Author Topic: Live Thread: Trump's hush money trial begins in NYC (Read 15367 times)

mystery-ak · « **on:** April 14, 2024, 07:49:44 pm »

A serial perjurer will try to prove an old misdemeanor against Trump in an embarrassment for the New York legal system
By Social Links for Jonathan Turley
Published April 14, 2024, 1:44 p.m. ET

The famous Roman philosopher and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, “The more laws, the less justice.”

This week, New York judges and lawyers appear eager to prove that the same is true for cases against Donald Trump.

After an absurd $450 million decision courtesy of Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg will bring his equally controversial criminal prosecution over hush money paid to a former porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Lawyers have been scouring the civil and criminal codes for any basis to sue or prosecute Trump before the upcoming 2024 election. This week will highlight the damage done to New York’s legal system because of this unhinged crusade. They’ve charged him with everything short of ripping a label off a mattress.

Just a few weeks ago, another judge imposed a roughly half trillion dollar penalty in a case without a single victim who lost a single cent on loans with Trump. (Indeed, bank officials testified they wanted more business with the Trump organization).

Now Bragg is bringing a case that has taken years to develop and millions of dollars in litigation cost for all parties. That is all over a crime from before the 2016 election that is a misdemeanor under state law that had already expired under the statute of limitations.

more
https://nypost.com/2024/04/14/opinion/a-serial-perjurer-will-try-to-prove-an-old-misdemeanor-against-trump-in-an-embarrassment-for-the-new-york-legal-system/

DB · « **Reply #1 on:** April 14, 2024, 08:13:04 pm »

"roughly half trillion dollar penalty"

Billion, not trillion.

mystery-ak · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2024, 01:07:25 pm »

Michael Cohen is an admitted liar. He’s still going to be the star witness against Trump.

“If a jury doesn’t believe him, that’s it,” one former prosecutor said.

By Erica Orden

04/14/2024 07:00 AM EDT

NEW YORK — By his own admission, he has lied in court. He has lied to the media. And he has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress.

Now, he’s set to be state prosecutors’ key witness against Donald Trump.

Michael Cohen, the former president’s fixer-turned-foe, is expected to tell jurors in the criminal trial starting Monday that Trump directed him to pay $130,000 in hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels so that she wouldn’t go public in the final weeks of the 2016 election with an allegation about a sexual encounter with Trump. Prosecutors have accused the former president of falsifying business records reflecting Trump’s reimbursements to Cohen.

But while the prosecution’s ability to prove its case at trial could hinge on Cohen’s first-hand account of the hush money arrangement, Cohen also may be its most problematic witness due to long-running questions about his ability to tell the truth.

“If a jury doesn’t believe him, that’s it,” said Catherine Christian, a former Manhattan assistant district attorney.

more
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/14/michael-cohen-credibility-trump-trial-00152122

bigheadfred · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2024, 01:13:50 pm »

mystery-ak · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2024, 01:14:30 pm »

Nine questions about the Trump trial, answered
The historic trial will kick off at 10 am Monday in Manhattan
By Emma Colton Fox News
Published April 15, 2024 4:00am EDT | Updated April 15, 2024 4:11am EDT

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nine-questions-about-the-trump-trial-answered

Gefn · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2024, 01:21:33 pm »

📕 🔖

Polly Ticks · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2024, 02:58:04 pm »

libertybele · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2024, 05:18:08 pm »

He will never get an acquittal and I believe he's going to be judged by those who want to see him behind bars. There is no way they are going to find 12 impartial jurors.

libertybele · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2024, 05:21:55 pm »

www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-hush-money-trial-stormy-daniels-michael-cohen-live-updates-rcna145934

libertybele · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2024, 05:22:53 pm »

What to know about Trump's hush money trial-

The trial begins today with jury selection, which could take up to two weeks because of the large pool of prospective jurors.
The charges from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stem from a $130,000 payment Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels at the end of the 2016 election to keep her from going public with an allegation that she and Trump had had an affair. Trump then repaid Cohen in installments marked as legal fees in company records.
The proceedings mark the first time a former president has faced a criminal trial; Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records. He has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to the charges, which he says are politically motivated.
Trump is required to be present for the trial, which will take place four days a week and could last eight weeks.
Judge Juan Merchan began the day's proceedings by reviewing pending motions. He ruled against a request that he recuse himself from the trial. .....

mystery-ak · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2024, 05:52:37 pm »

Jonathan Turley: Trump’s New York Hush Money Case Is ‘Absurd’

Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley said Monday on Fox News Channel’s “America’s Newsroom” that former President Donald Trump’s New York trial for allegedly falsifying business records related to payments to porn star Stormy Daniel is “absurd.”

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/04/15/jonathan-turley-trumps-new-york-hush-money-case-is-absurd/

mystery-ak · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2024, 05:54:17 pm »

Potential Trump hush money trial jurors being asked 42 questions
On Monday, former President Trump made history as the 1st former president to stand trial on criminal charges
By Lawrence Richard , Maria Paronich Fox News
Published April 15, 2024 10:10am EDT | Updated April 15, 2024 11:15am EDT

Quote

The 42 questions on the questionnaire include:

1. A. Without telling us your address, in what neighborhood do you live? For example, Upper East Side, Lower West Side, Inwood, etc.

B. How long have you lived there?

C. Are you a native New Yorker? If not, where did you live previously?

2. A. What do you do for a living?

B. How long have you been doing that?

C. If you are retired, please tell us what you did before you retired.

3. A. Who is your current employer?

B. How large is your current employer?

C. Are you self-employed or own your own business?

D. Who was your prior employer?

4. What is your educational background? For example, high school diploma, college degree, graduate degree, etc.

5. A. Are you married?

B. Have you ever been married?

C. Do you have any children?

6. A. If you are married, or living with another adult, what does that person do for a living?

B. If you have adult children, what do they do?

7. A. What do you like to do in your spare time?

B. Do you have any interests or hobbies?

8. A. Do you participate in any organizations or advocacy groups?

B. Which ones?

9. A. Have you ever served on a jury before? If you did, please tell us how long ago that was and whether that was in Criminal Court, Civil Court, or Grand Jury.

B. Without telling us the verdict, please tell us whether the jury reached a verdict.

10. Which of the following print publications, cable and or network programs, or online media such as websites, blogs, or social media platforms do you visit, read, or watch?

The juror is then asked to check through various mainstream news platforms such as Fox News, the Wall Street Journal and others. They are also instructed to check through a list of social media platforms, including Facebook, X, TikTok and others.

11. Do you listen to or watch podcasts? If so, which ones?

12. Do you listen to talk radio? If so, which programs?

13. Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever been the victim of a crime? If so, please briefly tell us what happened?

14. Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever been employed by a law enforcement agency? For example, the police, FBI, District Attorney's Office, Department of Correction, etc.

15. Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever been employed by a federal, state, or local government, including but not limited to the State of New York?

16. Have you, a relative, or close friend ever been employed in the accounting or finance field?

17. Have you, a relative or close friend ever had any education, training, or work experience in the legal field, including but not limited to practicing criminal or civil law?

18. A. Have you, a relative, or close friend had any experience or interaction with the criminal justice system, including a police officer or other type of law enforcement agent, which caused you to form an opinion, whether positive or negative, about the police or our criminal justice system?

B. If so, what was that experience?

C. Would that experience prevent you from being a fair and impartial juror in this case?

19. Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever been accused or convicted of committing a crime?

20. Do you, a relative, or a close friend have a pending criminal case?

21. A. Do you have any political, moral, intellectual, or religious beliefs or opinions which might prevent you from following the Court's instructions on the law or which might slant your approach to this case?

B. Do you have any political, moral, intellectual or religious beliefs or opinions that would interfere with your ability to render a verdict in this criminal case?

22. Do you have a health condition that might interfere with your ability to be here on the appointed days and times or otherwise prevent you from serving as a juror?

23. Without telling us the name(s), do you take any medication that would prevent you from being able to concentrate or pay attention during the proceedings or during the deliberations?

24. Court proceedings normally end around 4:30 in the afternoon though on rare occasions, we might work beyond that. Would your schedule and responsibilities permit you to work later if it were absolutely necessary to complete that day's work?

25. Do you practice a religion that would prevent you from sitting as a juror on any particular weekday or weeknight?

26. Can you give us an assurance that you will be fair and impartial and not base your decision in this case upon a bias or prejudice in favor of or against a person who may appear in this trial, on account of that person's race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability, sexual orientation or political views?

27. Can you promise to guard against allowing stereotypes or attitudes about individuals or about groups of people, referred to as an implicit bias, influence your decision?

28. Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever worked for any company or organization that is owned or run by Donald Trump or anyone in his family?

29. A. Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever worked or volunteered for a Trump presidential campaign, the Trump presidential administration, or any other political entity affiliated with Mr. Trump?

B. Have you ever attended a rally or campaign event for Donald Trump?

C. Are you signed up for or have you ever been signed up for, subscribed to, or followed any newsletter or email listserv run by or on behalf of Mr. Trump or the Trump Organization?

D. Do you currently follow Donald Trump on any social media site or have you done so in the past?

E. Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever worked or volunteered for any anti-Trump group or organization?

F. Have you ever attended a rally or campaign event for any anti-Trump group or organization?

G. Are you signed up for or have you ever been signed up for, subscribed to, or followed any newsletter or email listserv run by or on behalf of any anti-Trump group or organization?

H. Do you currently follow any anti-Trump group or organization on any social media site, or have you done so in the past?

30. Have you ever considered yourself a supporter of or belonged to any of the following:

- the QAnon movement

- Proud Boys

- Oathkeepers

- Three Percenters

- Boogaloo Boys

- Antifa

31. Do you have any strong opinions or firmly held beliefs about whether a former president may be criminally charged in state court?

32. Do you have any feelings of opinions about how Mr. Trump is being treated in this case?

33. Can you give us your assurance that you will decide this case solely on the evidence you see and hear in this courtroom and the law as the judge gives it?

34. Do you have any strong opinions or firmly held beliefs about former President Donald Trump, or the fact that he is a current candidate for president that would interfere with your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?

35. Have you read (or listened to audio) of any of the following books or podcasts by Michael Cohen or Mark Pomerantz? If so, please let us know if what you have heard or read affects your ability to be a fair and impartial juror in this case.

Disloyal: A Memoir (2020)
Mea Culpa (the podcast)
Revenge (2022)
People Vs. Donald Trump (2023)

36. The defendant in this case has written a number of books. Have you read (or listened to audio) of anyone or more of those books? If so, which ones?

37. Do you have any opinions about the legal limits governing political contributions?

38. Can you promise to set aside anything you may have heard or read about this case and render your verdict based solely on the evidence presented in this courtroom and the law as given to you by the judge?

39. Can you give us your absolute assurance that you will refrain from discussing this case with anyone in any manner and from watching, reading, or listening to any accounts of this case during the pendency of the trial?

40. Can you assure us that you will follow the judge's instructions on the law, including instructions on the definition of reasonable doubt and the presumption of innocence?

41. The United States Constitution provides that a defendant has no burden to introduce any evidence or to testify in a criminal case. If Mr. Trump chooses not to testify or to introduce any evidence, can you give us your assurance that you will not hold that against him?

42. Is there any reason, whether it be a bias or something else, that would prevent you from being fair and impartial if you are selected as a juror for this case?

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/could-you-juror-trumps-new-york-hush-money-trial-42-questions-prosecutors-asking

mystery-ak · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2024, 06:07:59 pm »

Prosecutors prod judge to fine Trump $3K, hold him in 'contempt' for breaching gag order in historic 'hush money' criminal trial

Prosecutors ask to fine Trump $3,000, hold him in 'contempt' for breaching gag order
By Ben Kochman and Kyle Schnitzer

The DA's Office wants Justice Juan Merchan to fine Donald Trump $3,000 for violating the court's gag order by disparaging likely witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels in social media posts.

Trump has breached the order three times in Truth Social posts in recent days, prosecutor Christopher Conroy told the court.

“We think it is important for the court to remind Mr. Trump [that he] is a criminal defendant,” Conroy said.

Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche countered by arguing that Trump's online attacks on Cohen and Daniels don't breach the gag order because Trump is merely responding to "salacious, repeated, vehement attacks by these witnesses."

Merchan did not rule on the matter immediately.

mystery-ak · « **Reply #13 on:** April 15, 2024, 06:19:57 pm »

First batch of potential jurors — 96 of them —about to be called
By Kyle Schnitzer

The first batch of potential jurors in Donald Trump's hush money case will total 96 people, according to the judge.

Earlier Monday, Justice Juan M. Merchan said there are around total 500 potential jurors for the case.

The judge said he will hand both prosecutors and Trump's attorneys two lists that cannot be "photographed" or duplicated in "any way, shape or form."

One list will have the jurors' numbers, and another list will have their name and juror number, according to the judge.

Jurors are expected to enter the courtroom soon.

mystery-ak · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2024, 06:21:05 pm »

Judge threatens Trump with jail if he interrupts hush money trial
By Kyle Schnitzer

Justice Juan M. Merchan warned Donald Trump that if he disrupts the proceedings in the hush money trial in any way, he could be jailed, with the proceeding continuing in his absence.

It's worth noting that this warning is given to every criminal defendant standing trial, not just Trump.

The notice came after Trump's attorney Todd Blanche claimed that Trump wants to be "present at everything."

"President Trump wants to be present at everything," Blanche said shortly before the lunch break.

He said Trump plans to be involved in court conferences and the jury selection process.