Big show of family support on the 1st day of #HunterBiden’s trial.
In addition to #POTUS’ statement, Hunter’s wife, Melissa Cohen, his sister Ashley Biden, his friend Kevin Morris, Peter Neal, who is married to Hunter’s daughter Naomi, & #FLOTUS Dr. #JillBiden are in attendance.
President #Biden will be in Wilmington, DL, w/no appearances scheduled. But he has given no indication that he would be in the courthouse — a possibility that would require considerable security arrangements.
Judge Maryellen Noreika swore in 12 #jurors — + 4 alternates — to determine the #legal fate of #HunterBiden, who is on trial for 3 #felony#gun charges….
A substitute #teacher, a fmr #SecretService employee & multiple #GunOwners were among those chosen to report back to court Tues morning, when opening arguments are expected to begin.…Most were people of color, &…appeared to range from mid-20s to 70s.
What do you call citizens whose tax dollars fund the 24/7 lifetime personal protection of a man who attempted to overthrow their democracy, one which he had taken an oath to preserve, protect, and defend?
You call them fucking idiots; that’s what you call them.
#MAGAts are the toughest people in the world until #SecretService shows up and arrests them on multiple 10-year+ federal felony charges. This dumbshit wanted a prize, and now his dreams have come true! 🤣
#Trump has a huge posse today, including #KashPatel; #GerryKassar, a #conservative party leader in NY; #BernieKerik, fmr NYPD commissioner who was imprisoned for tax fraud & false statements; #AlanDershowitz, lawyer who defended Trump during his first impeachment, & #BorisEpshteyn, legal adviser who was #indicted in AZ for attempts to keep Trump in power after the 2020 election.
#Trump in his insecurity, goes for the petulant power play:
No one can leave because he isn’t.
Trump, who loves having everyone's eyes on him, is talking to his lawyers. After a bit, his posse starts to leave.
Prosecutors try to as well, but are stopped by #SecretService.
The power dynamic is whack. Prosecution has the power to ask the judge to hold Trump in contempt & to ask jurors to convict him. But the #USSS has the power to stop prosecutors from leaving if deemed necessary.
There's evidence some agents in the #SecretService have been compromised for years, but now...
There's a petition circulating inside the USSS that flags concerns about "a number of recent Secret Service incidents indicative of inadequate training," a double standard in disciplinary actions, & a vulnerability "to potential insider threats" that could pose a risk to US nat. sec. It was first shared Mon, I'm told, & has 39 signatures so far. Aim is to call for a congress. investigation."
-J Jacobs
Speaking about what his jail expereince could look like, she said: "For protection, besides the standard prison security measures, additional precautions like increased surveillance and possibly guards assigned specifically to him would be likely.
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.