Trump is about to lend Jack Smith and Fani Willis a helping hand: analysis

A decision by Donald Trump to appear as a witness for his own defense in the $250 million civil suit trial playing out in Judge Arthur Engoron's Manhattan courthouse could end up blowing up in the former president's face since the judge has already ruled he sees solid evidence of criminal fraud.

The current proceedings are being conducted in an effort for the judge to get his arms around the financial damages the Trump Organization will have to pay for allegedly defrauding banks and insurance companies. Engoron could also ban the involved Trump family members from doing business in the state of New York.

Now Trump is expected to take the stand on Monday following last week's testimony by sons Don Jr. and Eric that legal experts asserted did not go well for the family.

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With that in mind, former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance suggested in her Substack column that Trump's decision to proceed with testifying could be a fatal error that could impact his trials in Washington D.C., Florida and Georgia.

As Vance noted, the way that Trump conducts himself while being grilled on Monday will give special counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis a roadmap to be used when they get their shot at him on the stand in their respective trial.

According to Vance, "This is a civil, not a criminal case. No one goes to prison at the end of it. But the case is on track to put an end to the myth of Trump as a high flying, successful businessman. When Trump takes the witness stand, we’ll get a sense of whether he has the ability to act in his own best interest with his back against the wall—Jack Smith and Fani Willis will undoubtedly be watching to see what kind of a witness he makes in his own defense."

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