Trump 'shot himself in the foot' with civil trial speeches: legal expert
Former President Donald Trump did himself no favors when addressed the media after leaving his $370 million civil fraud trial Thursday, legal analyst Norm Eisen argued Thursday.
"He shot himself in the foot at his own press conference," Eisen wrote.
Trump had just faced off against New York Attorney General's office prosecutors who accuse the former president of inflating assets to defraud lenders. Trump denies wrongdoing, but has already been found liable.
The lengthy trial has been to determine damages.
During the press conference, which CNN was quick to fact-check, Trump reiterated claims that Attorney General was mounting a political witch hunt and doubled-down on the suggestion that a U.S. president can order SEAL Team 6 to assassinate rivals.
Appearing later on CNN, Eisen offered a hat-tip to Trump's attorneys for scoring some points on technical arguments during the trial, but chastised Trump for failing to do the same in his press conference.
"This is about political pageantry for Donald Trump," Eisen said. "Speaking to voters."
But Trump's speeches in the courtroom and outside could come at a stiff price, Eisen argued.
"Trump has been talking about how he's been muzzled in the case," Eisen said. "Donald trump no longer has that muzzling argument."