Trump's lawyers are taking a risky approach in bullying Stormy Daniels during her testimony, opting for a performance that seems more geared towards pleasing their client than effectively defending him. Lead attorney Susan Necheles began her cross-examination by suggesting Daniels had "rehearsed" her testimony, a weak and baffling approach that ignored the fact that preparing witnesses is a normal part of the legal process.
Daniels easily resisted this clumsy attack, leading Necheles to engage in a word-salad game and eventually accuse Daniels of falsehoods, prompting Daniels to yell "false" back at her. This aggressive approach has been a wasted opportunity for the defense, as Daniels' direct testimony had already shown some shaky moments, including nervousness and laughter.
The smartest approach would have been to focus on the areas where Daniels' testimony was weak, such as her inability to tie Trump directly to a cover-up scheme or the falsification of records. Instead, the defense chose to attack her credibility and portray her as untruthful, a strategy that may backfire with the jury.
The defense's approach has been marked by missteps, including a baseless motion for mistrial and a failure to effectively challenge Daniels' testimony. Todd Blanche, another member of Trump's legal team, has already suffered a reprimand from the judge for his overly aggressive approach.
Ultimately, the defense's strategy will be put to the test as they try to persuade the jury to acquit or hang. If they fail, their missteps, including Necheles' bullying approach, will be seen as a colossal blunder. Bullying may work in some contexts, but it rarely succeeds in a court of law.
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