Why Trump’s Rant In Court Was A Bad Idea

I keep thinking about Judge Engoron's last-minute question to the New York Attorney General's lawyer yesterday: "How would you compare the fraud you are alleging to the Madoff Ponzi Scheme?" 1/

— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) January 12, 2024

Lots of loose speculation, anger, outrage, about Trump’s rant in closing arguments in the NY fraud case. But it seems Judge Engoron got Trump on the record for a final judgement that may support canceling his ability to do business in New York.

And he added that Trump & the other defendants used the money they procured to build properties of which they are "very proud," but the lies they told to a bank to "get that much revenue" remain "a very significant issue." 3/

— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) January 12, 2024

According to the AG's office, permanent injunctive relief is appropriate where there is a reasonable likelihood that the violation will continue. 5/

— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) January 12, 2024

Bernie Madoff pled guilty in federal court, and at his plea hearing, he made a lengthy statement detailing his criminal conduct, how long it went on, and the methods he used to implement and conceal his Ponzi scheme. 7/

— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) January 12, 2024

It's true that Madoff was facing life (and death) in prison, and at least on the allegations advanced in the AG's case, Trump is not. And I certainly don't and can't know whether Madoff's contrition was genuine or manufactured to reduce his sentence. 9/

— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) January 12, 2024

And in the other, there is no daylight between the generations of men; the patriarch and his progeny alike have zero regrets. Worse, given an opportunity to address the court, Trump railroaded the same judge he's been publicly attacking (and endangering) for months. 11/

— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) January 12, 2024

And still, Trump -- facing 91 felony counts in addition to multiple significant civil suits -- cannot acknowledge a shred of wrongdoing. "This is no fraud," he insisted. "This is a fraud on me." Read it for yourself here: https://t.co/brz2vOseCl

FIN.

— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) January 13, 2024

Trump actually prepared that rant. He may come to regret it, if he could ever understand that he makes mistakes. But then, he’d have to understand his mouth will get him into trouble just as he thinks it has gotten him out of trouble.

Yeah, that’ll happen.