Justice Merchan starts off will the prosecution motion for contempt.
He tells Trump he's about to issue his ruling, in which he will again find Trump in contempt of court.
The last thing I want to do is put you in jail, Justice Merchan says to Trump. You are the former President of the United States and possibly the next President as well.
But "going forward," he continues, "this court will have to consider jail sanctions" if necessary.
Trump has closed his eyes with his body positioned toward the witness/the jury.
Katie's Sidebar: here's another pro-tip- you don't want your criminal defendant client appearing to be asleep for the first witness of the day & only 15 minutes into that testimony, when the jury can see your client appearing to be asleep.
Trump's attorney Susan Necheles hands over "a stack of news articles" by legal commentators like Jonathan Turley, others. She says Trump wants to post them, but she wants to make sure they do not violate the gag order.
"We think that they are perfectly fine."
Prosecutor:
🤔👉🏼"It seems odd that they're asking the court for an advanced ruling" on these sorts of things.
Much of the press's attention seems to be elsewhere. From the few laptop screens I can see of fellow reporters, some are filing stories, or reading other things. Many more laptops are closed entirely. It's been a long day, and the technical minutae is making lids heavy.
A source tells Ben Meiselas that #Trump is taking ‘full-on bonafide naps’ in the courtroom: Trump looked to be close to deep REM sleep. His lids are heavy..
So @GottaLaff just coined #DefendantSleepyFlopSweatMcBrainSpurs for #TFG and I think we all have a civic duty to make that hashtag trend. So I humbly ask you to boost this message and use that hashtag as often as possible.
@scottytrees I think history would have been very different if people had been better and more creative at insulting Hitler and Mussolini in the early 30s.
We need a lot of more juvenile journalists who have the courage to single out criminals such as #TFG before nazis get the nuclear codes, because the serious and adult-like idiots who are too respectful of mass murderers and criminals are driving us straight into fascism every single time.
I think it's a good thing that sack of shit a.k.a. #DefendantSleepyFlopSweatMcBrainSpurs, formerly known as #TFG is getting due recognition, in addition to 300 years behind bars.
& then he falsified the biz records in furtherance of effort to viol campaign finance laws.
Are these folks really this stupid?
Bash: We actually have the reimbursement checks… Are you comfortable with this?
#Noem: #MichaelCohen worked for #Trump. Pres Trump paid his legal fees, he paid his Michael Cohen legal fees & bills & that's what this trial will bringing fwd