May 07, 2024 01:41 AM

Former Acting Solicitor General Surprised by Trump's Fist Pump in Hush Money Trial

Former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal expressed surprise at Donald Trump’s air fist pump

During Donald Trump's hush money trial, a surprising moment was captured by courtroom artist Elizabeth Williams. Former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal expressed his amazement at Trump's apparent air fist pump towards a witness who testified what Katyal described as "incriminating" information about the former president.

In a sketch aired on "The Beat" by Ari Melber on MSNBC, Trump was depicted making the hand gesture toward Jeffrey McConney, the former longtime corporate controller of the Trump Organization. Melber reported that according to people in the room, Trump seemed to indicate a level of solidarity with the fist pump, despite McConney's testimony being detrimental to Trump.

Legal Analysis

Neal Katyal commented on McConney's testimony, stating, "McConney was very bad for Trump." McConney testified about his involvement in processing invoices from Trump's former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen for Cohen’s hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, aimed at silencing her about an alleged affair with Trump.

Katyal criticized Trump's lawyer's defense, labeling it as "atrocious." He explained, "He basically said, 'Look, payments to lawyers by the Trump Organization are legal expenses, right?' And then he answered, 'Of course, they are.' That’s not the issue. Of course if you pay a lawyer generally, that’s a legal expense, but not if you’re doing it for other things that aren’t legal expenses."