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

[dfwgator]

   It is absolutely a Tragedy what our Political World has become in just 8 short years, with that being said ~ I ask who was in charge of the GOP for those 8 years???

It's been in the works for much longer than 8 years.

[corbe]

    That I believe.  At least far away back as 1963.

[Sighlass]

Oh, I think it's been mentioned a lot.  Trump paints a huge target on himself through his own actions, arrogance, and lack of repentance.  He is of deeply flawed character, and he alienates himself from those who dedicate their lives to forgiveness.

But none of that has a thing to do with the case before us.  I am not a Trump supporter.  I likely will not be voting for him in November.  And a big part of me wants him to back out of the race and let someone else take the mantle this election.  But this isn't about Trump.  This is about a travesty that is occurring in our country where one political party is running roughshod over the rule of law and our Constitution.  I believe in the Bill of Rights.  And upholding that is far more important than some porn star that Trump banged.

Trump may be a pompous sleazy ass.  No arguing that.  But he just got convicted in a court of law where his main witness was blocked by a judge from testifying, he was charged with crimes where the statute of limitations already expired, and convicted by a jury who failed to identify the crime for which he was convicted.  And that's just wrong.

So did "sleazy ass" Trump hide the payment to a Porn Star through a part of his campaign funds? Or not? I admit not following this as well as the rest of yall, to your credit... I just don't have the inclination to wade through this junk day in and day out. I guess we all have things we don't want screamed from the rooftops, but dang, I want a president that doesn't make those mistakes time and time and time again. I imagine Trump could of made some other means of payment that didn't connect him to his sin, without going though the LCC (or whatever it was connected to his campaign), but he didn't and he shouldn't of had to. Again, he was cheating on a "trophy wife w/ his child" (as told a thousand times).

After being told numerous times that "what we need is someone who isn't a politician"... well America sure hired someone just a greasy (more so than most).... @dfwgator rides in town and tells us 99.9% of politicians are just as crooked.... well I don't believe that, I can't believe it, I think it is just they want to protect their bad boy Donald and paint him as the victim... Well he is no victim, this is of his own doing.

My tagline is there for a reason .... it has a purpose to help us elect people worthy of office. We have abandoned it.

[DB]

So did "sleazy ass" Trump hide the payment to a Porn Star through a part of his campaign funds? Or not? I admit not following this as well as the rest of yall, to your credit... I just don't have the inclination to wade through this junk day in and day out. I guess we all have things we don't want screamed from the rooftops, but dang, I want a president that doesn't make those mistakes time and time and time again. I imagine Trump could of made some other means of payment that didn't connect him to his sin, without going though the LCC (or whatever it was connected to his campaign), but he didn't and he shouldn't of had to. Again, he was cheating on a "trophy wife w/ his child" (as told a thousand times).

After being told numerous times that "what we need is someone who isn't a politician"... well America sure hired someone just a greasy (more so than most).... @dfwgator rides in town and tells us 99.9% of politicians are just as crooked.... well I don't believe that, I can't believe it, I think it is just they want to protect their bad boy Donald and paint him as the victim... Well he is no victim, this is of his own doing.

My tagline is there for a reason .... it has a purpose to help us elect people worthy of office. We have abandoned it.

I don't believe there was any claim that Trump paid the hush money with campaign funds. That it was entirely his own money. None of what was charged was an actual violation of law. I doubt that calling it a legal expense was a violation of law if it wasn't treated as a business expense. Even then it may even qualify as a business expense when your business is self promotion.

[Timber Rattler]

Oh, I think it's been mentioned a lot.  Trump paints a huge target on himself through his own actions, arrogance, and lack of repentance.  He is of deeply flawed character, and he alienates himself from those who dedicate their lives to forgiveness.

But none of that has a thing to do with the case before us.  I am not a Trump supporter.  I likely will not be voting for him in November.  And a big part of me wants him to back out of the race and let someone else take the mantle this election.  But this isn't about Trump.  This is about a travesty that is occurring in our country where one political party is running roughshod over the rule of law and our Constitution.  I believe in the Bill of Rights.  And upholding that is far more important than some porn star that Trump banged.

Trump may be a pompous sleazy ass.  No arguing that.  But he just got convicted in a court of law where his main witness was blocked by a judge from testifying, he was charged with crimes where the statute of limitations already expired, and convicted by a jury who failed to identify the crime for which he was convicted.  And that's just wrong.

Well said!

[catfish1957]

Dims have succeeded in a wedge issue to insure their success this November.  I have been very vocal at TBR of my disdain for DJT.  That dislike is rooted in his imperfection as POTUS.  I thought he wasn't good at all, at fiscal matters.  OTOH, as we look across the ideological divide, we see the majority of our counterparts as worhless  pieces of human excrement who are intentionally trying to destroy the country.

Seeing this infighting within our own ranks, is greatly disheartening,  Our chances to survive under a imperfect Trump are much greater than the alternaitve.    I know the binary concept is tiring, but please give one point some thought.....    If an aligned, organized, concerted lawfare witch hunt initiative can imprison a former POTUS, what can they do to you?

Simple message is....   The democratic strategy to divide and conquer is working.  Unless, we as conservatives and sane moderates at least on a short term agree on the best interests of the country.  What's next is up to you.

Wife is starting to push for less political coverage for me due to blood pressure.  So my responses may be limited. Thanks.....

[jmyrlefuller]

Personal use?  Do go on.  Tell us about this 'personal use'.


The only embezzlement part was Michael Cohen stealing from a vendor that Trump was paying, which he admitted to under oath.  The vendor billed $50k.  Trump gave Cohen the $50k to settle the bill.  Cohen only paid them $20k and pocketed the remainder, telling everyone how cheap Trump was.

So again, back to this crime you allege took place.  What was the crime?

you've already pooh-poohed and denied the crimes when others have specified them. If you continue to try to egg me on I will consider it harassment.

[bigheadfred]

 

[Elderberry]

Texans React to Trump Verdict

Texas Scorecard

Greg Abbott
@GregAbbott_TX

This was a sham show trial. The Kangaroo Court will never stand on appeal.

Americans deserve better than a sitting U.S. President weaponizing our justice system against a political opponent— all to win an election.

We must FIRE Joe Biden in November.

Dan Patrick
@DanPatrick
Today's guilty verdict against President Trump is an absolute travesty of our judicial system.

There was no crime, and the prosecution's star witness was a convicted liar and an admitted thief.

The judge was biased against President Trump throughout the entire trial. This will be reversed at some point, but the Democrats got what they wanted - to prosecute and persecute a man they know they cannot beat in November.

If the justice system can do this to a former president, it can do it to anyone in America. That should frighten every American. New York & Biden have turned our country into a third-world-styled justice system that goes after political opponents like you see in Russia or North Korea.

It's a sad day for America.

Attorney General Ken Paxton
@KenPaxtonTX
From the beginning of this sham trial, I stood by President Trump, and my support for him is stronger than ever. As Attorney General of Texas, I will unleash every tool at my disposal to fight this blatant corruption and political persecution spewing from New York and the Biden administration.

Sid Miller
@MillerForTexas
A deeply disturbing day for our nation, but I have every faith in the American people and @realdonaldtrump
. This moment will echo through history and history will not be kind to the perpetrators and cheerleaders of this unparalleled sham.

Dawn Buckingham
@DrBuckinghamTX
Everyone should fear the weaponization of the justice system. These Democrat-led kangaroo courts will stop at nothing to disparage President Trump and prevent him from winning another presidential election at all costs!

This proves more than ever we need President Trump to #MakeAmericaGreatAgain!
#TrumpTrial

Ronny Jackson
@RonnyJacksonTX
WELCOME TO THE SOVIET UNION!!!!!

This country will NEVER be the same again!  A TRULY SAD and PATHETIC day for America. This verdict is an ABSOLUTE DISASTER for ALL Americans!!

UNBELIEVABLE!! Biden and the radical left WEAPONIZED the “justice system” in NYC to keep President Trump from coming back to the White House. LAWFARE! ELECTION INTERFERENCE!

True American Patriots know he did NOTHING WRONG.

WE WILL MAKE THIS RIGHT! HE WILL BE BACK!!

More: https://texasscorecard.com/federal/texans-react-to-trump-verdict/

[deb]

Oh, I think it's been mentioned a lot.  Trump paints a huge target on himself through his own actions, arrogance, and lack of repentance.  He is of deeply flawed character, and he alienates himself from those who dedicate their lives to forgiveness.

But none of that has a thing to do with the case before us.  I am not a Trump supporter.  I likely will not be voting for him in November.  And a big part of me wants him to back out of the race and let someone else take the mantle this election.  But this isn't about Trump.  This is about a travesty that is occurring in our country where one political party is running roughshod over the rule of law and our Constitution.  I believe in the Bill of Rights.  And upholding that is far more important than some porn star that Trump banged.

Trump may be a pompous sleazy ass.  No arguing that.  But he just got convicted in a court of law where his main witness was blocked by a judge from testifying, he was charged with crimes where the statute of limitations already expired, and convicted by a jury who failed to identify the crime for which he was convicted.  And that's just wrong.

Perfectly opined.

[jmyrlefuller]

Oh, I think it's been mentioned a lot.  Trump paints a huge target on himself through his own actions, arrogance, and lack of repentance.  He is of deeply flawed character, and he alienates himself from those who dedicate their lives to forgiveness.

But none of that has a thing to do with the case before us.  I am not a Trump supporter.  I likely will not be voting for him in November.  And a big part of me wants him to back out of the race and let someone else take the mantle this election.  But this isn't about Trump.  This is about a travesty that is occurring in our country where one political party is running roughshod over the rule of law and our Constitution.  I believe in the Bill of Rights.  And upholding that is far more important than some porn star that Trump banged.

Trump may be a pompous sleazy ass.  No arguing that.  But he just got convicted in a court of law where his main witness was blocked by a judge from testifying, he was charged with crimes where the statute of limitations already expired, and convicted by a jury who failed to identify the crime for which he was convicted.  And that's just wrong.

it's like getting Capone for tax evasion, or cops offering a plea down to an unrelated parking ticket instead of a moving violation.

[Elderberry]

Implications of conviction

Powerline by Scott Johnson

The trial of Donald Trump on jerry-rigged charges produced the foreordained outcome. Trump was found guilty by a Manhattan jury of 34 felony charges. It couldn’t have been otherwise. This was a show trial.

It would have been more efficient — it would have saved a day or two in show time — if Judge Merchan had simply directed a verdict of guilt and sent the jury home when the parties’ rested. It would not have been more unconstitutional than having the jury pick from Column A, Column B, or Column C for the “other crime” that was vital to the case.

Instead Merchan let the prosecution run wild. He constrained the defense. He all but stripped Trump’s defense to the charge of federal election misconduct to which Michael Cohen had pleaded guilty.

He gagged the defendant. He excluded evidence that might have helped the defendant, say with respect to the allegation of misconduct under federal election law. He crafted jury instructions that adopted the show-trial theory of the case.

And the jury performed predictably under the circumstances. In this case its role was ministerial. The guilty verdict on each of the 34 charges was for show.

The show trial lacked certain elements of the Stalinist show trials of old. Most notably, the defendant did not confess or repent. He has not professed to accept the opinion of his accusers. He may even prevail at some point on appeal after the election.

But appeal is irrelevant. As in the show trials of old, the point of the case is political, not legal. Democrats have achieved their immediate political objective. Trump is now a convicted felon.

As if to put an exclamation point on this aspect of the case — for dummies — Judge Merchan has scheduled sentencing four days before the Republican convention this coming July. The finality of the verdict on each of the charges yesterday is only seeming. The show’s not over in this show trial.

More: https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2024/05/implications-of-conviction.php

[Elderberry]

Guilty

Powerline by John Hinderaker

A grotesquely biased jury of Trump-haters, led by a judge who put service to his party above his judicial responsibilities, has returned guilty verdicts against Donald Trump on all 34 counts with which he was–absurdly–charged.

What this shows is that the most important variable in any case is who decides it. Here, the Democrats knew that they could impanel a rabidly anti-Trump jury in Manhattan, so they did so. It is very much like the lawsuit that Michael Mann brought against Mark Steyn and others, of which I observed some of the latter stages. The defendants were properly happy about how the trial had gone, but the facts didn’t matter. The Democrats had chosen the right venue, Washington, D.C., and a biased jury found for Mann. Same thing here.

What to do now? First, it is now absolutely essential that Trump be elected president. The Democrats cannot be allowed to get away with this effort to turn America into a banana republic.

Second, the Democrats understand nothing except the raw exercise of power. Therefore, Republican attorneys general and district attorneys should bring criminal charges against Democratic officeholders wherever possible. No Democratic officeholder should be allowed to retire, in any jurisdiction with Republican law enforcement, without facing criminal charges. There can’t be a single Democratic official in America against whom a criminal case can’t be brought that is better than this case against Trump. It should be open season on Democrats in the criminal courts.

Third, the criminal prosecutions should begin with Joe Biden. Unlike Trump, Biden is actually a criminal. He is already known to be guilty under the federal bribery statute, to the tune of at least $20 million. If Trump wins in November, his Department of Justice should immediately indict Biden, and Biden should be hounded until the day he dies or goes to prison, whichever happens first.

More: https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2024/05/guilty.php

[Elderberry]

Jury in leftist NYC trial says Trump guilty on all 34 counts!

WND by Bob Unruh

'Marks the end of the fairest justice system in the world'

A jury of New Yorkers, where a massive majority of the population dislikes President Donald Trump, on Thursday said he was guilty of the 34 counts of business reporting violations claimed by DA Alvin Bragg.

It's the first time a former president has been convicted of a felony crime.
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Bragg, a Democrat who revived dead misdemeanors to orchestrate the lawfare against Trump, claimed Trump called his legal expenses "legal expenses" and that was an offense.

He charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records.

He took misdemeanor violations that had been passed over by a multitude of other prosecutors, claimed they were in furtherance of another, unspecified, crime, and that made them felonies.

The case, being run by Juan Merchan, a local New York judge, has been plagued with one scandal after another.
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Merchan first issued multiple gag orders against Trump, but refused to provide Trump with the same protection from wild statements made by others in the case.

Merchan refused to recuse even though his daughter is a Democrat activist who has fund-raised millions off of the decisions her father is making in the case.

Merchan also has repeatedly ruled against Trump, building a solid case, according to multiple commentators, for reversal on appeal.

More: https://www.wnd.com/2024/05/jury-leftist-new-york-says-president-donald-trump-guilty-records-violations/

[mystery-ak]

Michael Cohen: Judge Merchan ‘Absolute Gentleman,’ ‘Judicial Perfection’ — ‘To See Him on that Stand Is to See Poetry’

During an appearance on MSNBC during the network’s wrap-up coverage of former President Donald Trump’s guilty verdicts, former Trump aide Michael Cohen, the embattled star witness for the prosecution against Trump, applauded New York Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the Trump trial.

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/05/30/michael-cohen-judge-merchan-absolute-gentleman-judicial-perfection-to-see-him-on-that-stand-is-to-see-poetry/

[mystery-ak]

Robert De Niro Celebrates Trump Verdict: ‘Justice was Served’

A sneering Robert De Niro could barely hold back Thursday when asked to comment in the wake of former President Donald Trump being found guilty on all 34 counts in his Manhattan business records trial.

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2024/05/31/robert-de-niro-celebrates-trump-verdict-justice-was-served/

[mountaineer]

Tucker Carlson
@TuckerCarlson
Import the Third World, become the Third World. That’s what we just saw. This won’t stop Trump. He’ll win the election if he’s not killed first. But it does mark the end of the fairest justice system in the world. Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.
5:20 PM · May 30, 2024

Sean Davis
@seanmdav
If you’re a Republican running for office, you can just go ahead and throw away all of your elegant little policy proposals for this or that corporate exclusion or tax subsidy. Give me a list of which Democrat officials you’re going to put in prison, or get lost.
There’s only one way to deal with nuclear war, which is what Democrats have unleashed, and that is mutually assured destruction. Democrats declared war on our entire system of justice and the rule of law, and our only options are victory or defeat. I intend to win. Do you?
6:05 PM · May 30, 2024

[mystery-ak]

 McConnell comes to Trump’s defense after guilty verdict
by Alexander Bolton - 05/30/24 10:26 PM ET

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who has steadfastly refused to comment about the presidential race or his long-running feud with former President Trump, came to Trump’s defense Thursday night.

Hours after the jury rendered its guilty verdict, McConnell declared that the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg should never have brought the case and predicted the conviction would be overturned.

“These charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal,” McConnell wrote in a social media post on X.

McConnell’s surprise decision to weigh in on the outcome of a court case that he has refused to talk about for months may indicate that Trump’s conviction could have a unifying effect on the GOP — rallying even his biggest skeptics within the party to his defense.

McConnell has let Trump twist in the wind by staying silent on other big occasions.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/4695516-mcconnell-comes-to-trumps-defense-after-guilty-verdict/

[Elderberry]

Jonathan Turley: I believe Trump verdict will be 'reversed' in state or federal systems

Fox News

GWU Law Professor Jonathan Turley discusses the jury's decision to convict former President Trump on all 34 counts.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deqlGQS66Kc

[Hoodat]

it's like getting Capone for tax evasion, or cops offering a plea down to an unrelated parking ticket instead of a moving violation.

Except that evading taxes actually is a crime while what Trump did is not.

[libertybele]

Oh, I think it's been mentioned a lot.  Trump paints a huge target on himself through his own actions, arrogance, and lack of repentance.  He is of deeply flawed character, and he alienates himself from those who dedicate their lives to forgiveness.

But none of that has a thing to do with the case before us.  I am not a Trump supporter.  I likely will not be voting for him in November.  And a big part of me wants him to back out of the race and let someone else take the mantle this election.  But this isn't about Trump.  This is about a travesty that is occurring in our country where one political party is running roughshod over the rule of law and our Constitution.  I believe in the Bill of Rights.  And upholding that is far more important than some porn star that Trump banged.

Trump may be a pompous sleazy ass.  No arguing that.  But he just got convicted in a court of law where his main witness was blocked by a judge from testifying, he was charged with crimes where the statute of limitations already expired, and convicted by a jury who failed to identify the crime for which he was convicted.  And that's just wrong.

Great post! 

[mystery-ak]

Stormy Daniels was ’emotional’ after Trump’s guilty verdict: Lawyer
By
Keely Bastow
May 30, 2024 10:33 pm
.

Stormy Daniels, the star witness in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, was “emotional” about the guilty verdict reached by a Manhattan jury Thursday night, according to her lawyer.

Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records on Thursday, marking the first time a former president has been convicted of a felony.

Clark Brewster, the porn star and director’s lawyer, spoke to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about the verdict. He said Daniels had a strong and emotional reaction when the news broke.

“I texted her and then she called and we spoke and she was really emotional. She was quite taken I think with the finality as much as anything. But she was really, really emotional,” he said.

He said she experienced a combination of many emotions, including empathy and the “realization” that it is now over.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/3023826/stormy-daniels-emotional-trump-guilty-verdict/

[libertybele]

Stormy Daniels was ’emotional’ after Trump’s guilty verdict: Lawyer
By
Keely Bastow
May 30, 2024 10:33 pm
.

Stormy Daniels, the star witness in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, was “emotional” about the guilty verdict reached by a Manhattan jury Thursday night, according to her lawyer.

Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records on Thursday, marking the first time a former president has been convicted of a felony.

Clark Brewster, the porn star and director’s lawyer, spoke to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about the verdict. He said Daniels had a strong and emotional reaction when the news broke.

“I texted her and then she called and we spoke and she was really emotional. She was quite taken I think with the finality as much as anything. But she was really, really emotional,” he said.

He said she experienced a combination of many emotions, including empathy and the “realization” that it is now over.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/3023826/stormy-daniels-emotional-trump-guilty-verdict/

Hopefully she realizes it was yet another nail on this Republic's coffin.

[rustynail]

Hopefully she realizes it was yet another nail on this Republic's coffin.

She seems incapable of thinking on that level.  Way too selfish.

[libertybele]

She seems incapable of thinking on that level.  Way too selfish.

Has she ever paid the $$$ that she owes Trump??