'It will guarantee a conviction': Journalist says Trump is doomed if he takes witness stand

17 May 2024

Former President Donald Trump may take the stand in his own defense next week during his criminal trial proceedings — likely against the advice of his lawyers.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's team of prosecutors are planning to rest their case against Trump after the defense's cross-examination of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen concludes next week. Trump's attorneys have not yet said if they would call any witnesses in the case, and Trump himself has not yet ruled out his own testimony.

However, in a recent segment on MSNBC, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston, who has covered Trump for decades, said Trump testifying would be a gift to the prosecution.

"I'm sure his lawyers will counsel him, 'you do not want to take the witness stand.' But you know, Donald's ego and belief that he is all-powerful, he might do it. I think it's unlikely. If he does? It'll guarantee a conviction."

Johnston elaborated that the former president's attorneys are likely battling with Trump's ego, and their cajoling has made him change his tune from definitely testifying in his own defense to taking a wait-and-see approach. Center-left think tank Third Way has attempted to prod Trump toward testifying, recently releasing an ad entitled "Coward" that reminds viewers of Trump's disdain toward defendants who plead the Fifth Amendment (right to not self-incriminate) instead of testify in their own defense.

"Take the stand, Donald, or admit you’re a coward," the ad said.

Johnston said the only way Trump would testify is if his ego wins out over the advice of his defense counsel, saying he has a "delusional belief about himself" and "thinks he can make it all go away." Johnston opined that while that strategy may work when lawyers Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles are questioning him, it would become much more difficult when being cross-examined by prosecutors.

"Donald would not survive the amount of time on the stand that we've already seen with Michael Cohen without implicating himself and harming himself," Johnston added. "This has happened in the past when he's had to testify in depositions, or when he chose to testify in Judge Engoron's courtroom."

Cohen, who already served a three-year prison sentence for his role in the hush money payment scheme Trump is accused of orchestrating, said before the jury was empaneled that he believes his former boss will be found guilty "on all charges" once a verdict is reached. And Trump confidant Alan Dershowitz, who represented him during his first impeachment trial, said "there's going to be a criminal conviction" in New York and that Trump's best hope is in the appellate court.

Watch Johnston's segment below, or by clicking this link.

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