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☆ Opinion: Shaking off the Trump effect
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. CNN —“We are most deeply asleep at the switch,” wrote Annie Dillard, “when we fancy we control any switches at all. When the Senate voted to send new aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan two months ago, House Speaker Mike Johnson took no action. With the help of Democrats, the House approved aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on Saturday. Writing for CNN Opinion, he emphasized that there are legal principles that require universities to prohibit expressions of antisemitism.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Annie Dillard, “, time’s, —, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, Sleepy Joe ”, Israel, Johnson, MAGA, Julian Zelizer, Walt Handelsman, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s, Kevin McCarthy’s, Clay Jones, Fareed Zakaria, Alejandro Mayorkas, “ Biden, ” Zakaria, Bill Clinton, ” Trump, Jack Ohman, Agency Donald Trump’s, dozed, Elliot Williams, Patrick T, Brown, …, ‘, ’, Attorney Alvin Bragg, ” Will, Jeffrey Abramson, ” “, Norm Eisen, Stormy Daniels, ” Eisen, Michael Cohen, Elie Honig, Frida Ghitis, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Lisa Benson, GoComics.com Peter Bergen, Daniel R, DePetris, Dean Obeidallah, Susanne DeWitt, ” David Schizer, ” Schizer, Danielle Campoamor, Caitlin Clark, Simone Biles, Campoamor, Latika Bourke, John Howard, Justin J, Pearson, Winston Churchill, Holly Thomas, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak’s, It’s, ” Thomas, YouGov, ” Don’t, Drew Sheneman, Agency David M, Perry, Frankie de la, Angel Reese, Roy Schwartz, Joni Mitchell —, Raul A, Reyes, Sonia Sotomayor, Jules Boykoff, Jaime M, Valiathan, Ed Manning, Sara Stewart, Noah Berlatsky, Taylor Swift Amy Bass, Taylor Swift, Swift, Department ”, ” Bass, “ Swift, Joe, Alwyn, Diana, they’re, Clara Bow, Dylan Thomas, Patti Smith — Organizations: CNN, Republicans, MAGA Republicans, Agency, Congress, Biden, Homeland, National Guard, ‘, Manhattan, Attorney, New York Democrats, Twitter, Facebook, New York Times, Trump, Berkeley, Nazism, Columbia, Nike, Team USA, Sydney, Port, Conservative, Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Central Press, Hulton, National Health Service, WNBA, Ungentlemanly, Department Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Manhattan, Iran, Russia, China, ‘, New, CNN Iran, “ Israel, Gaza, Israeli, Damascus, Iraq, America, Dearborn, Nazi Germany, Berkeley , California, Berkeley, East Bay, Sydney, Port Arthur, Tennessee, Surrey, Croydon, Quebec, Britain, Vancouver, London, Welsh

Donald Trump's Truth Social posts repeating unsubstantiated claims about potential jurors is "baiting" Judge Juan Merchan into acting and "thumbing his nose at the system," Elliot Williams, CNN legal analyst, said. "However, it is not entirely straightforward under New York law what happens next," Williams added. Prosecutors say Trump has violated his gag order seven more times, pointing to posts online and calling the situation "ridiculous." Williams notes that despite the repeated violation allegations, Merchan can't just throw Trump in jail. The judge has to bring Trump in for a hearing and he has to decide if it's a civil or criminal proceeding.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Juan Merchan, Elliot Williams, Williams, Trump, Merchan, he's Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump Locations: York

☆ Opinion: Trump might have dozed off in court. Here’s how that could come back to bite him
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Opinion Elliot Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Still, the question remains: Can Trump consistently stay awake through the long slog of a criminal trial? Still, it was a striking image that simulcast three individuals in one: a criminal defendant; one of the most powerful people on the planet; and a napping old man. Not everyone is so lucky when those around them fall asleep in court. A defendant whose liberty is on the line would be well advised to find out a way to stay awake. (Some judges might frown upon a defendant chewing gum in court, but sleep specialists have identified plenty of other ways to stay awake, some of them courthouse-friendly.)

Persons: Elliot Williams, Donald Trump, Trump, Maggie Haberman, Thursday’s, Pope Benedict XVI, Silvio Berlusconi dozed, George W, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, snoozing, “, it’s, ” Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Twitter, Trump, The New York Times, “, Italian, Bush Presidential, Supreme, Union Locations: Raben, Manhattan, United States, Malta

☆ Trump’s New Hampshire strategy – insults and court histrionics
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The former president publicly fulminated against Judge Lewis Kaplan as “nasty” and a “Trump-hating guy” and bucked courtroom etiquette. Trump accused Kaplan of being heartless for not suspending the trial so that he can attend the funeral of his mother-in-law. But Haley has only implicitly criticized Trump’s assault on democracy, false claims of electoral fraud and tumultuous term in office. This attitude is consistent with Trump’s apparent belief that rules that apply to other Americans don’t constrain him. “That aside, it’s just remarkable how much the former president has gotten away with in court.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley –, Trump, Jean Carroll –, Carroll, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, –, Haley, who’s, doesn’t, Joe Biden, he’d, Barack Obama’s, “ Hussein, “, ” Haley, “ I’ve, that’s, CNN’s Dana Bash, she’s, hasn’t, Biden, he’s, don’t, Sen, Mitt Romney, ” Romney, CNN’s Manu Raju, —, ” Carroll, Carroll’s, ”, ” Trump, ” Kaplan, Ty Cobb, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “ He’s, ” Cobb, Arthur Engoron’s, Elliot Williams, it’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Republicans, Social Security, South, White Locations: New, Manhattan, New Hampshire, New York, he’s, Florida, American, South Carolina, Rochester , New Hampshire, Iowa, Utah, Granite, United States

☆ What is a hate crime?: Officials investigate if suspect who shot 3 Palestinian students can be charged with a hate crime
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Chandelis Duster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The shooting of three Palestinian college students in Vermont has prompted calls for the suspect to be charged with a hate crime. “When you add a hate crime enhancement that changes things,” George said at a news conference Monday. Crimes based on gender identity accounted for 4% of hate crimes, 1.5% were based on disability and less than 1% on gender. The Justice Department began prosecuting federal hate crime cases after the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was signed into law. Their murders shocked the nation and later moved Congress to pass a new hate crimes statute.

Persons: Jason J, Eaton, Jon Murad, Murad, Jason Eaton, Sarah George, ” George, “, Elliot Williams, ” Williams, Williams, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Elie Honig, ” Honig, Honig, James Byrd , Jr, White, Matthew Shepard, CNN’s Eric Levenson, Elizabeth Wolfe, Tori Morales Pinales, Melissa Alonso Organizations: CNN, Burlington Police, Vermont . Burlington Police Department Authorities, Hamas, Justice Department, DOJ, FBI, feds, Civil, Department of Justice Locations: Vermont, Israel, Chittenden, New Jersey, Chittenden County, Jasper , Texas, Wyoming

☆ Trump’s gag order appeal previews America’s grave election year stress test
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

However the ex-president’s appeal ends against a limited gag order imposed in his federal election subversion case, he can expect a benefit. A judgment in Trump’s favor on the gag order – which has been temporarily frozen while the appeal is heard – would pale against his four criminal trials and his current civil fraud trial in New York. How the gag order case reflects Trump’s intense challenge to accountabilityThe gag order appeal is entwined with complex arguments on the breadth of the First Amendment and the extent to which courts have the right to regulate its scope in order to protect their officers and proceedings and the administration of justice. Trump’s legal team argued that any restrictions on his comments represent an unconstitutional assault on his rights to freedom of political speech. The incitement issue is not a hypothetical one in the gag order case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Jack Smith’s, Trump’s, –, Tanya Chutkan, Joe Biden, —, Smith, ”, Patricia Millett, John Sauer, ’, “, Elliot Williams, Arthur Engoron, ” Engoron, Mike Pence, Mark Milley, Bradley Moss, CNN Max, Moss Organizations: CNN, Trump, Justice Department, DC, “, Republican, Capitol, Rocky, Rocky Mountain State, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Biden Justice Department Locations: New York, United States of America, Colorado, Rocky Mountain

☆ Opinion: Marjorie Taylor Greene botches the explanation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. CNN —On the day after Republicans lost pivotal races in Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia last week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene offered a diagnosis for her party’s ills. On Tuesday, Ohio voters passed an amendment to the state constitution that guarantees abortion rights. The disconnect may or may not cost Trump votes in 2024, but it’s hurting Republicans up and down the ballot. “Democrats will win in 2024 by making the election a choice, not just a referendum on Biden’s performance in office.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, CNN’s Manu Raju, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Trump, ”, Kate Bedingfield, Joe Biden’s, Youngkin, ” Bill Bramhall, Bedingfield, They’ll, Julian Zelizer, Biden, ” Clay Jones, ” Clay Jones Republican Lanhee Chen, — don’t, Chen, “, ” Mary Ziegler, Davis, Republicans don’t, Comstock, Nikki Haley, Ana Marie Cox, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Dick Cheney, ’ Haley, Haley, Ramaswamy, ‘, Haley “, ” Patrick T, Brown, ” Roxanne Jones, DeSantis, Todd Graham, Bill Bramhall, Mary Ellen O’Connell, ” “, ” John Spencer, he’s, Al Qaeda, Peter Bergen, Israel, Hani Almadhoun, Suzanne Nossel, Frida Ghitis, Walt Handlesman, Ivanka Trump, Elliot Williams, Letitia James, Williams, ” Williams, Nick Anderson, Ian Berry, Bob Dylan, Anna Lee, I’d, William, I’ll, Bethany McLean, Joe Nocera, Dr, Kent Sepkowitz, ” Sepkowitz, ” Don’t, Corey Mintz, DoorDash, Paul Rieckhoff, Jill Filipovic, Shannon Watts, Jade McGlynn, Keith Magee, King Charles, Sara Stewart, Priscilla ’, Barbra Streisand, CHANEL, Presley Ann, Patrick McMullan, Holly Thomas, James Brolin, Barbra’s, Thomas Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Trump, “, White House, State Senate, Biden, ” Clay Jones Republican, University of California, Department of Justice, Florida Gov, Republican, Senate, Content Agency Israel, Hamas, University of Notre Dame, Modern War, Twitter, Facebook, ISIS, Content Agency Trump, New York, Trump Organization, “ Trump, —, Tribune, Agency, College of, Getty, BBC Locations: Kentucky , Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, “, Mexico, Ohio, State, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Kentucky, Mississippi, Florida, Miami, Hialeah , Florida, Trump, Israel, Gaza, Hamas, West, Mosul, Raqqa, Manhattan, New York City, Ukraine, Malibu , California, Greenwich Village

☆ Two Trump co-defendants plead guilty. What next?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Sidney Powell , a public face of Trump’s attempts to challenge the election results in 2020 and 2021, pleaded guilty Thursday. The former Trump attorney willavoid jail time but agreed to testify as a witness and pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors for conspiracy to commitintentional interference, downgraded from felony charges she had faced. He pleaded guilty Friday to a single felony, conspiracy to commit filingfalse documents. Trial dates have not been set, and Trump has pleaded not guilty. But guilty pleas, Williams said, are now evidence that crimes were committed as Trump tried to make Joe Biden’s 2020 victory disappear.

Persons: – unsolvably, Donald Trump’s, Georgia’s, Sidney Powell, He’s, Kenneth Chesebro, Scott Hall, Trump, Powell’s Chesebro, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Elliot Williams, Fani Willis, Williams, Joe Biden’s, ” Williams, Jim Sciutto, CNN Max, “ Chesebro, ‘, Chesebro, Powell, CNN’s Marshall Cohen, Cohen, Jack Smith, Tanya Chutkan, “, Chutkan, Arthur Engoron, Engoron, ” Trump, Chris Christie, ” Christie, “ Donald Trump doesn’t, Christie, Oliver Darcy, CNN’s, “ It’s, ” Darcy Organizations: CNN, Trump, White, Republican, Former New Jersey Gov, NBC, Salem Radio Network, GOP, Trump Republicans Locations: Israel, Georgia, Coffee, New York, Washington, Florida, Fulton County, Washington ,, Clive , Iowa, Miami, Salem

This will be the first time that substantive arguments will be made in court about the four criminal cases brought against Trump this year. While he may still face an uphill battle to move his case, Meadows is “uniquely situated” in Willis’ case, said Steve Vladeck, a CNN analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law. The orders the judge has already issued have hewed tightly to the relevant statutes and case law, and he has moved the proceedings along efficiently. According to the grand jury indictment, Meadows arranged a call between Trump and Watson, and texted Watson himself to offer Trump campaign funding toward speeding up a ballot review in Fulton County. Willis also subpoenaed two lawyers who were on the Trump-Raffensperger phone call on Trump’s behalf: Kurt Hilbert and Alex Kaufman.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Mark Meadows, Fulton, Willis, Trump, Brad Raffensperger, Meadows, David Shafer, Cathy Latham, Willis ’, Steve Vladeck, ” Vladeck, Steve Jones, Jones, absented, ”, Lee Kovarsky, ” Kovarsky, Obama, Vladeck, Frances Watson, Watson, texted Watson, Kurt Hilbert, Alex Kaufman, “, Elliot Williams, ’ Organizations: CNN, White, Trump, Georgia, Georgia Republican, University of Texas School of Law, Meadows, Staff, University of Texas, Justice Department Locations: Fulton County, Georgia, Meadows, Trump’s New York, Manhattan, Atlanta

☆ Analysis: Donald Trump's $200,000 bond drives home the unique peril of his Georgia indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Trump had to agree, for example, to make no threats on social media against co-defendants, witnesses and the 30 unindicted co-conspirators. The former president has excoriated special counsel Jack Smith, who indicted him twice, on social media and in speeches. Elliot Williams, a former federal prosecutor and CNN legal analyst, said that the terms were fair and did not infringe on Trump’s rights. Trump’s many late-night social media eruptions will make it hard for observers to believe that he will stick to the conditions to which he’s agreed. By Monday evening, Trump had already posted on his social media network about the bond.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Norm Eisen, Barack Obama, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, he’d, Fani Willis, Geoff Duncan, “ shouldn’t, Duncan, Willis, Scott McAfee, Jack Smith, Tanya Chutkan, Chutkan, Elliot Williams, “, ” Williams, Trump’s, he’s, it’s, Anthony Michael Kreis, CNN’s Brianna Keilar, ” Trump’s, John Eastman, Bond, Ray Smith, Ken Chesebro, Scott Hall, Smith, –, Tolstoy Organizations: CNN, Trump, Democrat, Manhattan, Attorney’s Office, Florida –, Republican, Georgia State University, Conservative, Washington Locations: Atlanta, Milwaukee, Georgia, Fulton County, Washington, Florida, Texas, Washington , DC, Iowa

☆ Trump’s surreal arraignment day in Washington augurs ominous days ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

He was irked, sources familiar with his mindset told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, that the judge referred to him simply as “Mr. Any alternative Republican president could find themselves besieged by demands from Trump supporters for a pardon that, if granted, could overshadow their entire presidency. The California Republican compared Trump’s behavior to the complaints by supporters of past Democratic presidential nominees Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, who complained of electoral irregularities. A few Democrats objected to certifying Trump’s election in Congress is 2016, but Clinton did not challenge it in the courts. But their blind spot on Trump’s far worse, Constitution-threatening conduct shows just how far he has changed their party.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, –, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jack Smith –, “, ” Trump, pardoning, J, Michael Luttig, ” Luttig, ”, Geoff Duncan, ” Duncan, Richard Nixon, ” Nixon, Smith, Alberto Gonzales, George W, Bush, Ty Cobb, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Cobb, Elliot Williams, Biden’s, Kevin McCarthy, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, ” McCarthy, Gore, Clinton, Kinzinger, Biden, Hunter Organizations: CNN, Washington, Republican, Capitol, Trump, Justice Department, Department of Justice, White, GOP, California Republican, Democratic, Supreme, CNN Republicans, Republicans Locations: America, United States, New Jersey, Georgia, California, China, Ukraine, Bedminster

☆ Trump is weaponizing the Russia report he demanded -- even though it lacks bombshells
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Another Trump ally, South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, argued the report showed the “rule of law in America is subservient to political outcomes. In another politically sensitive part of his report, Durham found that the FBI did not pursue allegations against Clinton with the same vigor with which they acted against Trump. He pointed out that the Trump investigation was launched at a time when Russia was attacking Democratic National Committee servers and had used stolen information to attack Clinton. The investigation was only launched after the bureau received evidence from a friendly foreign government that the Trump campaign had been offered help by the Russians. But all Trump needed from the report was a headline and a general narrative of suspicion against the FBI.

☆ Donald Trump: Fresh January 6 convictions raise the stakes for the former president
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The first scene of his reelection announcement video released last month showed smoke rising over the US Capitol and rioters with Trump flags. The legal complications facing Trump and GarlandGiven the fraught situation, the Justice Department’s next moves will be hugely significant. Thursday’s Proud Boys convictions are among the most significant of hundreds of successful Justice Department prosecutions of people linked to the US Capitol riot. So while a prosecution of Trump and his closest political associates over January 6 could be tough, it may not be impossible. So for now, at least with GOP primary voters, what doesn’t convict Trump, makes him stronger.

☆ Opinion: Top secrets come spilling out
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. Writing for CNN Opinion, Rep. Justin Pearson noted, “This should be a chastening moment for revanchist forces in Tennessee’s legislature and across the country. Over the long haul, the undemocratic machinations employed to oust us from office are destined to fail. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once famously said that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice. “As a Jewish historian,” Perry wrote, “I worry about the tension between preserving the memory of past hardships while not locking our entire history into a tale of oppression.

☆ Opinion: The justice system Trump and other white-collar defendants see is different than what most accused criminals get
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Elliot Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

By virtue of his social standing and the crimes of which he is accused, Defendant Trump is already getting the privileged process and kid gloves extended to white-collar defendants. It’s not that we should treat white-collar defendants worse, but many other defendants better. White-collar defendants routinely argue that the stigma they may face, as prominent members of society, ought to affect the treatment they receive. This is a rounding error compared to the $426 billion to $1.7 trillion estimated to be the annual cost of white-collar crime. Even if no blood is shed in a misdemeanor white-collar crime, it can come with a profound social cost.

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