While opinions vary over whether having Melania Trump in the courtroom would help Donald Trump win the hearts of jurors in his hush money trial, one former Manhattan prosecutor stated his two oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, should be kept as far away as possible.
Speaking with legal experts on the value of the defendant's family members showing in the courtroom, the appearance of the former president's latest wife garnered varied responses with one analyst suggesting it would be a sign of support for the embattled former president who is faced with 34 felony charges related to paying off an adult film star.
However, in an interview with Business Insider, former federal prosecutor Justin Danilewitz also conceded, "Ordinarily, in a case like this, the appearance of a spouse may well send an important signal of support. But the defense strategy here is likely to signal that this trial is not worth the time of the defendant, and even less the time of his close family."
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"Attending could suggest a level of importance the defense does not want to give the case," he added.
Criminal defense attorney Mark Bederow, a former prosecutor for the Manhattan district attorney's office, was blunt in suggesting Don Trump Jr. and his brother Eric stay away because they will remind jurors of what they don't like about the defendant.
"Let's be honest, if Donald Jr. and Eric Trump showed up, is that going to make it any better? No. Probably, if anything, it potentially makes it worse," he explained.
He added, "People who are inclined not to like Donald Trump probably view the sons in the same way just because they're very vocal defenders of their father, which is natural and expected. But they're also very involved in the political game and the media game that surrounds everything involving Trump."
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