# Manhattan Prosecutors file criminal charges for Trump re Stormy Daniels case - ongoing discussion here (Guilty on all 34 counts, May 30, 2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [March 9, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953 "2023-03-09T22:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 216
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4301 "2024-05-21T00:37:05Z")
It’s just straight up cult like behavior. What Costello did today was the legal equivalent of drinking the Kool-Aid because Jim Jones asked you to. And then being proud of the fact. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4302 "2024-05-21T00:53:41Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Lector escapes jail and takes revenge on his tormentor at the movie’s end, which I imagine Trump fantasizes quite a bit about doing the same. Only with catsup, which would make Lector murdery. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4303 "2024-05-21T00:56:11Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Costello tried to explain: “Can I say something, please?” I really would have liked to hear his comeback. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4304 "2024-05-21T00:57:51Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > I really would have liked to hear his comeback. Never mind ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4305 "2024-05-21T01:15:47Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > I really would have liked to hear his comeback. My speculation? He would have made a cowardly attempt to disown his obvious contempt for the court by saying his frustration was with the prosecution’s continuous objections. Which would have made no sense, given his side-eye and glaring toward His Honor. Even better would have been if he doubled down and tried to explain to Merchan why his rulings were bad, in which case the judge would have had him taken behind the courthouse and executed. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4306 "2024-05-21T01:36:58Z")
> [@Jihi](#): > > It’s just straight up cult like behavior. What Costello did today was the legal equivalent of drinking the Kool-Aid because Jim Jones asked you to. And then being proud of the fact. I’m not seeing how Costello would be hurt by this. Absent a recording of the coonversation, it’s all a he-said-he-said deal with the two of them making opposite claims. He’s not going to get disbarred based on this testimony since who can prove that he’s not saying the straight and simple truth? Assuming that his average client is of the Trump/Giuliani stripe, then getting up and saying stuff on the stand that directly contradicts what a key witness against the customer says, might well be a good bit of self-promotion. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4307 "2024-05-21T02:00:14Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > Cohen did not trust Costello and when he retained his own not paid by trump counsel, he stopped protecting trump Wait, Costello was being paid by Trump? No wonder Cohen said what he did. Direcoand obvious pipeline back to the mob boss. Jesus, how obvious can you get? Mob boss lawyer testifying in defence of mob boss ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4308 "2024-05-21T02:07:04Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Some additional context: per CNN, the defense attorneys did not want to call Costello but were overridden by Trump, who had been impressed by Costello’s performance in front of Congress last week. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qIitjokEJwg/hqdefault.jpg "Indiana Jones - He Chose Poorly") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIitjokEJwg) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4309 "2024-05-21T02:33:30Z")
The transcript explains a bit more. From msnbc Lawrence O’Donnell, the “ strike that” was said by Costello, came out after merchan said “I’m sorry” the second time. From here: > **[‘Clear the courtroom:’ Judge explodes at Trump’s witness after prosecutors...](https://www.courthousenews.com/clear-the-courtroom-judge-explodes-at-trumps-witness-after-prosecutors-rest-case-at-hush-money-trial/)** > > The witness, pro-Trump attorney Robert Costello, couldn't rein in his disdain for either the proceedings or the judge. Costello tested the patience of New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan almost instantly, shaking his head and muttering in earshot of his microphone during sustained objections from prosecutors. “Geez,” Costello expressed audibly after one objection. Merchan finally acknowledged his antics. “I’m sorry?” Merchan asked. Costello waved him off. But after a loud exhale from Costello on a subsequent question, Merchan excused the jury and laid into the witness. “Mr. Costello, I’d like to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom. When you’re a witness on my stand, if you don’t like my ruling, you don’t say, ‘Geez,’” Merchan said firmly. “You don’t give me side eye and you don’t roll your eyes, okay?” Costello agreed and briefly glared at the judge. The typically poised Merchan was about to bring the jury back in, when he got hot. “Are you staring me down?” he shouted. “Clear the courtroom!” Mr O’Donnell says he immediately got up, other people were a bit confused, some of the press did questioned what was going on, but finally they all got out. That was when merchan threatened to strike all of Costello’s testimony, and that he was on the verge of contempt. Merchan did say please. “ clear the courtroom! Please, clear the courtroom!” Trump thinks Costello is just the best. Mr O’Donnell said he heard the “jeez” all the way in the back of the courtroom. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4310 "2024-05-21T02:40:25Z")
I’ve seen judges discipline a witness, but nothing like that. Jeez. 😮 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4311 "2024-05-21T02:51:31Z")
Clear the thread! Please, clear the thread! I’m betting many judges don’t get to say : clear the courtroom, ever. Rather like “stop the presses!”. I can only imagine what the prosecution said in the office when they got back. ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4312 "2024-05-21T02:52:13Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I’m not seeing how Costello would be hurt by this. You may very well be right. My experience is that people who throw themselves on their swords for Trump generally don’t have it end well for them. > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Assuming that his average client is of the Trump/Giuliani stripe, then getting up and saying stuff on the stand that directly contradicts what a key witness against the customer says, might well be a good bit of self-promotion. And if Costello wants to get up in front of the country and advertise himself as the number one “criminal lawyer” in the land, I say more power to him. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4313 "2024-05-21T03:00:01Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > I’m betting many judges don’t get to say : clear the courtroom, ever. Rather like “stop the presses!”. The kind of thing that belongs in the “common in movies and TV but almost never happens in real life” thread. Tomorrow should be interesting. If Trump’s lawyers didn’t want Costello on the stand, but only put him there because Trump insisted; then what happens if Trump insists on testifying? It would be in his best interests not to (IMHO), but this is Trump we’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4314 "2024-05-21T03:04:58Z")
Hhhmm, this explains quite a bit. (From his law firm’s website, I didn’t want to post it here as it gives addresses and phones, I googled Costello and bannon, and found it.) Most recently Mr. Costello represented Rudy Giuliani and Steve Bannon in DOJ investigations and before the House January 6th Committee hearings. Looks like cohen made a good choice turning down Costello’s counsel. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4315 "2024-05-21T03:23:58Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > then what happens if Trump insists on testifying? It would be in his best interests not to (IMHO), but this is Trump we’re talking about. I can’t imagine seeing how Merchan treated Costello’s bullshit has increased Trump’s chances of testifying and it was never that high IMO ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4316 "2024-05-21T03:26:48Z")
Trump: “I can’t testify, the judge would be **MEAN** to me!” ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4317 "2024-05-21T04:34:09Z")
Never before have I wished for someone to testify than Orange Turd. IT HAS TO HAPPEN so we can maybe get that L&O “prosecution requests a 730 exam” thingy. Then we’ll get to see the CAT scan pics of all the frontal-lobe tumors. 😁 I’m actually thinking that the bad thing from Cohen’s interviews is the 90-second exchange thing between Cohen and bodyguard. Worried that if a juror thinks Cohen is not accurate about what was discussed in 90 seconds would that juror think the prosecution’s case is unreliable. (???) Hoping they make Costello look funnier than Lou did back in the day of good comedy tomorrow morning. If they rile him, his testimony could be thrown out. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4318 "2024-05-21T04:49:26Z")
Kinda surprised Schilling hasn’t come forward to volunteer that Cohen DIDN’T speak to the America-hating fuckstick during the call about the prankster. On second thought, while AG or SoS might be enough inducement to risk a perjury charge, Chairman of the PCPF\* probably isn’t. \*President’s Council on Physical Fitness ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4319 "2024-05-21T05:39:16Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Never before have I wished for someone to testify than Orange Turd. It would be entertaining, that’s for sure; but again, it wouldn’t be in his best interests. He might do okay if he could keep to answering the lawyers’ questions (both sides), but I’m sure that he couldn’t. He’d digress into things that have nothing to do with the question asked. **Q:** Mr. Trump, were you in New York City on [date]? **A:** I might have been, I don’t know. All I know is that this is a witch hunt brought by a crooked prosecutor before a conflicted judge, and nobody’s ever seen anything like it. **Q:** It’s a simple yes/no question, Mr. Trump. **Q:** Mr. Trump, did you speak with Mr. Cohen on [date] at [time] regarding your okay to pay Stormy Daniels? **A:** I spoke with Cohen many times. He was once one of my most loyal, but today, he’s gone off the rails. I can’t—you can’t—trust him; he’s a liar, disbarred, disgraced. Many people are saying you can’t trust him, even those not here. Did you know that thanks to him and the crooked prosecutor and the conflicted judge, the United States is the laughingstock of the world? **Q:** It’s a simple yes/no question, Mr. Trump. If Trump wants to testify, it’ll be popcorn and bingo time. That’s why I say it would be in his best interests to just not testify. Yes, his defense lawyers would toss him softballs, but I think that the DA would zero in on just about everything on cross. Under skilled questioning, Trump would end up looking like Captain Queeg on the stand. All he’d need is a pair of ball bearings. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953/4320 "2024-05-21T08:44:00Z")
Trump is not going to take the stand. He knows the difference between lying at a press conference and lying under oath. (Trump: “same answer, same answer, same answer…”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953.md?page=215) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-prosecutors-file-criminal-charges-for-trump-re-stormy-daniels-case-ongoing-discussion-here-guilty-on-all-34-counts-may-30-2024/980953.md?page=217)