How Trump's deny-everything strategy could hurt him at sentencing
Donald Trump has had plenty to say since his hush money trial conviction last week
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has had plenty to say since his hush money trial conviction last week.
He’s claimed the case was rigged, incorrectly linked President Joe Biden to the state prosecution, called the star witness against him a “sleazebag" and said the judge was a “devil" and “highly conflicted.”
What he hasn’t done is utter any variation of the words that might benefit him most come sentencing time next month: “I'm sorry.”
It’s a truism of the criminal justice system that defendants hoping for lenient treatment at their sentencing are expected to take responsibility for their actions, even express remorse. But that flies in the face of Trump's longtime refusal to acknowledge any wrongdoing, a tone that he often strikes to portray strength and present himself as a fighter under ceaseless attack. While the strategy may resonate with his most loyal political supporters, it failed during his New York criminal trial and could complicate his legal team's efforts to avoid a tough sentence.
