But [Judge Arthur Engoron] said Trump would have to limit his remarks to the boundaries that cover attorneys’ closing arguments: “commentary on the relevant, material facts that are in evidence, and application of the relevant law to those facts.”
He would not be allowed to introduce new evidence, “comment on irrelevant matters” or “deliver a campaign speech” — or impugn the judge, his staff, the attorney general, her lawyers or the court system, the judge wrote.
Trump attorney Christopher Kise responded those limitations were unfair and said Trump could not agree to them.
[If Trump had represented himself all along, he would have had the opportunity to deliver closing arguments. It’s rather telling that Trump wouldn’t agree to the normal boundaries of closing arguments, which gives us a pretty good idea what Trump intended to do. Engoron probably did Trump a favor, and certainly did his legal team a favor, in rescinding this permission. — Ed]
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