Neal Katyal reveals why he 'strongly suspects' Trump will be convicted in hush money case

MSNBC
7 Apr 202407:41

Summary

TLDRDonald Trump and his lawyers have filed a motion to recuse the judge from his criminal fraud trial in New York, accusing him of political bias and impropriety. The trial, set to begin in eight days, relates to Trump's alleged falsification of business records to silence adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The indictment emphasizes that the case is about hiding damaging information from the public, not just personal cover-ups. Despite Trump's attempts to delay the proceedings, legal experts predict that he will likely be convicted, marking a historic moment as the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ“œ Donald Trump and his lawyers filed a motion to recuse the judge from his criminal fraud trial in New York, alleging political bias and impropriety.
  • ๐Ÿ—“ The motion is a repeat attempt, previously rejected in August, to delay the court proceedings which are set to begin in eight days.
  • ๐ŸŒŸ This is the first criminal trial of a former U.S. President in history, highlighting the significance of the case.
  • ๐ŸŽญ Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to silencing adult film actress Stormy Daniels, often referred to as the 'hush money case'.
  • ๐Ÿ” The indictment emphasizes that the case is not about covering up an alleged affair but about hiding damaging information from the voting public.
  • ๐Ÿ›๏ธ The trial's start date, April 15, is significant as it is also the tax deadline in the United States.
  • ๐Ÿค Robert Mueller's former team member and a former Solicitor General join to discuss the legal strategy and potential outcomes of the trial.
  • โฐ Trump's legal strategy is described as 'deny, delay, and eudia', with the current focus being on delay.
  • ๐Ÿšจ The guest legal expert suspects that Trump will be convicted at the end of the trial, marking the first time a former President has been criminally convicted.
  • ๐Ÿ“ข Trump's public statements, including comparing himself to Nelson Mandela and being willing to go to jail, are seen as part of his strategy to sow doubt and mislead the public.
  • ๐Ÿ“Œ The discussion also touches on the potential impact of Trump's naturalization case in Florida and how it might influence the current trial proceedings.

Q & A

  • What legal action did Donald Trump and his lawyers take on Friday?

    -On Friday, Donald Trump and his lawyers filed a motion asking the judge overseeing his criminal fraud trial in New York to recuse himself from the case.

  • What are the grounds on which Trump's team is seeking the judge's recusal?

    -Trump's team is accusing the judge of political bias and impropriety due to the judge's daughter's involvement in political work.

  • Has there been a previous attempt to recuse the judge in August?

    -Yes, the judge had already rejected a similar attempt to recuse himself in August.

  • When are the court proceedings set to begin?

    -The court proceedings are set to begin in just eight days from the time of the transcript.

  • What is the historical significance of the upcoming trial?

    -The upcoming trial is significant as it is the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president in American history.

  • What are the charges against Donald Trump?

    -Donald Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to silence adult film actress Stormy Daniels, which is often referred to as the hush money case.

  • What was the motive behind the alleged falsification of business records?

    -The motive was not just to cover up an alleged affair, but to hide damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 election.

  • What event in October 2016 is connected to the charges against Trump?

    -The release of the infamous Access Hollywood tape in October 2016, which led to condemnation of Trump and some members of his own party pulling their endorsements.

  • How might the strategy used by Trump in this case be similar to his strategy during the 2016 election?

    -The strategy involves attempts to mislead the public during an election, such as seeking an investigation into the Bidens and creating the appearance of an investigation into election fraud.

  • What is the current status of the trial in relation to the judge's rulings?

    -Judge Cannon has rejected Trump's motion to dismiss the case but has not yet ruled on his other arguments, which are still pending.

  • What is the potential impact of the judge's pending rulings on Trump's case?

    -The pending rulings could significantly impact the case, as they may determine whether certain aspects of Trump's personal property can be considered as evidence, potentially violating the Presidential Records Act.

  • What is the expected strategy for Trump's legal team moving forward?

    -Trump's legal team is expected to push for pretrial rulings and may appeal if the judge does not rule in their favor, as they believe her conduct could affect the outcome of the trial.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ“š Legal Maneuvers in Trump's Criminal Fraud Trial

This paragraph discusses the legal strategies employed by former President Donald Trump and his lawyers in his criminal fraud trial. Trump's team has filed a motion to recuse the judge overseeing the trial in New York, alleging political bias and impropriety, a claim previously rejected in August. The paragraph highlights the significance of the trial, which is set to begin in eight days, and marks the first criminal trial for a former U.S. president. The charges against Trump involve falsifying business records to silence adult film actress Stormy Daniels, an act often referred to as the 'hush money case'. The discussion emphasizes that the case is not about covering up an alleged affair but about the motive behind it, which is to conceal damaging information from the voting public. The segment concludes with an interview with a legal expert, a former actor of Solicitor General and former General Counsel at Robert Mueller's team, discussing the latest developments and the potential outcomes of the trial.

05:01

๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Trump's Legal Strategy and Public Misleading

The second paragraph delves into the brazenness of Trump's legal strategy, which is likened to his tactics during the 2016 election and his first impeachment. It is suggested that Trump's approach involves misleading the public in elections, as seen in his efforts to get Ukraine to investigate the Bidens and his push for the Department of Justice to announce an investigation into election fraud. The conversation points out Trump's increased brazenness in openly stating his intentions and actions, such as hiring a felon and running on a platform of pardoning individuals without due process. The paragraph ends with a discussion about the impact of Trump's legal maneuvers on his case, the potential consequences of his actions, and the expectation that he will continue to push for pretrial rulings and possibly appeal decisions, despite the likelihood of his conviction.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กDonald Trump

Donald Trump is the 45th President of the United States and a central figure in the video. The video discusses his legal challenges, specifically the criminal fraud trial he is facing in New York. His actions and legal strategies are a primary focus of the discussion.

๐Ÿ’กCriminal Fraud Trial

A criminal fraud trial is a legal proceeding where an individual or entity is accused of committing fraud, which is the act of willfully deceiving others for personal gain or to damage the interests of another. The video centers around the upcoming criminal fraud trial of Donald Trump in New York, where he is charged with falsifying business records.

๐Ÿ’กRecusal

Recusal is the act of a judge or juror removing themselves from a legal case due to a conflict of interest or bias. In the context of the video, Trump's lawyers are asking for the judge overseeing the criminal fraud trial to recuse themselves, alleging political bias.

๐Ÿ’กPolitical Bias

Political bias refers to the inclination to favor one political party or belief over another, potentially affecting the impartiality of a decision-making process. The video discusses accusations of political bias against the judge in Trump's criminal fraud trial, with Trump's team implying the judge's rulings may be influenced by personal political leanings.

๐Ÿ’กFalsifying Business Records

Falsifying business records involves altering, making false entries, or omitting information in official business documents with the intent to deceive. In the video, Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to an adult film actress, which is the central issue of the criminal fraud trial.

๐Ÿ’กStormy Daniels

Stormy Daniels is an adult film actress who was involved in a legal dispute with Donald Trump over an alleged affair and subsequent hush money payment. Her involvement is significant as it relates to the charges against Trump for falsifying business records to conceal this payment.

๐Ÿ’กHush Money Case

The term 'hush money case' refers to the legal proceedings against Trump for allegedly making payments to Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair. The focus of the case is not the affair itself but the illegal methods used to cover up the payments and deceive the public.

๐Ÿ’ก2016 Election

The 2016 Election refers to the United States presidential election in which Donald Trump was elected as the 45th President. The video mentions the timing of the alleged hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, which occurred during this election cycle, and the potential impact on Trump's candidacy if the story had become public.

๐Ÿ’กRobert Mueller

Robert Mueller is a former director of the FBI who led the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. His mention in the video is in the context of the legal expertise of the in-house law firm discussing the case, highlighting the significance of the legal proceedings against Trump.

๐Ÿ’กConcealment of Information

Concealment of information refers to the act of hiding or failing to disclose information, often with the intent to prevent others from discovering the truth. In the video, it is emphasized that the indictment against Trump is not just about the falsification of records but also about the intent to hide damaging information from the voting public during the election.

๐Ÿ’กDelay Tactics

Delay tactics are strategies used in legal proceedings to postpone or prolong the resolution of a case. The video describes Trump's legal team's attempts to delay the criminal fraud trial, including accusations of bias against the judge, as part of their overall strategy.

Highlights

Donald Trump and his lawyers filed a motion to recuse the judge from his criminal fraud trial in New York, accusing the judge of political bias and impropriety.

The motion to recuse the judge was previously rejected in August.

The trial is set to begin in just eight days, marking the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president in U.S. history.

Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to silence adult film actress Stormy Daniels, often referred to as the 'hush money case'.

The indictment emphasizes that the case is not about covering up an alleged affair, but about why Trump covered it up and the intention to hide damaging information from the public.

The strategy to pay for Stormy Daniels' silence was to prevent damaging information from getting out during the 2016 election.

Robert Mueller's team member and former general counsel at the FBI provides insight into the case, suggesting that Trump's legal strategy involves delay tactics.

The expert believes that there is no basis for the claim of the judge's bias and that the trial will proceed as scheduled.

The discussion suggests that Trump's approach has become more brazen over time, showing no shame in his actions.

The comparison of Trump's strategy in this case to his efforts during the 2016 election and impeachment trials highlights a pattern of attempting to mislead the public.

The expert strongly suspects that Trump will be convicted at the end of the trial, making him the first former president to have been convicted criminally.

The importance of understanding Trump's motive in falsifying business records is emphasized, as it was to withhold information from voters.

The expert suggests that Trump's brazenness and lack of shame in his actions are indicative of his capabilities and approach moving forward.

The comparison of Trump to Nelson Mandela and his willingness to go to jail, despite a gag order, is discussed in relation to its impact on his case.

The legal expert believes that Trump's nonsensical arguments will have no impact on the case and that the jury will be the deciding factor.

The potential impact of the stolen documents investigation in Florida on Trump's case is discussed, and the expert suggests that he will push for a pretrial ruling.

The term 'Judge Cannon' is mentioned, and the expert suggests that everyone should learn about her and her conduct in this case.

Transcripts

00:08

>>> ON FRIDAY DONALD TRUMP AND

00:09

>>> ON FRIDAY DONALD TRUMP AND

00:10

HIS LAWYERS FILED A MOTION

00:12

ASKING THE JUDGE OVERSEEING HIS

00:13

CRIMINAL FRAUD TRIAL IN NEW

00:14

YORK TO RECUSE HIMSELF AGAINST

00:15

THE CASE.

00:17

THEY ARE ACCUSING THE JUDGE OF

00:20

POLITICAL BIAS AND IMPROPRIETY.

00:24

THAT ALREADY REJECTED IT IN

00:26

AUGUST.

00:26

AND THE LAST ATTEMPTS FOR TRUMP

00:28

TO DELAY THE COURT PROCEEDINGS.

00:29

WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE, WHICH

00:31

ARE SET TO BEGIN IN JUST EIGHT

00:32

DAYS.

00:33

SO AS WE ALL PREPARE FOR THE

00:35

FIRST CRIMINAL TRIAL OF A

00:37

FORMER PRESIDENT IN U.S.

00:38

HISTORY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO

00:39

TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND

00:41

OURSELVES WHAT EXACTLY THIS IS

00:41

ALL ABOUT.

00:42

I MEAN WE ALL KNOW TRUMP IS

00:45

CHARGED WITH 34 COUNTS OF

00:47

FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS TO

00:48

SILENCE ADULT FILM ACTRESS

00:49

STORMY DANIELS.

00:51

THAT'S WHY WE OFTEN CALL IT THE

00:53

HUSH MONEY CASE.

00:54

BUT AS SALACIOUS AS THAT

00:56

SOUNDS, IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW HE

00:57

COVERED UP HIS ALLEGED AFFAIR,

01:00

BUT ABOUT WHY.

01:02

LET'S REWIND THIS FOR A SECOND,

01:05

THE CLOCK BACK TO OCTOBER 2016

01:08

AND THE RELEASE OF THE INFAMOUS

01:09

HORRIBLE HOLLYWOOD TAPE.

01:10

HE WAS CONDEMNED IN RESPONSE TO

01:12

THAT BY MEMBERS OF HIS OWN

01:14

PARTY, TRUMP WAS.

01:15

SOME EVEN PULLED THEIR

01:15

ENDORSEMENTS.

01:16

SEVERAL CALLED ON HIM TO DROP

01:20

OUT IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH.

01:21

HAD THE DANIELS STORY GOTTEN

01:24

PUBLIC AT THAT TIME, SHE COULD

01:26

HAVE DAMAGED TRUMP'S CANDIDACY.

01:27

SO THE SCHEME TO PAY FOR HER

01:29

SILENCE AND COVER IT UP WASN'T

01:31

TO SAVE TRUMP FROM SOME

01:33

PERSONAL EMBARRASSMENT.

01:33

IT WASN'T JUST THAT.

01:34

THE PURPOSE IS THE INDICTMENT

01:36

MAKES CLEAR TO HIDE DAMAGING

01:38

INFORMATION FROM THE VOTING

01:38

PUBLIC.

01:39

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.

01:41

JOINING ME NOW IS OUR IN-HOUSE

01:44

LAW FIRM, EVERYONE'S FEEL LEGAL

01:47

AIDE, THE FORMER ACTOR OF

01:50

SOLICITOR GENERAL, AND THE

01:51

FORMER GENERAL COUNSEL AT FBI,

01:53

ROBERT MUELLER'S TEAM.

01:55

AND SO LET'S START WITH THE

01:57

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, SHOULD WE

01:58

SAY?

01:59

ON FRIDAY, YOU KNOW, AS I JUST

02:01

WALKED THROUGH.

02:03

TRUMP'S TEAM ATTEMPTED TO DELAY

02:04

THIS FURTHER BY ACCUSING THE

02:07

JUDGE OF BIAS BECAUSE HIS

02:09

DAUGHTER IS INVOLVED IN

02:10

POLITICAL WORK.

02:11

CLEARLY THERE IS NOT A LOT OF

02:13

BASIS THERE OR NO BASIS.

02:15

I KNOW YOU AND ANDREW HAVE SAID

02:17

THAT.

02:17

IS THIS JUST TO SOW DOUBT?

02:20

WHAT IS THE PLAY HERE?

02:21

>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

02:22

THERE'S NO BASIS, JEN.

02:24

LET ME START BY SAYING AS

02:26

SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY PAYS HIS

02:28

TAXES, I'M GLAD TO SEE APRIL 15

02:30

ACTUALLY HAVING SOME

02:31

CONSEQUENCE FOR DONALD TRUMP.

02:33

THAT WILL BE THE DAY THE TRIAL

02:34

WON'T START.

02:36

I THINK THAT IT WILL START

02:38

DESPITE THE LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT

02:39

TO EUDILIA.

02:40

>> YOU DON'T THINK IT WILL BE

02:42

DELAYED?

02:43

>> I DON'T.

02:44

TRUMP'S DECISION, ALL

02:45

THROUGHOUT HIS LEGAL STRATEGY

02:47

AND HIS FIRST LIE AND THEN DENY

02:48

AND DELAY.

02:49

WE ARE ON THE DELAY PHASE OF

02:51

THIS AND HIS LAST DITCH EFFORT

02:53

TO SAY THE JUDGE IS GETTING,

02:55

YOU KNOW, KICKBACKS FOR SOME

02:58

MONEY FROM HIS DAUGHTER THROUGH

02:59

THIS.

03:01

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS PROPOS

03:06

THROWS.

03:07

I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT DONALD

03:10

TRUMP WILL BE CONVICTED AT THE

03:12

END OF THE TRIAL.

03:17

THE FIRST FORMER PRESIDENT TO

03:20

HAVE BEEN CONVICTED CRIMINALLY.

03:21

>> MAYBE.

03:22

THERE IS A LOT TO WATCH AND IT

03:24

IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO

03:25

REMEMBER.

03:26

SO ANDREW, AS YOU NOTED ON TOP

03:28

OF FALSIFYING THE BUSINESS

03:29

RECORDS, BUT WE FORGET AS THIS

03:31

IS WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO

03:32

ROLL UP THROUGH IT.

03:34

BUT TO CONCEAL HIS MOTIVE,

03:37

WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY TO HOLD

03:38

BACK INFORMATION FROM VOTERS

03:39

HERE.

03:39

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

03:41

I'M ASKING YOU TO GO A LITTLE

03:42

META HERE.

03:43

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS WILL

03:46

TELL US ABOUT WHAT HE'S CAPABLE

03:49

OF OR HOW HE MIGHT APPROACH

03:51

THIS MOVING FORWARD.

03:53

>> WELL, I THINK WE SAW THE

03:57

SAME STRATEGY THAT HE USED IN

03:58

2016 AS ALLEGED.

04:00

WE SAW IT IN CONNECTION WITH

04:02

THE IMPEACH -- THE FIRST

04:04

IMPEACHMENT WITH HIS EFFORTS TO

04:06

GET UKRAINE TO SAY THAT THEY

04:08

WERE DOING AN INVESTIGATION

04:08

INTO THE BIDENS.

04:10

NOW REMEMBER THAT'S ALL HE

04:11

CARED ABOUT.

04:12

HE JUST WANTED THE APPEARANCE

04:14

OF AN INVESTIGATION.

04:15

WE THEN SAW IT IN ITS EFFORTS

04:17

WITH JEFFREY CLARK AT THE

04:19

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

04:20

HE WANTED THEM TO SAY THAT

04:22

THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO

04:23

FRAUD.

04:24

AND ALL OF THESE ARE EFFORTS TO

04:27

MISLEAD THE PUBLIC IN AN

04:28

ELECTION.

04:29

AND THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

04:30

THE ALLEGATIONS IN 2016 THAT

04:32

ARE GOING TO GO TO TRIAL AND

04:34

WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS A

04:36

LITTLE BIT LIKE WHAT YOU

04:38

COVERED WITH JANET NAPOLITANO.

04:40

JUST THE BRAZENNESS THAT NOW

04:41

HE'S OPENLY SAYING, YOU KNOW

04:44

WHAT, THERE IS NO SHAME.

04:46

I'M NOT GOING TO FIRE HIM

04:48

BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID IN

04:49

UKRAINE.

04:49

I'M GOING TO HIRE A FELON.

04:53

I'M GOING TO RUN ON PARDONING

04:56

PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD DUE PROCESS

04:58

AS JANET NAPOLITANO SO RIGHTLY

04:59

PUT OUT.

05:01

SHE'S GOTTEN MUCH MORE BRAZEN,

05:02

BUT IT'S THE SAME STRATEGY.

05:04

>> YEAH, I MEAN THE BRAZENNESS

05:06

IS SUCH A GOOD -- SPEAKING OF

05:08

BRAZENNESS.

05:09

I MEAN HE COMPARED HIMSELF TO

05:11

NELSON MANDELA.

05:12

I MEAN IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

05:15

YEOMEN HE SAID HE WAS WILLING

05:17

TO GO TO JAIL.

05:19

HE'S, OF COURSE, EVEN DESPITE

05:20

THE GAG ORDER.

05:21

AND HOW DOES THIS IMPACT?

05:23

IT LOOKS LIKE AN OBVIOUS

05:24

QUESTION.

05:25

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT HIS CASE?

05:26

>> RIGHT.

05:27

FIRST OF ALL NELSON MANDELA, A

05:30

STEP DOWN FROM HIS EARLIER

05:31

COMPARISON TO JESUS CHRIST.

05:33

>> AND IT IS JUST LIKE YOU

05:35

CAN'T MAKE IT UP SOMETIMES.

05:38

>> LEGALLY NONE OF THIS IS

05:42

GOING ANYWHERE AND THAT IS THE

05:44

BEAUTY, 12 JURORS.

05:46

AND THESE KINDS OF NONSENSE

05:47

ARGUMENTS WILL GO NOWHERE.

05:49

SO THAT IS WHY IT WILL BE

05:51

CONVICTED AND I SUSPECT EVEN

05:53

DESPITE THAT NATURALIZATION

05:54

DOWN IN FLORIDA ON THE STOLEN

05:56

DOCUMENTS INVESTIGATION.

05:57

SHOULD THAT CASE GO TO TRIAL

05:58

AND HE'S TRYING TO MAKE IT SO

05:59

IT DOES NOT.

06:01

BUT IF IT GOES TO TRIAL, HE'LL

06:04

BE CONVICTED THERE AS WELL.

06:06

>> AND I MEAN WE WILL SEE.

06:08

WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, AND

06:10

YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL.

06:12

I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT JUDGE

06:14

CANNON.

06:14

SHE REJECTED TRUMP'S MOTION TO

06:16

DISMISS THE CASE, BUT WON'T

06:18

RULE ON HIS ARGUMENTS.

06:19

IT'S HANGING OUT THERE THAT HIS

06:20

PERSONAL PROPERTY IS KIND OF

06:22

COULD BE A PART OF HIS, YOU

06:24

KNOW, VIOLATES THE PRESIDENT.

06:26

IT DOESN'T VIOLATE THEIR ACTS I

06:27

SHOULD SAY.

06:28

BUT IF YOU'RE JACK SMITH.

06:29

I MEAN WHAT DO YOU DO?

06:31

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THIS CASE?

06:33

>> I THINK THAT HE WILL HAVE TO

06:36

PUSH HER FOR A PRETRIAL RULING.

06:38

THAT HE CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS TO

06:41

RESOLVE AT TRIAL AND BECAUSE IT

06:42

WILL CATCH THEM.

06:43

I SUSPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO

06:46

SEE THAT CONTINUED EFFORT TO

06:47

GET A RULING.

06:48

AND THEN IF SHE DOES NOT RULE,

06:50

I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE SOME

06:52

SORT OF AN APPEAL, WHETHER IT

06:54

IS TECHNICALLY AN APPEAL THAT

06:56

THEY WON'T GET INTO THAT.

06:58

BUT I DO THINK THAT HE HAS TO

07:01

PUSH FOR THE PRETRIAL RULINGS

07:02

BECAUSE OF HER CONDUCT HERE.

07:04

>> EVERYONE IS GOING TO LEARN

07:05

THAT TERM.

07:06

SO YOU SHOULD GOOGLE IT NOW.

07:08

AND I'M SURE THEY WILL BE

07:10

TALKING ABOUT IT SOON.