LIVE THREAD....Day 21: Closing Arguments And Verdict

[mystery-ak]

Judgment week: How prosecutors will use the ‘other crime’ against Trump
By
Byron York
May 27, 2024 8:43 am


JUDGMENT WEEK: HOW PROSECUTORS WILL USE THE ‘OTHER CRIME’ AGAINST TRUMP. On Tuesday, a jury in Manhattan will hear closing arguments in the trial of former President Donald Trump. Local prosecutors allege Trump committed bookkeeping offenses as part of a conspiracy to corrupt the 2016 presidential election. The former president’s specific crime, prosecutors say, was labeling a nondisclosure agreement negotiated by his lawyer as a “legal expense” in Trump Organization books.

But bookkeeping offenses, even when done by Trump, are misdemeanors in New York, so prosecutors sought to raise the seriousness of the charge by alleging an additional crime. They haven’t said so precisely, but in court papers, they have offered a “theory” in which Trump, in addition to the bookkeeping, violated a New York state election law barring the “conspiracy to promote or prevent election … by unlawful means.” That is also a misdemeanor, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argues that the two misdemeanors, when taken together, add up to 34 felony charges and a maximum sentence of 136 years in prison for Trump. Such is the state of the justice system in New York.

It doesn’t take a brilliant legal mind to see that it all depends — Trump’s future and the hopes of Democrats who seek to jail him and cripple his presidential candidacy — it all depends on that second misdemeanor, which the attorneys usually refer to as the “object crime.” So it is not surprising that there has been furious debate between the two sides about how Judge Juan Merchan will instruct the jury to consider the object crime when they decide Trump’s fate.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/daily-memo/3018294/judgment-week-how-prosecutors-will-use-the-other-crime-against-trump/

[mystery-ak]

Report: President Biden Plans to Comment on Anticipated Trump Trial Verdict

President Joe Biden is planning to make a public statement when a verdict is reached in the business records trial of former President Donald Trump, which could be as early as this week, according to a report.

more
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/05/27/report-president-biden-plans-comment-anticipated-trump-trial-verdict/

[bigheadfred]

What a damned mess.

[mystery-ak]

27 minutes ago
People line up down the block outside Manhattan federal court
By Kaydi Pelletier

[Bigun]

What a damned mess.

  

[mystery-ak]

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
LIVE from the overflow room in the morning, the ICEBOX has turned into what feels like a SAUNA. It is hot and sticky. They have obviously turned off the AC all weekend, and we get to enjoy the built up heat of 13 floors below us as well as the sun beating on this building, which ironically looks similar to a communist bloc structure, all Memorial Day weekend.
8:02 AM · May 28, 2024

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States and the leading candidate to become the 47th President of the United States has entered the steamy courtroom.

Today’s notable attendees include much of his family: Don Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Tiffany Trump, Michael Boulos, Steve Witkoff, Will Scharf, and Deroy Murdock.

[Polly Ticks]

This feels like a Derek Chauvin repeat ... he has to be guilty because otherwise there will be riots.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
Merchan has explained pre-summations to the jury.

Todd Blanche now gets up to give his Closing Argument to the jury in defense of President Trump.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
5m
Merchan is explaining to the jury that “…under law, defense must sum up first and then the prosecution will follow. Then the lawyers will not be able to talk to you after.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani

·
6m
The jury has entered the courtroom and they are now seated. They will first hear closing arguement from the Soros funded DA’s office, then from the former President’s defense team, and then…the verdict will be in their hands.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
6m
This is a surprise, the Trump Defense Team will give their Closing Argument FIRST, before the Soros funded DA’s office.

Why wouldn’t the Trump Defense team get the last word?

[mystery-ak]

NYPost

6 minutes ago
As in every state case, defense counsel will go first, and DA will follow
By Ben Kochman

Justice Juan Merchan just reminded the jury that Donald Trump's lawyers will be making their closing argument first, followed by prosecutors.

"Under our law, defense counsel must sum up first, and prosecutors must follow," the judge said.

Trump last night lamented that prosecutors would get the last word and claimed in a social media post that the set-up was "very unfair."

"WHY IS THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENT ALLOWED TO MAKE THE FINAL ARGUMENT IN THE CASE AGAINST ME?" Trump wrote in an all-caps post on Truth Social. "WHY CAN’T THE DEFENSE GO LAST? BIG ADVANTAGE, VERY UNFAIR. WITCH HUNT!"

But that's how trials work in every state case.

3 minutes ago
Closing arguments could go beyond Tuesday
By Kyle Schnitzer

Trump attorney Todd Blanche said he expects his closing argument to last two-and-a-half hours. Meanwhile, prosector Joshua Steinglass estimates that Bragg's office's argument will take between four or four-and-a-half hours.

Justice Merchan told the jury that he will let them decide whether they want to work late or not.

“If you decide you don’t want to work late today, we can finish it up tomorrow," he told the jury.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Blanche: “This case is about documents, it’s a paper case.”

“It’s not about an encounter with Stormy Daniels 18 years ago, an encounter that President Trump has denied.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
Blanche: “You should want more than Michael Cohen.”

“You should demand more than a woman who said something happened in 2006.”

“The consequences for the lack of proof is simple…a not guilty verdict…PERIOD!”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
4m
Blanche: It’s you all that will decide whether or not President Trump is guilty or innocent.

Continues: As I said on April 22nd, President Trump is innocent. The prosecution has not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
5m
Blanche starts by thanking the jury for their juror service. We see you paying close attention and we appreciate that. We also hope you had a good long weekend.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
27s
Blanche: “You cannot convict President Trump beyond a reasonable doubt without the word of Michael Cohen.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Blanche now says: “The (Trump Organization) bookings were accurate and there was no attempt of fraud.”

“There was no attempt at influencing the 2016 election by President Trump or the folks at AMI.”

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Blanche: Two things you need to find: 1) false entries and 2) that President Trump attempted to commit fraud.

“That is not all you need to find, but I suspect that you won’t have to go further, because the entries were correct and there was no attempt at fraud.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Blanche: “The words that Michael Cohen said to you on that witness stand matter. He took an oath, and he told you a number of lies, plain and simple.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
Blanche: “You cannot convict President Trump beyond a reasonable doubt without the word of Michael Cohen.”

[mystery-ak]

NYPost

a few seconds ago
Attorney calls Trump 'innocent,' attacks testimony from witnesses at trial

Trump attorney Todd Blanche started his opening arguments by claiming that Donald Trump is "innocent' and committed no crimes.

"President Trump is innocent, he did not commit any crimes, and the district attorney has not met their burden of proof, period," Blanche fired earlier.

Blanche has been picking at witnesses who appeared at trial, including Michael Cohen.

"The evidence should leave you wanting more. You should want and expect more than the testimony of Michael Cohen," Blanche said.

As for Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniels' attorney, he said a jury should "demand more" than his testimony because he "really was just trying to extort money from President Trump in the lead up to the 2016 election."

Regarding Daniels, who testified that she had sex with Trump at a golf course, Blanche said: “This case – this case is about documents. It’s a paper case. This case is not about an encounter with Stormy Daniels 18 years ago, an encounter President Trump has unequivocally and repeatedly denied ever occurred."

[libertybele]

This feels like a Derek Chauvin repeat ... he has to be guilty because otherwise there will be riots.

This is such a bogus trial in yet another attempt to interfere with an election.

I think that they will fine him.  Jail time for an ex-president who is entitled to SS protection?

The judge should have dismissed this trial a long time ago. At best a hung jury.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Blanche: “General practice (of Ms. Tarasov) is not proof of President Trump’s guilt, beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
3m
Blanche brings up exhibit of an invoice sent by Cohen and the check signed by President Trump.

“It should not surprise you that President Trump was working early mornings and late nights in the White House.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Blanche: I don’t think there’s even a dispute about this, Cohen was rendering services from President Trump. In 2017, Michael Cohen was President Trump’s personal attorney.

This was true. Cohen testified that there were outstanding matters that he was dealing with for President Trump.
8:54 AM · May 28, 2024

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
“Cohen lied to you, he LIED to you!”

Blanche shows the jury how Cohen changed his testimony from when the prosecution questioned him about a Summer Zervos matter, to when the defense asked him. At first he said he had little to do with it, then when the defense presented evidence, Cohen changed his testimony to admit he was lead counsel.
8:57 AM · May 28, 2024

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
Blanche: “Michael Cohen was President Trump’s Presonal Attorney, period.”

Remember what Mr. Cohen said about a written retainer agreement between he and President Trump.

When pointing out that Cohen said there was never an expectation for a written retainer.

“THAT WAS A LIE!”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
27s
Blanche is repeatedly making the point to the jury which undercuts the legal service description being wrong.

“He, meaning Mr. Cohen, was President Trump’s personal attorney period.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
39s
Blanche: “There is a reason why in life that usually the simplest answer is the right one. That’s not what Mr. Cohen told you on the stand. Mr. Cohen was paid to be President Trump’s attorney.”

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
There’s no evidence that President Trump knew anything about this voucher system, NO EVIDENCE.”

“I don’t know how the government will address this, but if they try to read something from a book from a decade earlier, I would be very suspicious. A passage from a book, written by ghostwriters.”
9:05 AM · May 28, 2024

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
Blanche now on to the voucher system: “Ms. Tarasoff followed Mr. McConney’s advice, not Mr. Weiselberg and not Mr. Trump’s.”

“The government is trying to characterize what Mr. Tarasoff did was a crime. That is ABSURD!”

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Blanche going into an email titled: $$ from McConney to Tarasoff:

Email: “Please pay from the Trust. OK to pay as per agreeement with Don and Eric.”

Blanche: “There is no need to get approval from Don and Eric Trump if the conspiratorial agreement that the government wants you believe exists.”

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Blanche after saying you cannot convict President Trump:

“That is reasonable doubt. We have no burden to do anything. It is always the burden of the government.”

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
Blanche: “How can the government convict President Trump without the word of Michael Cohen.”

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Blanche: “As I just said, it matters where President Trump was during this time. He was constantly busy, people were constantly interrupting him. He was President of the United States. To believe he was in on this scheme.

And remember what the alleged scheme was: To book a legal expense as a legal expense. That he was somehow in on that, was absolutely absurd.”

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Blanche: “There was a lot of evidence about President Trump signing these checks starting in April of 2017.

As you heard from many of these witnesses, President Trump was very busy. He was running the country.

Ms. Westerhout told you that sometimes President Trump would look at the invoices, and sometimes he did not.

So you can’t convict President Trump because sometimes he looked at invoices, that he had full knowledge of what was happening. That is a stretch and that is reasonable doubt ladies and gentlemen.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
6m
Blanche on January-March 2017 checks to Cohen: “There is no evidence that President Trump had anything to do with any of these checks. As you know, they are signed by Eric Trump and Allan Weiselberg.”

[mystery-ak]

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Blanche: All of that, ends the case, NOT GUILTY, end of case

The government has asked you to believe the man who testified over the last two weeks, Michael Cohen.

Cohen asked you to ignore the documents and believe that Michael Cohen was just going to work for free.

Do you believe that for a second? Do you believe that after getting stiffed for his bonus that he would do that. Do you think that’s the truth or a lie?

[mystery-ak]

John Roberts
@johnrobertsFox
·
36m
The @JoeBiden
 campaign will hold a news conference with "special guests" outside the courthouse at 10:15. But there is nothing political about this prosecution...

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Blanche: The idea that President Trump would agree to pay Michael Cohen $420K when he only owed him $130K is absurd.

So he wants you to believe that President Trump saw this piece of paper and paid an extra $300k on top of it.

THAT IS ABSURD! All the other testimony you’ve heard is how President Trump would closely watch his finances. Remember, pay as little as possible.

[mystery-ak]

Jonathan Turley
@JonathanTurley
·
15m
Before the jury entered, the judge told the parties not to go into the law, “that will be my job.” That is precisely what worries many of us. Merchan has proven a minimalist judge giving the defendant the bare minimum of protections at every turn...

Jonathan Turley
@JonathanTurley
·
15m
...The fraud instruction alone is so generalized that it would seem to encompass any claim that the defendant sought to influence the election through his actions. Merchan has done little to tailor standard instructions for this novel and frankly troubling case...

Jonathan Turley
@JonathanTurley
·
12m
...The judge has allowed this jury to believe that there were federal election violations by Trump and his campaign. At the same time, he has allowed the jury to disagree on what crime was being committed and still treat the verdict as unanimous.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
My note: Blanche’s point about Trump having to sign off on doubling payment to Cohen is perfect. President Trump would never overpay for anything, he has always prided himself on finding the best deal he can, at all times.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
36s
Blanche: If accept Mr. Cohen’s version of what happened, that Mr. Trump, Mr. Weiselberg and Mr. Cohen had this conspiracy. But the document that the people offer to prove it is a lie. That they say to ‘gross it up’ is an absolute lie.