'That ship has sailed': Expert says Trump lawyers dropped the ball in closing arguments
January 11, 2024
Donald Trump's civil fraud trial in New York entered closing arguments this week, with the former president himself giving a short statement despite state Justice Arthur Engoron previously having ruled he could not do so. But the closing statement from Trump's attorneys wasn't convincing at all, argued former prosecutor Seth Waxman on CNN Thursday.
In fact, Waxman said, Trump's lawyers were trying to mount a defense that was already too late.
"If you are the prosecutor in that trial taking in the Trump defense argument, how do you feel about your case?" asked anchor Boris Sanchez.
"It's very strong," said Waxman. "I don't think Donald Trump's lawyers were really trying to fight back against this particular allegation. I think this was more about political theater. The judge in the case has already ruled Donald Trump and his entities are liable. That was determined last fall. This was supposed to be about damages."
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"If they were really trying to attack this case, they would be saying, look, judge we think you got it wrong last fall but we respect your honest opinion. Let's talk about damages. What the attorney general wants, $370 million, is wildly inflated. The idea we should be forever barred from business in New York, that is a ridiculous result. So you take those issues on," Waxman continued. "You wouldn't be saying this whole case is not good and that there is no basis in law to have found liability. The judge has already done that. That ship has sailed."
"It is a foregone conclusion the issue of fraud, which you could not tell if you were just listening to Trump and his lawyer. That is a very important point to consider," agreed anchor Brianna Keilar.
Watch the video below or at the link.
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