Former lawyer says Trump should stay silent during sentencing

Former President Trump’s lawyer Timothy Parlatore said his former client should remain silent at his sentencing scheduled for July after being found guilty of all 34 counts in his hush money case on Thursday .

“I’ll tell you one thing — and I’ve already handed down the sentence before Judge (Juan) Merchan — I would not suggest that the defendant take the stand at sentencing,” Parlatore said during his appearance Thursday on the CNN panel, following the announcement of Trump’s decision. conviction in the Manhattan affair.

“Of course it’s his right whether he wants to speak or not.”

Trump spoke frequently to the media during the trial in Manhattan.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee has often taken time to criticize Merchan, prosecutors and the case itself, calling it “rigged.” During the trial, Merchan fined Trump for violating his silence order and even warned the former president that future violations could result in prison time.

Merchan set Trump’s sentencing for July 11, just four days before the 2024 Republican National Convention.

CNN host Laura Coates, who was also on the panel, asked Parlatore, now a CNN legal commentator, if Trump should speak “even to say he’s remorseful.”

Parlatore, who left the former president’s legal team in May last year, agreed with Coates that the former president would express no remorse if he chose to speak.

“That’s the point,” Parlatore said. “I don’t think he would say that, that’s why you don’t want him to talk.” Instead, you’ll say, “My client still maintains his innocence and is going through the appeal process.” We think there are some issues on appeal here, so don’t blame him.

“But instead focus on issues like the background and characteristics of the accused, lack of criminal history, those sorts of things,” he said.

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