Russia, russia, as a continuation of the greatest witchhunt of all time, and i dont think the people of this country are going to stand for it. The former president also attacked new York Attorney general, Letitia James. Ahead of the trial, james responded, saying, no one is above the law, and that she was confident that justice will prevail. Testimony in the manhattan courtroom started with opening statements, and the states first witness, donald bender, a long time accountant for trumps businesses. Bender tesified about financial documents, including discrepancies in the price of ivanka trumps penthouse. Cbs Chief Election and Campaign Correspondent robert costa was in the courtroom during the hearing. He described the scene for us. There was a tense scene inside the courthouse behind me when trump entered the room, the former president did not even look at the Attorney GeneralLetitia James in the first row, then he took his seat up near then he took his seat up near thejudge sitting then he took his seat up near the judge sitting alongside his lawyers, and as the government made its case, issued its opening statement, calling the Trump Organisation a fraudulent organisation you could see the former president crosses arms and shake his head in disgust, because for him this was deeply personal, according to the sources who have spoken with me today, long time confidants of trump. They say this is not just a company to him, to something intertwined with his life, his political career, his brand, and thats why he decided to show up today. He did not need to show up. He did this voluntarily. More on the hearing with my guests tonight. Sarah krissoff, former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of new york, and josh gerstein, Senior Legal Affairs report for politico. Great to see you both. Sarah, i want to start with you and get your thoughts on what we saw in the hearing today. It your thoughts on what we saw in the hearing today. The hearing today. It was interesting the hearing today. It was interesting that the hearing today. It was interesting that trump i the hearing today. It was interesting that trump decided to show up. That might have been part of a strategy decision to postpone his deposition and his litigation with michael cohen, but he decided to be there today to make a statement and to sort of tell thejudge, im here, this is an important case to me, and we will see how it plays out over the next few weeks and frankly whether trump continues to show up, thats unlikely but possible, i suspect. Josh, what did ou possible, i suspect. Josh, what did you think possible, i suspect. Josh, what did you think of possible, i suspect. Josh, what did you think of mr possible, i suspect. Josh, what did you think of mr trumps did you think of mr trumps demeanour and his comments . Well, it struck me that this is now well, it struck me that this is now for well, it struck me that this is now for better or for worse for the former now for better or for worse for the former president. Part of his president ial campaign. He came his president ial campaign. He came up his president ial campaign. He came up this morning before the trial even came up this morning before the trial even started and spent 7. 5 minute speaking to cameras, talking 7. 5 minute speaking to cameras, talking about how he was the victim talking about how he was the victim here, the crime was the case victim here, the crime was the case that victim here, the crime was the case that was being brought against case that was being brought against him, not anything that he did~ against him, not anything that he did. And itsjust going to be the he did. And itsjust going to be the case for the next year or so be the case for the next year or so that be the case for the next year or so that we are going to watch or so that we are going to watch this most extraordinary president ial campaign, we are going president ial campaign, we are going to president ial campaign, we are going to have what looks to be a major going to have what looks to be a major Party President ial candidate, probably a major Party Candidate, probably a major Party Candidate nominee for the white Party Candidate nominee for the white house, spending half his time white house, spending half his time perhaps add civil or crimmat time perhaps add civil or criminal trials, trying to use those criminal trials, trying to use those to criminal trials, trying to use those to his political advantage. Those to his political advantaae. , those to his political advantae. ,. ~ advantage. Sarah, coming back to ou, advantage. Sarah, coming back to you. If advantage. Sarah, coming back to you. If we advantage. Sarah, coming back to you, if we look advantage. Sarah, coming back to you, if we look at advantage. Sarah, coming back to you, if we look at the to you, if we look at the specific trial, the judge to you, if we look at the specific trial, thejudge has already decided essentially the core of this case, so do we know how its going to end . So i know how its going to end . Sr i think we have a pretty good idea. Thejudge made a decision and gave the government partial summaryjudgment on a frauds claims related to these valuations of assets, but the judge, it was a very scathing opinion by thejudge, it is very clear what he thinks of the governments evidence so far, and that i suspect it is likely to go the way of the government at the end of the day here as well. Day here as well. Josh, you talked about day here as well. Josh, you talked about the day here as well. Josh, you talked about the number. Day here as well. Josh, you| talked about the number of indictments the former president is facing. How does this all affect him . This all affect him . Well, so far, it this all affect him . Well, so far. It has this all affect him . Well, so far, it has helped this all affect him . Well, so far, it has helped him this all affect him . Well, so far, it has helped him reallyj far, it has helped him really clear far, it has helped him really clear the far, it has helped him really clear the field in the republican president ial primary, but the big 25,000 question primary, but the big 25,000 question here is what happens if former question here is what happens if former President Trump gets into a if former President Trump gets into a general Election Campaign . Well middle of the road, moderate, often middle of the road, moderate, often independent voters who are sometimes not affiliated with are sometimes not affiliated with either president ial of the political with either president ial of the Political Parties here be willing Political Parties here be willing to take on the chance of a willing to take on the chance of a candidate who is embroiled in this of a candidate who is embroiled in this degree of problems, legat in this degree of problems, legal problems, both criminal and civit legal problems, both criminal and civil. It is evident we now have and civil. It is evident we now have one and civil. It is evident we now have one candidate former President Trump who actually thinks President Trump who actually thinks at President Trump who actually thinks at this stage in this campaign at least that this is to his campaign at least that this is to his political benefit to harness these allegations and to paint harness these allegations and to paint them as he had scored it repeatedly, a legal witchhunt, aimed at putting him injait witchhunt, aimed at putting him injait and witchhunt, aimed at putting him injail and confiscating his in jail and confiscating his Business Injail and confiscating his Business Empire. We in jail and confiscating his Business Empire. We have seen the former Business Empire. We have seen the former president Business Empire. We have seen the former president attacked l the former president attacked the former president Attacked Thejudge quite a the former president attacked the judge quite a bit. The former president Attacked Thejudge quite a bit. What the former president attacked the judge quite a bit. What did you make of that . The judge quite a bit. What did you make of that . Frankly, the former president s you make of that . Frankly, the former president s statements| former president s statements against thejudge, the Attorney General, i think there are few who could get away with that other than the former president. These are scathing comments against these parties, really unprecedented. It is not something you usually see in this type of litigation. But hes getting away with it. I know there have been other efforts to keep him quiet a bit but they have been largely unsuccessful to date. He repeats over and over again, as josh said, his mantras, his tag lines, and he sticks with them. Sarah, just a follow up on that, i know you are a former federal prosecutor, but if you were to step into the shoes of trump is back legal team here with a number of trials he could be facing next year already, what do you think the Defence Strategy is . Thea;t already, what do you think the Defence Strategy is . They have a little bit Defence Strategy is . They have a little bit of Defence Strategy is . They have a little bit of a Defence Strategy is . They have a little bit of a different a little bit of a different tactic here. I think the team thats handling this case really has an uphill battle, as you alluded to at the beginning of the programme. Thejudge has already found partial summary judgment, he has found there is a pattern of fraudulent documents that have been provided or to secure loans and other benefits related to these properties, so the other charges related to those cases because of action rather related to those things, or, you know, is likely to be resolved against trump as well. But i think he is handling each one of these cases a bit differently, as he shed, the stakes are different and the manner is different. Stakes are different and the manner is different. What are our manner is different. What are yourthoughts manner is different. What are your thoughts on manner is different. What are your thoughts on how manner is different. What are your thoughts on how the manner is different. What are i your thoughts on how the trump team is handling all of this, josh . ~ ,. ,. , josh . My understanding from sueakin josh . My understanding from speaking to josh . My understanding from speaking to sources josh . My understanding from speaking to sources on josh . My understanding from speaking to sources on the i speaking to sources on the legal speaking to sources on the legal side of the Trump Organisation is that they frankly organisation is that they frankly expect to lose this trial, frankly expect to lose this trial, because of the judge that trial, because of the judge that they have a because of the attitude that they have a because of the attitude that he has displayed towards trump during the course of this towards trump during the course of this litigation, because of the ruling you are bothjust discussing a few days ago that the side discussing a few days ago that the side of a case much in the favour the side of a case much in the favour of the side of a case much in the favour of the Attorney Generals office. I think they think generals office. I think they think that their chance of prevailing here in front of this prevailing here in front of thisjudge is next to nothing. We should make clear to viewers this is we should make clear to viewers this is not we should make clear to viewers this is not a we should make clear to viewers this is not a jury trial, this is a this is not a jury trial, this is a judge this is not a jury trial, this is a judge only trial, only justice is a judge only trial, only justice acheron who is there overseeing the proceeding, he is the overseeing the proceeding, he is the one overseeing the proceeding, he is the one who is going to make the decision. The question then will be the decision. The question then will be what happens on appeal. We have will be what happens on appeal. We have only seen one appeal here we have only seen one appeal here in we have only seen one appeal here in the last few days by trams here in the last few days by trams legal team, and here in the last few days by trams legalteam, and i here in the last few days by trams legal team, and i expect if it goes trams legal team, and i expect if it goes as many people think it will, if it goes as many people think it will, and they lose here in front it will, and they lose here in front of it will, and they lose here in front of thisjudge, it will, and they lose here in front of this judge, they are going front of this judge, they are going to front of this judge, they are going to do their best to make a case going to do their best to make a case that they can bring to an appeals case court, and at least an appeals case court, and at least forestall any action against at least forestall any action against trump as mac Business Empire against trump as mac Business Empire untilat against trump as mac Business Empire until at least after next empire until at least after next falls president ial election. Next falls president ial election. ,. ,. ,. , next falls president ial election. ,. ,. ,. , election. Just a follow up on what we election. Just a follow up on what we heard election. Just a follow up on what we heard from election. Just a follow up on what we heard from josh,. Election. Just a follow up on what we heard from josh, sarah, what we heard from josh, sarah, what you think the impact on the former president to losing this trial would be . This trialwould be . Well, i think he this trialwould be . Well, i think he is this trialwould be . Well, i think he is very this trialwould be . Well, i think he is very concerned | think he is very concerned about losing itjust because of an image perspective frankly, and i think it would hit pretty hard on his wallet. So he does seem interested in this case, focused on this case, even though it is only a civil case and the stakes are lesser than the criminal cases ahead for him. But he certainly i think is taking it seriously, as he should. � g is taking it seriously, as he should. G. ,. , should. And josh, one more question should. And josh, one more question for should. And josh, one more question for you, should. And josh, one more question for you, you should. And josh, one more question for you, you wrote | question for you, you wrote that the former president is the 800 lb gorilla in the wings for the Supreme Court session that has started. What did you mean by that . Mean by that . Well, what i meant was mean by that . Well, what i meant was the mean by that . Well, what i meant was the supreme i mean by that . Well, what i i meant was the Supreme Court mean by that . Well, what i meant was the Supreme Court is sending meant was the Supreme Court is sending a setting up its docket sending a setting up its docket for the coming term, and at the docket for the coming term, and at the moment there is nothing on it at the moment there is nothing on it that at the moment there is nothing on it that directly pertains to the former president , but with the former president , but with the four the former president , but with the four criminal cases that he is facing the four criminal cases that he is facing and the sweeping claims is facing and the sweeping claims of immunity he is planning to bring in in many of those planning to bring in in many of those cases, saying that as the former those cases, saying that as the former president he shouldnt be subject to the sort of litigation, i think it is almost litigation, i think it is almost certain that sometime over almost certain that sometime over the almost certain that sometime over the course of the next year. Over the course of the next year. We over the course of the next year, we are going to see his lawyers year, we are going to see his lawyers go to the Supreme Court to try lawyers go to the Supreme Court to try to lawyers go to the Supreme Court to try to shutdown either some action to try to shutdown either some action against him in the civil case action against him in the civil case we action against him in the civil case we have been discussing here, case we have been discussing here, or case we have been discussing here, or in case we have been discussing here, or in those four criminal cases here, or in those four criminal cases against him. There is really cases against him. There is really no cases against him. There is really no way he is going to be able really no way he is going to be able to really no way he is going to be able to really no way he is going to be able to the Supreme Court is going able to the Supreme Court is going to able to the Supreme Court is going to be able to the Supreme Court is going to be able to dodge getting into that fight, as well getting into that fight, as well as getting into that fight, as well as another issue of trying to take well as another issue of trying to take trump off the ballot i