Justice Merchan starts off will the prosecution motion for contempt.
He tells Trump he's about to issue his ruling, in which he will again find Trump in contempt of court.
The last thing I want to do is put you in jail, Justice Merchan says to Trump. You are the former President of the United States and possibly the next President as well.
But "going forward," he continues, "this court will have to consider jail sanctions" if necessary.
There are many reasons why incarceration is truly the last resort. It will obstruct the proceedings, Merchan adds, which is the last thing that Trump wants.
But at the end of the day I have a job to do. Your continued willful violations constitute a direct attack on the rule of law. I cannot allow that to continue. As much as I've wanted to avoid a jail sentence, I will as necessary and if approp.
Bove is up now, and he wants to address some objections to exhibits that will be introduced outside the presence of the jury. If the court is willing to go through them one by one beforehand.
There are 20+ exhibits Colangelo says, and we're arguing about the evidence that the prosecution wants to introduce during McConney's testimony today.
McConney was the Trump Organization's controller in the statement of facts.
It's very hard for me to [object to the exhibits] that on the fly—I still don't know what the exhibits are, Bove protests, but Merchan doesn't know what that has to do with the presence of the jury or not.
We'll do it at the sidebar, you'll have an opportunity, Merchan says.
Merchan addresses Trump directly regarding his continued violations of #GagOrder
“It appears that the 1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent.”
“The last thing I want to do is to put you in jail. You are the former president of the United States, and possibly the next president as well.”
“There are many reasons why incarceration is truly a last resort for you.”
“To take that step would be disruptive to the proceedings”
“But at the end of the day, I have a job to do.”
Wouldn't it be more orderly to take these one-by-one, Bove asks, but Merchan doesn't want to keep jury waiting. Also, defense could have given Merchan a heads up yesterday when they found out about McConney.
In the indictment's statement of facts, Cohen allegedly sent the first invoice to McConney ~Feb 14, 2017, and McConney allegedly forwarded the invoice to Deborah Tarasoff TO Accounts Payable Supervisor) writing: “...legal expenses. Put ‘retainer for the months of Jan and Feb 2017
Merchan welcomes back jurors and offers an instruction: Exhibits have been admitted into evidence with redactions, made to remove PII, and insure only relevant admissable evidence has been put before you. Do not draw any inference at these redactions.
The People call Jeffrey McConney.
He has a mop of white hair, a white goatee, and he wears a dark suit with blue patterned tie.
Asisstant DA Colangelo steps up for the prosecution and asks about McConney's education.
Prosecutor: Mr. McConney, please describe your education
McConney: Baruch College; hired by the Trump Org in 1987. Now I'm retired.
Prosecutor: Did you sign a separation agreement?
McConney: Yes. The payments are now complete. I did tax prep for 50 yrs
Prosecutor: Are you here under subpoena?
McConney: Yes.
Prosecutor: Who is paying for your lawyer?
McConney: Trump Org.
Prosecutor: Who ran it?
McConney: Pres Trump. He was the brains behind it. He was my boss.
When asked his def of Trump Org, McConney says: To me there's 2 definitions—there are 2 legal entities, Trump Org, Inc. & Trump Org, LLC. Most people refer to Trump Org as Pres Trump's global holdings and assets, IP, whatever. Trump ran the org, he was the brains.[👈🏼Me: debatable😉]
Any convos w/ Trump since he retired last Feb? No, McConney says.
Before he retired, over 500 entities comprised the Trump Org, he says.
For those 500 or so entities, what kind of businesses are they in?
Golf courses, real estate, licensing deals—that's the bulk of it, McConney says.
trumporg [dot] com was the domain for McConney's email pre-retirement, he says.
JM says Trump Org itself doesn't hold assets (e.g., Trump Tower)—the way we've set everything up is each asset was owned by a separate entity, sometimes multiple entities. Ultimate owner is the trust, with Trump as beneficiary, JM says.
Let me differentiate this from the warnings he got in DC from Judge Tanya Chutkan & just down the street from Judge Lewis Kaplan & Justice Arthur F. Engoron.
Chutkan mostly stuck to court orders. Kaplan threatened to eject him from the room. Engoron mentioned jail in passing.
Trump this morning on his way into court was very confused about how gag orders work (they don't prevent him from answering questions about testifying or the trial), and then shouted out Greg Jarrett, Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Turley, and Mark Levin. 😆
McConney is discussing his roles and responsibilites as controller—he oversaw the accounting department and general ledger, including accounts payable and processing expense reimbursements.
We're starting to zero in on the "retainer" payments and "legal expenses."
Golf courses and hotels were excluded—they had their own accounting staff, says McConney.
As controller, it was McConney's job to keep the ledger accurate. The ledger was run by a computer program called MDS—multi-data services or systems, McConney can't remember.
Back in the 80s, one of McConney's first job was to set up the accounting systems, and they had MDS up and running since 1990/1991 until at least the day he retired.
👉🏼Thrilling stuff folks. To his credit, Justice Merchan looks on intently. He's alert and present.
Prosecutor: What does it say at the top?
McConney: The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust.
Pros: Who were on it?
McConney: President Trump, Donald Trump, Jr. and Allen Weisselberg.
Pros: Did you oversee the general ledger?
McConney: Yes
Pros: Did you supervise Deb Tarasoff?
McConney: Yes.
Pros: Did the Trump Tower accounting team cover all entities?
McConney: All except gold course and hotels.
Pros: Who enters information into the general ledger?
McConney: The accounting staff.
As we talk through Trump Org 's financial structure, we're watching the yeoman's work of prosecuting right now.
For all those law school hopefuls writing their essays about trial, let this also be a lesson. You're going to review documents. Lots and lots of documents.
McConney says that his accounting staff maintained the general ledger of the Trump org as well as Trump's personal bank accounts, including checking accounts. At the time he's discussing, Trump was using Capitol One.
He's a former Trump company accountant who keep showing up DJT's trials. Always says damning stuff, but not very helpful to prosecutors.
When the Manhattan DA went after the Trump Org for tax fraud, he testified before the grand jury (and got immunity) but then tried to absorb all the blame for accounting shenanigans during the actual trial. Didn't work. Jurors didn't believe him.
Justice Merchan's order and decision is now live on the docket.
He doesn't find Trump in contempt for the two Cohen statements, nor the Pecker statement, but fines Trump $1k for the jury-related statement.
It's the 10th criminal contempt count.
Order certainly gels with what he discussed in court on Thurs. He's not so worried about Cohen as a witness, but he is quite concerned about the jury as it relates to their safety and the fair administration of justice.
Prosecutor: Did the Trump Org ever cut a check if no invoice was submitted?
McConney: Never.
Prosecutor: Who has authority to approve invoices?
McConney: Pres Trump, Eric Trump, Don Jr., Ivanka when she was working w us, a few others
Prosecutor: One many signatures were required on checks?
McConney: Below $10,000 only one signature. Over $10K, 2 signatures.
Prosecutor: If a lawyer receives payment, is it taxable?
McConney? If an outside attorney, I assume so [Sips from water bottle]
That's why his testimony today could be important as prosecutors try to show that Trump himself would have approved reimbursing Michael Cohen for the Stormy Daniels hush money.
Also worth noting: He retired from the Trump Org last year. But his promised hefty bonus conveniently hung over his head when he testified at the bank fraud trial last year.
The judge in that case called it out for what it was: a way to keep him silent.
Colangelo hands up a thumb drive of exhibits, includes Docs include for general ledger of DJT account, trust account, emails for approval for payment, notes for payment, 1099s etc.
McConney confirms he reviewed the doc bc "my scribble...and today's date" is written on the drive.
COLANGELO: “How did you request [Trump's] approval [to pay invoices]?”
MCCONNEY: “I’m an old-timer,” and I liked to use a piece of paper. If it was a piece of paper, “I would just bring it down to [Trump] and approve it.”
MCONNEY: If it came by email, “I would ask [Trump] to approve it that way.”
MCCONNEY: Signatory authority for Trump's personal account was Trump. For the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust account: Eric, Don Jr and Allen Weisselberg.
I just looked over at the high schoolers in the gallery. It looks like they're hanging in there, but I fear that much more of this relentless discussion of financial documents might make them lose interest in the law and justice system entirely
Bove objects to exhibits 37(A-K), 45, 54, 55
"Are you familiar with someone named Michael Cohen?" Colangelo asks McConney
"I was there as long as he was"—maybe 5-10 years—McConney says of Cohen. Sometimes they would chat by the coffee machine
The prosecutor asks what Allen Weisselberg said about paying Michael Cohen.
McConney mentions the complaint about his end of year bonus, and there was other money Cohen was "owed."
👉🏼Analysis: That appears to be a blow in favor of the prosecution — because Trump's defense claimed during opening statements that Cohen's payments were all legal fees.
47/ Once again I have prevailed over Mr. Blowdryer.
Time to catch you up, via Phang and Weissmann:
Phang:
McConney confirms that $130k was to be reimbursement to Cohen for the Stormy Daniels payment & $50k was reimbursement for a payment to Red Finch for tech services.
Weisselberg then wrote down that Cohen should be "grossed up" to cover his state, federal, and city taxes for NYC residents.
Weisselberg also wrote $60k for additional bonus, which McConney understood was to "make up for what [Cohen] thought he was owed" for the prior year's bonus.
McConney testifies that he did not understand that the purpose of the second $180k was to cover Cohen's taxes.
COLANGELO: “Do these notes show that Mr Cohen was receiving 360,000 back on a 180,000 expense?”
MCCONNEY: Yes
COLANGELO: “Are you aware of another instance where an expense reimbursement was doubled to account for taxes?” MCCONNEY: No.
McConney then testifies that he emailed Michael Cohen about the invoices:
EMAIL FROM MCCONNEY TO COHEN DATE: 2/6/2017 9:39a SUBJECT: $$ Mike, Just a reminder to get me the invoices you spoke to Allen about. Thanks Jeff
McConney reads this email from Cohen to Weisselberg:
To Allen Weisselberg Dear Allen, Pursuant to the retainer agreement, kindly remit payment for services rendered for the months of January and February, 2017. January, 2017: $35,000.00 February, 2017: $35,000.00
COLANGELO: “Did you ever see a retainer agreement?”
MCCCONEY: “I did not “
EMAIL FROM ALLEN WEISSELBERG TO MCCONNEY FEBRUARY 14, 2017 “Ok to pay as per agreement with Don and Eric.”
COLANGELO: Did you send this invoice to the legal department? MCCONNEY: No
COLANGELO: Was it typical for legal dept to review requests for legal dept?
MCCONNEY: Yes
Email from McConney to Deborah Tarasoff, with Alan’s approval email being forwarded:
FEBRUARY 14, 2017 12:10pm
Deb, Please pay from the Trust. Post to legal expenses. Put “retainer for the months of January and February 2017” in the description. Thanks Jeff
COLANGELO: Why did you ask Tarasoff to pay from the Trust account?
MCCONNEY: At that time because he was President we were paying from the Trust account
COLANGELO: Why did you say “post to legal expenses?” MCCONNEY: Whenever you make a payment you have to choose at least one general ledger category.
MCCONNEY: Anybody that was in the general ledger could see the information in the general ledger. If I run a report, anybody who gets the report can see it.
COLANGELO: When you switched to DJT from Trust what did that mean? MCCONNEY: We had to get it to the White House to get signed… “A whole new process for us,” Mcconney said.
COLANGELO: Mr. Trump was the only signatory on checks cut from the DJT account, is that correct?
MCCONNEY: Yes.
McConney then testifies to the jury about a April 13, 2017 email and attached invoice from Michael Cohen to Allen Weisselberg, which Weisselberg forwards minutes later to McConney without comment or subject.
McConney then forwards it to Tarasoff the same day with only the words "please pay."
After McConney walks through each monthly payment, the Court takes recess.
Earlier, out of order:
McConney reads following out loud to jury (these are his handwritten notes that he took when Allen was telling him what to do):
"DOCUMENT-TRUMP LETTERHEAD—- Michael Cohen 27th Pay thru Jan 20, 2017 Bonus $50,000 180,000 180,000 x 2 for taxes Use $420,000 divided by 12 = $35,000/month Wire Monthly from DJT Start $35,000 Start date January 2017 Mike to invoice us (Mike is Michael Cohen)"
McConney testimony that payment of legal fees by Trump would, he believed, be taxable to the attorney as income will be important later to explain why Trump reimbursed more than $130,000 to Cohen as he would have to pay taxes on it.
McConney identifying Weisselberg handwritten notes is going to be a HUGE piece of evidence, confirming the reimbursement amounts, and that a witness independent of Cohen identifies it as Weisselberg's notes specifying the precise amounts Cohen needs to be reimbursed (including the $130,000 hush money payment).
Keep your eye on the $50,000 Red Finch reimbursement by Trump to Cohen (as part of the reimbursement scheme)
expect the DA to argue that the Red Finch payment was another campaign expenditure by Cohen, which the campaign was keeping off the books, and Trump reimbursed.
The invoices also includes language that says they are payments for "services rendered" during that month, which is also something the DA will argue is false, since they included reimbursement (and Trump has admitted) for the $130,000, and not a payment for ongoing services.
The falsity of the invoices is made crystal clear by the fact that if it were just a reimbursement is would be paid 1 for 1 and recorded as such (ie Trump wd owe Cohen $130,000), but the reimbursement had to be doubled because it was disguised as income on which Cohen would have to pay taxes. Weisselberg and McConney BOTH took notes that reflect that scheme.
McConney says that one of the repayment checks to Michael Cohen had gotten lost while being sent between the Trump Org. and the White House for Trump's signature.
Checks had to be sent from the company to the White House for Trump to sign each of them before they were issued.
The invoices also includes language that says they are payments for "services rendered" during that month, which is also something the DA will argue is false, since they included reimbursement (and Trump has admitted) for the $130,000, and not a payment for ongoing services.
McConney is back on the stand, testifies about a Query Voucher Summary that reflects the payments made to "Michael D. Cohen, Esq."
This document has Tarasoff's handwritten notes. The report was run on Jan. 5. 2018 and reflects all payments to Cohen between Jan. 1, 2017 and the date of the report.
Per this Summary, the DJT Revocable Trust paid $105,000, and Trump's personal account paid $315,000 for a total of $420,000.
As someone with no accounting experience other than doing my taxes every year, I should say that the prosecution has walked us through these financial documents in a slow and accessible way.
Miraculously, I feel confident I know what a"general ledger report" is now.
McConney makes it clear that per reports run from the general ledgers for each of Trump's personal account and the Revocable Trust account, no legal expenses were paid to Cohen from either account in 2018.
People's 43 now: we're back to the Trust account with another detail general ledger, for calendar years 2017 and 2018. It shows the three payments to Cohen from the trust account (Jan - March 2017), coded as a legal expense, totaling $105,000.
People's 44: another detail general ledger for Trump's personal account, for calendar years 2017 and 2018. This one shows legal expenses paid between April - Dec 2017, there's description of a retainer for each payment, totaling $315,000.
At one point during his remarks, he said witnesses they’re calling “have nothing to do with the case.”
As he left, your pooler shouted: How is the judge conflicted? Which witnesses were you speaking about?
Reminder:
Trump's attorney Todd Blanche previously said that his client can't simply give no-comments to press inquiries like this, but the former president confirms once again that he can.
A schedule list of all the entities Trump owned, a listing of assets and their value/location/income, retirement funds and payments, spouse's accents, stock and bank account holdings, liabilities, gifts.
On page 45 (Part 8: Liabilities), JM reads (paraphgrased): In the interest of transparency, while not required to be disclosed...in 2016 expenses were incurred by one of DJT's attorneys, Cohen. Cohen sought reimbursement of those expenses and Trump fully reimbursed him in 2017.
At 12:16 p.m., no further questions from Colangelo.
"Your witness," Merchan says to the defense, as Bove gathers his binder and steps up to the podium.
Bove: At that time, Michael Cohen was a lawyer, correct?
McConney: Ok...sure (getting another respectable laugh from the gallery. Once again, the tried and true Cohen punchline.)
Payments to lawyers are legal expenses, right? Yes
And you booked those expenses as legal expenses, right? Yes.
Rarely had convos with Pres Trump? Very rarely.
Never gave him a tour of the MDS system? Right.
Cohen worked as the "personal attorney" of Trump, "outside the Trump Organization," Bove asks, which McConney confirms, as Bove enunciates those phrases in quotes.
We see correspondence from Cohen.
It says Personal attorney to DJT—it doesn't say "fixer" right? Right.
And he's not using a Trump Org email account right? Right. It's a gmail account.
Bove: You don't know one way or another, from your vantage point, whether Cohen did legal work for Trump in 2017?
McConney: That's correct.
Bove: Legal work for Trump's family?
Objection from the prosecution. Sustained.
Trump's 'bash Cohen at every turn' defense is unsurprising. But prosecution 101 has an answer to these kinds of attacks on cooperating witnesses — 'the witness may be a lowlife, sleazy, criminal moron, so what does it say that the defendant kept counsel with him for many years?'
We continue to discuss the trust: there were two trustees—one of Trump's sons and Weisselberg—and 500 entities with thousands of employees rolled up into the Trust. Hotels with guests in the thousands, and golf courses with members in the thousands.
McConney testified previously that he oversaw Trump's cash position.
There were times during Trump's presidency when his cash position was in the 100s of millions of dollars. McConney confirms there was a time when Trump had at least $60 million in unrestricted cash.
Trump's lawyer Bove: You understand that negative news would hurt the business?
McConney: I'm not a marketing guy.
Bove: But the Trump Organization hired marketing people, right?
McConney: Yes.
Bove: The MDS system was antiquated, right? Old categories?
A: Yes.
(Here comes the "chaos" excuse that we have heard in the MAL classified documents case):
BOVE: Jan 2017, was in flux and chaos at Trump Org? MCCONNEY: “That’s putting it mildly.”
BOVE: Things changed from the way things were done for decades?
MCCONNEY: yes
McConney says that he doesn't know exactly what Weisselberg meant by "grossed up," nor does he know how Cohen treated these payments on his own taxes, nor does he know anything about "Red Finch for tech services."
Bove is highlighting the many things McConney doesn't know.
The notes were in a locked cabinet in McConney's office because the payroll books in the cabinet had sensitive information—not necessarily because the notes themselves were sensitive.
With this line of questioning, Bove seems to be underscoring a key theme for the defense:
That Trump's business empire is far too vast, and that his transition to the White House far too busy and chaotic, for him to be responsible for falsifying business records.
An apparent big slip by Trump counsel as he elicits from McConney that Weisselberg told him the money was for some sort of reimbursement. Remember: that is the DA's position, and that the paperwork disguised it as legal fees. And Trump wants to say it was really legal fees and not a reimbursement.
McConney confirms that part of the issue is that this was all new to the accounting dept—trying to figure out how to pay Trump's personal expenses while he was in DC.
Back to the 1099 forms now—one from the Trust, one from Trump's personal account, both to Cohen.
Bove clarifies that there's no place on this form to break out legal services vs. expenses incurred while carrying out those services, when reporting to the IRS.
Now back to the OGE conflicts form signature page, which was signed by the OGE agent, who concluded that the filer (Trump) was in compliance with the ethics regulations based on what was on the form.
"Just a few questions," Colangelo says for redirect.
Do expense reimbursements usually get repoted to the IRS? Colangelo asks. Not usually, no.
Were you privy to any convs between Trump and Weisselberg about these payments? No
Cohen? No
Any convos with the three of them about the payments? No
McConney testifies that the DJT Revocable Trust paid the first 3 installment payments to Cohen because they misunderstood what entity should be responsible for Trump's personal expenses, but once it was clarified, Trump's personal account was used.
@GottaLaff
How is the prosecution going to argue that Trump personally is subject to Business Records legislation?
It seems the Trump Org would commit an offence if it mischaracterised legal fees but Trump personally is not obliged to maintain any accounting records
Note, this is the firm where the monies to Cohen are descr6as reimbursement. I would have thought Trump's lawyers would try to deep six that form, not highlight it
@GottaLaff NFL this is something we really need to crack down on with all of the richie riches, their personal expenses should NOT be allowed to be paid from company bank accounts. They seriously need to have their own bank accounts and end this constant grifting.
@GottaLaff NFL I'm confused as to why the confusion about personal expenses is part of the defense strategy. Shouldn't a reputable business have always known that the owner's personal expenses are paid personally by the owner and his/her own personal account?
NFL IAMNAL but I just looked it up and apparently while retainer agreements can be verbal, NY law requires an engagement letter before or within a reasonable time after the commencing representation, outlining services be provided, fees, and the clients right to arbitration.
Wonder if there is an engagement letter for this representation from Cohen?
@GottaLaff NFL the only descriptive about anything associated with the orange pustule with which I concur is "chaotic". Mental illness does often bring this quality into the patient's behaviors ...or....FOR LAFFY behaviours hee hee hee must acclimate!
In any situation, always be conscious of which way resources are flowing, and their relative importance. I don't really need a bagel, but you do need the money I'm paying for it. At the same time, I'd like that bagel to be tasty and edible. And I also want to be liked. That balance of priorities is the practical undercarriage of common decency in commerce; manners are just an elaboration. But every interaction involves resources moving, usually passing each other. Don't forget that.
@GottaLaff
NFL there is zero percent chance this guy doesn’t know what “grossed up” means. That is basic accounting and a simple term every accountant, money manager, and business owner learn on day one.
Ridiculous answer shows he is still being controlled by the #nodfarter
So, Trump set up this complicated scheme to hide the fact that he was reimbursing Cohen by making it appear that he was paying Cohen, and then blew the gaff by declaring the reimbursement on his OGE conflicts of interest form?
"In the interests of transparency, while not required to be disclosed ..."
@GottaLaff
NotForLaffy
This is how jury trials are supposed to be argued. By explaining the evidence so that the jury can understand it. Well done, prosecution.
@GottaLaff NFL doesn’t this mean… I know it’s not at issue in the trial … but doesn’t this mean that DJ T didn’t even come close to divesting control of his organization during the time he was president?🍸😿 because I thought I had a vague inkling that he had promised to do something like that, put it in trust or something.🍸🐈
@GottaLaff
It’s funny how consequences will help make a person correct their behaviours. Too bad no one has tried this with Trump. He won’t stop until he’s held responsible
I love Justice Merchan's canny reasoning: the fines won't stop Trump so his hands are tied. At some point he will be forced to jail Trump because the other is not working and he has, according to NY law, no other option. Brilliant.
De nada. I'm no apologist as I have no faith, but I do depend on his (or any judge's) reasoning. And that reasoning is pretty well genius! He's outsmarting their strategy.
I really appreciate your grit in keeping things going and on track. And the first rate and solid info! Thanks!
or, y'know, don't tag Laffy, y'all. you can edit (delete!) the pre-populated reply tag — like this message! — if your response isn't really for OP. show consideration for others' attention 💖
@GottaLaff NFL
You know that his team will be meeting tonight to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of Trump going to jail. They may encourage him if they think it will forward his chances of winning the election.
@GottaLaff NFL Been there, done that. When I asked if I thought the manager was prejudice, I said, "He is an equal opportunity asshole." I got chastised. In hindsight, I would have said "jerk"
@GottaLaff Thanks for covering this so thoroughly.
The media gives very few specific details and more how Trump reacts. That’s incredibly annoying on their part
Merchan would find himself directly in the crosshairs and likely be removed from the bench via presidential directive. and very likely... end up imprisoned... or worse yet dead.
Merchan se dirige directamente a Trump sobre sus continuas violaciones de #GagOrder
"Parece que las 1.000 multas no sirven como elemento disuasivo."
"Lo último que quiero hacer es meterte en la cárcel. Usted es el ex presidente de los Estados Unidos y posiblemente también el próximo presidente”.
"Hay muchas razones por las que el encarcelamiento es verdaderamente un último recurso para usted".
"Dar ese paso sería perturbador del proceso"
"Pero al final del día, tengo un trabajo que hacer"."
@GottaLaff Trump will not going to jail. The judge has no credibility, He should had told him from the beginning. Trump does whatever he wants because no one told him no.
@GottaLaff Yeah yeah, if you say to the child, time after time, "next time you do that I'll smack you", but the smack is never forthcoming, what sort of disincentive is that?
I appreciate this isn't a verbatim transcript, so I hope it's in there. But, mentioning Trump's past and future job is completely irrelevant to the cause of justice and should have no bearing on the decision to jail. I hope Marchan stated that clearly.
@GottaLaff a prime example of what’s wrong with the legal system. Anyone else would’ve already been thrown in jail, but because of his past position, he gets a pass.
So, I guess the law only applies to people without political ties that could possibly have you removed from the bench.
@GottaLaff Why would the judge treat this man to a lower more cautious form of law from ANYONE else? He should, because of what he’s been and what he aims for again, be held to a higher standard!! Are we as ordinary citizens who actually pay politicians salaries punished because we’re ordinary???
@GottaLaff if he keeps threatening and never doing trump is going to conclude the threats are empty. And this is going to bring the system into disrepute.
The DOJ is the one who has to call for imprisonment. So far, they've asked for fines. The last set was part of the first one because Trump's remarks came BEFORE the "threat" from the judge.
Now he's been warned about any NEW ones.
So let's see what happens. Imprisonment is unlikely, but maybe being held in a court building room..? Or as Weissmann suggested, all imprisonment at end of trial.
@GottaLaff Predictable and sad. Me, I'd sequester the jury in a five star hotel and send the bill to Trump. Remember, he's a billionaire - he can afford it.
@GottaLaff "will have to consider" is too soft to get through Trump's skull. It's going to have to be "this is the last time this court will sentence you to pennies for your contempt. Next time you will enjoy the facilities at Riker's"
@xinit He can't say that unless he knows he'll follow thru. He may not put him in Riker's. There could be a room in the court house that he could isolate him in.
This judge is smart and careful. We're not him. He knows he can get overturned/mistrial and then Trump would never be found guilty.
@GottaLaff my first thought was that it sounds like (in the text, which is hard) he's a soft parent using weasel words like "might have to consider" with a petulant child.
I hope he really is able to follow through, but the idea of having to spend all day Wednesday or over a weekend in a Riker's dorm amuses me.
Thanks for ensuring the courtroom for those of us with less patience :D
NFL It's hard not to be impatient. I think Justice Merchan is a thoughtful judge who considers the repercussions of his decisions. He has a lot of balls to juggle. So far, he seems to be steeping this orange frog in warm water, until it boils. Ha!
@JaneDoeTheFirst@DRBLD2009@GottaLaff NF Weissman talked Friday about what a measured judge he is and how he's not a yeller, etc but commands respect because he earns it. He said it's one of the most well run courtrooms and courtroom staffs he's seen in all his years and he said it's clear the staff takes their lead from Judge Merchan.
“You are the former ILLEGITIMATE President of the United States and according to Jeffery Katzenberg, who has known you for 50 years, a colossal asshole. Bailiff, take the putrid sack of feces away. General population, Rikers.”
@GottaLaff. NFL, that's exactly what Trump wants, jail time. So he can milk more sucker's out of their money. He will say, "I'm in jail for you!" We are living in the dumbest of times.
@JaneDoeTheFirst@ReedsDad@GottaLaff NFL If Merchan really wanted to hurt Trump in the fee fees, he’d order the “press access” area removed, and also order Trump be whisked in and out with no more mini-campaign rallies. Trump can pay for his own security near Trump Tower or his NJ property.
He could call them whistle stops but I prefer Schitzen’ Stops, obv
NFL I think that would be an intrusion into Trump's electioneering.
Justice Merchan is smart and persistent in separating the trial from the campaign by giving Trump a space to mouth off (also shows Merchan is not interfering). Trump then can't argue there was obstruction on appeal, that the judge was politically motivated.
NFL No kidding! I am totally with you! However I see method in Merchan's 'madness'. It's not faith in the judge (I no longer have faith in any judge), as much as clear evidence of progressive boiling and the judge's reasoning.