Trump's bombastic personality defined his civil proceedings.
Donald Trump's flamboyant persona has left an indelible mark on his civil court proceedings, particularly in the recent New York fraud trial. However, the former president is gearing up to face a formidable challenge, confronting a total of 91 charges across four criminal cases.
Former attorneys, familiar with Trump's courtroom antics, anticipate a need to rein in his behavior during the upcoming criminal trials. In his recent civil cases, Trump's dramatic actions, such as storming out during closing arguments and violating gag orders, have drawn attention.
One notable case involved writer E. Jean Carroll, where Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, resulting in a $88.3 million damages award. Additionally, he faced a $454 million fine in the New York fraud trial, vehemently denying any wrongdoing in both instances.
Insiders suggest that Trump's usual demeanor may not be suitable for a criminal trial, especially given the seriousness of the charges. Former White House attorney Ty Cobb emphasized the necessity for Trump to be controlled by his legal team to avoid alienating the jury.
The four criminal cases include the Stormy Daniels hush money case, classified documents case, January 6 Capitol insurrection case, and Georgia false electors case. Trump, maintaining his innocence, has pleaded not guilty across all charges.
Approaching swiftly is the hush money case, accusing Trump of directing his former lawyer Michael Cohen to pay $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels. Jury selection is set to begin on March 25 in Manhattan. Despite Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, emphasizing a continued fight against what they label as "Democrat-led witch hunts," 14 attorneys with ties to Trump express concerns about potentially alienating a jury in a predominantly blue city.
Trump's legal team, led by Susan R. Necheles and Todd Blanche, faces the challenge of navigating the trials without upsetting the judge. A recent incident during a February hearing, where Judge Juan Merchan admonished the attorneys for mentioning Trump's schedule, underscores the delicate balance they must maintain. Requests for comment from Trump's representatives remained unanswered at the time of reporting.
