Per his own words, he doesn’t think he’s ever made a mistake or done anything wrong. Therefore, how could he be guilty? Everyone is just being mean and unfair to him.
I’m always reluctant to go with Trump is dumb explanations, because he was smart enough to once get elected president despite lack of any qualification. But, yes, the idea of closing off “I did it for Melania” sounds bad for his case.
Kellyanne seems to know better:
P.S. Of course, If he was really — we are talking about conservatives, so I am going to use one of their words — henpecked, he never would have gotten into this particular mess.
But if the bribery scheme was executed behind his back, without his knowledge……then he couldn’t have done it to appease Melania, because he claims he didn’t do it at all.
If my defense for murder is “some other guy did it”, I can’t also claim self-defense.
ETA- PhillyGuy. I didn’t read your post carefully enough I see now you were basically agreeing with me.
I believe placing blame on accountants would be an affirmative defense. i.e. Trump won’t be able to use this defense without first submitting credible evidence to and getting the approval of Judge Merchan. i.e. The defense can’t just use this in the hopes of planting seeds of reasonable doubt.
It can happen under Massachusetts’ one day/one trial jury system.
I can see the arguments for and against. Against, that the attorney will try to dominate deliberations with her/his own interpretations of the law. For, that lawyers more than lay jurors understand the need to follow the judge’s instructions.
That probably won’t stop him from trying that defense anyway. He’s like the lawyer getting sued by the rental car company who simultaneously argues…
- I never rented the car
- The dent was there when I got it
- I was parked when the car hit me so you should sue him.
- I only crashed because you leased me a car with bad brakes.
- Maybe I did run over my parents, but the court should go easy on me since I’m an orphan
There would be an argument that, with Trump under gag orders and sitting in courtrooms, his Election 2024 team are able to run a much, much more disciplined and effective campaign. No candidate running off message. Diversions to spinning, backing out and clarifications of unhelpful quotes from the podium. Trump’s chances of winning the election are substantially less if he’s out on the hustings projecting the Real Donald Trump, shooting his mouth off focused on personal aggrievements rather than policy.
- The car was in perfect condition when I returned it.
I think that fundamentally misunderstands his appeal. His entire brand is Some People Just Want to Watch the World Burn; and without him out there throwing cherry bombs into the crowd, his appeal withers away.
Those people aren’t for changing their minds, and there aren’t enough of them to win any state.
I have twice been in jury selection when we were sent out for lunch early. The reason being, once the accused saw that shit was getting real, they asked for the plea after all.
I did not feel my time had been wasted, a few hours to save the state thousands of dollars paying for a trial wasn’t a bad thing to me. Of course, I was a government employee at the time, attending jury duty was a welcome break from the usual grind and we got our full pay (but had to turn our 10 dollar pay check into the state).
Kinda surprised the defense didn’t strike the juror from Puerto Rico. Maybe they’ll accept jurors from some of those shithole countries next.
But what do I know, watch that guy turn out to be the lone holdout to acquit him.
I know it wouldn’t actually be allowed, but that guy should turn up one day holding a roll of paper towels.
LOL! I was thinking the same thing, but you beat me to it. “Hey, I actually caught a roll that President Trump threw in Puerto Rico!”
“Didn’t help much, but still …”
In the only jury I have served on, I was the only person wearing a suit. I’m pretty sure that’s why I was elected foreman.
I’m pretty sure he wasn’t actually wanting to win, like the UK Brexit people. His gain was free advertising for his brand. Just he was too stupid to actually lose.
Can the prosecution put the defense attorneys on the stand and ask, under oath, if there’s any evidence that Trump has ever payed an attorney for actual legal services?
I can almost picture Chump saying:
Honest! I ran outta gas.
I had a flat tire.
I didn’t have enough money for cab fare.
My tux didn’t come back from the cleaners.
An old friend came in from outta town.
Someone stole my car.
There was an earthquake, a terrible flood, locusts!
It wasn’t my fault! I swear to God!
Hope the final chapter is the same as in the film! 
I’d rather see the slightly earlier ending where he’s dropped from orbit.