Real Life? Or The Movies?

 So this happened today:

It was confirmed a few moments later when CNN aired footage of Trump walking out of the courtroom and bellowing to the press, "We won the trial. And the judge should end this trial immediately. Thank you."

That followed the lawyer for Eric and Jr. questioning Michael Cohen and immediately moving for a directed verdict.

Now, to begin with, a directed verdict applies to a jury trial. The judge takes the decision out of the hands of the jury and directs them (literally) what verdict to reach. It’s not an autocratic usurpation, it’s a form of summary judgment because the facts are so thoroughly proven, or the prosecution/plaintiff has so thoroughly failed to meet their burden of proof, that the case must be dismissed as a matter of law.

The lawyers apparently thought they had that after they were through with Cohen.

Rubin pointed out that Trump family attorney Cliff Robert tried and failed in big screen fashion to secure what is called a "directed verdict" -- essentially urging the judge to make a hasty decision in favor of Trump solely based on Cohen's testimony on the witness stand. 

“Absolutely denied,” Engoron quipped. “This case has evidence, an incredible amount—evidence all over the place…That’s absurd, Mr. Robert.” 

"He moved for what's called a directed verdict -- that's asking the judge, basically, truncate the trial, and end it now, fine for us," Rubin said on the show.  "And he didn't do that." 

"But that's what they expected to happen. And they honestly seemed surprised." 

While team Trump was taken aback by the denial, Rubin noted how Trump himself "seemed just downright angry." 

"It was definitely like television or film," she added.

What were they thinking? Trump, as usual, said it out loud:

The New York State Attorney Generals case against me is DEAD, but the Radical Left Judge REFUSES to end it," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social Wednesday night, referring to state AG Letitia James and Judge Arthur Engoron. "He just can’t let it go." 

He continued to rail against Michael Cohen, his former fixer, who had taken the stand to testify for the prosecution. 

"Their 'star' witness lied like a dog on the stand today, and then admitted that I did NOTHING WRONG," Trump wrote in the post. "A total SleazeBag."

Yes, the lawyers honestly believed the cross-examination of Cohen would end the trial. Trump calling Cohen the “star witness” gives the game away. Like a movie, Trump & Co. thought the whole trial came down to the “star” bad guy. Take him out in the third act, and the movie is over with a happy ending. The absurdity of that was summed up by the judge:

“There is enough evidence in this case to fill this courtroom.”

So Trump decided to appeal to a higher power:

"The Governor should get involved," he wrote, calling out the mishandling of his case. "Election Interference by my Political Opponent!"

And he stormed out of the courtroom like a…well, exactly like a petulant child. After all, the judge fined him another $10,000 today. Trump probably thought the dismissal of the case would void his fine, too.

I’d put money on it.