'Yesterday was a disaster for Trump as a defendant': prosecutor

Appearing on MSNBC's "Way Too Early" on Thursday morning, a blunt-talking Dave Aronberg explained that Donald Trump and his lawyers did themselves no favors with their antics in Judge Lewis Kaplan's courtroom on Wednesday.

Speaking with host Jonathan Lemire, the State Attorney for Palm Beach County likened Trump's chances in the E. Jean Carrol defamation trial to the sinking of the Titanic.

"In your experience what is your read on how the jury will likely respond to Trump's behavior in the trial, behavior that included being reprimanded by the judge?" host Lemire prompted.

"Yesterday was a disaster for Trump as a defendant," the legal analyst quickly replied. "I would liken him to the Titanic but at least the Titanic had a band. Even though he's playing to his rabid MAGA base, that's the intent here, he's losing in the actual court because they're antagonizing the judge. They're showing contempt for the jury, and of course to E. Jean Carroll."

ALSO READ: Few Trumpers who embrace political violence understand its endgame

"You know, when it comes to damages there were only $5 million of damages in first trial," he elaborated. "I expect there to be a lot more in this one because Trump has continued to repeat the offense of defamation. Remember there's a doctrine here of collateral estoppel which means Trump and [attorney] Alina Hobba are not allowed to relitigate the first trial."

"But instead of trying to reduce the damages here by showing, look, it was her own words, E. Jean Carroll's own words that prompted the abuse and not Trump's words, they're just stoking the fire," he continued. "And Trump didn't even stand up when the jury was leaving today. He walked out of the courtroom. That's the kind of stuff that will get you bit at the end of the day. I expect a very large verdict here in punitive damages."

Watch below or at the link.

MSNBC 01 18 2024 05 38 56youtu.be