Donald Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, said the New York attorney general leading the civil case against the former president was "just not that bright."
She made the comments on Monday.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is spearheading the former president's civil trial. She has accused Mr Trump and the Trump Organization of inflating the value of his assets in order to secure better loans, and then devaluing his asset cost to avoid paying taxes. A judge already found Mr Trump liable for fraud, which may end with the further dismantling of his businesses in New York.
Ms Habba appeared on Newsmax on Monday to assure the network's viewers that Ms James does not have a case against Mr Trump.
“She’s just not that bright. I’m sorry, I have to say it,” Ms Habba said. “I’ve seen their case; I’ve seen their lawyers. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Lawyer Alina Habba speaks to the media outside the New York Supreme Court— (AP)
While Ms James is the attorney general of New York, Ms Habba previously worked as counsel for her husband's parking garage company.
She also attempted to dismiss the fact Mr Trump had been held liable for fraud by saying the former president's actions were just typical business.
“Just because a bank who’s giving you a loan says it’s worth what the loan amount is, which is what happens when anybody takes a loan out, they’re never going to say the real value,” she said. “They’re going to say what they want to say and not a penny more, or what the loan amount is and not a penny more.”
Ms Habba then continued to belittle the attorney general, calling her case “ridiculous” and “completely insane.”
“She needs to educate herself, maybe go to some — I don’t even know how to express how ridiculous this is,” Ms Habba said. “It’s like being in a circus with a bunch of — I mean, what I want to say I can’t say on TV, but it’s crazy. You know, it’s just ridiculous. Anybody with a brain understands that this is just completely insane.”
