During an appearance on MSNBC on Saturday, a laughing former Southern District of New York prosecutor claimed that any advantage Donald Trump might have gained from one of his expert defense witnesses in his $250 million criminal fraud trial likely went out the window when the witness admitted how much he was paid.
Speaking with host Alex Witt, ex-prosecutor Kristy Greenberg claimed it was a "one hundred percent" certainty the money was wasted.
Pointing to New York University accounting professor Eli Bartov telling the court he billed the former president and his PAC $1,350 an hour for his time and testimony — and worked a total of 650 hours making his fee close to $900,000 — Greenberg said that would make it easy for Judge Arthur Engoron to dismiss what he had to say.
"It is interesting, he [Bartov] says he spent 650 hours on this," Greenberg began as she burst into laughter. "You wonder what he is actually looking at over that time. To be fair, to compare, the prosecution witness was paid about $350,000 — he [Bartov] has been paid more than double."
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"Here is the other thing to think about: that much money!" host Witt exclaimed. "Is it going to undermine his credibility at all? Like you were paid and, dot, dot, dot."
"One hundred percent!" Greenberg quickly shot back before explaining, "This is a bench trial, you have a judge here, not a jury. The judge is smart, he understands what was happening here. He [Bartov]was paid a handsome sum and he said what Trump wanted him to say."
Watch below or at the link.
MSNBC 12 09 2023 12 02 02 youtu.be
