge Engoron basically gave him the rope, and he hung himself, predictably,” he added. “What he ended up doing was creating a space where this is one less thing that becomes an appealable issue in the long run for an appeal. That he might be able to go back and say, ‘Look, I was treated unfairly and my rights were abridged in some way, shape, form or fashion.'”
“He understood that there was a risk that this could happen, but, ultimately, it didn’t play a factor in the way Donald Trump wanted it to,” he said.
“Even if you had a client who wanted to testify, and you thought that was a bad idea, and you still allowed that client to exercise their right to testify during your closing argument, you are absolutely not allowing your client to leave that judge or that jury with the final impression of what it is that your case represents,” Coleman said.
“Particularly if you know or have any inkling that that client is going to get on the stand and get in the well and gesticulate and berate the court officers and berate the judge and the entire justice system that is responsible for conducting this hearing, that you are an officiant of, as a lawyer, you’re not going to do that.”
“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,” former federal prosecutor Kristy Greenberg said.
“I’m waiting for the judge to tell him ‘You’re done and if you continue you’ll be held in contempt!’” she said. “That’s what happened to me and any other lawyers happening in courts and it was not done.”
The judge is expected to issue a ruling by Jan. 31.
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