Legal expert predicts Trump’s 'empire' will 'fold like a stack of cards'

Despite all his legal problems — which range from four criminal indictments to a range of civil lawsuits — Donald Trump remains the clear frontrunner in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. A rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden appears likely, and polls are showing that it would be a close race if they are, in fact, the nominees.

A bench trial in New York State Attorney General Letitia James' civil fraud lawsuit against Trump is now underway, with Justice Arthur Engoron presiding. James' alleges that Trump seriously exaggerated the value of the Trump Organization's assets, and Engoron has agreed. It's now a question of what type of sanctions and penalties Trump's business will face.

In an interview with Salon's Chauncey DeVega, author and former federal prosecutor Kenneth McCallion laid out some reasons why James' civil case — combined with the criminal indictments Trump is facing — could be devastating for the Trump Organization.

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McCallion told DeVega, "Trump and his team will try muddying the waters and engaging in legal kabuki theater for the next few months. But ultimately, the day of reckoning will come in the New York proceedings, or in D.C. or Florida or Georgia, whichever may come first. Trump will be held responsible and convicted or criminally or civilly fined and held responsible, much like his corporations in New York, which are now going to be barred from doing business."

The former federal prosecutor continued, "In the end, the Trump empire — both the business as well as him personally — will fold like a stack of cards pretty quickly when the first jury returns its verdict against him. One of Trump's co-defendants in Georgia has already flipped and taken a guilty plea. More will follow. Trump's predicament will only get worse as time goes on."

READ MORE: Here are 5 'key' reasons Trump’s business may be devastated: legal expert

 Read Chauncey DeVega's full Salon interview with Kenneth McCallion at this link.