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Trump had no defense for 'cooking the books' in fraud trial: legal expert

For all of his bluster and accusations at his $370 million financial fraud trial, at the end of the day the fact that Donald Trump "cooked the books" is what will end up costing him when Judge Arthur Engoron renders his final verdict regarding the Trump Organization.

That is the opinion of conservative lawyer George Conway who appeared on MSNBC's new "The Weekend" show featuring co-hosts Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele and Alicia Menendez.

Invited to address the closing arguments in the trial where Judge Engoron has already ruled the former president is guilty of fraud. Conway was asked what played out in the courtroom as the trial concluded.

"The New York case is interesting because, unlike the other, the four criminal cases, his freedom is not on the line here: his fortune is on the line and his businesses are on the line," he explained. "What the judge has already found based upon, frankly, undisputed evidence, is that he cooked the books. He cooked his own books and then he presented the books to lenders and insurers and so on and so forth."

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'His argument is, 'Well, they got all our money back, they weren't actually defrauded,' when the truth of the matter is, you cannot have fake books," he elaborated. "Even if you're a private company because people sometimes will have to rely on those books. And it's a privilege to do business either as a New York incorporated corporation or as a foreign corporation, out of state corporation, that has the right to do business in New York. That's a privilege and you can't abuse that privilege the law says, by cooking your books."

"Basically, his problem is he has no defense to the fact that he cooked the books and so, you know, that's why he has all this bluster," he added. "He can be put out of business, basically. The court has the power to basically revoke his ability, his corporate status."

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Time to end 'special treatment' for Trump after fraud trial courtroom rant: ex-prosecutor

Reacting to Donald Trump's frantic rant in Judge Arthur Engoron's courtroom on Thursday, when the judge allowed him to speak while not under oath during closing arguments, former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance claimed the former president should no longer get any more free passes in the courtroom.

Writing on her Civil Discourse Substack platform, the ex-prosecutor stated there was nothing normal about a judge letting someone on trial make a statement during closing arguments and that Trump took advantage of it to spew lies aimed at riling up his fans.

As Vance explained, after that outburst, it is time for the judges in all of his cases to stop extending Trump extra courtesies just because he once served as president.

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"Other parties don’t get this sort of special treatment in court. Trump shouldn’t have received it either," she wrote. "Predictably, it did no good. It did not prevent Trump from continuing to complain that he was being treated unfairly. He went straight out of courtroom, only to tell the press that the case was a “fraud on me.” Judge Engoron may have concluded that with no jury in the box to be prejudiced by Trump’s ravings, it was easier to just let him have his way for the moment. But with Trump, no good deed goes unpunished."

She then added, "It’s time for the courts to stop giving Trump special treatment. To stop walking delicately and gingerly lest he claim foul play when he is merely subjected to procedures anyone else in his position would be held accountable to. The courts, charged with delivering justice, need to stop being afraid of Trump."

Adding that no judge should allow "Trump to speak in court, and under no circumstances to a jury, unless he’s on the witness stand, testifying under oath," she added, "No more opportunity for the toddler to throw a temper tantrum that would lead to anyone else in his position being held in contempt. If judges mean for it to continue to exist, it’s time for them to show Trump that he is not above the law, not any longer."

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What DeSantis volunteers in Iowa said when asked if they’d vote for Trump in November

Just days before the "First in the Nation" Iowa Republican Caucuses, two volunteers for the struggling DeSantis campaign were asked if they would vote for Donald Trump in the general election if he becomes the GOP's presidential nominee.

"Absolutely not," one volunteer who voted for Trump twice told CBS News (video below). "In 2020 I was very enthusiastic because of the choice we were facing, but I will not be voting for Donald Trump."

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'I thought my source was full of garbage!' CNBC host stunned by new 2024 twist

CNBC host Brian Sullivan on Friday exploded at the thought that there would be no post-primary debates in the 2024 presidential election.

"You got to be kidding. Of course, there's going to be presidential debates," he said during an interview with political strategist Frank Luntz in which the host claimed to have spoken with a person with insight into the pulse of the future presidential race once two candidates distinguish themselves. "This is the United States. We would never do that."

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'Trump is not going to be able to escape' trap just left by Jack Smith: legal expert

Friday filings by both special counsel Jack Smith and former President Donald Trump's legal team might as well have been moving chess pieces on the board — with Smith playing for keeps.

Former prosecutor Charles Coleman, appearing on MSNBC's "The 11th Hour" with Stephanie Ruhle, set the stage for the lesser covered federal case the 45th president is facing in Florida that accuses him of dodging requests to hand over classified documents stowed away at Mar-a-Lago.

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'Trump is concerned': Legal expert says ex-president is worried he just met his match

Among the cases and 91 criminal counts former President Donald Trump is facing — the civil case involving his rape accuser E. Jean Carroll is one that is reportedly worrying him.

Former federal prosecutor Faith Gay appearing on MSNBC explained how federal Judge Lewis Kaplan is no-mess about keeping civility and order.

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'Bless his heart': Trump criticized for contradictory filing in elections case

Donald Trump on Friday saw criticism online after one of his legal filings in his D.C. elections criminal case was deemed hypocritical.

Trump, who won a stay of the election subversion case while he appeals to find out if his presidential immunity defense will be allowed, recently requested Special Counsel Jack Smith be hit with sanctions for continuing to file on the docket while the case is stayed. Smith responded to that filing, and Trump on Friday evening hit back in a filing of his own.

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'His narcissism always interferes': Jamie Raskin says Trump brags about money from China

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) tore into former President Donald Trump, following the release of a report about Trump taking $8 million from foreign governments.

"Congressman, we played that part where Trump was sort of asked about it at the campaign rally he did in coordination with Fox. He doesn't deny it," said anchor Chris Hayes. "I don't think the facts are in dispute here. I don't think anyone disputes the facts as documented in your report."

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Judge rejects Trump's last-minute bid to delay E. Jean Carroll trial

A federal judge has denied former President Donald Trump his try to buy a week in the in E. Jean Carroll's rape defamation case in order to grieve the loss of his mother-in-law.

"The application is DENIED," reads U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan's order filed on Friday. "The trial shall begin at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 as scheduled. Mr. Trump is free to attend the trial, the funeral, or all or parts of both as he wishes."

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Judge Cannon shuts down Jack Smith's effort to get Trump's lawyer communications

Donald Trump can't yet be forced to disclose if he plans to rely on a defense that would shift blame to his lawyers, Judge Cannon ruled on Friday.

Special Counsel Jack Smith tried to force the former president to disclose his reliance on the defense, a move legal experts said would force Trump into a trap in which he gives up information that would otherwise be protected by attorney-client privilege.

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'Wear the stain of Trump': Utah senator skewered for endorsing ex-president

He's all in on MAGA, mean tweets and all.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who peddled false flag claims post-Jan. 6, says he's endorsing former President Donald Trump to become the next GOP nominee and ultimately the 47th president just days before Iowans brave the bone cold to caucus.

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'No moral compass': George Conway reveals what Roger Stone's comments say about Trump

The new revelations about Roger Stone prove how amoral former President Donald Trump is, argued conservative attorney George Conway on MSNBC's "The ReidOut" Friday evening.

This comes amid newly revealed footage of Stone, a longtime ally of Trump who was allegedly given security by the Proud Boys during the events of January 6, calling for the assassination of two Democratic lawmakers — something he previously denied having done.

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'Preposterous': Expert says Supreme Court won't bother hearing Trump's immunity claim

Former President Donald Trump's criminal immunity claim in the federal election conspiracy case is so weak that it's increasingly unlikely the Supreme Court would even review a decision by the appellate court rejecting it, argued former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann on MSNBC Friday.

This comes after widespread controversy from Trump's lawyer John Sauer telling the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that Trump couldn't be prosecuted even if he ordered a military assassination of an opponent.

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