Legal expert explains how the walls are closing in on a flustered Trump

A former U.S. prosecutor is breaking down the ins and outs of former President Donald Trump's highly publicized lawsuit against the New York Times, three of its reporters, and his niece, Mary Trump. Appearing on MSNBC with Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber, former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance broke down all of the issues with the former president's lawsuit.

Vance began with the questionable timing of Trump's lawsuit. Citing his legal history, she noted that many of Trump's lawsuits have had ulterior motives. "Trump usually files lawsuits as an aggressive mechanism," Vance noted. "This is his history so he might file a lawsuit to distract from other things that are going on around him."

Since Trump would likely be subjected to the process of discovery, which would require some element of exposure that he typically steers clear of, Vance believes the case could simply be a "stunt, perhaps a fundraising strategy more than it is a legitimate effort."

Vance went on to explain why the case appears to be "a bad legal strategy" for the former president. Citing the new Slapp statute in the state of New York, which protects First Amendment rights, Vance noted that Mary Trump could be allowed to have the dismissal of the charges fast-tracked. That could also lead to Trump being left to foot the bill for court and attorney fees.

Vance's remarks follow The New York Times' response to Trump's lawsuit. On Wednesday, September 22, the publication released a statement defending its reporting on the former president's taxes. The Times also vowed to fight the former president's legal suit.

"The Times's coverage of Donald Trump's taxes helped inform the public through meticulous reporting on a subject of overriding public interest," the statement read. "This lawsuit is an attempt to silence independent news organizations and we plan to vigorously defend against it."