Or through the media, of course, which is where this latest toddler outburst was reported. I mean, it’s not like I follow TS either!
The point is that the Orange Toddler has a pattern of behaviour guaranteed to piss off any judge, with the sole exception of his adoring acolyte Aileen “Loose” Cannon, and maybe sometimes not even then.
True. I’m pretty sure that the judge, while looking through various mainstream media sources just to be informed of what’s happening in the world, is going to see reporting on the trial, which would necessarily include reporting on Trump (e.g. his post-court rants).
But I’m equally sure that he’s got a staffer or two whose job it is to monitor various social media sources like Truth Social and X, and to bring anything Trump-trial-related to the judge’s attention.
It’s the Prosecution who files the motions and reports violations of the gag order.
I would actually hope that is NOT the case - as that could/would lead to many reasons to question the Judges ablitly to stay neutral in the case.
Its one thing to see him get aggervated in court, during the proceedings, when defendants and prosecution push him/things where they shouldn’t - it would be entirely another thing if he came into court starting with an attitude.
Of course, that would entirely depend on if the post(s) were threatening in manner such that extra security be required - and a staffer making them aware of said would be normal expected.
I find it very telling that Trump is ramping up his complaints about “how fast” this trial is going.
I just need to put this here … because I saw it online and was absolutely certain that it was BS.
It isn’t.
“I do whine because I want to win and I’m not happy about not winning and I am a whiner and I keep whining and whining until I win.”
–Donald Trump
From 2015 (It’s still true, of course. I just hadn’t heard him demonstrate coherent self-awareness since a while ago.)
He also admits to things like lying where it helps him win, fudging his numbers higher or lower as makes better sense for a particular deal, and a willingness to work with a foreign intelligence agency if they’ll help him to get elected.
So my new favorite hobby is back in session today.
They’re starting with another contempt hearing. I’m sure Donald’s lawyers are thrilled.
These are the four left over from before. Prosecution is asking for $1000/violation and not jail. Yet.
As we all know …
Haggling over Contempt means not letting the Prosecution continue to put on their case.
Davidson still being questioned
Asked about the part of the Stormy Daniels’ 2018 statement in which she denied having a “sexual and/or romantic affair” with Donald Trump, Keith Davidson says, “I think you’d have to hone in on the definition of ‘romantic,’ ‘sexual’ and ‘affair.’”
“I don’t think that anyone had alleged that any interaction between she and Mr. Trump was romantic,” Davidson explains.
Lol
Morning break and on to cross exam.
Per cnn live updates:
’ final question to Davidson was whether he had any “stake” in the outcome of this trial? No, Davidson says.
Michael Cohen threatened to sue Stormy Daniels “many times,” Keith Davidson testifies, adding, “He can be a very aggressive guy.”
“We were trying to thread a needle and hold off a breach and all the penalties that would come with that where Cohen could file an arbitration or sue Stormy. That would be a whole other disaster,” he said.
“We’re trying to placate him while also trying to meet Stormy’s desires,” Davidson said of Cohen.
Cohen threatened to “rain legal hell down upon her,” Davidson said
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said Trump’s then-fixer Michael Cohen was in a “pants on fire moment” with Stormy Daniels’ story percolating in the media.
“He was frantic,” Keith Davidson said.
Cohen texted Davidson on January 17 saying he had tentatively booked Daniels on Hannity’s Fox show that night.
“I have her tentatively scheduled for Hannity tonight. Call me after your trial,” Cohen said.
She did not appear on his show, however, Davidson said.
Davidson said that he understood at that point that Cohen felt that Daniels going on Hannity would somehow help him and Trump, "with the understanding that she would further deny the interaction
Keith Davidson digs in on this statement of Stormy Daniels denying an affair with Donald Trump.
“I think it’s technically true,” he says.
Asked how that is true, Davidson says, “Because I don’t think that anyone had ever alleged that there was a relationship between Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump. I believe a relationship is an ongoing interaction.”
Davidson says he would give the same explanation as earlier for why he does not believe Daniels was paid “hush money” in the agreement
Regarding the gag order:
Here are the four additional gag order allegations against Trump in order of how they are listed in the motion filed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Donald Trump’s legal team has provided 500 pages of exhibits. Meanwhile, prosecutors have provided four exhibits, one for each of the alleged gag order violations.
Prosecutor Chris Conroy says of Donald Trump’s alleged gag order violations: “His statements are corrosive to this proceeding and the fair administration of justice.”
“The defendant is doing everything he can to make this case” about politics, Conroy adds.
Prosecutor Chris Conroy is now reminding the court that Donald Trump attorney Todd Blanche assured Judge Juan Mechan last week that the former president “does in fact know what the gag order allows him to do and not allow him to do.”
judge interrupts Blanche by saying, "My main concern is with conduct that took place after the gag order was implemented.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche argues that the context of Michael Cohen’s attacks should date back to since Trump announced his presidential campaign in November 2022.
“There have been multiple and repeated attacks on him from among other people, Michael Cohen, and folks that Michael Cohen has on his podcast regularly,” Blanche argues.
Judge Juan Merchan says exhibits that old will not weigh heavily on his decision today.
Judge Juan Merchan responds to the defense team’s claim the gag order means Donald Trump can’t respond to attacks from President Joe Biden, his 2024 campaign rival.
Merchan says the order means Trump is “not allowed to refer” to foreseeable witnesses.
“Nothing in the gag order that says he can’t” respond to Biden, Merchan says.
Judge Juan Merchan says Donald Trump doesn’t have to turn right and make a statement to the media before coming into the courtroom each day.
“He went to the press,” Merchan says. “Nobody forced your client to stand where he went that day.”
Trump attorney Todd Blanche said he agrees with that, but said the former president has to speak to the press because he’s running for president and needs to defend himself.
The judge is yet to rule on the the prosecution’s four additional allegationsagainst Donald Trump.
On cross:
Keith Davidson says that Michael Cohen had at times talked with him about being Donald Trump’s chief of staff or attorney general.
He further testifies that he thought cohen was so distraught about not getting a job at the White House that cohen would commit suicide.
Now an object to this line by prosecution, and side bar.
One former Trump lawyer supposes that the Defense is using Davidson to attack Cohen’s credibility. If it can be shown that Cohen acted independently, there isn’t a link to Trump. Davidson never had direct contact with Trump.
Remember when Gary Hart bombed out because of a little Monkey Business? Those were the days.
Per cnn:
Trump attorney Emil Bove and Keith Davidson continue to go back and forth about the degree to which Davidson was familiar with extortion law around the time he was helping arrange hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal.
Davidson has agreed that he knew in 2016 he “had to be careful” not to violate the law prohibiting extortion. But he does not agree when asked in 2016 if he had familiarized himself with the law of extortion.
Bove raised that in 2012, Davidson was investigated in connection with an alleged extortion situation involving Hulk Hogan. The witness confirmed this was true.
“I did everything I could to make sure my activities were lawful,” Davidson said.
After Davidson responded with little or no detail to a line of questions from Trump attorney Emil Bove, Bove jabbed at the witness — who is also an attorney — about his “fuzzy memory.”
That led to a testy exchange.
“We’re both lawyers. I’m not here to play lawyer games with you,” Bove said.
Merchan sustained an objection to that remark
“You’re getting truthful answers, sir," Davidson says.
He also took exception to some of the specific terminology Bove was using in his questions.
“If you’re not here to play legal games, then don’t say ‘extract,’” Davidson told Bove
Per vj, this sounds like that aggressive thing trump was wanting.
There are questions that Davidson can not answer due to attorney/client privilege.
Lunch break, back at 2 :15.