Founder and Editor of Compact, Matthew Schmitz, has claimed that former US President Donald Trump has a "good chance of being convicted" as he faces his hush money trial.
The former leader of the US will take to the stand in New York in a historic court trial, facing allegations of falsifying business records.
Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up alleged sexual encounters with adult film star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Speaking outside the court room today, Trump told reporters that the trial is an "assault on America" and he is "proud to be here".
Matthew Schmitz says Donald Trump's trial is an 'embarrassment'
Reuters / GB News
Addressing the gathered crowd, Trump raged: "Nothing like this has ever happened before.
"This should never have been brought. It doesn't deserve anything like this. There is no case."
Speaking to GB News, Matthew Schmitz told host Martin Daubney it will be "very hard" for Trump to get a fair hearing in New York, as "87 per cent of my neighbours in New York voted for Joe Biden" in the 2020 presidential election.
Schmitz highlighted that with Trump being such a public celebrity figure as well as political, many people will have "their minds made up pretty strongly about him, one way or the other".
Donald Trump appearing outside of court
Reuters
Schmitz told Martin: "It's worth looking at the underlying matter here and the political background."
He explained: "This case was brought by Alvin Bragg, our elected prosecutor. What's notable here is that this is a case in which what should be, at most, a misdemeanour offence.
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"Falsifying business records with intent to defraud was upgraded to a felony. That was done so that Bragg could get around the statute of limitations in New York. And it indicates in the eyes of a lot of legal observers, a regrettable politicisation of what should be a neutrally administered law."
When asked by Martin if there is "any chance of a prosecution" for Trump, or if the "process itself is his punishment", Schmitz said there is a "good chance" he will be convicted as a result.
Schmitz revealed: "There are very strong legal arguments that could lead the jury to say convict him only of the misdemeanour. If he's convicted only of a misdemeanour, then the conviction would be tossed out, because of that statute of limitations."
Matthew Schmitz the conviction could be 'tossed out' if Trump is prosecuted
GB News
Schmitz claimed that if Trump had used campaign funds to pay for the alleged crime, he likely would have been "charged by Democratic prosecutors with improper use of campaign funds".
He added: "So he would have been skinned one way or the other. It's a juicy, underlying story.
"It's embarrassing for Trump that he's entangled with this woman in some way, and felt that there was something embarrassing enough there that he needed to conceal it.
"It kind of opens up his supporters, many of whom are religious and, uphold moral values. It opens them up to charges of hypocrisy or inconsistency. But legally, it's very, very thin."