There’s a nascent courtroom strategy by some people close to Donald Trump: Heap blame on the former president.

The finger-pointing among Donald Trump’s inner circle has begun.

And as his four criminal cases march toward trials, some of his aides, allies and co-defendants are pointing at the former president.

In court documents and hearings, lawyers for people in Trump’s orbit — both high-level advisers and lesser known associates — are starting to reveal glimmers of a tried-and-true strategy in cases with many defendants: Portray yourself as a hapless pawn while piling blame on the apparent kingpin.

“History has shown the 18 co-defendants that Donald doesn’t care about anyone but himself,” said Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, referring to the 18 people charged alongside Trump in the Georgia election racketeering case.

  • Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever@lemmy.world
    107·
    1 year ago

    Not at all a surprise and very much “leopards ate my face” material

    But yeah. Criminal organizations like the mafia or yakuza families or whatever understand this. Hell, random ass gangs in the inner city understand this. You don’t cut your accomplices free the moment they get caught. You pay for their defense and take care of their families. Because turning on you is how they get a shorter sentence.

    • Jumper775@lemmy.world
      26·
      1 year ago

      They also had the scare factor of I will kill your family if you talk which trump might have a hard time doing.

      • aseriesoftubes@lemmy.world
        271·
        1 year ago

        They also had the scare factor of I will kill your family if you talk which trump might have a hard time doing.

        Don’t underestimate the power of him whipping his followers into a froth through the power of suggestion (the “meddlesome priest” approach). He has a large number of adherents who are dangerously unhinged and seriously well-armed. All he needs to do is drop a few names on Truth Social or Twitter (at least while those platforms still exist).

        • KevonLooney@lemm.ee
          143·
          1 year ago

          That isn’t shit compared to actual crime syndicates. These people are public figures now. Trump fans mostly threaten people who can’t fight back.