In a dramatic turn of events during a recent court hearing in the Washington D.C. election interference case against Donald Trump, a significant mistake by Trump’s legal team has intensified the former president’s legal troubles. Trump’s lawyer, John Lauro, inadvertently revealed information that was not meant to be public, exposing a secret legal maneuver that could deeply affect Trump’s defense strategy.

This slip-up occurred in the middle of an already difficult week for Trump, as his legal team struggled with several cases simultaneously. Earlier, Trump had faced setbacks in other proceedings, including the delayed sentencing in a separate criminal case and a disastrous appeal hearing related to the E. Jean Carroll sexual assault case. These challenges have been mounting, and this latest courtroom mishap only adds to his woes.

The critical moment in the hearing came when Lauro raised a motion that many legal experts found perplexing. He argued that Special Counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed under the U.S. Constitution’s appointments clause, and therefore, the charges against Trump should be dismissed. This argument is based on a legal theory that had only been entertained by one judge before—Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida. Lauro’s attempt to apply this reasoning in the D.C. case was swiftly shot down by Judge Chutkan, who deemed the motion unpersuasive and not in line with binding precedent from higher courts.

However, the more significant revelation came when Lauro admitted that his team had been directed to file this motion by none other than Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. This unexpected claim, that Justice Thomas had indirectly encouraged Trump’s lawyers to pursue this line of argument, was met with surprise. It suggested an inappropriate influence from a sitting Supreme Court justice, raising ethical questions about Thomas’s involvement in Trump’s defense. Lauro quickly tried to walk back his statement, calling it an “invitation” rather than an instruction, but the damage was already done. Judge Chutkan appeared noticeably taken aback by this revelation.

Adding to Trump’s troubles, the hearing also revealed that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team would be presenting new, previously undisclosed evidence. This evidence, to be unveiled on September 26, could potentially be devastating for Trump. The timing is crucial—coming just after a major debate and before voter registration deadlines in several states. Trump’s legal team expressed concern over this new development, as they were not prepared to counter evidence that could sway public opinion against Trump ahead of the 2024 election.

This combination of Lauro’s courtroom blunder and the looming new evidence has left Trump in a precarious position. Already facing declining support in the polls and growing legal challenges, the former president now has to deal with the consequences of his legal team’s mistakes. His reaction to the revelation was telling—reports indicate that Trump was visibly agitated after the hearing, and sources close to his team have suggested that the internal tension is mounting as the campaign struggles to regain control.

What makes this situation even more challenging for Trump is that the court proceedings are happening in the public eye, and any new evidence presented could directly impact his political standing. With the 2024 election fast approaching, Trump’s legal problems are increasingly becoming a central theme of his campaign, and the more his lawyers fumble in court, the more difficult it becomes for him to maintain credibility with voters.

This latest incident underscores a broader issue in Trump’s legal defense strategy. His legal team has faced numerous setbacks in recent weeks, and this mishandling of courtroom proceedings only amplifies the sense that Trump’s legal troubles are spiraling out of control. The exposure of the secret legal advice from Justice Thomas raises questions about the ethical boundaries of Trump’s defense and highlights the extent to which the former president is relying on unconventional—and possibly improper—methods to fight his legal battles.

As the new evidence is set to be revealed in the coming weeks, all eyes will be on how Trump’s team responds. For now, however, the courtroom gaffe by his lawyer has only added to the growing perception that Trump is losing control of his defense and, by extension, his campaign. Whether or not he can recover from this series of missteps remains to be seen, but the road ahead looks increasingly difficult for the former president as he grapples with the fallout from his lawyer’s monumental error.