CNN political commentator Jonah Goldberg said Thursday that New York Attorney General Letitia James’ case against former President Donald Trump should have never been brought, describing it as entirely political.
Trump gave a closing statement Thursday as his civil trial concluded. James brought the case in Sept. 2022, alleging that Trump inflated the value of his properties to obtain better loan terms. The Democratic AG is seeking a penalty of $370 million and to ban Trump from doing real-estate business in the state for life.
“Jonah … You mentioned money. $370 million in ill-gotten gains. That’s what the New York attorney general is saying. And trying to bar him from doing business in the state of New York. And also asking for a five-year business ban for Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr, his sons. Just talk about the sort of psychology of this for Donald Trump,” host Dana Bash said.
“That is a dark place where I’m not sure I want to enter. Abandon all hope,” Goldberg said, laughing as he quoted the inscription over the gates of hell in Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”
“So let me just sort of set the broad parameters,” he continued. “I think this whole trial, prosecution was a mistake. I think it’s very political. Someone campaigned on an election to do this. It’s an elected judge. It was part of sort of the party machinery.” (RELATED: Turley Says There’s One Witness In Trump’s Fraud Case Who Could Help The Former President)
Goldberg noted that he doesn’t believe Trump is “innocent” and called him a “sleazy businessman” before doubling down on his description of the trial as “politicized.”
“The psychology of this is really brutal for him in the sense that he takes great pride in his business and his business empire. On the flip side, the politics of it — being on trial — is really good for him. He doesn’t have to be there. He’s there on purpose. And it’s an excuse not to be out on the campaign trail. It’s an excuse not to do debates and all that kind of stuff, and it has been working for him.”
Judge Arthur Engoron ruled in September that Trump and his business exaggerated his net worth, deceived banks and insurance companies and overvalued assets.
In her 2018 bid to become attorney general, James specifically campaigned on targeting the former president.