Rhodes's post-trial comments praising the DOJ for nailing him with the evidence came strangely close to "It's a fair cop."
Is he hoping to look 'reasonable' on appeal? Because praising the fairness of the prosecution and the strength of their evidence isn't an obvious appeal strategy...
@RationalLeft I don't think it is a gimmick or a "play". I think Rhodes REALLY thought he was going to become a political prisoner in his own version of a banana republic trial. Him saying that reminded me of the trial of one of the 9/11 conspirators who was tried in NY and found NOT guilty. The defendant was shocked at the verdict. He was so sure he would be railroaded.
@AdreanaInLB An interesting take. You could certainly be right.
@AdreanaInLB There was, btw, a similar phenomenon in the Nuremberg trials after WWII. Most Germans at first dismissed the trials as show trials with predetermined outcomes. The fact that the defense was allowed lawyers of their choice and the opportunity to present a case began to change that perception... and the fact that there were several acquittals dramatically enhanced the public credibility of the trial.