'Expect a dueling narrative': Analyst suggests expert witness’ $900K pay could undermine case

New York University accounting professor Eli Bartov, an expert witness in former President Donald Trump's $250 million New York civil fraud trial's hefty compensation could ultimately impact his testimony — according to CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson.

Paid both by the Trump Organization and the MAGA hopeful's Save America PAC, NBC News reports, although "it's not unusual for a defendant in a trial to pay expert witness fees — in this case, the Trump Organization — the use of campaign-oriented funds underscores the large amount of money being spent by Trump's PAC on his legal battles."

CNN host Victor Blackwell on Sunday morning asked Jackson, "This accounting professor that you mentioned, Eli Bartov — Trump's defense team called him as an expert witness to defend the valuation of these properties. He was paid $1350 per hour for 650 hours of work totaling $877,500 in this case. Nothing wrong with an expert witness being paid for their time, but does that six-figure payday undermine the testimony at all?"

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Jackson replied, "Well, that's certainly going to be the argument. From the beginning of time in trials the argument is that you have an expert who is going to spin your narrative. That expert being bought and paid for, that expert having and embracing something you want them to say, the expert using their expertise, right, the nature of their prior reputation and all of their experience to spin things in the manner of your liking. Now you add the other component that, 'You're paid, sir. You're paid that amount of money. $850,000. Boy, is that a lot. $1350 an hour. What else would you say, sir?'

He continued, "So expect a dueling narrative. On the one hand, Trump's team will say 'This is a vast empire. He had to evaluate a number of things. Of course he will be paid for it. And you know what? He's the very best. That's why he is worth $1350.' The other side will say what I did just say, and that is that 'He's bought, he's paid for, you can't trust a thing that he says. What else do you anticipate out of his mouth?' So whatever narrative the judge buys is one that that is going to carry the day because this is, you know, a bench trial."

Watch the video below or at this link.

'Whatever narrative the judge buys': Analyst suggests expert witness' $800K pay could undermine caseyoutu.be

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