‘Really Big Hit’: Maggie Haberman Tells CNN’s Jake Tapper Losing Fraud Trial ‘Cuts At The Heart of Trump’s Identity’

New York Times correspondent and CNN analyst Maggie Haberman told CNN’s Jake Tapper that ex-President Donald Trump faces a “really big hit” in his fraud trial — and a huge blow to his “identity.”

Trump’s trial in the fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James and presided over by Judge Arthur Engoron is winding down after the defense and the state rested their cases this week, and closing arguments are now set for January 11.

On Wednesday’s edition of CNN’s The Lead, Haberman and Tapper agreed things aren’t likely to go Trump’s way, and Haberman observed this case will have a more significant impact than others:

HABERMAN: He is so much more focused on the legal cases than on specifically the political campaign on balance right now, and specifically the case we haven’t talked about, the New York attorney general case, because that involves his business and that involves the extent to which he is going to be able to continue to run his business as is. And we will know the details of that outcome in January. He will appeal whatever that is, and that’s going to go on for a while. But that case cuts at the heart of his identity and who he is. It is just fundamentally different than anything else we’re talking about.

TAPPER: It seems very likely he’s going to lose that case, have to pay a fine and maybe lose his business license in New York.

HABERMAN: It could be a really big hit. We don’t know how many properties it impacts.

TAPPER: Yes.

HABERMAN: We — there’s so many unanswered questions.

TAPPER: It’s tough to say that case has gone his way. Maggie Haberman —

HABERMAN: He already hasn’t. He’s already lost it.

TAPPER: Right.

HABERMAN: The question is just what the outcome is.

TAPPER: How bad the penalty is going to be.

HABERMAN: Correct.

TAPPER: Right. That’s what I mean.

HABERMAN: Yes.

TAPPER: Maggie Haberman, thanks so much.

Watch above via CNN’s The Lead.