Trump Trial Week 3 or 4
It's hard to tell
The Manhattan DA’s case against Donald Trump, aka the Election Interference case aka the Hush money case, aka the Porn Start Payoff case, is actually in Week Three; but there was a week of jury selection before that, so it’s hard to measure.
It’s hard to measure mostly because the defendant has for nearly a month now relentlessly attacked the judge, the DA, witnesses, jurors, and the legal system. And it’s been, for the most part, a rehash of the same material.
The attacks on witnesses and jurors have cost Donald Trump two findings of criminal contempt — $10,000 worth. Plus an assurance from Judge Merchan, that he will put him jail if necessary.
Late last week, Trump used new material — claiming he could not testify at trial because of the gag order. It was for most lawyers and those well versed in criminal procedure a WTF moment.
One lawyer, a judge actually, took the claim pretty seriously. Judge Merchan. In court, Judge Merchan admonished Donald Trump on that ridiculous claim.1
The open court lecture should be a lesson for Donald Trump and his lawyers. The judge is taking note of everything Donald Trump says out of court. The DA might ask for contempt for Trump’s words about the jury or a particular witness, but the court itself is its own protection against attacks on the legal system.
On Monday, Donald Trump rolled out new material. He’s being sandbagged.
While it is doubtful that any of Trump’s attorney have said this to him, it’s worth saying here — Donald Trump is preventing Donald Trump from having the best defense.
NOTE: I am going to try and publish as much as possible this week, but I am doing a dinner for a 100 or so members of my community, so they will likely be shorter than normal.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-gag-order-testify-hush-money_n_6634f73ee4b0fc2b95294bf5