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Former President Donald Trump's speech in a New York courtroom could be "damaging" for him, according to a legal analyst.
In an unusual move for a defendant, Trump addressed the court for about six minutes during closing arguments, brushing off the judge's question about whether he would keep his remarks focused on matters related to the trial. Former litigator Lisa Rubin said "there may have been a reason" that Attorney General Letitia James' staff did not interrupt the former president. James brought the suit against Trump.
"The AG's office may have struck gold," Rubin, an MSNBC expert, wrote on Thursday.
Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled Trump and the Trump Organization liable for fraud in the trial after they exaggerated the value of some of its assets and deceived lenders in the process. Trump has maintained throughout his fraud case that he is innocent and denies any wrongdoing.
James alleged the former president deliberately lied about the size of his penthouse in Trump Tower in Manhattan. Engoron agreed in his September ruling, but Trump focused part of his statement in court on Thursday on this particular issue.
"They do have a triplex, where they made a mistake and it was corrected, and it was de minimus," Trump said, according to Business Insider.
The 45th president also said the banks were "happy" with the statements and "weren't defrauded."
"What Trump said was so damaging to him," Rubin wrote on an NBC News thread. "Especially his explanation of the triplex square footage 'error.'"
On X, formerly Twitter, Rubin said: "The only thing [the state] have, Trump concedes, is the triplex, which was a mistake."
Newsweek has approached Trump's attorney Christopher Kise for comment via email.
Engoron allowed Trump to speak for six minutes before he was cut off. During the diatribe, Trump made accusations of bias towards James and said she should have to pay his company for damages.
"This was a political witch hunt; we should receive damages for what they have taken our company through. They have no documents—they have nothing!" Trump said, according to Rubin, who posted the comments on X, formerly Twitter.
"I am an innocent man," Trump continued. "I have been politically persecuted...This statute is vicious."
The court then took a break for lunch.
Engoron is now expected to make a final decision to determine the extent of penalties by the end of the month. The state has requested $370 million be paid in fines and that Trump, former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg and ex-company executive Jeffrey McConney be banned from New York's real estate industry for life.
Lawyer Kevin Wallace asked Eric and Donald Trump Jr to be banned for five years from the state's real estate business.
Before January 11, Trump's lawyer Kise was engaged in a heated email exchange with Judge Arthur Engoron, arguing he was being "wrongfully demeaned and belittled by an out of control, politically motivated Attorney General."
Kise was objecting to Engoron imposing restrictions on Trump if he were to speak in court. The judge told Kise Trump may not "testify" or "deliver a campaign speech in the court."
He added: "In particular, and without limitation, he may not deliver a campaign speech, and he may not impugn myself, my staff, plaintiff, plaintiff's staff, or the New York State Court System, none of which is relevant to this case."
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About the writer
Benjamin Lynch is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is U.S. politics and national affairs and he ... Read more