Former President Donald Trump took the stand in a $250 million civil fraud trial in New York, facing allegations of deceptive business practices. The lawsuit, led by State Attorney General Letitia James, involves Trump, his two eldest sons, and their family business.
MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell broke down Trump’s testimony on his show, The Last Word, and pointed out a significant blunder. When questioned about who in the Trump Organization was responsible for detecting and preventing fraud, Trump’s one-word response was Everybody.
O’Donnell didn’t hold back, stating that Trump’s answer was the stupidest possible thing he could say and effectively demolished any defense for himself, Donald Trump Jr., and Eric Trump. The judge in the case had already determined Trump’s involvement in fraud based on evidence presented by the attorney general’s office.
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Now, the question is how severe the penalties will be, ranging from $50 million to $250 million. Trump’s role as a witness was to shift blame away from himself and his sons onto accountants or other employees to potentially reduce the penalty. Instead, he incriminated himself and his children by admitting that everyone in the Trump Organization was responsible for fraud prevention and detection.
O’Donnell also noted that Trump contradicted himself several times during his testimony and seemed unaware of his own business affairs. He criticized Trump’s legal team for their ineffectiveness in preparing their client for basic questions.
In conclusion, O’Donnell described Trump’s testimony as a disaster for his defense and suggested that his only remaining option is to appeal the judge’s decision, a process that could take years and incur significant legal costs.
The civil fraud trial is set to continue, with more witnesses and evidence to be presented. The attorney general’s office is also seeking to bar Trump and his sons from serving as directors of New York-based nonprofit organizations for a decade as part of the penalty.
