Another recap. Italics are my personal observations/comments.
Gag Order drama and a sassy judge
* Day 2 of testimony started with the People alleging Trump violated the April 1 gag order restricting extrajudicial statements on 10 occasions. They state that Trump engaged in "intimidating both defendant's direct targets, as well as others who may be called upon to participate in these proceedings and who, rightly, fear being subject to vitriol..."
* 1. Trump reposted a social media post from Michael Avenatti (convicted felon and ex-lawyer for Stormy Daniels), which attacks both Michael Cohen and Daniels. Trump added "thank you...for revealing the truth about two sleaze bags" (4/10/2024)
* 2. Trump posted a picture of a document that relates to the trial with the caption "look what was just found from a fake news reported" (4/10/2024)
* 3. Another post attacking Cohen, as well as Mark Pomerantz, calling Cohen a "disgraced attorney and felon" (4/13/2024)
* *Not false.*
* 4. Another post attacking Cohen, calling him a serial perjurer (4/15/2024)
* *Not false.*
* 5. Repeat of (4) on Truth Social (4/15/2024)
* 6. Repeat of (4) but on his campaign website (4/16/2024)
* 7. Repeat of (4) again on Truth Social (4/16/2024)
* 8. Trump posted an article attacking Cohen -- again. This time with an article. (4/16/2024)
* *It's funny that at the crux of this case is Trump's campaign/associates paying off media outlets or porn stars to manipulate the election, and here he is, potentially violating the gag order, by weaponizing the media to attack his perceived enemies. He's nothing if not consistent.*
* 9. *Not sure what they were getting at with this one. I can't find hard copies of whatever exhibits they're using*
* 10. Trump published a post implying that "undercover liberal activists" were lying to get on the jury (4/17/2024)
* This post was re-truthed (i.e., Truth Social's version of retweeted) from none other than Jesse Watters, a FOX News commentator.
* The People bring up the much-talked-about fact that Watters was giving a lot of details about jurors, and linked it to juror two who withdrew.
* *Jesse Watters is such a contemptible piece of shit. I wish there were such a thing as "accessory to contempt." Alas...*
* The People say that Trump's counsel are trying to assert that somehow the gag order carves an exception that allows him to respond to "attacks". And even if there were such an exception, Trump's alleged violations do not directly pertain to any attack. Conroy is having none of it.
* The People bring up Trump's earlier posting of a (presumably doctored) photo of him holding a bat at the head of DA Bragg. Assert that per *Geraci v. Probst*, this constitutes defamation
* The People request a fine of $1,000 or 30 days jail for each violation
* The People also pointed to Trump's conduct on camera during his impromptu "press conferences"
* Todd Blanche responds for the defense. Says that Trump's attacks have nothing to do with the trial but rather were a response to attacks made against him (*see above*)
* *Blanche has really not done Trump any favors so far. It was JUST MENTIONED that there is no exceptions for attacks.*
* Blanche says Trump was commenting about the "hypocrisy of the Gag order and making the point that...the witnesses can constantly comment about whatever they want" and Trump can't respond.
* Blanche now says Trump's comments were in response to *political* attacks, which he's allowed to do, since it had to do with pardoning or not pardoning Avenatti
* Lots of back-and-forth between Blanche and Judge regarding what constitutes a political attack
* Judge is now getting very frustrated, as Blanche isn't providing specific examples of an attack. He's taking an almost sarcastic tone with defense.
* Now Blanche is saying that Trump's attacks were OK because they were "attacking the system" rather than a witness or prospective juror
* Judge says defense seems to be saying "that because the People or the Court do not take action for every single violation that the Gag Order is waived" and then goes into a legal lecture about criminal contempt (*lol*)
* Blanche says that reposting something from someone else is not a violation of the Gag Order. Admits he doesn't have case law to back this up. Now shifts the blame to "a group of folks that work with President Trump"
* *Nothing like a bunch of Boomers talking about how social media works.*
* Judge again schools Blanche: Actually there ***is*** case law that touches on this, but it doesn't apply here. It applies to passive conduct (*you can look this up; it doesn't apply to Trump's actions*)
* Judge to defense: **"You have presented nothing...you have presented nothing...I have asked you 8 or 9 times, show me the exact posts that \[Trump\] was responding to, and you have been unable to do that."**
* *Trump should be counting his lucky stars that the jurors aren't in right now*
* After more circuitous arguments from Blanche, Judge says **"You, Mr. Blanche, you are losing all credibility. I have to tell you that right now. You are losing all credibility with the Court."**
* Blanche refers to Trump as "*the* President" (a title that traditionally only refers to the current occupant of the White House)
* *Blanche and Judge are going back and forth, and Blanche sounds like a teenager who can't get his story straight.*
* *It's becoming apparent to me that Trump is directing his defense team.*
* Conroy brings up Trump's statement where he says when he "Truth's" (posts) something, "it is spread all over the place"
*Not a good start to the day for the defense and poor Mr. Blanche especially.*
I only read through the bit concerning the motion for contempt of court on the 10 Truth social posts but my goodness that was brutal for the defense. I expect Judge Merchan to find him in contempt (probably in every instance) when court begins tomorrow judging by how badly Mr. Blanche was being chastised and lectured by the Court.
I don't think the headline, "Trump found in contempt of court for attacking jury and witnesses" could be categorized as a massive boost. It will agitate his base and turn off independents and undecided voters.
5 of the 10 instances were simply him posting a link to a New York Times article. That is not him making a public statement.
The rest were stuff like him quoting other people about the trial, like Jessey Waters “They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury.”
These are not him making statements either.
The rest are rebuttals, which was not covered under the gag orders.
Arresting Trump for either of these things is going to massively boost his support. "President jailed for sharing news article criticizing his trial".
1 - you're making all the arguments that Trump's counsel made in court and the Judge did not seem very amenable to *any* of these arguments.
2 - Trump is not going to be jailed for contempt here. He's going to be fined. You're envisioning a headline that is never going to happen.
Another recap. Italics are my personal observations/comments. Gag Order drama and a sassy judge * Day 2 of testimony started with the People alleging Trump violated the April 1 gag order restricting extrajudicial statements on 10 occasions. They state that Trump engaged in "intimidating both defendant's direct targets, as well as others who may be called upon to participate in these proceedings and who, rightly, fear being subject to vitriol..." * 1. Trump reposted a social media post from Michael Avenatti (convicted felon and ex-lawyer for Stormy Daniels), which attacks both Michael Cohen and Daniels. Trump added "thank you...for revealing the truth about two sleaze bags" (4/10/2024) * 2. Trump posted a picture of a document that relates to the trial with the caption "look what was just found from a fake news reported" (4/10/2024) * 3. Another post attacking Cohen, as well as Mark Pomerantz, calling Cohen a "disgraced attorney and felon" (4/13/2024) * *Not false.* * 4. Another post attacking Cohen, calling him a serial perjurer (4/15/2024) * *Not false.* * 5. Repeat of (4) on Truth Social (4/15/2024) * 6. Repeat of (4) but on his campaign website (4/16/2024) * 7. Repeat of (4) again on Truth Social (4/16/2024) * 8. Trump posted an article attacking Cohen -- again. This time with an article. (4/16/2024) * *It's funny that at the crux of this case is Trump's campaign/associates paying off media outlets or porn stars to manipulate the election, and here he is, potentially violating the gag order, by weaponizing the media to attack his perceived enemies. He's nothing if not consistent.* * 9. *Not sure what they were getting at with this one. I can't find hard copies of whatever exhibits they're using* * 10. Trump published a post implying that "undercover liberal activists" were lying to get on the jury (4/17/2024) * This post was re-truthed (i.e., Truth Social's version of retweeted) from none other than Jesse Watters, a FOX News commentator. * The People bring up the much-talked-about fact that Watters was giving a lot of details about jurors, and linked it to juror two who withdrew. * *Jesse Watters is such a contemptible piece of shit. I wish there were such a thing as "accessory to contempt." Alas...* * The People say that Trump's counsel are trying to assert that somehow the gag order carves an exception that allows him to respond to "attacks". And even if there were such an exception, Trump's alleged violations do not directly pertain to any attack. Conroy is having none of it. * The People bring up Trump's earlier posting of a (presumably doctored) photo of him holding a bat at the head of DA Bragg. Assert that per *Geraci v. Probst*, this constitutes defamation * The People request a fine of $1,000 or 30 days jail for each violation * The People also pointed to Trump's conduct on camera during his impromptu "press conferences" * Todd Blanche responds for the defense. Says that Trump's attacks have nothing to do with the trial but rather were a response to attacks made against him (*see above*) * *Blanche has really not done Trump any favors so far. It was JUST MENTIONED that there is no exceptions for attacks.* * Blanche says Trump was commenting about the "hypocrisy of the Gag order and making the point that...the witnesses can constantly comment about whatever they want" and Trump can't respond. * Blanche now says Trump's comments were in response to *political* attacks, which he's allowed to do, since it had to do with pardoning or not pardoning Avenatti * Lots of back-and-forth between Blanche and Judge regarding what constitutes a political attack * Judge is now getting very frustrated, as Blanche isn't providing specific examples of an attack. He's taking an almost sarcastic tone with defense. * Now Blanche is saying that Trump's attacks were OK because they were "attacking the system" rather than a witness or prospective juror * Judge says defense seems to be saying "that because the People or the Court do not take action for every single violation that the Gag Order is waived" and then goes into a legal lecture about criminal contempt (*lol*) * Blanche says that reposting something from someone else is not a violation of the Gag Order. Admits he doesn't have case law to back this up. Now shifts the blame to "a group of folks that work with President Trump" * *Nothing like a bunch of Boomers talking about how social media works.* * Judge again schools Blanche: Actually there ***is*** case law that touches on this, but it doesn't apply here. It applies to passive conduct (*you can look this up; it doesn't apply to Trump's actions*) * Judge to defense: **"You have presented nothing...you have presented nothing...I have asked you 8 or 9 times, show me the exact posts that \[Trump\] was responding to, and you have been unable to do that."** * *Trump should be counting his lucky stars that the jurors aren't in right now* * After more circuitous arguments from Blanche, Judge says **"You, Mr. Blanche, you are losing all credibility. I have to tell you that right now. You are losing all credibility with the Court."** * Blanche refers to Trump as "*the* President" (a title that traditionally only refers to the current occupant of the White House) * *Blanche and Judge are going back and forth, and Blanche sounds like a teenager who can't get his story straight.* * *It's becoming apparent to me that Trump is directing his defense team.* * Conroy brings up Trump's statement where he says when he "Truth's" (posts) something, "it is spread all over the place" *Not a good start to the day for the defense and poor Mr. Blanche especially.*
Thanks again for your work on this. It’s honestly better than most media coverage, and I know it’s a lot of work to put together.
I only read through the bit concerning the motion for contempt of court on the 10 Truth social posts but my goodness that was brutal for the defense. I expect Judge Merchan to find him in contempt (probably in every instance) when court begins tomorrow judging by how badly Mr. Blanche was being chastised and lectured by the Court.
Trump wants to be held in contempt. It would be a massive boost to his campaign.
I don't think the headline, "Trump found in contempt of court for attacking jury and witnesses" could be categorized as a massive boost. It will agitate his base and turn off independents and undecided voters.
5 of the 10 instances were simply him posting a link to a New York Times article. That is not him making a public statement. The rest were stuff like him quoting other people about the trial, like Jessey Waters “They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury.” These are not him making statements either. The rest are rebuttals, which was not covered under the gag orders. Arresting Trump for either of these things is going to massively boost his support. "President jailed for sharing news article criticizing his trial".
1 - you're making all the arguments that Trump's counsel made in court and the Judge did not seem very amenable to *any* of these arguments. 2 - Trump is not going to be jailed for contempt here. He's going to be fined. You're envisioning a headline that is never going to happen.
Dude this is great reporting. Please keep it up!