Poll: Will Defendant Trump Testify In His First Criminal Trial?

[nu2u]

Setting aside his attorney’s grave concerns. I can’t see why he would. Most of the prosecution’s case is supposedly documentary evidence. Still, he’ll no doubt be on fire as he listens to former WH confidants and Trump org officers testify for the government.

Weisselberg would normally be the key witness for the defense but he is currently doing a second stint in the cooler. Another former Trump Co. employee, Jeffrey McConney is a government witness.

 

[millah_22]

No way he testifies.

 

[HROT]

What’s more severe, highly unlikely or slim chance?

 

[nu2u]

What’s more severe, highly unlikely or slim chance?

I fooked up, never hit enter until you have reviewed the poll questions

 

[Scott559]

I think he will, He just can’t resist the chance to tell Rally goers how “Many men, Strong men came up to me with tears in their eyes and said Sir that was the most brilliant testimony I have ever witnessed and they told me they will visit me in jail as well.”

 

[BioHawk]

I sure hope so. Although any lawyer that allows this should be disbarred.

 

[TheCainer]

He would perjure himself for sure if he testifies.

 

[millah_22]

He would perjure himself for sure if he testifies.

Almost immediately.

 

[jawatkins]

I hope he does.

 

[DirtyJohns97]

He would perjure himself for sure if he testifies.

Oh great, more trials that will never amount to anything

 

[Scott559]

I sure hope so. Although any lawyer that allows this should be disbarred.

Never underestimate the power of piss poor lawyering!

 

[nu2u]

I sure hope so. Although any lawyer that allows this should be disbarred.

That’s the rub. The right to testify can only be waived by the defendant. The attorneys have no veto if he elects to testify. However, the attorneys could find themselves in trouble if they assist false/perjury testimony.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

That’s the rub. The right to testify can only be waived by the defendant. The attorneys have no veto if he elects to testify. However, the attorneys could find themselves in trouble if they assist false/perjury testimony.

Direct examination: Mr. Trump. Do you want to say anything to the jury?

Sit down.

 

[nu2u]

Direct examination: Mr. Trump. Do you want to say anything to the jury?

Sit down.

Yep, that would be the safest route, probably the most appropriate professional conduct knowing how he has previously testified under oath.

 

[lucas80]

I can see him testifying. This is all a PR exercise to him. Yes, he’s nervous, but he doesn’t think he’ll ever go to jail. If he’s elected in November he gets a 4 year pass, and the DoJ to attempt to gum things up. Even if he willingly leaves office in 2029 to him that’s when the appeals clock starts. If he doesn’t win in November he still plans on years of appeals.
He is desperate, and he’s convinced of his ability to sell the jury a version of reality that exonerates him. And, again, I think he wants the limelight and a fight with Merchan and Bragg’s office.
There has also been reporting that Melania is pushing for him to testify because she is still humiliated by the story. And, if he testifies horribly and goes to jail, that’s a win for her.

 

[DooBi]

Whichever choice is equivalent to "not a chance in hell".

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

He won’t.

He’ll claim he wanted to but his lawyers told him he’d be screwed by the judge so he reluctantly decided not to.

 

[KFsdisciple]

I think he testifies in the narrative as others have stated in this thread if he's dumb enough to testify. Essentially a lawyer can't ask questions they believe will result in false answers, so essentially they will swear him in and Trump will say whatever he wants without the usual question and answer format from his lawyers.

 

[jawatkins]

I think he testifies in the narrative as others have stated in this thread if hes dumb enough to testify. Essentially a lawyer can't ask questions they believe will result in false answers, so Essentially they will swear him in and Trump will say whatever he wants without the usual question and answer format from his lawyers.

Did you type this out and think it made sense?

 

[KFsdisciple]

Did you type this out and think it made sense?

Yes, I did.

Testifying in the narrative means telling a story about an incident or transaction without prompting by an attorney with specific questions1. Narrative testimony is usually not allowed in court, unless the trial judge decides otherwise1. However, having a defendant testify in the narrative can be risky, as it may indicate that the defendant is lying and lead to a conviction2.

 

[lucas80]

Yes, I did.

Testifying in the narrative means telling a story about an incident or transaction without prompting by an attorney with specific questions1. Narrative testimony is usually not allowed in court, unless the trial judge decides otherwise1. However, having a defendant testify in the narrative can be risky, as it may indicate that the defendant is lying and lead to a conviction2.

It's cute that you think Trump could testify at length without an attorney holding his hand, and somehow keep his story straight, and not start numbing about how rich he is, and how he won bigly in 2020.

 

[KFsdisciple]

It's cute that you think Trump could testify at length without an attorney holding his hand, and somehow keep his story straight, and not start numbing about how rich he is, and how he won bigly in 2020.

Wait did I say that? No in fact...I said he'd be DUMB to testify. He's going to lose bigly in this like he lost in 2020

 

[SSG T]

It's his choice, but if I was his lawyer I do everything I can to get him to not take the stand.

 

[CRazzle]

Very unlikely, but that little mushroom will grow one millimeter knowing it would get good ratings if he did take the stand.

 

[FAUlty Gator]

No. But he will scream stuff from his defendant’s table like “Wrong” and “That’s a lie” and “Nobody cares”…and think it has the same impact as if he took the stand and doesn’t perjure himself. I bet that’s an actual strategy.

Because if he gets kicked out he can play the victim card. Genius.

 

[KFsdisciple]

No. But he will scream stuff from his defendant’s table like “Wrong” and “That’s a lie” and “Nobody cares”…and think it has the same impact as if he took the stand and doesn’t perjure himself. I bet that’s an actual strategy.

Because if he gets kicked out he can play the victim card. Genius.

If he starts doing that, I wonder if a judge could then compel him to formally testify?

 

[Finance85]

This is an interesting question. Will sanity overcome ego when it comes to Trump testifying?