Trump lawyer says he will take stand in fraud trial regardless of gag order

[brooklynite]

The Hill

Former President Trump’s attorney Alina Habba claimed Friday that her client would take the stand on Monday in his civil fraud trial, despite the judge’s gag order and discouragement from his legal team.

“I will say and I still say that having any client get on a stand with a gag order as limited or large as this is a First Amendment violation,” Habba argued in an interview with Fox News’s Martha Maccallum. “And you should not respect the court and give them the opportunity to hear you.”

“But, he is going to take the stand regardless and he will navigate it,” she added.

The attorney explained that while she didn’t want to block the former president from speaking on his behalf, he wouldn’t be able to give his testimony “fully and completely” under the gag order, which bars Trump and his counsel from speaking about the staff of the judge overseeing the case.

[TSExile]

1. Boy howdy

I don't know whether to cringe or bust out the popcorn!!!

[elleng]

2. So he's gonna 'talk about,' slander the staff of the judge,

as relevant to matters in the civil fraud trial?

[ms liberty]

3. Damn. And I'm out of popcorn!

[Sal_NV]

5. Here, have some of mine.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Surely he doesn't pay her for legal advice.

[Maru Kitteh]

16. Somebody's paying her for something. Her lips keep getting bigger.

At the last press farce, she looked like she had some sort of glassblowing accident.

[Bobstandard]

17. Glassblowing accident. OMG that's good! nt

[brewens]

27. As we say, nice set of pipefitter lips. :)

[RockRaven]

6. That's one of those statements which seems wrong or dumb in so many

different ways that it isn't even worth bothering to address it other than to say "what nonsense!"

[Hermit-The-Prog]

28. I can't decipher it. My brain wants to just slosh around for a while now.

[multigraincracker]

7. Good. The more he talks,

the more trouble for him.

[LudwigPastorius]

8. Taking bets on how long, under cross exam, he will perjure himself.

I've 25 seconds.

[TSExile]

13. How about...

...as soon as he opens up his mouth?

[Demobrat]

9. Witch hunt. Election interference. Racist prosecutor.

Case should have never happened. Properties undervalued. Bla Bla Bla. He’s probably chomping at the bit to get up there and campaign.

[BComplex]

10. If he attacks the Clerk, or staff, he might be sent immediately to jail.

That's what I think he's aiming for. He thinks it's going to start a civil war. He needs to quit listening to Bannon and the other idiots.

[Ferrets are Cool]

11. I'm still looking for the Onion moniker.

[DET]

12. I Don't Get It

I don’t understand what Trump thinks he’ll gain from testifying. His testimony won’t be televised, so any drama he creates while on the stand will be wasted - except when he spins it up later. The gag order shouldn’t impact his testimony one way or the other. Presumably, he’ll be asked pointed questions to which he is expected to provide factual answers, not opinions. If he attempts to smear the court or anyone else, I assume that he’ll be cut short. Meanwhile, of course, he’ll lie his ass off during his testimony, putting himself in further jeopardy. So what does he expect to gain from testifying?

[sprinkleeninow]

14. Perhaps a 'messianic' complex. Being brought before *pontius pilate*. eom

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Same Here

I've testified in court. Being a witness is not a stage on which to perform. It's very controlled.
Also like you, I'm curious as to how an order to not talk about staff limits one's ability to testify.
He's already been found culpable. Attacking staff doesn't help limit damages.
That said, Habba is not showing herself to be a brilliant attorney so this could just be another mistake on her part.

[Simeon Salus]

15. If he continues even after being told to stop, he may be held in contempt

It's possible he wants to spend one night in jail so he can claim abuse by the judge later at the appeals level.

[duckworth969]

22. I agree

Major grifting possibilities if he gets jailed. He will raise millions off of being incarcerated.

[orleans]

18. hysterical! good. take the stand. run your mouth.

monday, huh? well, that's something else for me to look forward to!

btw--what the fuck was habba trying to say with this:
"with a gag order as limited or large as this"
as limited or large?
which is it?

[jmowreader]

19. Ms. Habba, what is the first rule of trial procedure?

“Never allow the defendant to take the stand?”

I swear people, y’all are about to enjoy a new recipe which consists of one part Philip Queeg, one part Nathan Jessup and three parts Sakrete.

[SalamanderSleeps]

20. Alina Habba clearly does not understand what goes on in a court of law.

“I will say and I still say that having any client get on a stand with a gag order as limited or large as this is a First Amendment violation,”

You can say anything you want in a court of law. Gag order or not.

However, you might have to righteously endure the results of your testimony.

Trump is driving a flaming clown car.

The fiery crash will be spectacular as it devours 300 lbs of fat, stinky, privileged, blubber.

Still, it's reasonable to assume that a psychopath like Trump will drag this whole mess out as long as he is the center of attention.

[Bluesaph]

21. He's trying to be locked up

So te whackos can begin the revolution.

[no_hypocrisy]

23. NYAG James strategy:

1. Let Trump blather, even the irrelevant stuff.
2. James makes a motion to strike his testimony from the record.
3. Judge Engoran grants the motion.
4. Trump's statements are not preserved for appeal.

[Voltaire2]

25. Makes zero sense, but that's not unexpected.

[bucolic_frolic]

26. INRW

Incoming Nuclear Rant and Whining

[LiberalFighter]

29. Aren't there any standards for attorneys?

Is she there for looks? Even if I didn't know her history and connection with the dimwit she would not be appealing to me.

[C_U_L8R]

30. So much for knowing your client

Trump already chickened out of testifying.

[Think. Again.]

31. I'm sure a gag order doesn't apply to legitimate testimony...

...and I'm pretty sure no court official is pertinent to his case in any way that would make that court official any part of his legitimate testimony.

These people are testing the boundaries of complete adsurdity.