Cross-examination of #MichaelCohen resumes, an opportunity for the defense to poke holes in his testimony & perhaps trip up or provoke the state’s key witness. The questioning of Cohen, #Trump’s fmr fixer, is the beginning of the end of Trump’s #criminal trial, which began April 15 & might conclude before Memorial Day weekend at this pace.
The letters were sent hrs before #GOP-led #House Oversight & Judiciary cmtes were to advance a #contempt resolution against AG #Garland for defying a #subpoena demanding the recordings, which include hrs of Special Counsel Hur interviewing #Biden. #DOJ also sent #HouseRepublicans a letter Garland wrote Biden on Wed requesting he assert #ExecutivePrivilege bc releasing the tapes would “damage future #law enforcement efforts," as investigators request voluntary cooperation from #WhiteHouse ofcls.
As I was unable to do a #TrumpTrial 🧵 today, here’s a #GiftArticle on the day’s proceedings:
“After 2 wks of enthralling jurors w/stories of sex & scandal, prosecutors delved into the documents at the heart of Trump’s #criminal trial on Mon, a pivotal turn in the case that came on the same day the judge held #Trump in #contempt & threatened to #jail him.”
“I find you in #criminal#contempt for the 10th time,” said Justice Juan #Merchan, who said he is concerned that Donald #Trump has apparently not taken heed of his prior findings.
“Going forward, this court will have to consider a #jail sentence. The last thing I want to do is put you in jail.”
charges are falsifying business records to hide #HushMoney payments in lead up to 2016 election to #influence electorate
just one Trump supporter at the courthouse draped in a Trump flag.
#StormyDaniels's lawyer, #KeithDavidson, to return to stand. He negotiated the hush-money payment at the center of the case, & is expected to lay out details of the deal.
#Colangelo, the prosecutor, responds, saying the judge’s findings that Trump violated his #GagOrder are directly relevant to Trump's #credibility if he takes the stand & points out there is case #law supporting his argument.
Justice Merchan has responded well to #CaseLaw - #precedent - in the past & has expressed frustration w/the defense when they don't cite any.
But Merchan agrees w/defense, saying it would be too prejudicial for a jury to hear that he held Trump in #contempt.
I just read the #judgemerchan#contempt ruling. It's good at explaining why the Court did certain things.
I still think the "directing others" phrase is a loophole for Trump.
However the court did include the phrase "with the knowledge that such interference is likely to result;" this is good since it's absurd to pretend that #Trump doesn't know what his followers will do.
TV lawyers now have to explain what happens when Trump doesn't stop.
Link to order https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/D.O.motion4contempt-FINAL.pdf #TrumpTrial
Testimony started w/a bang last week as David #Pecker, the fmr publisher of The #NationalEnquirer, said that he had entered into a secret plot w/ #Trump & #MichaelCohen to #CatchAndKill negative stories about Trump as he ran for president in 2016. #GaryFarro, the 3rd to testify, started off w/dry details about banking transactions. But #Farro is leading us to the #HushMoney payment
Justice Juan M. #Merchan cruised over that quickly, but what just happened should not be overlooked. #Trump has been found in #contempt & fined what seems to be at least $5,000. The way it was presented was very hard to follow so we’ll confirm the number as soon as we can.
Merchan, issued his ruling as the #TrumpTrial began its third week, saying that #Trump’s statements, including on social media, had violated the #GagOrder. Prosecutors had asked that Trump be held in #contempt, citing 10 public statements that they said posed a “#threat” to the trial.
Already, prosecutors have alerted to the judge to 4 new potential violations. Those were not covered by Justice #Merchan’s order & will be discussed at another hearing, which will be held on Thurs morning.
In addition to fining #Trump after finding him in #contempt, Justice Merchan ordered him to remove the offending Truth Social posts today.
During the break, the lawyers have continued to discuss the case with the judge. Now, a prosecutor, Matthew Colangelo, rises & says that if #Trump testifies, the prosecution would seek to cross-examine him about the judge’s ruling on the #GagOrder. This issue will be argued at length sometime later — & possibly not even today — but Colangelo raises it now.
The #Trump campaign is already fund-raising off Justice #Merchan’s #GagOrder ruling, sending an email to supporters claiming, in all caps, that a “liberal judge just silenced me.”
The judge returned to the bench but #Trump took some extra time to return to the courtroom, which is unusual in this case. Now Trump is back & #Merchan has warned Todd #Blanche, his lawyer: “Let’s try to keep the breaks short.”
Trump is joined by his son Eric again, although Susie Wiles & Dan Scavino, two of his aides, have not re-entered the courtroom.
Dr. Robert Browning is the next witness. He is a Purdue professor focusing on #Congress & the #media, he is also the head of #CSPAN archives. He says he was compelled to testify.
The third video shows #Trump at a news conference in 2017 during the presidential transition, saying, “#MichaelCohen is a very talented lawyer, he’s a good lawyer.”
Defense had no questions.
We've moved on to a new witness, someone named Phillip Thompson who works at a company supplying court reporters, interpreters that transcribed Trump's deposition in #EJeanCarroll trial. He was subpoenaed.
Right before court adjourned, Justice #Merchan reminded the court that #Trump was held in #contempt & fined $9k. First up Thurs is a hearing on 4 more violations of Trump's #GagOrder & should only take 30 mins when court resumes. After that hearing, Davidson is expected to pick up in his testimony where he left off: On the verge of completing the #HushMoney deal that silenced the story of his client #StormyDaniels.
Justice Juan #Merchan is on the bench & announces a scheduling clarification, saying that another hearing to determine whether Trump violated his #GagOrder will be held next Thurs morning. We are still waiting for the outcome of Tuesday’s hearing on the gag order, in which prosecutors asked that Trump be held in #contempt & fined at least $10k.
@davidallengreen The Trudi Warner #contempt case brings to mind a significant so-called 'perverse' verdict from 1991.
Michael #Randle and Patrick #Pottle were charged with helping a spy escape from prison in 1963.
The judge told the jury the defendants had no defence. The jury knew they were guilty - the pair admitted it in a book - and yet the jury unanimously found them not guilty.
Officials HAVE had preliminary discussions about how to protect the former president in the unlikely event that he is jailed for #contempt during the trial.
Prosecutors in Trump’s #criminal trial say he has violated a #GagOrder barring him from attacking #witnesses, #jurors & others close to the case. Testimony is set to resume later Tuesday morning.
The judge loses patience w/ #Blanche, "I'm asking the questions, OK," he says. "Im going to decide whether your client is in #contempt or not, so please don't turn it around." Blanche says in a higher-pitched voice that the prosecutors got as much time as they want.
Justice #Merchan makes a distinction, saying the prosecutors were answering his questions.
During the scold, #Trump turned to another one of his lawyers, Emil Bove, & whispered a comment.
The day concluded with/o a final decision from Justice #Merchan on whether #Trump will be held in #contempt & fined for violating his #GagOrder. Merchan could issue a written ruling at any point, or rule from the bench later. There is no deadline.
Trump, as always, spouted a bunch of BS in the hallway outside the courtroom.
This time he brought props, he held up a stack of printed articles that he said he wasn’t sure he could share because of the gag order 🙄
Gag Him. The gag order is for dangerous criminals, he will be found in contempt tomorrow
1.- In May 2023, the court issued a protective order prohibiting Trump from disclosing on social media or elsewhere any discovery received from the prosecution.
In Feb 2024, DANY sought a gag order to prevent Trump from making statements outside of court to threaten, intimidate, or harass jurors, prosecutors, witnesses, or court staff.
Violations
On the opening day of the trial, Trump was in already in contempt of court for violating the gag order.
Despite the warning, Trump continued to make statements that violated the order.
Judge Merchan should sentence NY prisoner P01135809 to 30 days in jail for his contempt charge. He is currently out on bail release. Yes, it's long overdue. The criminal defendant seems to be angling for that.