Do you remember the scene from “The Paper Chase” when Kingsfield hands some coins to a student and tells him to go call his mother, and tell her he’s never going to be a lawyer?Blanche says that "reposting an article from a news site" or "a news program" doesn't violate the gag order.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 23, 2024
Justice Merchan asks him where the case law supports that.
"I don't have any case law," Blanche says, calling the proposition "common sense."
Adventus
"I would like to say 'This book is written to the glory of God', but nowadays this would be the trick of a cheat, i.e., it would not be correctly understood."--Ludwig Wittgenstein
"OH JESUS OH WHAT THE FUCK OH WHAT IS THIS H.P. LOVECRAFT SHIT OH THERE IS NO GOD I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS—Popehat
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Why Blanche Lost Credibility
🪦 R.I.P. Todd Blanche, Esq.
☠️Blanche: "President Trump is being very careful to comply" with the gag order.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 23, 2024
Merchan, sharply: "Mr. Blanche, you are losing all credibility."
Monday, April 22, 2024
What’s To Understand?
NOT Trump’s lawyer in New York.Kise: The real threat to democracy is the willingness to abuse the power of your office to influence what should otherwise be free and fair election… pic.twitter.com/nXAmR0Esp5
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 23, 2024
Or influence a fair jury trial.NEW: In what could be viewed as an egregious violation of his gag order, Donald Trump bashed the jury during an interview after his day in court today by claiming that "95% are Democrats." https://t.co/ASjwjve2OI
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 23, 2024
IOW, the way every defendant in a classified case wants the case to be tried. Before CIPA, that’s why so few classified cases were tried to juries. Nothing new here, IOW, just trying to threaten the prosecution with what they don’t want. And recognizing Cannon is so far over her head, she’s looking up to see bottom.Kise on classified documents case: I think what we’ve learned is that the special counsel wants to keep everything secret and President Trump wants to everything open pic.twitter.com/gXTz9x7f4S
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 23, 2024
I guess he’s seen the pictures.Trump, proven inciter of violence, just emailed followers: "ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IN 24 HOURS!"--at Tues hrg on whether he's violated his gag order. "I COULD BE THROWN IN JAIL AT THAT VERY MOMENT!"
— Jackie Calmes (@jackiekcalmes) April 22, 2024
He issues an SOS: "We need a HUGE outpouring of support before the day is over..."
MASSIVE TURNOUT for Donald Trump today in New York. pic.twitter.com/uElbybSz4V
— The Good Liars (@TheGoodLiars) April 23, 2024
What if they held a trial protest and nobody came? I’m just guessing the crowd who travel to a field in North Carolina aren’t coming to downtown Manhattan anytime soon.I counted a total of 3 Trump supporters at courthouse today. The loudest person was the guy yelling at them “Bill Clinton balanced the budget!” pic.twitter.com/fbELdxn7Xw
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) April 22, 2024
He has been hoping for something of a circus around his trial, but the reality is that only two to three dozen supporters over the last week have shown up," said Haberman, who has been covering the trial in person. "He looked very unhappy."So his desperation is expanding? Makes sense.
Also makes sense.Trump is portraying the lack of protests on the courthouse steps as about him. But the criminal courthouse steps are very narrow and protests are not normally allowed there, particularly when a former POTUS guarded by USSS is inside https://t.co/4V8xDIvJAR
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 22, 2024
Newt was rooting for the police.Fox News' Newt Gingrich says Trump's hush money trial is “literally like some of the civil rights workers in Mississippi in the 1960s” pic.twitter.com/xU4MZk4xfp
— aliciasadowski (@aliciasadowski6) April 23, 2024
In fact...Telling that none of Trump’s family or surrogates *actually deny* the allegations made against him. https://t.co/RKaUsNcrIG
— MaTT FLaMMaBLe (@MaTTFLaMMaBLe) April 23, 2024
I’m really not worried about how the right-wing press covers this trial.Umm...well...hmm...you know you just described the crime. I don't understand what you don't understand about what you just said. https://t.co/gKXzxVTLjh
— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) April 23, 2024
Can't get enough of the Trump hush money trial? This sheet pan prime rib with ketchup will make you feel like you're ordering room service with Trump and Stormy Daniels.
— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) April 23, 2024
C’mon, you gotta give me that one!They say there's not such thing as a perfect Drudge headline...oh...wait. pic.twitter.com/ke7XqoxS0R
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) April 22, 2024
Masterclassing
If my knife was that dull, I’d replace it (and take the old blade to a knife sharpening service). Way too much effort going into cutting celery. (And considering how much dirt hides in a celery bunch, I’d never cut up celery that way. You have to separate the stalks and rinse them.)Dr Alina Habba gives a masterclass on how to saw celery. pic.twitter.com/XwUBmcGt2P
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
Gott mit... who, exactly?So Marge and the Republicans who are crushing him are defying God’s will then. pic.twitter.com/u4p8ANVU3E
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
She showed up at a dinner at her home where there were about 25 people from the Log Cabin Republicans. Not exactly a “return to campaigning” or a “masterclass.” pic.twitter.com/GatBkOaCSp
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
Whether it's Trump threatening to arrest the members of Congress who investigated him or Joe Biden giving too few sit-down interviews, both candidates have shattered long-standing norms of presidential behavior.
— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) April 22, 2024
A little louder for the folks in the back!Kari Lake says she is concerned that Hillary Clinton may be plotting to send a hit man after her to take her out. Story …https://t.co/xxU2rpmtlz
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
Hillary said the following: "His bromance with Putin - it was actually called that by the former PM of Australia who said he saw Trump with Putin and Trump was just gaga over Putin. Because Putin does what he would like to do - kill his opposition, imprison his opposition, drive journalists and others into exile, rule without any check or balance. That's what Trump really wants."Lake responded:
Lake responded to the clip, "That's really rich coming from a woman like Hillary Clinton. How many of her friends have mysteriously died or committed suicide?"
"Then know they can't win on their policies ... They know they can't win on that so they have to try every other measure to try to control the government. It's comical that Hillary is talking about Trump wanting to kill his opponents? I just want to say, as I'm speaking about this topic I want everyone out there to know that the brakes on my car have recently been checked and they work. I'm not suicidal. Hillary, I don't mean any harm to you, please don't send your henchmen out to me. We understand what you're about."See how quickly that turned from a comment on Trump into a threat on the life of Lake? Truly Trumpian.
Or by DEI trying to teach them to recognize people not exactly like them, are people, too.Demonstrators are descending upon the campuses of America's elite colleges. Are they angered by the Israel/Gaza war, or by the questionable quality of their university presidents' research?
— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) April 22, 2024
Another masterclass. Besides, I thought he needed to be campaigning.Watters: Trump needs exercise. He’s usually golfing and you’re going to put a man who’s almost 80 sitting in a room like this on his butt for all that time? It’s not healthy. He needs sunlight. He needs activity. It’s really cruel and unusual punishment pic.twitter.com/xT1RKZyIgc
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 22, 2024
Actually, the silly part is suggesting golf is exercise. It’s not really even a good walk. And the way Trumps does it (he drives his cart onto the greens), it’s not even a walk.Watters suggests Trump is being treated worse than prisoners in Guantanamo Bay pic.twitter.com/xg8W12GeLn
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 22, 2024
Trump had better disavow her immediately, or he’s lost Texas. Sear? Brisket? What fresh hell is this?I’m sorry, is she pan frying it???? https://t.co/FLNOUjtt7n
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 22, 2024
So many people knew.According to the prosecution's opening statement:
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 22, 2024
On election night 2016, as Trump edged closer to being declared the victor, Stormy Daniels' then-attorney Keith Davidson sent this text message to National Enquirer editor in chief Dylan Howard:
"What have we done?"
Because all the businesses have already left the city, donchaknow?I counted a total of 3 Trump supporters at courthouse today. The loudest person was the guy yelling at them “Bill Clinton balanced the budget!” pic.twitter.com/fbELdxn7Xw
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) April 22, 2024
“Week one of Donald Trump’s hush money trial could have been mundane. It entailed what the legal world refers to as voir dire, during which the judge makes evidentiary judgments to determine which jurors can rule impartially on the case.” https://t.co/rFoIGHGkQl
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) April 22, 2024
Bill Maher predicted last year that this trial would only rally pro-Trump voters and help him secure the presidency. “I think this is a colossal mistake if they bring these charges,” the pundit argued. “I mean, yes, [Trump’s] done a lot of bad things, and I'm sure he did this—everything they accused him of [doing], he did. But first of all, it’s not gonna work. It’s gonna be rocket fuel for his 2024 campaign.”It’s certainly drawing people to the courthouse.
Yet last week felt like the opposite of “rocket fuel.” If anything, what we saw was a grumpy 77-year-old man who was exhausted from hours of sitting on a hard chair in a cold room, falling asleep to potential jurors talking about their (oft-negative) feelings about him. Before the trial started, Trump’s campaign sent out a fundraising email promising that it was “72 hours until all hell breaks loose.” But there was no hell to speak of. Trump supporters didn’t storm the courthouse like they did the Capitol back in January 2021. In fact, the only turnout Trump got was a smattering of his usual toadies, including Andrew Giuliani. We don’t know what the next four days of Trump’s trial will hold. But if he and his supporters are already feeling depleted, imagine how they’ll feel in June.Well, with all those businesses leaving the city…
Of course.Trump is asked how members of his family are holding up during his trial.
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
His answer contains not one word about how his family is holding up. pic.twitter.com/f0zb2Ieccp
Free Bird
A man set himself on fire outside that building last week. I think NYPD can make its own deployment decisions.Trump calls for police to leave the area around the NYC courthouse where he’s being tried so MAGAs can run wild pic.twitter.com/RwVVzgOjUj
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 22, 2024
Trump is free to campaign this afternoon.Love a candidate who really hits those kitchen table issues that keep Americans up at night: the reputation of the firm that put up Trump's nine figure bond. https://t.co/C1dRP06RMz
— Mike Rothschild (no relation) (@rothschildmd) April 22, 2024
Hope springs eternal.Marge says that MAGA voters are so angry at Mike Johnson and feel so betrayed that she is very worried that many of them won’t show up to vote for Republican candidates in November because they are so disillusioned. pic.twitter.com/2Kkg2fuTti
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
As opposed to an indirect violation. (Sorry, but that one’s been hanging out there all day. A “direct” violation would actually be one in the presence of the court. Those are much more likely to draw the “remedy” if imprisonment.)A direct violation of the court’s gag order. https://t.co/s1rRB0bzyT https://t.co/PsZXAk4fr2 pic.twitter.com/sya2oCAkHj
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) April 22, 2024
The Day In Court (And Out)
Tell me again Trump will not testify.What prosecutors just did was present something to appear like "a very clean and nice story," Blanche says.
— Kaelan Deese (@KaelanDC) April 22, 2024
"You're going to hear witnesses talk about conversations ... people they met with, from 2016."
"The story that you just heard you will hear is not true."
Isn’t the state’s case that Trump misrepresented what that $130,000 was for?Trump’s legal defense is he stiffed Cohen on the $130,000? https://t.co/eLwhJoZQnC
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 22, 2024
Tell me again why she isn’t on the defense team?The lawyer went to jail for it https://t.co/FtLNNrbBgN
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 22, 2024
SO SAY WE ALL!If this is not used as an opportunity to get to the truth about salacious National Enquirer stories from the Clinton era, like Hillary having a baby with a Martian or whatever I saw at the grocery checkout line, it'll be a waste. https://t.co/xJdh6Nucs0
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 22, 2024
"Anything you say can and will…”Keep talking https://t.co/mMXVIurdxf
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 22, 2024
In cross-examination? In a week or two? And the jury will decide who’s credible, and who isn’t. Does he understand what trials are for?Trump again going after witness Michael Cohen: When ware they going to look at all the lies that Cohen did in the last trial… He got caught lying. Pure lying. When are they going to look at that? pic.twitter.com/hE8uUvgG7m
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 22, 2024
No, apparently he doesn’t know.The fact that they never took it as a tax deduction is telling, not exculpatory: This guy deducted his son’s $5 Boy Scout dues as a charitable donation.
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) April 22, 2024
More evidence of trying not to leave a paper trail https://t.co/Vl4zLREuKA
And the walls come tumbling down. As NBC pointed out, Trump could campaign on weekends and Wednesdays. This trial date wasn’t a surprise.Ahh yes. “People” said to him. I am sure they were big, strong crying men with tremendous tears in their eyes saying “sir, I can’t believe it”.
— Spiro’s Ghost (@AntiToxicPeople) April 22, 2024
He’s insane. Makes up fantastical conversations that never happened, constantly, and we just shrug. https://t.co/iXWptwcfEX
I think he did that.Trump on Mar-a-Lago: They valued a million dollar asset at $18 million pic.twitter.com/pZiJxKKwVE
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 22, 2024
Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche argued in his opening statement, among other things, that Stormy Daniels tried to take advantage of Trump by extorting him after he simply had an innocent conversation with her about The Apprentice. Mr recap of his opening …https://t.co/iwKORtJslm
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
He argued that Trump paid Cohen a total of $420,000, not just $130,000 that was paid to Stormy Daniels. He then said this shows that Trump was paying Cohen for legal services and not reimbursing his hush money payment.That depends entirely on how it was recorded. Doesn’t the prosecution have the books? I know the judge told the jury that nothing the lawyers say is evidence. So, who’s putting on this evidence?
Blanche then told the jury, "There's nothing wrong with trying to influence the election. It's called democracy." He said that what Stormy Daniels did was "extortion," and that there was "nothing illegal about a non-disclosure agreement." He said that there were all kinds of "salacious allegations" being made about Trump at the time and he was just trying to protect "his brand" and his family.And his chances for election?
He then noted that Cohen talks constantly about Trump and how he wants to see him go to prison, and told the jury that just last night Cohen said that Trump is a "despicable human being" and he was hoping to see him "in an orange jumpsuit" someday. He then tried to argue that Cohen perjured himself twice in Trump's civil fraud trial, which drew an objection from the prosecutor. The objection was sustained and the judge instructed the jury to disregard the statement.Oddly enough, Trump lied in that trial, too. Which I’m sure came out in the Sandoval hearing.
"Just based on what I'm hearing here, I am fearful that Todd Blanche may be sort of overselling his hand, going back to the psychology, and I think we've all made this point here that you want to create a rapport with the juror, and you want them to like you," Polisi said.
"The worst thing you can do is over-promise and under-deliver. It sounds like Blanche is over-promising here. There's a lot of reasons why him stating that Trump knew nothing about these payments or the purpose thereof is just flatly proven wrong by the documents."
There's also a recording of a phone call where Trump and Cohen are discussing the payments to Daniels to ensure her silence about an extramarital affair, prosecutors have said.
"There's a phone call of Trump saying, 'Let's pay her in cash,' Cohen saying, 'No, we're going to do it my way," Polisi said.
"Also, the way retainer agreements work with an attorney is that, yes, there is sort of an evergreen standard payment, in this case it was $35,000 a month or whatever to get up to that amount, but then the lawyer bills you or invoices you for services rendered, and here there is nothing.
"Michael Cohen did not — we all sort of live and die by the billable hours. We have to say what we do, how we do it, when we do it. The invoices here simply show Michael Cohen saying, 'I'd like that check now for my retainer agreement.' He's not done any legal services.
"I think it's not doing him any service, the defense, by trying to really state too much. They don't have to really necessarily deny knowledge, and I think they're making a mistake by doing that."
The gag order hearing will be very interesting https://t.co/pJOJCjbwBD
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 22, 2024
And speaking of transparency:I think they’re up to 12 possible violations now for the contempt hearing in the morning. https://t.co/GGhz4KGxKW
— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) April 22, 2024
NEW: NY Courts will release daily transcripts of Donald Trump's criminal trial. pic.twitter.com/Uv4COykfuF
— Frank G. Runyeon (@frankrunyeon) April 22, 2024
Maybe We Do Need Cameras In The Courtroom
Dear lord it's only 10:30am, gramps. https://t.co/KmQlBFrdbE
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 22, 2024
Do you think there is any truth to the claims that Trump is either: a) sedated so that he doesn't act nuts; b) being deprived of his Adderall so that he doesn't act nuts?I think he stays up late (he usually starts tweeting after midnight) and sleeps late (White House staff says he never came down to work before 11:30). Court hours are “late” for my once working hours, but early for Trump.
Trump On The Campaign Trail
And his rallies sound pretty much like this:He has averaged less than 1 rally a week for the past 18 months and 6 golf outings a week. This is all straight BS. pic.twitter.com/hq6HzjNMf8
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
If he’d just put the cash in escrow with the court, there wouldn’t be a hearing on the bond today.Trump: I put up $175 million in cash but she said the bonding company isn't good. She doesn't like the bonding company because she doesn't know if their collateral is good. I put up $175 million in cash and she is questioning the bonding company. pic.twitter.com/hkt1HZe7Up
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 22, 2024
Is that a reference to inflation? Apparently lunch at McDonald’s costs $700.Trump: Nobody is going to be listening or coming to New York anymore. Businesses Re going to be fleeing because people are treated so badly pic.twitter.com/KFhMk04qgp
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 22, 2024
Because Trump can’t afford the lawyers anymore?Trump: Letitia James, she is the worst attorney general in the country… Somebody has to step in. The governor, somebody has to do something pic.twitter.com/XkrghU1TTC
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 22, 2024
Cat got your tongue?Trump: That’s taking place in front of a crazed judge…. That’s uhhh. You know who that is. I don’t have to mention names. I want to be nice pic.twitter.com/L7pACgQLA3
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 22, 2024
Or there’s a show cause hearing tomorrow. Meanwhile...Trump Posts Newsmax Clip Attacking Judge’s Daughter
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 22, 2024
Trump’s potential gag order violations continue to stack up https://t.co/3MjJnGCwWP
The fish rots from the head.This is MAGA. The grifters are just following the business model of the Grifter in Chief. pic.twitter.com/UhigLiHUAG
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
“THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!”
The jury is certainly watching.Trump shakes head as Judge Merchan lays out devastating rules for his cross-examinationhttps://t.co/cm4EgnMVAE
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 22, 2024
And Wondering What The News Is In This
'Obviously, none of that is true': CNN's Kaitlan Collins reacts to Trump's courtroom spielhttps://t.co/PGxw5IRmpy
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 22, 2024
Before walking into opening statements of the first ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president, Donald Trump stopped to hit the press with his usual talking points
....
His rant in front of the courtroom was quickly shut down by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
“Obviously, none of that is true,” she told host Anderson Cooper, focusing on the allegations of Biden’s involvement.
....
Collins said it had left viewers, “Drinking their morning coffee and wondering what he’s talking about.”And wondering why they’re seeing this. When they aren’t wondering what the hell is wrong with that guy.
Preparing To Face The Day
Only one of those things was predictable.It’s crazy to think that in the span of just two weeks we had a solar eclipse and a Republican do the right thing for the right reason https://t.co/MqgyseSkwF
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) April 22, 2024
Does he train by eating $700 worth of McDonald’s for lunch?I’m prepared to concede this contest to him. This is one he should win. pic.twitter.com/9nZ9jvABGS
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
You know what doesn’t get canceled because of rain?
— Mary L. Trump (@MaryLTrump) April 22, 2024
A criminal trial. 😎
Pundits who claim being stuck in a courtroom for a criminal trial will help Donnie in the polls are just wish-casting.
— Dave N. (@Autolykos_84) April 22, 2024
On a related note, anyone else notice how the media has pretty much entirely stopped obsessively covering every poll result?
OK, Twitter, get the Pecker jokes out of your system now.
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 22, 2024
I see the jokes are already old.But what we’ll get out of tomorrow is whether dumb jokes about the Pecker will replace the focus on flatulence.
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) April 21, 2024
“Anything You Say Can And Will Be Used Against You In A Court Of Law”
Or in a political campaign:I’m sure his lawyers are going to love these after midnight tweets about his case during this trial. The DA doesn’t need him to testify, they’ll just use the stable genius’s social media posts. pic.twitter.com/bqES4rm2qH
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
Today we will begin to learn the details on how Trump conspired to steal the 2016 election with planted stories, fraud & deceit, before he later attempted to illegally overturn his election loss in 2020 to stay in power, then stole a trove of classified documents after he failed.
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 22, 2024
Sunday, April 21, 2024
First Rule Of Holes
Tell me you don’t know anything about Chicago in ‘68, without…well, you know the rest.To be clear, I don't *want* there to be mass protests and/or violence in Chicago. Quite the opposite. The stakes are high in November.
— David Austin Walsh (@DavidAstinWalsh) April 21, 2024
So maybe y'all should start acting like it instead of going out of your way to alienate young voters!
I know, I know:”outside agitators.” But it’s a little early to declare Columbia the new Berkeley. It may have more to do with Columbia than students nationwide.Columbia and NYPD reportedly failed to keep non-Columbia antisemites off campus. The interlopers stalked, berated, and attacked Jewish students. https://t.co/JiTiI32tDF pic.twitter.com/gH3JVQnA17
— Jimmy Quinn (@james_t_quinn) April 21, 2024
😵
Abbie Hoffman’s gonna be there? And Mayor Daley? And anti-war protestors opposing the draft? And all of them part of organized groups? Well, “organized” in contrast to people agreeing with each other on Twitter. Or just going to Columbia.https://t.co/PFcwL1nEma pic.twitter.com/oFD2DUsKyh
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 21, 2024
I think they’re going to be too busy this summer looking for new schools. Oh, wait, they’re busy terrorizing Jewish students. That’s why classes will be virtual, now. Ironic. But I don’t think they’ll get it.Per this activist, they’re not leaving until their demands are met.
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 21, 2024
They think this is a hostage negotiation. They’re proclaiming their intent to continue occupying private property.
Feel free to break it up, Columbia. There is no negotiating with them. Actions have… https://t.co/EcISduglOi
Nothing About The Trial, However
Message received?Snowflake Donnie is so sensitive and fragile these days. Poor guy. pic.twitter.com/4QYdxjQE3p
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 21, 2024
💸 😵💫
Trump has a bigger trial team than I imagined. You know that metaphorical meter I said was spinning? It’s clouded in smoke and throwing off sparks. ⚡️ Not because Trump spent so much at McDonalds, but because he had to!And some of you doubted the authenticity of the farting story. pic.twitter.com/fvqQNs4qNM
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 21, 2024
Hand to God, every time I see pictures of that place, I think I’m gonna be wrong and find out that’s exactly what hell looks like.Doesn’t look like they needed to use the ballroom for the HUGE Log Cabin (LGBT) Republican event at Mar-a-Lago. Or as Grenell called it, “historical.” pic.twitter.com/wxk1ku1hZp
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 21, 2024
Imagine how many people he has to buy lunch for on Monday. No, I’m not kidding. Makes the mental exercise a bit more concrete. Especially when you realize lunch will be the cheapest part of the day.I’ll be watching three legal stories unfold Monday: the real opening of the Manhattan DA’s trial; the hearing on whether to cancel Trump’s $175 million bond; & the public filing of witness statements in the MAL docs case. pic.twitter.com/rPOcnqyEp6
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) April 21, 2024
😷
She really needs to hold a press conference. It’s been 8 years since the last one.McCarthy: They are the danger to try to deny democracy… I mean, has Hillary Clinton ever said she lost the 2016 election?
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 21, 2024
Kurtz: Yeah, she called Trump and conceded
McCarthy: But she never says it to the press pic.twitter.com/fz1qVuCcmi
Behold the transcript of Hillary’s public concession the day after the election. Guess Kevin doesn’t have a television or internet. https://t.co/RmCm9S9WbD
— Allen Weisselberger (@weisselbergers) April 21, 2024
Biden should immediately fire Garland and appoint Barr Acting AG. It’s the Republican Way!McCarthy on Trump trials: Why wouldn’t Biden say this is wrong. If I have nothing to do with this, they should not have this trial right now
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 21, 2024
Kurtz: So you’re saying you want Biden to meddle with the justice system in favor of Trump pic.twitter.com/8kJV6ZOCXX
ETTD. It’s because whatever he’s got, it’s contagious!😷McCarthy: Does anybody in America believe President Trump would be holding this trial now if he wasn’t running for president? pic.twitter.com/HnLz7vKSKX
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 21, 2024
Trump Is A Manifestation, Not An Aberration
BREAKING: White House statement on anti-Israel protests at Columbia University:
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) April 21, 2024
“While every American has the right to peaceful protect, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly Antisemitic, unconscionable, and…
Empty words.
— Denny Green (@DennyGr28530407) April 21, 2024
Then DO SOMETHING!
— QueenEmyB (@QueenEmyB1) April 21, 2024
(Schools don’t get paid when student loans are forgiven, or even paid off. They got their money from the loan.)Ok.... so what is this administration going to do about it?
— Señia (@SeniaVJ) April 21, 2024
They have already made sure that a lot of these schools are going to get paid through the student loan forgiveness programs.
This just feels so empty.
Where is the DOJ and FBI?
— Don Pace (@confusedrv) April 21, 2024
Good statement. Now what ACTIONS will be taken?!
— Sarah Barker 🇮🇱✡️🟦🟧🇺🇦🇺🇸🏴☠️ (@Sarah_G_Barker) April 21, 2024
Strong “LOCK ‘EM UP!” energy there.
Whingers
But what is being obfuscated is that the students who are most unsafe right now are the student activists who have been arrested and evicted from their housing and the rest of the student activists who are risking everything in solidarity with Palestinians.
— Josh Kadish (@kadish_josh) April 21, 2024
We had no alternative except to prepare for direct action, whereby we would present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and the national community. Mindful of the difficulties involved, we decided to undertake a process of self purification. We began a series of workshops on nonviolence, and we repeatedly asked ourselves: "Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?" "Are you able to endure the ordeal of jail?" We decided to schedule our direct action program for the Easter season, realizing that except for Christmas, this is the main shopping period of the year. Knowing that a strong economic-withdrawal program would be the by product of direct action, we felt that this would be the best time to bring pressure to bear on the merchants for the needed change.Letter From Birmingham Jail
On the broader point of the situation at Columbia. It's important to know who's doing what. Students vs hangers-on, activists from off campus etc. But let's not kid ourselves. Think abt this situation from the perspective of a minority group you actually care about.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 21, 2024
Students…
🙃
It would seem…If this criminal wins, & his henchmen use the levers of power to carry out his threats against career civil servants, elected officials, media companies, NGOs, & non-profits, those who chalk all these up to “Trump just being Trump” will wake up to their new authoritarian reality. pic.twitter.com/5ut2gq26x7
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 21, 2024
...he’s not posting about his trial today.Bill Barr just announced he will vote for Trump in this election. pic.twitter.com/4Yr0n0X1Ec
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 21, 2024
💸💸💸💸💸
Donald Trump has just $6.8 million left in the accounts he’s been using to fund his lawyers, setting him up for a cash crunch as his trial costs mount https://t.co/qMIo83LRGT
— Bloomberg Politics (@bpolitics) April 21, 2024
A PAC controlled by former President Donald Trump that has devoted tens of millions of dollars to his and his allies’ legal bills could be running out of cash after spending nearly $3.7 million on legal fees in March. https://t.co/gYmLXn5kw4
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) April 21, 2024
Make Lawyers Great Again!
— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) April 21, 2024
Trump group spends big on legal fees; Biden leads at fundraising | Reuters https://t.co/3b2xTFJpUb
Trump’s PAC has spent millions on his legal fees. It might be running out of money. https://t.co/9YaI5wAKjS
— POLITICO (@politico) April 21, 2024
Trump is spending more on legal fees than a Fortune 500 company and his fundraising is barely keeping up with his monthly bills. pic.twitter.com/amLlsggNwl
— scary lawyerguy (@scarylawyerguy) April 21, 2024
Trump spends more than a quarter of campaign donations on legal fees https://t.co/RWsMGMhN4k
— Financial Times (@FT) April 21, 2024
All reports on spending are for March. The first criminal trial started a week ago. The lawyers are working all weekend to prepare for next week. They will work all week every week for six weeks or so. The weeks before trial they were filing and arguing motions in two courts (Merchan and appeals). All in April, and then into May.NEW: Save America, the Trump leadership PAC paying his legal bills, brought in $10,713 in March plus $5M refunded from the MAGA, Inc SuperPAC.
— Rob Pyers (@rpyers) April 20, 2024
It spent $5M ($3.2M on legal fees, $780K sent to MAGA PAC for its legal fees), ending w/$4.09M on hand and $887K in unpaid legal fees. https://t.co/6Gx7nU0pot pic.twitter.com/HHEbNPe0hB
Cause And Effect?
Suspicions raised about Trump's abrupt rally cancellation in North Carolina https://t.co/ECfXY2OdB7
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 21, 2024
Alex, I think it is a good chance that it was strategic," he replied. "And this will be an ongoing theme we talk about this [hush money] trial. Trials cannot accommodate uncontrollable witnesses. and so a number of things we saw happen during the first few days of this trial will come up because president Trump — the former president —can open the door by making statements publicly that are not true that can go back to bite him in the courtroom."
"So his lawyers would prefer for him to say as little as possible from now until the trial is done," he added.I can’t agree there’s a causal connection here, although there’s a plausible explanation that Trump waited until the last minute to cancel (was he actually in the air? He wasn’t so far from NC he couldn’t have known about the forecast and canceled earlier, only to announce it “from his plane” which never left New York. If the man came in soaking wet and said it was raining, I’d step outside myself.) because his lawyers got through to him. It’s just as likely thunder scares him. Does Trump connect what he says with how he loses in court? There’s no public evidence of it.
Batter Up!
Tim Parlatore told Ari Melber the SDNY dropped this case because Michael Cohen was a convicted liar, and that meant there wasn’t a case to prosecute.NYT scoop: "David Pecker...is set to go first" as prosecution witness. ⬇️
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) April 21, 2024
Pecker could be key witness - in ways more devastating than Michael Cohen.
This also indicates DA is foregrounding unlawful election influence for jurors.
hat tip: @AWeissmann_ https://t.co/OulV04xeHt
3/ Pecker was principal at August 2015 Trump Tower meeting with Trump and Michael Cohen setting up catch-and-kill election operation.
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) April 21, 2024
Great WSJ reporting⤵️
"What can you do to help my campaign? he asked, according to people familiar with the meeting."https://t.co/RZzKXF4Y9n pic.twitter.com/HTMxEQJy3R
5/ Here's the "Statement of Admitted Facts" in David Pecker's AMI Company's Non-Prosecution Agreement (with the feds).⤵️
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) April 21, 2024
They admit to key facts that are now a part of the Trump criminal prosecution.
link: https://t.co/D846WsRGhc pic.twitter.com/RAm7UJHqm4
You get the idea. The DA has already told Trump there won’t be time for cross-examination tomorrow. Then there’s the show cause hearing on Tuesday, and more testimony after, if there’s time. Wednesday off, and maybe real cross on Thursday.7/ Pecker also likely to testify about his conversations directly with Trump and Cohen in December 2016 - on the arrangement for Trump to reimburse Cohen for the hush money payment to Daniels. pic.twitter.com/qrh0Eop425
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) April 21, 2024
Feature, Not Bug
Pessimism growing in Trump's inner circle that a hush money guilty verdict is inevitablehttps://t.co/SclSxCFyBM
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 21, 2024
The report also notes that insiders worry just as much that the trial itself, regardless of the verdict, will hurt him with voters.
As the NYT's Haberman explained, "... the shared sense among many of his advisers is that the process may damage him as much as a guilty verdict. The process, they believe, is its own punishment."
Ignorance Thrives In The Dark…And In The Light
What is a “Motion to Show Cause”? A “Motion in Limine”? A Sandoval hearing?The criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is getting 24-hour media coverage, but much of the case is happening in the dark, with peculiarities of the court’s procedures making critical aspects of the case opaque.
— erica orden (@eorden) April 21, 2024
w/@kyledcheney https://t.co/a3jCkOKvPx
Saturday, April 20, 2024
#DonSnorleone
'Worse for Trump': Lawyer flags 'most damaging thing' about ex-president's trial https://t.co/gVR3ad9sE2
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 21, 2024
“There is the legal part. This is a textbook case of falsifying business records. There was no legal fees. They make fake retainer agreement and fake invoices. Donald trump pays the checks to Michael Cohen so they do not find out Donald Trump had an affair, allegedly, right before the election when the Access Hollywood tape had blown up."
He continued:
"There is something I think is worse for Trump and that is falling asleep in the courtroom. You don't have to understand law or any kind of nuance. The guy is 77 and he is falling asleep three times in one week. What happens? Jon Stewart has made fun of it. Jimmy Kimmel has made fun of it. Stephen Colbert is making fun of it, He has been the punchline of that."
He also noted that "the average person might not get the legal issues."
"They might not get the politics but they know a 77-year-old man does not have the stamina to stay awake when he is charged with 34 felonies," he added. "How can he be president? That is the most damaging thing."When Marlon Brando starts nodding off in the garden, the audience knows he’s a spent force, and that the end is near.
“The death scream of four hundred Vulcan minds crying out over the distance between us”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😅Trump just called into his North Carolina rally to cancel as thunderstorms appear to be moving through the area. He promises a rain check. pic.twitter.com/MtaHm2zBN8
— Michael Gold (@migold) April 20, 2024
Event planning! 😂😂😂We were standing in an open area outside surrounded by electronics and giant metal equipment, and there are thunderstorm watches and warnings nearby, just to add some context here
— Michael Gold (@migold) April 20, 2024
SAD!Wow. Trump routinely at the top of his rallies remarks about high winds and bad weather (even when it's fine) and then quips about demanding his pilot land regardless. It's meant to be a sign of his devotion. The energy of this move is different. Some might say ... it's low. https://t.co/q6DHe3x7Gm
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 20, 2024
😇I’m old enough to remember when Marge Greene said earthquakes and eclipses were “signs of God’s displeasure.”
— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) April 20, 2024
So… https://t.co/IgUxNnd9hF
Freak Flags Flying
'Disgusting': GOP lawmakers outraged as Democrats wave Ukrainian flags on House floor https://t.co/wZfwugK3fq
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 20, 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) also addressed the flags, saying there's only one flag that should be waved on the House floor. The implication, of course, is it is the American flag.
Luna: Put those damn flags away pic.twitter.com/dtvh0WxZW4
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 20, 2024
Here is Boebert yelling at other members waving flags pic.twitter.com/SCr8rGzTl2
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 20, 2024
Republicans using the American flag to storm the Capitol https://t.co/tFoKxq8YET pic.twitter.com/R1yVfRris0
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 20, 2024
Republicans with their flag https://t.co/tFoKxq9wur pic.twitter.com/j5tyWwUsHR
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 20, 2024
Sad Trombone
Watch: Marjorie Taylor Greene swears and loses it after House passes Ukraine billhttps://t.co/q3StiSUw6K
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 20, 2024
After stating she is not ready to proceed with ousting the GOP House speaker, she added, " I do not support Mike Johnson, he's already a lame duck."She didn’t have the votes to block Ukraine funding (or any other funding of the government which Congress is basically obligated to do), and she doesn’t have the votes to oust Johnson.
This woman introduced an amendment with the word 'Transcarpathia' in it yesterday. I've sat across a hearing room from her for long enough to know she couldn't spell that word before this week, let alone find it on a map.
— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) April 20, 2024
We all know what's going on here. https://t.co/aUpyx4Su55
Crockett: Marjorie Taylor Greene saying that we need to fund the border, she needs to go talk to her master, aka Donald Trump, who specifically said, do not go through with the border bill. And that's the only reason they don't have anything. pic.twitter.com/KN4e4S5LLj
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 20, 2024
Always give Rep. Crockett the last word.Crockett: Marjorie Taylor Greene is talking really big talk about how… she cares about the institution. She didn't care about the institution on January 6th or even after January 6th, as she continues to support those that were trying to tear us down. pic.twitter.com/cmLM8YWvFe
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 20, 2024
Which Comes First? The Arrest, Or The Testimony? 🥚 🐓
Trump’s charming Campaign Spokesman when asked about reports that Trump is fuming at how he is being drawn by courtroom sketch artists. https://t.co/C4Y3LtcwoC pic.twitter.com/H6wQ33zk0E
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 20, 2024
"I was actually just thinking this morning about how cold [Trump] kept complaining to be yesterday. In his normal world, someone would have jumped up and run, not walked, to get the temperature perfect for him,” says Stephanie Grisham, Trump’s former White House press secretary who fell out with him years ago. “This entire experience must be beyond uncomfortable for him, not just the fact that it dives into such personal details, but he has absolutely no control for probably the first time since he was a young child.”
Grisham adds that Trump being on trial this week “reminded me that not only in the White House, but every facet of his life — be it at Mar-a-Lago or Trump Tower or Bedminster — he has a group of people that cater to his every whim. At Mar-a-Lago, people literally stand and applaud him just for walking into the room, and in court, he has to sit there quietly while some people talk about how much they don’t like him. I can’t imagine how hard it has been for him not to get up and storm out of the place like a five-year-old.”
He’ll have plenty more chances to do just that, as opening arguments don’t even begin until Monday. Judge Merchan warned Trump this week, however, that if he misbehaves or skips out on the proceedings, he’ll be subject to arrest. Trump said he understands.The chicken 🐓? Or the egg 🥚?
He’s Going To Do It For These People
Take it to the bank. 🏦Editor’s note - There is a 0.0% chance he will testify.
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 20, 2024
Granted, these people are just fucking nuts.This guy at Trump rally in NC today has some kind of conspiracy that a lot of US dollars are worthless but Trump has made sure that his are real and will let him redeem his dollars for gold when he is president. pic.twitter.com/3BVuJtwpfV
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 20, 2024
Trump posts seven-page 'presidential immunity' rant ahead of his first criminal trial date https://t.co/qpRmMMUEKN
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 20, 2024
IF THEY TAKE AWAY MY PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY, THEY TAKE AWAY CROOKED JOE BIDEN’S PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY," Trump wrote in the first post on the subject Saturday.
He then claimed that, "WITHOUT PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR A PRESIDENT TO PROPERLY FUNCTION, PUTTING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN GREAT AND EVERLASTING DANGER!"
"REMEMBER, if I don’t have Presidential Immunity, then Crooked Joe Biden doesn’t have it either, and he would certainly be Prosecuted for his many ACTUAL CRIMES, including illegally receiving massive amounts of money from Foreign Countries, including China, Ukraine, and Russia, paying off Ukraine to fire an unfriendly prosecutor, allowing millions of people to illegally Enter and Destroy our Country, SURRENDERING in Afghanistan, with Hundreds Dead, many Americans Left Behind, and handing over Billions of Dollars Worth of the Best Military Equipment anywhere on Earth, the Decimation of American Wealth through the Green New Scam, and so much more," he wrote. "REMEMBER, Crooked Joe Biden and his CORRUPT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, D.A.’s and A.G.’s, has attacked his Political Opponent at a level never seen before in this Country, and wants desperately to PUT 'TRUMP' IN PRISON. He is playing a very dangerous game, and the great people of America WILL NOT STAND FOR IT. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
Trump goes on to say that "a President has to be free to determine what is right for our Country without undue pressure."Laws are for little people.
"If there is no Immunity, the Presidency, as we know it, will 'no longer exist,'" he claimed. "Many actions for the benefit of our Country will not be taken. This is in no way what the Founders had in mind. Legal Experts and Scholars have stated that the President must have Full Presidential Immunity. A President must be free to make proper decisions. His mind must be clear, and he must not be guided by the fear of retribution!"
Finally, he said legal scholars "are extremely thankful for the Supreme Court’s Decision to take up Presidential Immunity."
"Without Presidential Immunity, a President will not be able to properly function, or make decisions, in the best interest of the United States of America. Presidents will always be concerned, and even paralyzed, by the prospect of wrongful prosecution and retaliation after they leave office. This could actually lead to the extortion and blackmail of a President," he added. "The other side would say, 'If you don’t do something, just the way we want it, we are going to go after you when you leave office, or perhaps even sooner.'"
He then hammered the point further.
"Of course I was entitled, as President of the United States and Commander in Chief, to Immunity. I wasn’t campaigning, the Election was long over. I was looking for voter fraud, and finding it, which is my obligation to do, and otherwise running our Country," he said. "If I don’t get Immunity, then Crooked Joe Biden doesn’t get Immunity, and with the Border Invasion and Afghanistan Surrender, alone, not to mention the Millions of dollars that went into his 'pockets' with money from foreign countries, Joe would be ripe for Indictment. By weaponizing the DOJ against his Political Opponent, ME, Joe has opened a giant Pandora’s Box. As President, I was protecting our Country, and doing a great job of doing so - Just look around at the complete mess that Crooked Joe Biden has caused. The least I am entitled to is Presidential Immunity on Fake Biden Indictments!"Notes for his new speech at the rally tonight.
I'll bet Trump doesn't testify. Trump is a control freak and there is no way to control the prosecutor if he testify. He would rather just rant to the supine press.I’d argue (respectfully) that it’s because Trump is a control freak, that he’ll testify. He’ll insist on controlling the narrative; or thinking he has. His testimony in the trial court went so badly Engoron commented on it in his final judgment. Trump tells the tale that his testimony proved his innocence. Trump’s testimony by deposition in the first Carroll case cost him nearly $90 million between the two cases, and he still insists he did nothing wrong.
“Here I Sit/Broken-Hearted/Paid For Court/And Only Farted
💨There is no Constitutional provision against persistently farting in a courtroom, so any mockery of Trump is unrooted in history and tradition—and may be grounds to drop the charges entirely.
— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) April 20, 2024
by Jonathan Turley
💨Trump’s courtroom flatulence raises doubts about Biden’s diet and digestion
— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) April 20, 2024
💨That Smell
— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) April 20, 2024
The Donald's never been shy about tooting his own horn. Will his silent but deadly defense soon make him a free bird?
by Maureen Dowd
💨It was James Madison who coined the phrase "whoever smelt it, dealt it", so any serious student of Constitutional history will have grave doubts about liberals' claims that Trump sharted during this morning's court room proceedings.
— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) April 20, 2024
by Jonathan Turley
💨If he don’t shit, you must acquit https://t.co/ccJ7LB7UZo
— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) April 20, 2024
Donald Trump Will Be Outed As “Anonymous”
It’s the only explanation that makes any sense.Opinion | I am part of the resistance inside the Trump legal team
— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) April 20, 2024
by Anonymous
“Made You Look!” 👀
I finally realized why Nunes came up with this conspiracy theory.Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes says he has hundreds of thousands of smaller MAGA investors in Trump Media, and they are calling him asking why the stock is tanking, so he filed a complaint with the SEC and says Biden is conspiring with Wall Street bankers to screw him. pic.twitter.com/ZxTEmxeN0J
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 20, 2024
Well you might think, but that’s not the whole story.Naturally, when Devin Nunes sucks at the job that he was incredibly unqualified for because he was yet another terrible hire by Trump who is worse at personnel of any person on the planet, & his company is failing, he does what all right-wingers do - blame their failure on Biden.
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 20, 2024
Nunes got an epic public spanking from Citadel Securities just before he decided his company problems were all Biden’s fault.When Trump hired Nunes, I figured it had to be some kind of payoff for services rendered -- an invitation to get in on the money-printing scam.
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) April 19, 2024
Still, I couldn't help but wonder when Nunes' rank incompetence would begin to be a drag. https://t.co/qOXWJ4Zi4y
Devin Nunes is the proverbial loser who tries to blame ‘naked short selling’ for his falling stock price,” said a spokesperson for Citadel Securities, underscoring the sharp fall of Trump Media stock since it began public trading with the DJT ticker in late March.
“Nunes is exactly the type of person Donald Trump would have fired on [The] Apprentice,” said Citadel Securities spokesperson, referring to the former Republican president’s business competition reality TV show.
“If he [Nunes] worked for Citadel Securities, we would fire him, as ability and integrity are at the center of everything we do,” the spokesperson added.Well, he got that one out of the headlines, didn’t he?
“Context Is All”
Juror 2 is an investment banker who follows Trump’s posts via Twitter. So do I. Five minutes ago I went looking for Trump’s latest court-related rant on Twitter so I could conveniently post it here.This is highly misleading.
— Ben Kochman (@benkochman) April 20, 2024
Here is EXACTLY what juror No. 2 said.
Because he's an investment banker, "I read basically everything," he said.
"I am on Twitter. I follow TruthSocial posts from Trump on Twitter. I do follow Michael Cohen, Mueller She Wrote, and some more." https://t.co/j9EbNy8da8