‘It’s Not A Game!’ CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Throws Down With Ex-Trump Attorney Over Attacks on Jack Smith

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins threw down with former Trump attorney Jim Trusty over former President Donald Trump’s attacks on Special Counsel Jack Smith, asking if he agrees with Trump that Smith is “deranged” and a “psychopath.”

Trusty represented Trump in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into classified documents under the Espionage Act — until shortly afterTrump announced his own indictment.

On Thursday night’s edition of CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins, Trusty took exception when Collins asked him if he agreed with Trump’s attacks on Smith and tried to blow her off repeatedly:

COLLINS: Well, I mean, he said that Trump wasn’t answering questions, with a yes-or-no answer.

But I also, I think part of it would be people say Trump is a challenging client to have. I mean, he’s had a lot of attorneys, who have come to work for him, and then left the case. There’s a bit of chaos with the New York team, right now, as well.

When you look at this, and you look at what he’s been saying, in the Special Counsel’s investigation? You used to work at the Justice Department. You know, Jack Smith, who is the Special Counsel.

When Trump calls him “Deranged,” and a “Psychopath,” do you think those are terms that you would use to describe Jack Smith?

TRUSTY: Look, what I would do is focus, again, as a lawyer, as somebody who’s been a prosecutor, altogether 27 years, before I went private, I’d focus on the conduct. I mean, that to me.

It’s a different situation, for a person running for president being indicted, in these “Unprecedented, and creative,” and I put quotes around that, types of indictments.

But the bottom line is, I’ve seen things, from the federal prosecutors, in this case, including extorting a fellow lawyer, that are obstructionists, that are wrong, that are over-aggressive. And that’s what I —

COLLINS: But would you call Jack Smith, “Deranged?”

TRUSTY: And that’s what I called out. And that’s what I continue to call out.

COLLINS: I mean, you know him.

TRUSTY: Look, Kaitlan, that’s a fun game to play.

COLLINS: It’s not a game.

TRUSTY: I understand, why you’re asking it.

COLLINS: I’m genuinely curious what you think —

TRUSTY: But I don’t —

COLLINS: — given you’ve worked with Jack Smith, and you used to represent Donald Trump?

TRUSTY: I don’t think America is waiting with bated breath, to hear whether Jim will call Jack, “Deranged.” It doesn’t matter. It’s not part of the — of my interest, as an attorney. It’s not really part of the public’s interest. It’s just kind of fun, sensational stuff. The bottom line is, any client —

COLLINS: It’s not fun.

TRUSTY: — any client would have a right to be frustrated, with the behavior that he has been facing, on behalf of the department, Alvin Bragg, Letitia James, and the wonderful Georgia case as well.

So, look, I don’t have to sign off, or sign on, on anything that the President says. But I can tell you that the grounds for frustration, the concerns about a two-tiered system, are legitimate ones.

Watch above via CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins.