George Washington University law school professor Jonathan Turley says former President Donald Trump's ongoing "hush money" trial is an "embarrassment" to the judicial system.
During an appearance on Fox News, Turley discussed a recent poll in which 35% of respondents believe Trump engaged in illegal activity regarding his case while 31% believe his actions were unethical, though not illegal, to which Turley took issue with the poll results.
“If you polled people and ask if Trump was responsible for the bubonic plague, we would end up with the same 35%," Turley said, claiming the poll results wouldn't change no matter what the subject was.
“What’s clear is in this case, Trump is right. I mean, this is an embarrassment," he continued. "The fact that we are actually talking about this case being presented in a New York courtroom leaves me in utter disbelief.”
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The law professor said the arguments presented during Monday's opening statements captured "all the problems" of Trump's case.
"You had this misdemeanor under state law where, that had run out, this is going back to relate it to the 2016 election, and they zapped it back into life by alleging that there was a campaign finance violation under the federal laws that doesn’t exist," Turley continued. "The Department of Justice doesn’t view it this way.”
Turley also noted the alleged "hush money" was not directly paid by Trump but his then-lawyer Michael Cohen.
"He was actually paid far in excess of this because this was a legal account," Turley said. "Keep in mind, this is what Hillary Clinton’s people did. Remember, when they funded the Steele dossier — which they denied to reporters — they put it as a legal expense. And then they fought the eventual fine they received from the federal government saying that it was a legal expense."
"Now you’ve got some of the same Democrats supporting this bizarre theory," he added.
Prior to Monday's opening statements, Trump commented on New York Attorney General Letitia James' move to void the former president's $175 million bond in a previous case in New York City.
“When you put up cash and the number is $175 — which is what we’re supposed to be putting up — but I gave it in cash,” Trump said. “She shouldn’t be complaining about the bonding company; the bonding company would be good for it because I put up the money. And I have plenty of money to put up, but nobody is going to be putting up with this.”
The former president referred to James' move as "election interference."
“New York Judge Arthur Engoron on Monday accepted the $175 million bond former President Trump posted to appeal his civil fraud case, but the judge imposed several new conditions to ensure sufficient cash funds remain available,” per Axios.
