'Convinced him of his political immortality': Retired judge says Republicans molded Trump into a martyr

Editor's note: 'Republicans' was corrected to singular in the headline.

Retired Judge Michael Luttig of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit argued to MSNBC's Ali Velshi on Sunday how Republicans' exaltation of former President Donald Trump fueled his god complex and led him to behave like a martyr as anticipation swirls around the next criminal indictments Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith is expected to file regarding Trump's January 6th, 2021 coup.

"On any given day over the past two and a half years, Donald Trump could have avoided and prevented these prosecutions. He didn't want to," Luttig said.

"He wanted to be indicted and prosecuted for his conduct on January 6th. So instead for two and a half years, he dared, taunted, and provoked both DOJ and eventually Jack Smith to indict him," Luttig continued. "And finally, Jack Smith had no choice but to indict the former president, lest he make a mockery out of the Constitution and the rule of law."

READ MORE: Retired conservative judge: Trump 'dared, taunted, provoked, and goaded DOJ' into indicting him

Luttig affirmed that "the Republicans are as responsible for these indictments as Donald Trump is himself. Their unwavering support for Donald Trump since January 6th convinced him of his political immortality."

Luttig further added that Republicans, "in the meantime, they also convinced him that he could recapture the White House in 2024 on their behalf."

Watch the clip below via MSNBC or at this link.

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