Devout Christian Mike Johnson shows up to hush money trial to defend a guy accused of cheating on his wife with a porn star

https://lemmy.world/post/15409061

Devout Christian Mike Johnson shows up to hush money trial to defend a guy accused of cheating on his wife with a porn star - Lemmy.World

House Speaker Mike Johnson describes himself as a Christian before anything else [https://www.baptistmessage.com/mike-johnson-faith-family-freedom-motivate-run-seat-u-s-congress/]. He has said [https://newrepublic.com/post/176439/republicans-elect-mike-johnson-speaker-christian-election-denier] his “faith informs everything I do.” He has told [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/27/mike-johnson-christian-bible-lgbtq-abortion-rights] people curious about his views to “pick up a Bible.” His wife reportedly [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-johnson-wife-homosexuality-bestiality-incest_n_653abfb6e4b00110fef0462e] runs a counseling service whose operating agreement, which he himself notarized, states [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-johnson-wife-homosexuality-bestiality-incest_n_653abfb6e4b00110fef0462e], “We believe and the Bible teaches that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery…is sinful and offensive to God.” He has said [https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/11/mike-johnson-covenant-eyes] he and his son use a software program called Covenant Eyes to ensure neither is looking at porn. Given all this, you may think that Johnson would not be comfortable showing up to a criminal trial to defend a guy who allegedly had an affair with an adult film star (according to the adult film star anyway, though Trump denies it), paid her to stay quiet about the alleged affair, and then was accused of covering up said payment. But you would think wrong! On Tuesday, Johnson attended Donald Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan, where—prior to the proceedings getting underway—the congressional leader nodded approvingly at Trump from behind a metal barrier, like a groupie at his favorite band’s concert.

Not accused. I thought the sex was already a forgone conclusion, which is why this is about the illegal payoff for her to keep it quiet
Defense tried to say that it never happened, which opened the door to Stormy telling the jury about what was effectively a rape by the defendant.

They were put in a box by Trump’s refusal to admit any guilt, even for things that are not crimes.

Any normal defense attorney would admit the fact that their client cheated on their wife and tried to cover it up. Those are not illegal, and are pretty defamatory, so you can have the judge exclude any testimony about the act.

Then it’s just a boring documents case. The jury doesn’t pay as much attention when the evidence is less interesting, so the prosecution’s case seems weaker.