This #testimony is good for the prosecution.

David #Pecker testified that #Trump acknowledged speaking to #MichaelCohen about the issue & acknowledged knowing #KarenMcDougal, one of the women who was eventually paid to keep quiet during the 2016 campaign about her story of having had an affair w/ Trump.

“Karen is a nice girl,” Trump said on this call, according to Pecker’s testimony.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney

#Pecker testified that he recommended that #Trump buy #KarenMcDougal’s story. The portion of #testimony ends before the #jury hears what comes next. Pecker testified that #MichaelCohen called him back & told him to buy McDougal’s story on Trump's behalf.

Jurors heard the portion of Pecker's testimony when he said he believed the story of Trump having had an affair w/McDougal was true, & would be embarrassing to Trump.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

Next the court reporters read the second part of David #Pecker’s #testimony that the #jurors asked to hear, where he explains that he decided he did not want to be repaid for #KarenMcDougal’s story after purchasing it. The implication was that he was concerned about the #legal consequences of accepting a reimbursement - he testified that the concern was regarding FEC violations.

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

#Jurors hear #Pecker recall that after he said he wasn’t going to go thru w/the agreement w/ #MichaelCohen, who was to pay him for the rights to #KarenMcDougal’s story using an LLC, Cohen told him: “The boss is going to be very angry at you.”
Court reporters read the 3rd portion of Pecker’s testimony. This part pertains to the Aug 2015 #TrumpTowerMeeting in which Pecker, Michael Cohen & #Trump entered a #conspiracy to suppress negative news about Trump during the #2016election.

#law #TrumpTrial

#Pecker’s #testimony here is key to prosecution's case. Jurors also asked to hear MichaelCohen’s testimony about the #TrumpTowerMeeting. They will hear that next.

One of the major arguments the defense made during closings also pertained to this meeting, & concerned the idea that the phrase #CatchAndKill was not used during it.
(It’s not used in the charges either. It’s just a characterization not a legal term.)

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

The #jurors just again heard #Pecker’s #testimony that the reason he was purchasing negative stories on #Trump’s behalf was to benefit his presidential campaign.

Defense atty Emil #Bove cross-examined Pecker, & jurors are hearing part of that cross now. Bove elicited testimony that Pecker misremembered the exact date of the Aug 2015 meeting, & more generally that Pecker was testifying about events from a long time ago.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

Testimony readbacks can highlight moments that were seemingly rushed by during trial.
Here, we see that it was very important for the defense for #Bove to call #Pecker’s memory about this meeting into question.

Also the importance of objections becomes very apparent. Any objection that was sustained by the judge — & several were in this cross of Pecker — is not read aloud as the jury considers a potential verdict.

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial

#Pecker testified on cross-examination that the phrase “#CatchAndKill” was not used at the Aug 2015 #TrumpTowerMeeting — & that there was no financial agreement made in concert w/the plan for him to supress negative stories about #Trump AT THAT MEETING.
The defense has argued that both of those data points should cast doubt on the prosecution’s theory.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial

The end of the cross-examination of #Pecker was less good for the defense. It was just read aloud again. “There was a discussion about that I was going to be the eyes and ears of the campaign,” Pecker testified. “And there was a discussion that I would be notifying Michael Cohen of any women that were in the process of or going to be selling stories.”

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

Court reporters now read the 4th & final portion of #testimony that jurors asked to hear: #MichaelCohen’s recounting of that same #TrumpTowerMeeting.

Cohen’s testimony matches Pecker’s account closely. #Pecker testified that he had said he would be #Trump’s “eyes & ears” & watch out for negative stories. Cohen recalls him saying he would “keep an eye out for anything negative.”

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

The #testimony readbacks are complete, & #jurors are excused to continue their #deliberations. They have asked to use both headphones & speakers to listen to #evidence that includes an audio portion.

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

#Trump leaves for his waiting room (an empty courtroom w/security), w/his entourage.

Trump, in the hallway outside the courtroom, falsely blames the #GagOrder as he refuses to answer reporters, telling them “I’d like to answer all of your questions, they’re very easy to answer.”

The questions shouted at him — including whether he worried about potential prison time — have nothing to do w/issues covered by the order.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #Gaslighting #propaganda #StochasticTerrorism

Why #jurors in the NY #criminal #TrumpTrial can’t have a copy of the #JuryInstructions:

The prohibition against jurors being provided a copy of written #legal instructions comes from a 1987 decision by the #NewYork Court of Appeals in #PeopleVOwens.

The court found that “the distribution of written instructions to the jury is not expressly authorized by #law, & error in such submissions cannot be deemed harmless,” meaning: providing instructions would result in a #conviction being #overturned.

Marc F. Scholl, who served in the Manhattan DA’s office for nearly 4 decades, specializing in white-collar crimes & appeals, said: “Recently, there has been some slight loosening about whether it can be done w/ the defense’s consent, but it remains a minefield that judges do not want to risk.”

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #Deliberations #JuryInstructions #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney

Fmr DC Metropolitan PD Officer #MichaelFanone’s 78-year-old mother was the victim of a #swatting call hours after he spoke outside the criminal #TrumpTrial in #NewYork.

During the #insurrection on #Jan6, Fanone was nearly killed by #Trump supporters while protecting congresspeople & staff inside the Capitol building.

#StochasticTerrorism #MAGA #DomesticTerrorism #Terrorism #RightWingExtremism #extremism #PoliticalViolence #StateSponsoredTerrorism #TrumpIsATerrorist

#MichaelFanone suffered a heart attack after being tased multiple times. While unconscious, his gun was taken, he was dragged down the Capitol steps, kicked, beaten w/fists, pipes & other objects, sprayed w/chemicals, & when he regained consciousness he was threatened w/his own gun. In addition to the heart attack, Fanone suffered burns, concussion, traumatic brain injury, & subsequently diagnosed w/ PTSD
#Trump #StochasticTerrorism #MAGA #RightWingExtremism #PoliticalViolence #TrumpIsATerrorist

On #Trump going around saying NDAs are legal & common practice:

Saying this kind of arrangement is common practice implies it’s totes okay to pay off a playboy model & a porn star to stay quite about their affairs w/him while his wife is pregnant then home w/baby — yeah, all that’s totally legal & fine & everybody does it.
The Republican presidential candidate, 5 months prior to the election.

Besides the fact that the legality of NDAs aren’t at issue, what are the purported #Republican values?

There’s a #verdict

They request 30 minutes to fill out the forms.

Trump, who had been smiling a minute ago, is suddenly serious after the judge’s alert that there’s a verdict.

His arms are now crossed across his chest as he whispers with his lawyers.

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics #GagOrder #StochasticTerrorism #StormyDaniels #KarenMcDougal #NodFarter

The #verdict must be unanimous on the primary crime falsification of business records.

Once #jurors inform the court they have reached a verdict, Justice Juan #Merchan will summon the parties to the courtroom to hear it read by the foreperson.

Merchan must still affirm the verdict & enter a final judgment.

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics #GagOrder #StochasticTerrorism #StormyDaniels #KarenMcDougal #NodFarter

All 12 jurors must agree to find #Trump #guilty in order to #convict him of any one of the #felonies w/which he has been charged: 34 counts of falsifying business records. The judge in the case, Juan M. #Merchan, repeatedly made this clear, saying in his instructions to the #jury: “Each count you consider, whether guilty or not guilty, must be #unanimous.”

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/nyregion/trump-trial-unanimous-verdict-misinformation.html?smid=url-share

Trump and His Allies Push False Account of What the Judge Told Jurors

A tweet from a Fox News anchor falsely said that the jury would not have to settle unanimously on a charge to find the former president guilty.

The New York Times
It’s been 30 minutes…
Part of the courtroom video feed in the overflow room briefly cut out, with a big “NO SIGNAL” appearing on the screen, proving that not even the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president is immune to technical difficulties.

Trump Media & Technology shares fell after verdict was reached

Shares in Trump Media & Technology, the social media company partly owned by former President Donald Trump, fell 1.2% after the jury said it had reached a verdict on Thursday in his hush money trial.

Eric Trump is seated behind his father in the audience.

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, is now in the courtroom, seated in the audience behind the prosecutors who tried this case for his office.

Trump is still, eyes closed or close to it, sitting as he often has during this trial.

#TrumpTrial

#Biden is currently in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Today is the ninth anniversary of his son Beau Biden's death from brain cancer, & the president spent the somber occasion in church this morning with his family in Wilmington.

Jury is entering

Court is in session

Justice #Merchan is on the bench. He reiterates that there is a #verdict.

The alternates enter first and sit in the front row of the gallery. They were not part of deliberations.

#TrumpTrial

OMG I am so happy

All of the jurors have individually confirmed their #guilty verdicts.

#Trump now looking at the jury as each juror is polled to confirm their decision of guilty on all counts.

Trump is unresponsive, sitting slack at the defense table.

He is largely expressionless, a glum look on his face, as “guilty” has just been heard 34 times.

#law #TrumpTrial

Justice #Merchan tells the jurors they can discuss the case if they’d like, but do not have to. The choice is theirs, but they are no longer barred from discussing the case. He asks to meet w/them to discuss their work, though not the facts of the case.

The judge thanks the jury. He tells them he admires & appreciates their hard work, & praises them for their engagement & their investment. “You gave this matter the attention that it deserved and I thank you for that.”

#Trump #TrumpTrial #law

#Trump stands up as the jurors exit, w/a frown on his face. He does not look at the jury as they leave, his eyes downcast.

Todd Blanche, Trump's lawyer, is arguing, w/ the jurors gone, that the verdict is impromper and should be tossed because it relied on Michael Cohen’s testimony.

The judge immediately denies the motion.

Sentencing is set for July 11 at 10 a.m.

Trump is now a #felon.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial

The judge excused the parties, but not before asking about #Trump’s #bail status. He then releases him on his own recognizance.

Trump leaves the courtroom, & spews a bunch of nonsense to the media.

Trump spoke for less than three minutes in total. He did not answer a shouted question by a reporter who asked why Americans should vote for a #convicted #felon.

President #Biden’s spox said #Trump’s conviction shows “no one is above the #law.” “There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

#Trump will obviously #appeal.

Before that is heard, Trump will be dealing w/ the #criminal #justice system.

Trump’s #sentencing is July 11.
He could be sentenced prison or probation.

A pre-sentencing report makes recommendations based on the defendant’s criminal record — Trump had none before this case — as well as his personal history & the crime itself.

#law #TrumpTrial #verdict #guilty

My favorite bit → At the presentence interview, a #psychologist or #SocialWorker working for the #probation dept may also talk to #Trump, during which time the defendant can “try to make a good impression & explain why he or she deserves a lighter punishment,” acc/to the New York State Unified Court System.

#law #TrumpTrial #verdict #guilty

The pre-sentencing report can also include submissions from the defense, & may describe whether “the defendant is in a counseling program or has a steady job”

In #Trump’s case, he is applying for a job & his business the #TrumpOrganization has a court assigned #legal & #financial monitor because he was found #liable for #fraud. 🤣

#law #criminal #TrumpTrial #verdict #guilty #felon

Holy hell, #TuckerCarlson just said that #Trump would still win the election “if he’s not killed first,” & said that “anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you & your family.”

#FoxNews pundits denounced the #verdict. “It’s inconceivable in New York that anyone else other than Donald Trump would be indicted in this way,” said Andy McCarthy, a *legal analyst*. Jeanine Pirro called the case “riddled with errors” & declared, “We have gone over a cliff in America.”

#StochasticTerrorism

The WinRed portal that Trump’s campaign uses to process campaign donations appears to have gone offline shortly after his guilty verdict.

#AlvinBragg, the Manhattan DA, will hold a news conference at 6:30 to discuss the #verdict.

#law #TrumpTrial #Trump #verdict #guilty #felon

Just minutes after the verdict was announced, the Trump campaign sent out a fund-raising email in which #Trump said, in all capital letters, “I am a political prisoner!”

#StochasticTerrorism #law #TrumpTrial #verdict #guilty #felon #DomesticViolentExtremists #RightWing #PoliticalViolence

Fucking hell; he will make millions on this #verdict from the chumps, the white supremacists, the angry, criminal, violent & privileged.

The #Trump campaign’s fundraising site, hosted by Republican fundraising platform Winred, is now back online & soliciting donations after crashing just minutes after today’s verdict. It bears Trump’s mugshot over the text “Never Surrender” & solicits donations ranging from $20.24 all the way to $3,300.

#law #guilty #felon #TrumpTrial #democracy

Next week's @NewYorker cover is of #Trump in handcuffs

The drawing on the cover of next week's issue of The New Yorker, titled "A Man of #Conviction" & created by the artist John Cuneo, shows Trump’s tiny hands being handcuffed, arms outstretched over his swollen figure, his trademark red tie draped over his belly.

#EditorialCartoon #PoliticalCartoon #law #crime #USPOL #art #TrumpTrial #verdict #guilty #felon
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2024-06-10

John Cuneo’s “A Man of Conviction”

Françoise Mouly speaks with the cartoonist John Cuneo about his cover for the June 10, 2024, issue of The New Yorker.

The New Yorker
Watch Live: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks after Trump conviction

Former President Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts in the "hush-money" trial in New York.

CBS News

Asked by NYT’s legal reporter Jonah Bromwich how he feels having had so much criticism of many of his decisions related to the Trump investigation, & eventually in bringing the #Trump #criminal case, Alvin Bragg said:

“I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts without fear or favor, & that’s what we did here. I did my job, we did our jobs.” He says “there are many voices out there, but the only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, & the jury has spoken.”

#TrumpTrial #law #felon

#Trump has posted a photo on his social media w/o comment — the photo of the #UpsideDown American #flag that was hung outside the home of #SCOTUS justice Samuel #Alito after the Capitol riot in 2021. The upside down flag was a symbol of distress but is now a #RightWing symbol of #Jan6, Stop the Steal & support for Trump. It was posted by several other #Republicans as well.

#StochasticTerrorism #PoliticalViolence #law #crime #extremism #TrumpTrial #conviction #felon #guilty #verdict

#Trump allies are demanding #retribution, & calling on #Republican prosecutors to go after #Democrats. One of Trump’s close allies, the influential #RightWing #ChristianNationalist #CharlieKirk, wondered on X how many Republican AGs & DAs “have stones.” “We aren’t a serious political movement until we are ready to fight fire with fire,” Kirk wrote. “Indict the left, or lose America.”

#GOP elected ofcls are at it too. Rep Mike Collins of Georgia: “Time for Red State AGs & DAs to get busy.”

#law

D.A. Bragg Announces 34-Count Felony Trial Conviction of Donald J. Trump

“Donald Trump is guilty of repeatedly and fraudulently falsifying business records in a scheme to conceal damaging information from American voters during the 2016 presidential election. Over the course of the past several weeks, a jury of 12 every day New Yorkers was presented with overwhelming evi

Manhattan District Attorney's Office
#Trump released a new propaganda video describing this as “the final battle.” The spot, posted on his social media after today’s #verdict, shows him walking down a hallway, while promising in a voiceover to “expel the war mongers from our government,” [huh?] “throw off the sick political class that hates our country” [wha?] & “rout the fake news media” [Fox?] He concludes: “We will liberate America from these villains once & for all,” [um yer the convicted #criminal]. Then his donation link.

Best line of the day goes to Manhattan DA #AlvinBragg:

“The defendant, Donald J. Trump, is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election.”

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #Trump #guilty #verdict #felon

@Nonilex
Thanks for your coverage of the trial. Looking forward to DC & FL - Georgia will be televised.
@Nonilex "War mongers" = "people who want to help Ukraine prevail over Russia." "Sick political class" = Democrats. "Fake news media" = everyone except Newsmax, and maybe sometimes Fox.
@jonberger yet he’d arm Israel to the teeth; probably Russia & North Korea & China too if they needed it.
@Nonilex I shouldn't be surprised, but I am...and alarmed and wondering when his posse of fools, imbeciles, racists, misogynists, opportunists, antisemites, etc., come out armed to the teeth.

@Nonilex

Hey, at least he stopped badmouthing the jury and court personnel. His attorneys must have explained his release on on recognizance is very revocable on the judge's whim, and IIRC brevocation is not appealable.

Of course his donation link.

The thing that Trump has been most successful with during the last eight years, is getting money from Americans by making them think that he, a billionaire conman, fights for them.

@Nonilex
#Trump #ConMan

@Nonilex those dudes know we're into guillotines and stuff, right?
@Nonilex They think it was wrong, so of course they want to get in on the action (two wrongs make a right and all). Never mind that a Democratic senator from NJ is about to go on trial for corruption in federal court. I guess it only counts if you go after a Democrat you know isn’t guilty, since that’s apparently what they think we believe about Trump.
@Nonilex
Yeah, here's the thing. DAs don't like to bring losing cases. Not even Republican DAs. That's to say nothing about fraudulently bringing retributive cases.
@Nonilex Thanks so much for posting during the trial!
@Nonilex What fascists don’t realize is that DAs don’t willy-nilly bring charges against people for no reason. In most states, only a grand jury can bring charges.

@Joe_Hill @Nonilex

They assume people can be charged for no reason, because that's what they want to do to anyone who opposes them.

@Joe_Hill @Nonilex I don't know what fantasy world you live in where DAs don't arbitrarily bring charges against people, but they certainly do. Cops themselves can press charges in some places too.
@Nonilex ...the party of shitty people....
@Nonilex I don’t follow him. Do you have an image to share?
@Nonilex Is it the photo of the flag at Alito's house, or just an upside down flag? Both are bad, but one would be a direct appeal to Alito.
@rejinl I can’t see it I’m not signed up to his scary site just going off reports
@Nonilex
It, importantly, still is a distress signal and in a just world he would now be facing prosecution for unjustifiably summoning emergency aid.
@Nonilex but he’s “ very innocent” treason runs deep
@Nonilex sorry. I'm a bit hazy on this, I should know, but does being a convicted felon bar someone from the presidency?

@Nonilex @NewYorker

Beck in the UK there's a satirical magazine called #PrivateEye (@privateeyenews) and I feel sure they'll have something similar.

BTW there's a BBC TV show called #HaveIGotNewsForYou (you'll find it on YouTube). It's effing funny!

@Nonilex @NewYorker In our defense, we shrivel in the face of accountability.
@Nonilex
No ruling on election interference or even tax fraud. I hope that lies ahead for him.

@Nonilex

The upshot from Trump's domination of Republican politics is that he sucks so much money from small dollar donors that could go to down ballot Rs.

And Trump has such expensive legal bills, he won't have much money left to spend on the campaign.

1/x

@Nonilex

Trump's domination of the hearts and minds of Republican voters combined with his massive legal expenses create a huge logistical advantage for Democrats, particularly down ballot Dems.

2/x

@Nonilex TBH, I don’t think it matters. Lara is just going to funnel the money into paying his legal bills. He’s not going to add one single voter by being a convicted felon. MAGA was going to vote for him either way.

I hope the verdict chased millions of fence sitters away. Polls have been saying for a while a conviction would affect 15-20% of “likely voters.”

@Nonilex Might this qualify as profiting from a crime?
@alexproe @Nonilex I like your line of reasoning, Alex!
@alexproe @Nonilex literally his entire career.
@alexproe @Nonilex Wow, I haven't thought about the Son Of Sam Law in forever... Would this qualify?

@alexproe @Nonilex

I don't think so. "Son of Sam" laws target direct profiting from one's crime, such as by selling the screen rights. Fundraising for your legal defense fund is ok (you obviously have the first amendment right to reference your crime and conviction). Of course, we know that some of what goes through his PACs gets siphoned off into his pocket (think those mar-a-lago events are hosted for free?), but you can't really enforce against that.

@Nonilex

Never miss an opportunity to grift

@Nonilex "I'm a very innocent man." Very.
@Nonilex no Trump, you are a LIAR.
@Nonilex
I’m sure that this was pre-prepared to quickly capitalize on the opportunity…
@Nonilex
Here is the image from Truth Social Which I broke up to not just spread his message.

@Nonilex Trump is no political prisoner, but we are for having to hear about him all the time.

May the 34 guilty verdicts be the end of his political career but I know that would require rational actors in the GOP who actually cared about 'law and order' at all.

@Nonilex
They were prepared. republicans operate a well oiled spin, propaganda machine.

His team knew which image to prepare.

@Nonilex

@kbsez

@Nonilex can we get someone who knew Nelson Mandela to deliver the classic line?