The National Review is a well-known and somewhat respectable right-leaning magazine and website that took it upon itself to write a glowing review of Trump’s Manhattan case brought by D.A. Alvin Bragg. It is, by far, the weakest criminal case against Trump, and yet, some things needed to be polished.

The National Review was up to the job.

First, the website created an entire story about Trump’s innocence and the fact that this was merely a statement, one that would get Bragg reelected when the time comes. Nowhere does the story mention that Michael Cohen went to prison for the same crime (though tried in federal court), and if that case was political, it was punishment for opening his mouth.

Everyone recalls “Individual 1” and the obvious identity.

But, Meidas Touch explains that even the whitewashing The National Review delivered, Trump believed it to be too gray and set about taking his Sharpie to various paragraphs:

Trump laughably crossed out the obvious admissions:

A) Stormy Daniels’s claim of an affair with Trump is credible

B) Trump’s bookkeeping “might indeed have been a minor crime”

C) Federal prosecutors probably believe Trump’s NDA was “motivated by his election prospects”

D) The hush money “expenditure [is] within the coverage of federal campaign-finance law”

There are more, many more, but you can see where this is going. Trump was well-tutored by Roy Cohn, infamous mob lawyer, in that one admits nothing, even in situations that will quite obviously benefit one.

How can the admissions benefit Trump?

Judges and jurors look for honesty and remorse. Of course, no one expects Trump to admit to the ultimate crime; it is just elements around it that will make Trump sound like he appreciates that he was wrong – just not criminally liable. Judges and juries want to see someone who regrets their actions.

By denying even the most innocuous admissions, ones that can be proven with a single piece of paper, Trump looks even more guilty! He looks like a guy who is terrified to admit anything lest the jury find out the truth.

Perhaps they will. Trump is surely setting it up.

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Jason Miciak is also an editor at large with Occupy Democrats