Former President Donald Trump’s Thursday courtroom tirade could backfire, legal experts warn.

Trump attorney Chris Kise asked Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing Trump’s New York fraud trial, to allow Trump to speak on his own behalf during closing arguments. Engoron asked Trump if he would agree to stick to the facts and relevant law but the former president launched into a lengthy diatribe, accusing the judge and New York Attorney General Letitia James of waging a “political witch hunt” and demanding “damages” because the real “fraud is on me.”

During one portion of his rant, Trump referred to a key allegation in James’ lawsuit alleging that the former president’s Trump Tower penthouse was valued at three times larger than it actually is.

“They made a mistake. It was an honest mistake,” Trump said.

James’ team allowed Trump to speak until the judge ultimately shut him down and pleaded for Kise to “control your client.”

“There may be a reason that James’ staff didn’t interrupt,” wrote NBC News legal analyst Lisa Rubin. “The AG’s office may have struck gold because some of what Trump said was so damaging to him, especially his explanation of the triplex square footage ‘error.’

    • @PlasticExistence
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      211 months ago

      A quick death is too good for him. Make him rot in solitary confinement until he dies alone with nobody to listen to his insanity.

      • @TallonMetroid
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        111 months ago

        But then we’d have to continue to subsidize his existence. Screw that noise, he’s already leeched enough out of us.

        • @PlasticExistence
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          111 months ago

          But he’d hate every second of it. It would be the ultimate punishment for his ego and narcissism.

          • @Olhonestjim
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            111 months ago

            Then the next fascist comes along and pardons him.