Donald Trump doomed one of his legal defenses during his interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker that aired on Sunday’s broadcast of “Meet the Press,” legal experts said.
Trump told Welker it was his decision — and not that of his lawyers — to challenge the 2020 election result.
“Were you calling the shots, though, Mr. President, ultimately?” Welker asked Trump. The ex-president replied: “As to whether or not I believed it was rigged? Oh, sure … it was my decision. But I listened to some people. Some people said that.”
WATCH: Kristen Welker asks former President Trump to clarify if he was listening to his lawyers’ advice or his own instincts after he lost the 2020 election.
Trump: “It was my decision.” pic.twitter.com/ib4D5rKfqN — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 17, 2023
Harvard constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe said Trump “just threw his whole ‘following my lawyers’ advice’ defense under the bus.”
“No, let me correct that: not just under the bus but under a roaring, speeding, ginormous freight train,” Tribe added on X, formerly Twitter.
Trump just threw his whole “following my lawyers’ advice” defense under the bus.
— not just under the bus but under a roaring, speeding, ginormous freight train . . . .
🚂🚆 🚊 🚂 https://t.co/FmHKgz6qIr — Laurence Tribe 🇺🇦 ⚖️ (@tribelaw) September 17, 2023
Former acting solicitor general Neal Katyal, appearing on MSNBC’s “Inside With Jen Psaki,” agreed.
The Obama-era Department of Justice official said Trump’s comment had just made the election obstruction case against him before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan “a lot easier.”
Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, meanwhile, told Psaki it was actually a “twofer” admission from the former president because Trump also admitted to Welker that he’d demanded the votes stop being counted.
“He just said it on air to NBC, ‘Stop counting the votes.’ Well, that’s not allowed,” Weissmann said.
PaydayJones on September 18th, 2023 at 11:09 UTC »
This is one of the more baffling things throughout his history. I have no idea how he secures new attornies. He, notoriously, doesn't pay for services rendered. On top of that, it seems, whenever a defense is being built that involves him 'not knowing' or 'not understanding' his actions, he pulls a full on Colonel Jessup either on camera or on Truth.
bondbird on September 18th, 2023 at 11:07 UTC »
Quoting - “Were you calling the shots, though, Mr. President, ultimately?” Welker asked Trump. The ex-POTUS replied: “As to whether or not I believed it was rigged? Oh, sure … it was my decision. But I listened to some people. Some people said that.”
And it was your decision, Mr. Trump, to go on national TV and brag about it, because you don't think that 'anything you say can and will be used against you' applies to you.
Professional_Dr_77 on September 18th, 2023 at 11:06 UTC »
Crazy man talks shit and ignores all advice given to him because he has the bigliest brain, news at 11!!