# 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:** 226
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 2:56pm 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-30-2024/980953/4501 "2024-05-23T14:56:02Z")
_Killed joke post. I thought I was in another thread._ ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:04pm 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-30-2024/980953/4502 "2024-05-23T15:04:28Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > most of the lawyers who said they would do the 90 second break were former prosecutors on various news casts So I’m a bit skeptical this would be a good idea. The timeframe it’s not completely unbelievable but it’s tight. He would need to do all this in 90 seconds: - Answer phone exchange pleasantries - Explain what happened during prank call - Explain how he tracked down caller, and how It was kid - Ask for whatever action he wanted taken (not sure what that was?) - Ask to speak to trump - Get passed to Trump - Pass on the update about Stormy Daniels payments to trump. I am kinda surprised, if the prosecution is really convinced that Cohen is telling truth they didn’t confirm exactly how he passed on the update, like the exact words. If he says it’s just like four words something like “The matter is sorted” that makes it much more plausible IMO ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:11pm 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-30-2024/980953/4503 "2024-05-23T15:11:29Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > - Answer phone exchange pleasantries > - Explain what happened during prank call > - Explain how he tracked down caller, and how It was kid > - Ask for whatever action he wanted taken (not sure what that was?) > - Ask to speak to trump > - Get passed to Trump > - Pass on the update about Stormy Daniels payments to trump. “Hey John [don’t know his name], that kid is still pranking me, I’ll message you with his number and a screenshot of the messages for you to look into. Is the boss around?..Hey boss, it’s taken care of…yup, $130k” You don’t have to exchange pleasantries or bring people up to speed if they already know what you’re calling about or will be able to figure it out easily enough. There’s plenty of times where I call someone and say little more than “Yup, Home Depot has one, I’ll be back in 20 minutes” or “I just talked to Sam, he said you need to call Sarah and ask her”. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:18pm 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-30-2024/980953/4504 "2024-05-23T15:18:04Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > that kid is still pranking me Though I thought all that had happened the same day (the prank calls had happened previously but the kid accidentally not hiding his number and allowing Cohen to call him and find it was just a kid, had all just occurred). Explaining all that is not a 5 second conversation. Again it’s not totally unbelievable but tight. I’m not sure why the prosecution, if they do really think it happened, didn’t clarify exactly the timing of what as said and how it happened in the time shown. And if they aren’t sure if Cohen is telling the truth, why bring up the matter? (and have all the fuss of getting the photo entered into evidence which would bring it to the front of the jury’s mind) ---
**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 23, 2024, 3:18pm 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-30-2024/980953/4505 "2024-05-23T15:18:26Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > [Donald Trump](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/donald-trump) has offered a garbled explanation as to why he ultimately declined to testify at his New York [hush money trial](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/hush-money-trial), citing his “past” I take this to mean that if Trump testifies, he’s afraid that he’ll reveal even more unrelated criminal acts he committed in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:21pm 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-30-2024/980953/4506 "2024-05-23T15:21:23Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Again it’s not totally unbelievable but tight. I’m not sure why the prosecution, if they do really think it happened, didn’t clarify exactly the timing of what as said and how it happened in the time shown 8 years down the road, testimony about _exact_ wording of the conversation might seem a bit suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:25pm 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-30-2024/980953/4507 "2024-05-23T15:25:47Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > if the prosecution is really convinced that Cohen is telling truth they didn’t confirm exactly how he passed on the update, like the exact words. If he says it’s just like four words something like “The matter is sorted” that makes it much more plausible IMO Cohen already testified to what he said to Trump on that call. It’s maybe 1 or 2 seconds of discussion. From CNN > [@](#): > > Blanche asks skeptically whether Cohen really “had enough time to update Schiller about all the (harassment) problems you were having and also update President Trump about the status of the Stormy Daniels situation, because you had to keep him informed.” > > > “I always ran everything by the boss immediately, and in this case it would have been saying, ‘Everything been taken care of — it’s been resolved,’” Cohen says, maintaining his composure. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:25pm 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-30-2024/980953/4508 "2024-05-23T15:25:52Z")
Having done radio dramas for a number of years I can tell you that a script using 12 point font with double spacing and one inch margins takes about 60 seconds to read. So whatever you can type on a page and half in that format is what can be conveyed verbally. That, by the way, is more than enough time to conduct the information **griffin1977** identifies. Mrs. Cardigan and I ad libbed dialogue conveying the exchange described and had over 20 seconds left over to exchange pleasantries. As a fun exercise everyone should try it at home. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:34pm 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-30-2024/980953/4509 "2024-05-23T15:34:13Z")
Looking through my phone logs. Most of my calls are under a minute. Usually, when I’m running errands, I’ll call my kids to ensure their cleaning is getting done, the dog is being taken outside, and the laundry is moving. Laundry instructions usually includes minute details about how to run the same load they’ve done repeatedly for the last couple of years and has not changed in that time, but they’ve somehow forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:34pm 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-30-2024/980953/4510 "2024-05-23T15:34:28Z")
Back in the late 90s when internet in the office was new-ish one of my coworkers was spied looking at a particularly explicit pornographic image for something like 30 seconds. Of course HR got involved and called in his manager (who related the story to me years later without divulging who it was). They said to HR, “Maybe it was a mistake. It’s only 30 seconds”. The IT person in the meeting pulled up the image and said, “One Mississippi, two Mississippi….”. At eight or nine the manager said, “ok, that’s enough”. 90 seconds is a while. ---
**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 23, 2024, 4:43pm 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-30-2024/980953/4511 "2024-05-23T16:43:18Z")
it was one of the few things that i do that would have that measurement of time. and it is a long time. i just looked at the time on the infamous recording that cohen did with trump. the one that has been played over and over and over. that recording runs around 15 seconds. a phone call that happens after a text prompt doesn’t need a lot of pleasantries. cohen is a fast talking new yorker, he has worked with both of these people for quite some time. there would be a shorthand, and codes. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:09pm 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-30-2024/980953/4512 "2024-05-23T17:09:56Z")
_To be or not to be_ … _And lose the name of action._ Properly delivered, without all the ponderous dragging out, Hamlet’s most famous soliloquy should take about 90 seconds. It might be a little difficult for a modern audience to follow, but 2 minutes to too long. ---
**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 23, 2024, 5:22pm 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-30-2024/980953/4513 "2024-05-23T17:22:29Z")
now that would make quite the statement in court. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:33pm 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-30-2024/980953/4514 "2024-05-23T17:33:13Z")
Here’s the Gettysburg Address being read aloud. 1:50, so not much longer than the 90 seconds mentioned. And the person reading isn’t rushing, and includes at least a few pauses. > **[File:Gettysburg by Britton.ogg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gettysburg_by_Britton.ogg)** > > Gettysburg\_by\_Britton.ogg ‎(Ogg Vorbis sound file, length 1 min 50 s, 131 kbps, file size: 1.71 MB) > > THE > GETTYSBURG > ADDRESS > > Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth >  on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and >  dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. >   Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing >  whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so >  dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle- > field of that war. We have come... Playing _this_ in court would be quite a “fuck you” to Trump. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:08pm 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-30-2024/980953/4515 "2024-05-23T18:08:59Z")
Could the prosecution play several differently scripted versions of plausible conversations that show how much could be conveyed in the time available? I can see how that would be useful, but also prejudicial. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:23pm 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-30-2024/980953/4516 "2024-05-23T18:23:27Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Could the prosecution play several differently scripted versions of plausible conversations that show how much could be conveyed in the time available? I cannot believe this would be allowed. For starters no new evidence can be introduced at this point right? So it would have to be the prosecutor reading the script during summation. Which doesn’t sound very compelling, even if it was allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:31pm 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-30-2024/980953/4517 "2024-05-23T18:31:25Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > > [@outlierrn](#): > > > > Could the prosecution play several differently scripted versions of plausible conversations that show how much could be conveyed in the time available? > > I cannot believe this would be allowed. For starters no new evidence can be introduced at this point right? So it would have to be the prosecutor reading the script during summation. Which doesn’t sound very compelling, even if it was allowed. Introducing “plausible” conversations wouldn’t be allowed during trial either. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:42pm 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-30-2024/980953/4518 "2024-05-23T18:42:02Z")
Is this infamous phone call the one and only time Trump was advised about the payoff? Is that why it’s such a big hairy deal? I seem to remember a number of other times the payoff was discussed but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:48pm 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-30-2024/980953/4519 "2024-05-23T18:48:08Z")
I certainly was on Fox, they were doing a whole ‘Cohen torn to shreds’ bit after that. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:48pm 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-30-2024/980953/4520 "2024-05-23T18:48:35Z")
> [@slumtrimpet](#): > > Is this infamous phone call the one and only time Trump was advised about the payoff? Is that why it’s such a big hairy deal? > I seem to remember a number of other times the payoff was discussed but I could be wrong . I’m with you. I’m not sure how this trial got to point where things seemingly hinge on a single 90-second phone call. Again, early in the trial, some commentators were acting like Cohen’s testimony wasn’t _really_ needed to make the prosecution’s case – that Cohen’s testimony was a nice-to-have bonus, not a _sine non qua_. I guess that those takes can be chalked up to “eyeballs and clicks!”, though. [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=225) [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=227)