Still a chance Trump won’t testify again in fraud trial, former White House lawyer says

Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb said there is still a chance former President Trump won’t testify in his civil fraud trial again Thursday.

“I’m not sure he will testify, I’d say it’s still 50/50,” Cobb told CNN’s Erin Burnett. “Because, as the lawyer in me says, ‘You know, why put him on?’ I mean, he’s going to be subject to an eviscerating cross-examination, which won’t focus on, what Trump wants to talk about, it’ll focus on every lie that he has told, in the 10 years that are relevant under these financial statements.”

The former president is set to testify in the case again on Monday. He previously took the witness stand early last month, where he struck a belligerent tone, taking aim at both the judge overseeing the case, Arthur Engoron, and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).

“I’m sure the judge will rule against me because he always rules against me,” Trump said during his testimony.

At one point, Engoron even told Trump attorney Chris Kise to “control your client.”

“This is not a political rally,” Engoron continued.

Trump came back to the Manhattan state Supreme Court as a spectator Thursday. Before going to court that day, he said the trial was a “Witch Hunt with a Crooked Judge and a Bats..t CRAZY (and Racist!), A.G.” on Truth Social, asserting that the case was “decided against me before it even started.”

The former president and his legal team’s relationship with Engoron has been tense, especially in the wake of the imposing of a gag order on all parties and Trump’s counsel from talking about the judge’s staff.