Trump's 'circus clown' jury intimidation tactics could 'backfire': ex-GOP lawmaker

Former President Donald Trump's team of tag-along Republican senators and representatives traveling to New York City to rage against the criminal hush money trial and help him violate the gag order is not going to do him any real favors, argued former Rep. David Jolly (R-FL) on MSNBC Friday evening.

In fact, he told anchor Katie Phang, it could just end up hurting him with jury.

"I think Trump has run his business and his family in a Mafia style," said Phang. "One of the people who also showed up at the courthouse on Thursday was former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, one of Trump's co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case. He was in the overflow room, and then we also had another one of Trump's Georgia co-defendants today, John Eastman, pleading not guilty in an Arizona election interference case, oh, and don't forget Boris. Boris Epshteyn, who is also charged in the Arizona case. He's been right by Donald Trump's side almost every day in court. Seems like the message is, we have to circle the wagons and stick together no matter what."

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"Yeah, so I think there's a few things going on here," said Jolly.

First off, he agreed, "Intimidation is first and foremost on the minds of Trump's call for these people to show up. The other aspect, though, is they're showing up because nobody else is. Donald Trump expected Americans to rush to his side and show up and be in the park and rally for him, and nobody is. Nobody is there for Donald Trump except the people with a direct political benefit from him. Elected officials."

Finally, he said, "I would be fascinated how it works with the jury. Because yes, intimidation might be the intent, but you're telling me that if I'm a juror and I see Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert and Mike Johnson and Rick Scott come in the room, that somehow I'm going to think more favorably about Donald Trump? It's comical. This is an absurd cast of circus clowns showing up to defend the president, and I think it very well might backfire. It highlights that nobody else has his back at times, not even his own family, and suggests that the only people who do have his back are the most political crazies on the scene today."

Watch the video below or at the link here.

David Jolly says Trump's GOP hangers-on could "backfire" with the jury www.youtube.com