Michael Steele says Alina Habba didn't know her mission

[struggle4progress]

Jennifer Bowers Bahney
Jan 27th, 2024, 10:28 am

... “I recall a comment that she made at one point where she was asked, would you rather be pretty or smart,” Steele said of Habba. “And her response was, ‘I would rather be pretty because I can fake being smart.’ So, the reality of it is that you need to be smart in the courtroom. You need to understand her reaction a lot of times…went to the drama, it was performative, it was to appease Trump. It was not to deal with the facts that were at hand.

“First off, this was not a case where you are trying to prevent him from being judged a sexual predator. They had already taken place. This is about something very different. She seemed to be out of sorts with what her mission was, and actually wound up costing her client I think an incredible amount of money” ...

https://www.mediaite.com/trump/michael-steele-claims-trump-lawyer-alina-habba-didnt-know-her-mission-in-performative-defense/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20recall%20a,were%20at%20hand.

[dchill]

1. On the other hand, she performed...

... exactly as her client dictated.

[EarlG]

7. Right -- crazy isn't it

He thinks this is “fighting” but really what he just did was spend around $100 million in order to loudly advertise to the world that — just in case you weren’t paying attention! — he’s still a vile rapist who can’t control himself.

Money well spent?

[yardwork]

8. It's what he wanted to buy.

A fool and his money...

[shelshaw]

17. Actually, a fool and other people's money

[agingdem]

39. That's right..

Last edited Sat Jan 27, 2024, 05:14 PM - Edit history (1)

she was obnoxious, insulting, and showed contempt for the judge and the jury...Trump in a skirt...

[Kid Berwyn]

2. One thing, Steele...

…it wasn’t what the lawyer did, it was what Trump did that cost him.

[yardwork]

10. I noticed that too.

Steele attempts to shift the blame to the lady lawyer. "She wasn't smart enough." No, Steele. Her client is a criminal who micromanaged his own defense. She did what her client paid her to do. Trump lost the case because of his own behavior.

[3Hotdogs]

27. Dunno. One of her first comments to the judge, "I don't now how to try this case."

Then there was the time the judge adjourned so she could have time to learn how to submit evidence.


I believe she was hired also, because she is "his type."

[Traildogbob]

30. 👏👏👏

Steel is the scorpion on a frogs back. He will sting and kill you when he gets across the water as soon as he gets the chance.

[DemMedic]

3. She's great!

I hope she represents trump in all of his cases.

[struggle4progress]

6. +

[Kennah]

41. Why the sarcasm? I support her as Trump's lawyer always.

[struggle4progress]

4. What Alina Habba said after the verdict

By Ashima Grover
Jan 27, 2024 03:41 PM IST

... Habba was met with an uproarious response from the media as she stepped out of the court following the E Jean Carroll defamation case verdict. One of the journalists at the gathering quickly shot the question if she was having second thoughts about representing the former US President. Habba retorted with a fiery answer to the question, claiming that she was not. “It is the proudest thing I could ever do”, she continued ...

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/this-is-what-donald-trumps-lawyer-alina-habba-had-to-say-after-the-e-jean-carroll-trial-verdict-101706344933583.html

[ProudMNDemocrat]

12. Sounds like Stockholm Syndrome in reverse.

Habba was way over her head.

[struggle4progress]

14. Sounds like Habba was dropped on her head

[usaf-vet]

37. She is going to get dropped sooner rather the later. Unless she is providing other service that keeps tfg happy.

[Kennah]

42. She responds, "At least I wasn't dropped on my face." Gotta maintain her looks, I mean legal skills.

[peggysue2]

21. LOL!

'Tis a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done.

All of it performative. Habba offered up the Fox News' defense: big on wild statements and accusations, short on legal foundation and/or knowledge. From what I read, Habba didn't know the basics of courtroom protocol--how to present exhibits, for instance.

Habba was little better than Trump representing himself. Good thing she collected that $2+ million fee in advance because she'll be the next in Donnie's Barrelrama, torched on social media.

E. Jean Carroll's lawyer in comparison outplayed the fraudsters at every turn. The jury's judgment is proof of that.

The whole sorry grifter group exposed themselves for what they were and are: Losers.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

32. Wonder if some legal fees make an under-the-table trip back to traitortrump.

[Timewas]

22. LOL

“It is the proudest thing I could ever do”, she continued ..."

She's proud of fucking the case up and costing him 83mil.

[leftyladyfrommo]

26. Her bar is pretty low. Honestly, I just don't

get her at all.

[appleannie1]

34. Some people are proud if they have a healthy bowel movement every day.

[cilla4progress]

45. Ummm...

Somethin' wrong with that?

[True Dough]

5. "and actually wound up costing her client, I think, an incredible amount of money"

If Trump ever pays anybody. And that includes Habba. He's notorious for stiffing lawyers.

[dchill]

11. I believe that in the end...

...after the appeals process is over, he HAS to pay it. Or they'll just take it.

[True Dough]

16. I hope you're right about that!

The bastard has found more than enough loopholes in his miserable life.

[dchill]

18. It's my understanding that in order to appeal the verdict....

...he has to post the actual amount of the verdict. If the appeal is lost, so is the posted amount.

[struggle4progress]

13. DeSantis will veto bill to have Florida taxpayers cover $5 Million of Trump's legal bills

by Zach Ament
January 26, 2024, 6:58 pm
Daily Digest, News, News Feed
https://uinterview.com/news/ron-desantis-says-he-will-veto-a-bill-to-have-florida-taxpayers-pay-5-million-of-trumps-legal-bills/

Yup, sounds like Alina's not gettin paid, cuz "Grabbem by the pussy" seems likely to stiff her

[dchill]

19. Such language! 😎

[TwilightZone]

20. She already got paid.

Her firm has received more than $6 million already. I think this bill was intended to reimburse the PACs who paid her firm.

[cojoel]

24. Why is it even legal for a PAC to cover these legal expenses?

The actions in the case were not performed as part of a campaign.

[TwilightZone]

25. Leadership PACs can pay legal fees for non-campaign items

https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-donations-legal-bills.html

[Captain Zero]

29. And how is it legal for a state to pay a PAC

that paid legal fees for da dump dump.

[struggle4progress]

9. Attorney roasts Alina Habba

Michael Luciano
Jan 26th, 2024, 11:15 pm

Tim Parlatore, who previously represented Trump, appeared on Friday’s installment of The Source, where Kaitlan Collins asked if Trump may be regretting choosing Habba for the job ...

“From my perspective, I would regret having her represent him. I mean, I do think that in both of these trials, he was essentially undefended and I think that it could’ve turned out differently. In the second trial, unfortunately, because of the way the first trial went, I don’t think anybody could’ve won the second trial. I think that once the issues were set up from the first trial, the second trial was a loser from the beginning. The question is, how big of a loser? And this goes back to, a jury’s gonna come up with a number. And you have to put on the best presentation to them to get them to come to a lower number. And so, all of these things that she did throughout the process I don’t think helps at all.”

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/ex-trump-attorney-roasts-alina-habba-after-massive-defamation-verdict-he-was-essentially-undefended/

[underpants]

15. Another opinion - no appeal

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218631226

Link to tweet

?s=20

[nuxvomica]

35. I've been wondering about that

All this talk of appealing every verdict got me wondering whether you need actual grounds for an appeal anymore or if you can just keep appealing every loss without reason. Most of the coverage doesn't get into why TFG keeps appealing but that tweet straightened it out for me. You need a "reversible error" and for that you may need objections.

[Kali]

38. in case folks don't/won't/can't go to X

Let me ruin the suspense for everyone. Trump doesn't have an appeal.

I know the talking heads on TV (who have never tried a case or appealed a jury verdict) have to mention it. Here's why it isn't going to fly.

To have a meritorious appeal, you have to preserve a reversible error at the trial level. This is why you hire competent counsel. You need someone who actually knows the rules of evidence and procedure.

Alina Habba had no clue what was occurring throughout the trial. She not only failed to preserve any remote grounds for appeal, like a moron, she repeatedly and unintentionally waived them over and over.

For example, she kept saying "no objection" as exhibits were entered into evidence.

It appeared to me that she was saying that because she that's something she had heard real lawyers say before.

Unfortunately for Mr. Trump, what she was doing over and over was waiving his ability to appeal over those evidentiary issues. Because she is a moron who would rather *play* lawyer than do the research to *be* a lawyer.

There's no appeal here. And because people have asked me in the past, no, there is no such thing as an incompetent counsel defense in civil cases. That's for criminal matters.

Take this verdict to the bank.
4:29 PM · Jan 26, 2024
·
3.1M
Views

[D23MIURG23]

23. Unfortunately for Alina there is no makeup that covers stupid.

Nobody but her is buying the "fake smart" act.

[patphil]

28. I would rather be pretty because I can fake being smart.

With that sentence, she told everyone she wasn't smart, and then she went on to prove it as Trump's lawyer.
But then, he also prefers women to be pretty rather than smart.
And so her foolish antics in the court resulted in the jury awarding Carroll $83.3 million.
Turns out neither of them is smart.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

36. traitortrump's viciousness resulted in the 83.3 million award

I don't know if the best team of lawyers in the world could have convinced the jury to award significantly less. traitortrump couldn't control himself in court or out.

[louis-t]

31. She's auditioning for Fox News.

She'll be their 'legal expert' soon. I don't think anyone will hire her to represent them. Her firm may take a hit also. They may fire her.

[Warpy]

33. Oh, Alina, had you been capable, you'd have chosen "smart,"

because "pretty" is not going to last all that much longer. We all turn 50, our bodies change practically overnight to signal to males that we no longer contain dewy young eggs ready for fertilization, and plastic surgery tends to make us grotesque instead of preserving some of our lost youth.

She's going to be fun to watch.

[Skittles]

40. LOL

TRUMP fakes being smart

[ZonkerHarris]

43. Trump thought his tough guy act would intimidate the judge and prosecutors but all it did was piss off the jurors.

He showed them he has no respect for them either.
Never piss off the people who are setting the judgement amount.

[jcgoldie]

44. Its not Habba's fault

She was playing to an audience of one just like every other yes-person who works for Trump. The legal arguments are not as important as parroting the boss and sucking up to him. They would be hamstrung even with the facts on their side because that is not their mission.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

46. 'Took away her coloring books': Morning Joe mocks Alina Habba as Trump eyes new lawyer

Morning Joe had fun laughing at Habba

Link to tweet

https://www.rawstory.com/alina-habba-trump-2667132581/

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough could hardly keep a straight face discussing attorney Alina Habba's work for Donald Trump in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case.

The former president suggested Tuesday night on Truth Social that he might be shopping for a new legal team to appeal his $83.3 million penalty, and "Morning Joe" panelist burst into laughter the news.

"Wonder why," Scarborough said, as his guests laughed......

"No, I mean, she's very angry," Scarborough continued. "At one point in the proceedings, and I've got to say as a lawyer, I've never seen this myself, so maybe she had a reason to be upset. You know, they took away her coloring books. There was a color-by-number thing on how to be a lawyer when you grow up, and she had -- the judge took them away.",....

"No, he's had bad lawyers," Scarborough added, "but at least they knew their way around the courtroom, and by the way, you either know your way around the courtroom or you don't, and speaking as a lawyer that didn't know his way around the courtroom, I can tell you, it can be a very frightening thing and you would not want to be in this type of case."

?si=dLK9otey87PDb2W2