A CNN anchor couldn't help but laugh on her show Wednesday night as a former attorney for Donald Trump debuted a phrase she'd never heard: "Insurrection light."
Jim Trusty joined Kaitlan Collins on "The Source" to discuss Jack Smith's massive new filing, in which the special counsel alleged, among other things, that Trump "resorted to crimes to try to stay in office" when he lost the 2020 election and that he appeared unconcerned about Vice President Mike Pence's safety during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Trusty told Collins that Smith's briefing was more for "public consumption" as much as it is for "actual, legal logistics." Trusty noted that even death penalty cases have 45-page limits.
"This is 165 pages!" he said. "It includes a ton of gratuitous information. A lot of what I'd say is optimistic information when it comes to Mike Pence and Mark Meadows."
Trusty noted that it's now up to Washington, D.C. federal Judge Tanya Chutkan to decide how much of the massive briefing is admissible. And even then, it'll likely head to the Supreme Court.
"They're reaching," he said. "They're going too far when it comes to Pence and Meadows because they're obsessed with having them on the witness stand someday."
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While Collins agreed that the admissible evidence question will likely head to the Supreme Court, she noted that Trump's own statements outlined in the document appear to "undercut" his argument that he just wanted a free and fair election and ensure all votes were counted.
Trusty cast doubt on the veracity of the statements.
"You can't take this as gospel. The bottom line is it's a very politicized pleading," he said, prompting Collins to push back: "The quotes are from people who like Trump."
Trusty tried to discredit those people and said plenty likely have "axes to grind" with Trump or are "dishonorable."
"This is a Jack Smith pleading for the court and for public attention," he insisted, adding that a "real" Justice Department would not push for a speedy trial when the defendant waived that right.
As the interview concluded, Trusty said Smith is trying to win in the court of public opinion.
"You're talking about the politicized process of challenging an election," he said. "Very publicly in many instances by this president, becoming the new ground for criminal prosecution. Not for insurrection, but for insurrection light."
Collins chuckles to herself as she repeats the phrase, "insurrection light."
"Insurrection light is a new one. We'll see where that goes from there," she said, thanking her guest.
Watch the clip below or at this link.