#Trump: The case is not about all of the other stuff you’ve been seeing because we’re using that to attempt, it’s had no impact because it’s so old, attempt to do something to me politically
A fmr White House aide who worked closely w/ #Trump returned to the stand to testify about a significant meeting between Trump & #MichaelCohen his personal lawyer that is at the center of Trump’s #criminal trial.
#Trump atty Emil #Bove cross-examines #JarmelSchneider. He tries to win the witness over, first by asking him how he prefers to be addressed & then expressing sympathy as he acknowledges that a paralegal's work can be boring.
Jarmel-Schneider isn't biting, saying he enjoys his work.
#Bove is now poring over the tiny details of the data that #JarmelSchneider worked with, suggesting to the jury that there are issues w/the paralegal's work.
Bove suggests that the reports were edited in a suspicious manner. On redirect, Jarmel-Schneider clarified that the report we are looking at is abridged per prosecutors’ request. Bove on re-cross continues trying to raise suspicion about the call list displayed.
Justice #Merchan discusses w/ both prosecutors & defense lawyers what the jury instructions may look like. This is an important part of the case, because of the complexity of the charges against #Trump, which wrap in a secondary #crime w/ which he is not charged: prosecutors have tried to convince jurors that second crime is an #election crime.
#Steinglass, one of the prosecutors, says he expects to call 2 witnesses next week, & that it is entirely possible that they will rest by the end of the week.
Keep in mind that we only have a 3-day wk next wk. The trial is always off on Wednesdays, & we'll have next Friday off to allow #Trump to attend Barron’s HS graduation.
Monday will bring the appearance of #MichaelCohen, Trump’s fmr fixer & lawyer, & a crucial #witness.
The judge is suggesting that prosecutors should, in fact, call #AllenWeisselberg as a witness, which appears as if it would be a major shift in their plan.
Justice #Merchan is very familiar w/Weisselberg, having sentenced him to #jail before.
#Blanche, one of Trump’s lawyers, is now asking the judge about #MichaelCohen, Blanche says he has continued to attack #Trump on the social media platform TikTok. Blanche asks the judge to order prosecutors to instruct Cohen to stop talking until the trial is over.
#Steinglass, a prosecutor, says they have repeatedly asked witnesses, including Cohen, to remain silent but have little control over them.
Justice #Merchan asks prosecutors to tell #MichaelCohen that he is personally asking him to refrain from making any more statements about the case or #Trump. “That comes from the bench,” Merchan says.
Trump flashes a wide grin as the prosecutor #Steinglass says he can’t control Cohen’s statements outside court. Then he shakes his head as court adjourns.
Trump looks delighted as he stands up at the end of the proceedings.