Ex-Prosecutor Breaks Down Possible ‘Calculated’ Move From Trump’s Legal Team
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Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann on Thursday explained why he believes Donald Trump’s legal team made a “calculated” move in not objecting to the more salacious details that adult film actor Stormy Daniels gave in testimony about having sex with the former president.
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles is “really experienced,” Weissmann told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell. “She doesn’t forget to object.”
“So when you have gamesmanship, I mean ― they want this in the case,” he added. “It is a distraction.”
“What’s the calculation?” O’Donnell asked.
“Wait until summation,” Weissmann replied. “They’re going to, in summation, say: ‘Oh, look what they did with the case. They tried to call Stormy Daniels. They wanted this to be as salacious as possible, because they don’t have a case, and they want to bring in all of this stuff.’”
“That’s why you heard about condoms. That’s why you heard about this, that and the other,” Weissmann went on. Daniels testified that Trump did not wear a condom during their sexual encounter.
It’s not a bad strategy, per se, and they “have to do something,” Weissmann acknowledged.
Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, on Thursday rejected the Trump team’s motion for mistrial. He pointed out that there were plenty of times when they could have objected to Daniels’ testimony while she was on the stand, but they chose not to.
Trump is accused of falsifying business documents to cover up a hush money payment to Daniels before the 2016 election. Daniels alleges she had sex with Trump in 2006. Trump denies the claims.
