If defendant Donald Trump opts to testify in his criminal subversion trial — it could prove disastrous.
Former prosecutor Glenn Kirschner spells out the circumstances that are at play once the federal trial gets underway in Washington D.C., where the former president stands accused of engaging in an array of conspiracies to cling to power after being defeated in the 2020 presidential election.
"Once these cases move into court proper, the Rules of Evidence govern," Kirschner told American progressive YouTuber Bryan Tyler Cohen. "So here's what will happen: Every single thing that ever comes out of his mouth — the Rules Of Evidence say that's admissible as a statement of a party opponent and Jack Smith will admit it into evidence to prove its guilt — everything that has ever come out of Donald Trump's mouth -- that is nonsense, that is B.S., that's a bunch of lies and deflection and projection... Guess what? It's not admissible."
However, the 45th president who is vying to reclaim the White House in 2024 (and remains the frontrunner of the pack so far), can still sink himself and put his freedom at risk if he takes the witness stand.
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"Donald Trump, the defendant has absolutely no right under the Rules Of Evidence to put any of that stuff before the jury unless, and here's the only way he can do it: He can take the stand."
"And he can spew out whatever he wants."
The move would essentially gift prosecutor Jack Smith and his team the chance to go to work on him.
"Jack Smith's prosecutors will cross-examine him and will figuratively disembowel him on the witness stand," he said. "I've seen it happen before."
"I've cross ex-RICO defendant before; it never ends well for a testifying defendant who is a great big liar like Donald Trump is."
Trump has has pleaded not guilty to four felony counts accusing him of leaning on electors, the Department of Justice and also then-Vice President Mike Pence to try to hold off relinquishing power and inciting a mob of faithfuls to storm the Capital Building on Jan. 6, 2021.
