Neal Katyal reveals why he 'strongly suspects' Trump will be convicted in hush money case
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
- ๐ 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.
- ๐ The motion is a repeat attempt, previously rejected in August, to delay the court proceedings which are set to begin in eight days.
- ๐ This is the first criminal trial of a former U.S. President in history, highlighting the significance of the case.
- ๐ญ 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'.
- ๐ The indictment emphasizes that the case is not about covering up an alleged affair but about hiding damaging information from the voting public.
- ๐๏ธ The trial's start date, April 15, is significant as it is also the tax deadline in the United States.
- ๐ค Robert Mueller's former team member and a former Solicitor General join to discuss the legal strategy and potential outcomes of the trial.
- โฐ Trump's legal strategy is described as 'deny, delay, and eudia', with the current focus being on delay.
- ๐จ 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.
- ๐ข 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.
- ๐ 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
๐ 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.
๐ฃ๏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
๐กDonald Trump
๐กCriminal Fraud Trial
๐กRecusal
๐กPolitical Bias
๐กFalsifying Business Records
๐กStormy Daniels
๐กHush Money Case
๐ก2016 Election
๐กRobert Mueller
๐กConcealment of Information
๐กDelay Tactics
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
>>> ON FRIDAY DONALD TRUMP AND
>>> ON FRIDAY DONALD TRUMP AND
HIS LAWYERS FILED A MOTION
ASKING THE JUDGE OVERSEEING HIS
CRIMINAL FRAUD TRIAL IN NEW
YORK TO RECUSE HIMSELF AGAINST
THE CASE.
THEY ARE ACCUSING THE JUDGE OF
POLITICAL BIAS AND IMPROPRIETY.
THAT ALREADY REJECTED IT IN
AUGUST.
AND THE LAST ATTEMPTS FOR TRUMP
TO DELAY THE COURT PROCEEDINGS.
WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE, WHICH
ARE SET TO BEGIN IN JUST EIGHT
DAYS.
SO AS WE ALL PREPARE FOR THE
FIRST CRIMINAL TRIAL OF A
FORMER PRESIDENT IN U.S.
HISTORY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND
OURSELVES WHAT EXACTLY THIS IS
ALL ABOUT.
I MEAN WE ALL KNOW TRUMP IS
CHARGED WITH 34 COUNTS OF
FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS TO
SILENCE ADULT FILM ACTRESS
STORMY DANIELS.
THAT'S WHY WE OFTEN CALL IT THE
HUSH MONEY CASE.
BUT AS SALACIOUS AS THAT
SOUNDS, IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW HE
COVERED UP HIS ALLEGED AFFAIR,
BUT ABOUT WHY.
LET'S REWIND THIS FOR A SECOND,
THE CLOCK BACK TO OCTOBER 2016
AND THE RELEASE OF THE INFAMOUS
HORRIBLE HOLLYWOOD TAPE.
HE WAS CONDEMNED IN RESPONSE TO
THAT BY MEMBERS OF HIS OWN
PARTY, TRUMP WAS.
SOME EVEN PULLED THEIR
ENDORSEMENTS.
SEVERAL CALLED ON HIM TO DROP
OUT IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH.
HAD THE DANIELS STORY GOTTEN
PUBLIC AT THAT TIME, SHE COULD
HAVE DAMAGED TRUMP'S CANDIDACY.
SO THE SCHEME TO PAY FOR HER
SILENCE AND COVER IT UP WASN'T
TO SAVE TRUMP FROM SOME
PERSONAL EMBARRASSMENT.
IT WASN'T JUST THAT.
THE PURPOSE IS THE INDICTMENT
MAKES CLEAR TO HIDE DAMAGING
INFORMATION FROM THE VOTING
PUBLIC.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
JOINING ME NOW IS OUR IN-HOUSE
LAW FIRM, EVERYONE'S FEEL LEGAL
AIDE, THE FORMER ACTOR OF
SOLICITOR GENERAL, AND THE
FORMER GENERAL COUNSEL AT FBI,
ROBERT MUELLER'S TEAM.
AND SO LET'S START WITH THE
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, SHOULD WE
SAY?
ON FRIDAY, YOU KNOW, AS I JUST
WALKED THROUGH.
TRUMP'S TEAM ATTEMPTED TO DELAY
THIS FURTHER BY ACCUSING THE
JUDGE OF BIAS BECAUSE HIS
DAUGHTER IS INVOLVED IN
POLITICAL WORK.
CLEARLY THERE IS NOT A LOT OF
BASIS THERE OR NO BASIS.
I KNOW YOU AND ANDREW HAVE SAID
THAT.
IS THIS JUST TO SOW DOUBT?
WHAT IS THE PLAY HERE?
>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THERE'S NO BASIS, JEN.
LET ME START BY SAYING AS
SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY PAYS HIS
TAXES, I'M GLAD TO SEE APRIL 15
ACTUALLY HAVING SOME
CONSEQUENCE FOR DONALD TRUMP.
THAT WILL BE THE DAY THE TRIAL
WON'T START.
I THINK THAT IT WILL START
DESPITE THE LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT
TO EUDILIA.
>> YOU DON'T THINK IT WILL BE
DELAYED?
>> I DON'T.
TRUMP'S DECISION, ALL
THROUGHOUT HIS LEGAL STRATEGY
AND HIS FIRST LIE AND THEN DENY
AND DELAY.
WE ARE ON THE DELAY PHASE OF
THIS AND HIS LAST DITCH EFFORT
TO SAY THE JUDGE IS GETTING,
YOU KNOW, KICKBACKS FOR SOME
MONEY FROM HIS DAUGHTER THROUGH
THIS.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS PROPOS
THROWS.
I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT DONALD
TRUMP WILL BE CONVICTED AT THE
END OF THE TRIAL.
THE FIRST FORMER PRESIDENT TO
HAVE BEEN CONVICTED CRIMINALLY.
>> MAYBE.
THERE IS A LOT TO WATCH AND IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO
REMEMBER.
SO ANDREW, AS YOU NOTED ON TOP
OF FALSIFYING THE BUSINESS
RECORDS, BUT WE FORGET AS THIS
IS WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO
ROLL UP THROUGH IT.
BUT TO CONCEAL HIS MOTIVE,
WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY TO HOLD
BACK INFORMATION FROM VOTERS
HERE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I'M ASKING YOU TO GO A LITTLE
META HERE.
BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS WILL
TELL US ABOUT WHAT HE'S CAPABLE
OF OR HOW HE MIGHT APPROACH
THIS MOVING FORWARD.
>> WELL, I THINK WE SAW THE
SAME STRATEGY THAT HE USED IN
2016 AS ALLEGED.
WE SAW IT IN CONNECTION WITH
THE IMPEACH -- THE FIRST
IMPEACHMENT WITH HIS EFFORTS TO
GET UKRAINE TO SAY THAT THEY
WERE DOING AN INVESTIGATION
INTO THE BIDENS.
NOW REMEMBER THAT'S ALL HE
CARED ABOUT.
HE JUST WANTED THE APPEARANCE
OF AN INVESTIGATION.
WE THEN SAW IT IN ITS EFFORTS
WITH JEFFREY CLARK AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
HE WANTED THEM TO SAY THAT
THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO
FRAUD.
AND ALL OF THESE ARE EFFORTS TO
MISLEAD THE PUBLIC IN AN
ELECTION.
AND THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE ALLEGATIONS IN 2016 THAT
ARE GOING TO GO TO TRIAL AND
WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS A
LITTLE BIT LIKE WHAT YOU
COVERED WITH JANET NAPOLITANO.
JUST THE BRAZENNESS THAT NOW
HE'S OPENLY SAYING, YOU KNOW
WHAT, THERE IS NO SHAME.
I'M NOT GOING TO FIRE HIM
BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID IN
UKRAINE.
I'M GOING TO HIRE A FELON.
I'M GOING TO RUN ON PARDONING
PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD DUE PROCESS
AS JANET NAPOLITANO SO RIGHTLY
PUT OUT.
SHE'S GOTTEN MUCH MORE BRAZEN,
BUT IT'S THE SAME STRATEGY.
>> YEAH, I MEAN THE BRAZENNESS
IS SUCH A GOOD -- SPEAKING OF
BRAZENNESS.
I MEAN HE COMPARED HIMSELF TO
NELSON MANDELA.
I MEAN IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
YEOMEN HE SAID HE WAS WILLING
TO GO TO JAIL.
HE'S, OF COURSE, EVEN DESPITE
THE GAG ORDER.
AND HOW DOES THIS IMPACT?
IT LOOKS LIKE AN OBVIOUS
QUESTION.
HOW DOES THIS IMPACT HIS CASE?
>> RIGHT.
FIRST OF ALL NELSON MANDELA, A
STEP DOWN FROM HIS EARLIER
COMPARISON TO JESUS CHRIST.
>> AND IT IS JUST LIKE YOU
CAN'T MAKE IT UP SOMETIMES.
>> LEGALLY NONE OF THIS IS
GOING ANYWHERE AND THAT IS THE
BEAUTY, 12 JURORS.
AND THESE KINDS OF NONSENSE
ARGUMENTS WILL GO NOWHERE.
SO THAT IS WHY IT WILL BE
CONVICTED AND I SUSPECT EVEN
DESPITE THAT NATURALIZATION
DOWN IN FLORIDA ON THE STOLEN
DOCUMENTS INVESTIGATION.
SHOULD THAT CASE GO TO TRIAL
AND HE'S TRYING TO MAKE IT SO
IT DOES NOT.
BUT IF IT GOES TO TRIAL, HE'LL
BE CONVICTED THERE AS WELL.
>> AND I MEAN WE WILL SEE.
WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, AND
YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL.
I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT JUDGE
CANNON.
SHE REJECTED TRUMP'S MOTION TO
DISMISS THE CASE, BUT WON'T
RULE ON HIS ARGUMENTS.
IT'S HANGING OUT THERE THAT HIS
PERSONAL PROPERTY IS KIND OF
COULD BE A PART OF HIS, YOU
KNOW, VIOLATES THE PRESIDENT.
IT DOESN'T VIOLATE THEIR ACTS I
SHOULD SAY.
BUT IF YOU'RE JACK SMITH.
I MEAN WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THIS CASE?
>> I THINK THAT HE WILL HAVE TO
PUSH HER FOR A PRETRIAL RULING.
THAT HE CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS TO
RESOLVE AT TRIAL AND BECAUSE IT
WILL CATCH THEM.
I SUSPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO
SEE THAT CONTINUED EFFORT TO
GET A RULING.
AND THEN IF SHE DOES NOT RULE,
I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE SOME
SORT OF AN APPEAL, WHETHER IT
IS TECHNICALLY AN APPEAL THAT
THEY WON'T GET INTO THAT.
BUT I DO THINK THAT HE HAS TO
PUSH FOR THE PRETRIAL RULINGS
BECAUSE OF HER CONDUCT HERE.
>> EVERYONE IS GOING TO LEARN
THAT TERM.
SO YOU SHOULD GOOGLE IT NOW.
AND I'M SURE THEY WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT IT SOON.
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
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