Re my previous mention of a 2016 Trump campaign arbitration fee, I am no longer afraid it was a bit of a hijack. Turns out it is another example, in the same campaign cycle, of Trump paying off a woman to give up her first amendment right to disclose Donald’s alleged bad behavior:
Hope Hicks, who I understand was interviewed by the prosecution, is the witness that intrigues me. Why would the prosecution want her on the stand? Hmm…
David. In a corner, NOW, and think of how disappointed ALL of us are in you.
I read somewhere that Hicks will make the connection between the payment to Stormy snd the campaign’s panix about the grabby video- Hicks can probably authenicate some emails and texts on that subject
I believe she sent out an email to the campaign about “damage control” after the Access Hollywood tape came out. I’m not sure if she was involved in any of the other hush money discussions.
Thanks for that post. Very helpful.
Along with your Hope Hicks post I think it should be enough. It’s just a matter of how it comes across to the jury.
Yes, I read that she’s being called to make the connection to the campaign, to support the argument that it was an election related expense, and debunk the “I just didn’t want Malenia to find out” defence.
I thought I read or heard reported that Michael Cohen provided audio tapes of himself, Pecker, Trump and others actually discussing the true purpose of the catch-and-kill scheme and that those were ruled admissible. Trump won’t testify to refute this stuff, so it seems like Bragg’s team has pretty much got him cold on the intent issue.
Are his posts relevant to what was going on in the courtroom or are they just random “the judge is biased” type stuff? If the posts are generic, I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t have set them to get posted automatically, even while he didn’t have phone access. For that matter, couldn’t someone else be posting, from his account, during that time?
I don’t know if she was present, but there’s audio tapes of Cohen/Guiliani/Trump discussing the amount of money, the shell corporation they set up and some of the other details. But I don’t see it mentioned all that often, so maybe it’s not as relevant as I assumed it was.
Google “trump cohen tapes” and you’ll find them.
Thank you! Will do.
Yes, the discussion just illustrates that even basic concepts like a “public trial” can have different meanings in different jurisdictions.
We actually had a case awhile ago where a very junior lawyer running their first major jury trial had an issue about scheduling a witness and asked “May we approach the bench, My Lord?”
The judge gently advised him that anything he had to say to the judge had to be said in open court, with the people in the audience able to hear it.
And in a thought bubble over the judge’s head: “Has this kid ever taken a crim pro class, or just watched Law and Order?!?”
Or – in the alternative –
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/24/politics/michael-cohen-donald-trump-tape/index.html
I see that Trump has spun Merchan’s ‘you can have the day off for Barron’s graduation as long as things are still on schedule’ to:
“Looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son…the judge will not allow me to escape this scam, the scam trial.”
Someone needs to tell him that missing important milestones in your child’s life is a very common and well known occupational hazard of being a criminal.
In case you were wondering how important attending his kids’ graduations is to Loser Donald, Twitter has your answer;
Thanks for that. With that kind of track record, I’m sure that Donald won’t use the day to attend Barron’s graduation; or if he does, he’ll make a quick photo stop at the school just to say that he used the day to attend. Then he’ll leave the school and spend the rest of the day campaigning.
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then
I think this is a more reliable source:
Here is evidence that DJT attended Tiffany’s high school graduation:
Translation: “He expects me to control myself. Everyone know I can’t control myself.”
It’s going to take a precise cocktail to keep him awake without making him manic enough to get into more trouble. I daresay his lawyers have Ronny Jackson on “speed” dial.