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☆ Trump’s Trial Could Bring a Rarity: Consequences for His Words
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Maggie Haberman | Jonah E. Bromwich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“So that’s not true? That’s not true?”The judge in control of Donald J. Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial had just cut off the former president’s lawyer, Todd Blanche. Mr. Blanche had been in the midst of defending a social media post in which his client wrote that a statement that had been public for years “WAS JUST FOUND!”Mr. Blanche had already acknowledged during the Tuesday hearing that Mr. Trump’s post was false. But the judge, Juan M. Merchan, wasn’t satisfied. But this particular defendant, accused by the Manhattan district attorney’s office of falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal, has spent five decades spewing thousands and thousands of words, sometimes contradicting himself within minutes, sometimes within the same breath, with little concern for the consequences of what he said.

Persons: Donald J, Todd Blanche, Mr, Blanche, Trump’s, Juan M, wasn’t, Merchan Locations: Manhattan

☆ Prosecutors Say Trump Keeps Breaking Gag Order, With Four New Violations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Matthew Haag | More About Matthew Haag | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Prosecutors on Thursday accused former President Donald J. Trump of violating a gag order four additional times, saying that he continues to defy the judge’s directions not to attack witnesses, prosecutors and jurors in his hush-money trial. “He’s doing what the order tells him not to do,” said Christopher Conroy, a prosecutor for the Manhattan district attorney. As Mr. Conroy laid out what he said were violations, Mr. Trump whispered to his lawyer Todd Blanche and frowned. After they spoke, Mr. Blanche rubbed his face several times. With the latest allegations, prosecutors now say that Mr. Trump has violated the gag order 15 times in less than two weeks.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, “, ”, Christopher Conroy, Conroy, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Juan M Locations: Manhattan

Mr. Trump’s top lawyer said in response that Mr. Trump was simply defending himself from political attacks. The tabloid discovered that the story was apparently false, but paid $30,000 anyway, “because of the potential embarrassment” it could have caused Mr. Trump, Mr. Pecker said. When he proposed the magazine, Mr. Pecker said, Mr. Trump’s biggest question was, “Who’s going to pay for it?”Trump’s short leash could get shorter. For their part, prosecutors said they were not seeking to jail Mr. Trump, but wanted him to be fined. When Mr. Blanche finished his argument, Mr. Trump immediately beckoned him over before he snatched a piece of paper off the defense table.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Juan M, Merchan, Trump’s, ”, Justice Merchan, Todd Blanche, “ you’re, David Pecker, Mr, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, —, Pecker, Michael D, Cohen, Marion Curtis, Pecker’s, Trump “ Donald, “ Who’s, Christopher Conroy, Michael Cohen, “, ” Mr, Conroy, Blanche, Mark Peterson Organizations: National Enquirer, ” Prosecutors, Republican, Trump, Credit, Associated, Trump Mr Locations: Manhattan, York, Washington, New York

☆ Late Night Tackles Trump’s Gag Order Hearing
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Trish Bendix | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“He violated the gag order during a hearing about whether he violated the gag order!” — JIMMY KIMMEL“Judge Merchan told Trump’s lead attorney — a guy named Todd Blanche — that his arguments didn’t make sense, that he ‘presented nothing’ and that he was losing ‘all credibility with the court.’ To his credit, Blanche fired back. He said, ‘Your honor, I lost all credibility when I agreed to represent Donald Trump! That is not an issue.’” — JIMMY KIMMEL“Fortunately, Trump didn’t hear any of it. Or, as the rest of the world calls it, a job.” — JORDAN KLEPPER“I love hearing him complain about how cold it is. Someone should knit him a little pair of mittens to wear into court.” — JIMMY KIMMEL

Persons: “, JIMMY KIMMEL, Merchan, Trump’s, —, Todd Blanche —, ‘, ’, Blanche, Donald Trump, ’ ”, Trump, Van Winkle, ” — JIMMY KIMMEL “, Cleveland, it’s, ” — JORDAN KLEPPER “, ” — JIMMY KIMMEL

☆ The Supreme Court is about to decide if a president can get away with committing crimes while in office
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to recognize that he had total legal immunity as president. Trump is asking the Supreme Court to grant him a sweeping immunity mandate as he runs to recapture the presidency. "This may indeed be the most important US Supreme Court case in the history of our country," he told journalists at a panel organized by the Defend Democracy Project. The Supreme Court will likely issue a decision in late April. "The Supreme Court need not stray into other questions just because Trump has made it easy for them.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith's, —, Trump, Jack Smith, Richard Nixon, David Frost, Smith, He's, Stormy Daniels, Todd Blanche, David Pecker, Tanya Chutkan, Barack Obama, Dana Verkouteren, doesn't, MANDEL NGAN, Nixon, Gerald Ford's, Ford, Leon Jaworski, indicting Nixon, Robert Ray, Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, Donald Ayer, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, it's, Justice Department's, Chutkan, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, framers, Mark Meadows, Norm Eisen, Obama's Organizations: Service, Justice Department, Capitol, Department, Air Force, Nixon, Trump, Prosecutors, AP, Getty, Independent, Department of Justice, Defend, Justice, White House Locations: Washington , DC, Georgia, Florida, New York, Manhattan, United States, AFP, Fulton County

☆ Donald Trump has shared tales of courtroom spectacles. The reality is much more subdued
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —An email Monday night from Donald Trump – subject line: “My farewell message” – carried a fateful warning to his backers. Throughout the first six days of his trial, Trump’s dramatized retellings of his legal peril have veered considerably from the events actually unfolding in and around Manhattan’s criminal courthouse. In one fundraising email on the first day of his trial, Trump claimed he “stormed out” of the proceedings. With the courtroom quiet Tuesday, Trump flipped through a pile of papers loud enough to hear the pages turning. “I will not have any jurors intimidated in the courtroom,” Merchan said.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, Rather, untethered, “, he’s, unremarkably Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, E, Jean Carroll, Merchan, ” Merchan, hasn’t, “ You’re, ”, Todd Blanche, Christopher Conroy, Blanche, ‘, CNN’s Kate Sullivan, Kristen Holmes, Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell Organizations: CNN, Trump, Columbia University, Truth, Protesters Locations: Manhattan, Fiji, Lower Manhattan

☆ Trump trial: Hearing on gag order violations; David Pecker to resume testimony
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The New York hush money trial of Donald Trump is set to resume Tuesday with testimony from its first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Most either referenced, or linked to articles referencing, Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, a key witness in the Manhattan Supreme Court trial. The posts "unquestionably relate to known witnesses and prospective jurors in this criminal trial" in violation of Trump's gag order, a state prosecutor wrote in a court filing Thursday. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche fired back, "I have a spoiler alert: There's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accuses Trump of carrying out the hush money scheme in order to influence the 2016 election, which he would go on to win.

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, David Pecker, Pecker, Trump's, Michael Cohen, Jesse Watters, Juan Merchan, Trump, Matthew Colangelo, Todd Blanche, It's, Cohen, Daniels, Attorney Alvin Bragg Organizations: National Enquirer, Manhattan Supreme, Fox News, Liberal, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, York

☆ Hearing over gag order comes amid Trump-Michael Cohen feud
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Jeremy Herb | Lauren Del Valle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Judge Juan Merchan will consider whether to fine Donald Trump for repeatedly violating the gag order barring the former president from publicly discussing witnesses or jurors in the criminal hush money case. Trump nevertheless went after Cohen in remarks on camera after leaving court on Monday. Trump’s lawyers have argued that his social media posts do not actually violate the gag order. The jury will not hear the argument on the gag order violations. Merchan said if arguments over the gag order were not finished by 11 a.m., they would pick up the hearing later.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, ”, Chris Conroy, Michael Cohen Trump, Cohen, he’s, ” Trump, Hey Von ShitzInPantz, ” Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Emil Bove, Todd Blanche, Trump’s, ” Blanche, “, ’ Jesse Watters, ” Merchan, Merchan Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Twitter, Truth, New, Liberal Locations: Manhattan, Trump, New York

☆ Donald Trump on Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( David Leonhardt | Ian Prasad Philbrick | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A criminal trial is often a contest between competing stories. In the trial of Donald Trump that’s just begun, prosecutors used their opening statement yesterday to tell a story about a man they say lied — and broke the law — to get elected president. The story that Trump’s lawyers offered in their own opening statements had two main features. Second, Trump’s lawyers argued that his attempts to affect the election were ordinary politics. “There’s nothing wrong with trying to influence an election,” Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s lawyers, said in his opening statement.

Persons: Donald Trump that’s, —, Trump, Michael Cohen, Trump’s, “, ” Todd Blanche, “ It’s, ”

☆ Trump may be held in contempt Tuesday after hush-money DA cites at least 10 gag-order violations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The judge will not order Trump jailed even if he does find he repeatedly violated the gag, Richman predicted. Trump's gag order bans Trump from making public statements about jurors and witnesses that could interfere with the trial. "The defendant has demonstrated his willingness to flout the order," Conroy told the judge last week. He has attacked Grand Jurors and jurors," Conroy said. The judge added, with some sarcasm, "I don't recall inserting that anywhere in either gag order."

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Prosecutors, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, Murray Richman, he's, Richman, Juan Merchan, Christopher Conroy, Cohen, Conroy, Daniels, Jesse Watters, Merchan, Todd Blanche, Trump's, Blanche Organizations: Service, Business, New, Trump, Fox News, Liberal Locations: New York, Manhattan

Ms. Daniels, who may testify, says that she and Mr. Trump had a sexual encounter in 2006, a claim the former president denies. Mr. Trump has also denied the 34 felony charges, calling them orchestrated by Democrats; if convicted, the former president could face probation or up to four years in prison. Pool photo by Mark PetersonMr. Blanche also attacked Mr. Cohen, a former lawyer and fixer for Mr. Trump. He called the heart of the prosecution case just “34 pieces of paper” that don’t involve Mr. Trump. During his own side’s opening statement, Mr. Trump sat largely motionless and expressionless watching his lawyer Mr. Blanche.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Trump’s, ” doesn’t, Matthew Colangelo, Mr, Todd Blanche, ”, It’s, Mark Peterson Mr, Blanche, Cohen, Letitia James, —, David Pecker, Prosecutors ’, ambled, ” Mr, Pecker, Marion Curtis, We’re, Juan M, Pecker —, Merchan Organizations: Trump, Mr, Trump Tower, New, Prosecutors, National Enquirer, Reuters Locations: Manhattan, Lower Manhattan

☆ How a gag order showdown explains everything about Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“He knows what he’s not allowed to do, and he does it anyway.”Conroy was referring to Trump’s incessant testing of a gag order protecting witnesses, court staff and the jury. “Michael Cohen is a convicted liar and he’s got no credibility whatsoever,” Trump said in an interview with WPVI Philadelphia. Trump could face a ladder of escalating sanctionsProsecutors now want Merchan to fine Trump $1,000 for each of 10 alleged violations of the gag order and to warn that imprisonment could be an option if he continues to flout restrictions. Trump claims the gag order stifles his right to free speech and to campaign as a presumptive party nominee. And while a dispute over one partial gag order might seem like a small wrinkle in an individual case, it conveys a wider truth about Trump’s impact on American life.

Persons: Chris Conroy, Donald Trump, “, he’s, ” Conroy, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Trump, “ Michael Cohen, ” Trump, CNN’s John Miller, “ Judge Merchan, ”, Jeffrey Swartz, Jim Sciutto, CNN Max, lacerating, Merchan, Elizabeth Williams, Todd Blanche, doesn’t, CNN’s Erin Burnett, —, Jack Smith’s, there’s, •, Joe Biden’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, mishandle, He’s, president’s, Trump’s, George Conway, ” Conway, CNN’s Burnett Organizations: CNN, GOP, The New, Trump, Philadelphia, Prosecutors, New York City Department of Corrections, Cooley Law, US, Trump Organization, Conservative Political, Conference, Biden Locations: The New York, Washington ,, Georgia

☆ Trump’s Trial Features Fierce Debate Over What He Can Say: 5 Takeaways
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Jesse Mckinley | Kate Christobek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Tuesday’s session of Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial began with a heated clash between Justice Juan M. Merchan and Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer over a gag order. It ended with an insider’s look into a tabloid newspaper practice known as “catch and kill.”Prosecutors said that Mr. Trump had “willfully and blatantly” violated a gag order barring him from attacking jurors and witnesses, among others. They said he had done so in comments outside the courtroom and online and should be found in contempt of court. Mr. Trump’s top lawyer said in response that Mr. Trump was simply defending himself from political attacks. Justice Merchan did not rule, but he scolded the lawyer, Todd Blanche, saying, “you’re losing all credibility with the court.”A former ally of Mr. Trump, David Pecker, the ex-publisher of The National Enquirer, later testified to buying and burying unflattering stories about Mr. Trump during his 2016 run for president, an arrangement he called “highly, highly confidential.”

Persons: Donald J, Juan M, Merchan, Trump’s, ”, Trump, Justice Merchan, Todd Blanche, “ you’re, David Pecker Organizations: ” Prosecutors, National Enquirer

☆ Hush-money judge repeatedly bench-slaps Donald Trump's lawyer over gag violations: 'You're losing all credibility!'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

"You're losing all credibility," the judge railed when Blanche insisted Trump was "careful" online. "You're losing all credibility," New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan angrily told the lawyer, Todd Blanche. It was at this point that the judge accused Blanche of "losing all credibility." Blanche's arguments at Tuesday's hearing, in defense of Trump's posts, fell roughly into three categories. Blanche's third argument was that reposting attacks on trial witnesses that were originally made by others was somehow exempt.

Persons: Todd Blanche, Blanche, Trump, —, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Christopher Conroy, Timothy A, Clary, Trump's, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, I've, Atilgan, Daniels, Cohen, Conroy, Jesse Watters, David Pecker, Pecker, Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Alvin Bragg's, reimbursing Cohen, Karen McDougal, McDougal Organizations: Service, GOP, Prosecutors, Reuters, Trump, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Fox, Merchan, National Enquirer, Mar, Manhattan, Trump Organization Locations: Manhattan, Florida, Washington, DC

☆ Gag Order Hearing Is Heated as Judge Considers Citing Trump for Contempt
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trump’s trial in Manhattan held a fiery hearing on Tuesday about whether to find Mr. Trump in criminal contempt for repeatedly violating the provisions of a gag order. While the judge, Juan M. Merchan, did not issue an immediate ruling, he engaged in a heated back-and-forth with one of Mr. Trump’s lawyers, scolding him for his failure to offer any facts in his defense of the former president. “You’ve presented nothing,” Justice Merchan told the lawyer, Todd Blanche, adding soon after: “You’re losing all credibility with the court.”Justice Merchan’s rebuke came moments after prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney’s office had complained that Mr. Trump willfully violated the gag order by making 10 public statements on social media and on his campaign website that attacked two likely witnesses and the jury.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Juan M, Merchan, “ You’ve, Todd Blanche, “ You’re, Merchan’s Locations: Manhattan

Here are takeaways from Tuesday’s day in court:Gag order hearing goes badly for TrumpMerchan issued the gag order before the trial began, limiting Trump from publicly discussing witnesses, the jury or the district attorney’s staff. Merchan expanded the order, which Trump has appealed, to cover his own family after Trump attacked his daughter. “It’s your client’s position that when he reposts he did not believe he was violating the gag order. Judge says Trump lawyers are ‘losing all credibility’Tensions continued to grow between Trump’s legal team and the trial judge during the gag order hearing. Pecker places Michael Cohen deep in the conspiracyPecker placed Cohen in the heart of the alleged “catch and kill conspiracy” Tuesday.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, David Pecker, Karen McDougal, Trump’s, Michael Cohen, Trump, ”, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Cohen, Michael Avenatti, Daniels, ” Merchan, “, ” Blanche, reposts, “ You’ve, “ I’ve, You’ve, “ You’re, Josh Steinglass, Pecker, McDougal, Michael, ” Pecker, Stelter, wasn’t, “ Michael Cohen, Ted Cruz, ’ ” Pecker, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Media Inc, Trump, Trump Merchan, Truth, AMI, CNN Locations: New York

☆ Opinion: Both sides brought their A-game for opening of Trump’s trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Opening statements, followed by a few minutes of testimony from the first witness, concluded Monday in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump. Norm Eisen Courtesy Norm EisenMy takeaway: The prosecution has the upper hand based on the evidence and the law, and Trump knows it. As expected, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo hammered home his theory of the case: that it is all about election interference and its cover-up. Colangelo made the complex simple, going through the chronology of evidence that prosecutors will present to prove the election interference. ACT THREE: A payment to another person with a damaging story — Karen McDougal, who alleged she had an affair with Trump.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Norm Eisen, Trump, Matthew Colangelo, ”, Colangelo, David Pecker, Pecker, Michael Cohen, Dino Sajudin, Karen McDougal, Hope Hicks, Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Cohen, Daniels, Todd Blanche, Blanche, ” Blanche, Juan Merchan, –, “ Trump, couldn’t, Hicks Organizations: CNN, ACT ONE, Trump, American Media, National Enquirer, ACT FOUR, White House, ACT FIVE, Trump Organization, ” Locations: Trump

CNN —The first criminal trial of Donald Trump is officially underway. Prosecutors and Trump’s attorneys delivered opening statements and the first witness – a former National Enquirer publisher – was called Monday in the historic and unprecedented criminal trial of a former president. “The defendant Donald Trump orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election,” said prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told jurors. At the hearing, Trump’s attorneys came to an agreement with the New York attorney general’s office on the terms of that $175 million bond. Trump’s attorneys representing him in the civil matter later stopped by the criminal trial and spoke to cameras in the hallway outside the courtroom where Trump sat at the defense table.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Stormy Daniels, Trump, ” Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, ”, Matthew Colangelo, “, ” Colangelo, Cohen, David Pecker, Colangelo, it’s, Todd Blanche, “ Donald Trump, ” Blanche, he’s, Blanche didn’t, It’s, Blanche, Cohen’s, Trump ”, Trump’s, Michael Cohen, President Trump, He’s, Pecker, Karen McDougal –, Letitia James, James ’, ” Alina Habba, Merchan, Chris Conroy, Emil Bove Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, National Enquirer, Trump, American Media Inc, Defense, AMI, Pecker’s AMI, New, Specialty Insurance Locations: New York

☆ Opinion: As Trump trial opens, attorneys have to make deft first moves
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Editor’s Note: Norman Eisen is a CNN legal analyst and editor of “Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial.” He served as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for the first impeachment and trial of Trump. CNN —I will be joining the line Monday morning to witness opening statements in the first-ever criminal trial of a former American president. As a trial lawyer, I always would rather the jury hear about any problems with witnesses from me first, together with the solution. If the DA wants to build a bridge for the jury into what Trump was thinking, Blanche wants to preemptively destroy it. But before that I’ll be back to you with an evaluation of how both sides did for the next installment of my trial diary.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Trump, CNN —, Norm Eisen, Donald Trump –, Juan Merchan, Alvin Bragg’s, Matthew Colangelo, Susan Hoffinger, Joshua Steinglass, it’s, It’s, –, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, David Pecker –, Todd Blanche, he’s, Blanche, Cohen, Daniels, I’ll Organizations: CNN, Norm Eisen Journalists, Justice Department, New York, American Media, National Enquirer Locations: American, Manhattan

AdvertisementDonald Trump enters his first criminal trial every day flanked by lawyers, court officers, Secret Service members, and political advisors. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump speaks alongside his wife, former first lady Melania Trump, during a rare joint appearance as they arrived to vote in Florida's primary election. Bederow explained that Melania Trump's courtroom support could be "potentially very powerful" given the salacious nature of the hush-money case against Trump. Danilewitz said Trump's defense team may have a different strategy in mind when it comes to Melania Trump. If Trump's family does decide to show up Monday, they might want to wear sweaters.

Persons: Donald Trump's, —, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Giorgio Viera, Mark Bederow, Bederow, Melania, I'm, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Jill Huntley Taylor, Huntley Taylor, they're, he's, Julia Vitullo, Martin, Trump's, it's, Sam Bankman, Fried, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Jane Rosenberg Melania Trump, Jean Carroll, Carroll, Justin Danilewitz, Brendan McDermid, Arthur Aidala, Rudy Giuliani, Harvey Weinstein, It's, That's, Aidala, Danilewitz, Todd Blanche, Susan Necheles, Emil Bove, Gedalia Stern —, Steven Cheung, Jason Miller, Margo Martin, Natalie Harp, Clifford Robert, Donald Trump ., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Donald Jr Organizations: Service, Secret Service, Getty, Trump, Prosecutors, Vera Institute of Justice, REUTERS, AP, Former Brooklyn, New, Trump Organization, Melania Trump, New York Times Locations: Manhattan, New York

☆ Trump trial sketch artists catch the former president's many courtroom moods: sleepy, grumpy, and — less often — happy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Donald Trump's hush-money criminal trial opened April 15 in a Lower Manhattan courtroom. Courtroom sketch artists have captured the former president's many moods during the trial. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump's historic hush-money criminal trial officially got underway inside a Lower Manhattan courtroom on April 15. AdvertisementIt's the first-ever criminal trial of a former president — and the courtroom sketch artists have already captured many moods of Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, during the jury selection process. I will not tolerate that," Merchan told Trump's lead lawyer, Todd BlancheFormer President Donald Trump sat while his lawyer Todd Blanche spoke during the second day of jury selection in his hush-money criminal trial.

Persons: Donald Trump's, —, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, Jane Rosenberg, Juan Merchan, he's, Jane Rosenberg Trump, Merchan, Trump's, Todd Blanche, Christine Cornell Organizations: Trump, Service, Prosecutors, AP, REUTERS, New York Locations: Lower Manhattan, Manhattan, York, New York

New York CNN —Jury selection in Donald Trump’s hush money business fraud case began Thursday looking like the task of finding 12 jurors had run aground. Juror 11 was seated on the jury after Merchan denied Trump’s challenge to the juror for cause. Trump’s lawyers argued she should be dismissed because she said she does not like Trump’s “persona.”“I don’t like his persona,” she said. The district attorney’s office refused. Trump’s attorneys and the district attorney’s office also will get additional peremptory challenges for the alternate jurors.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Juan Merchan’s, It’s, won’t, topsy turvy, Trump, Merchan, ”, “, “ It’s, Trump’s, it’s, Susan Necheles, she’d, Michael Cohen, he’s, Todd Blanche, Josh Steinglass, “ We’re, ” Merchan, Blanche, “ They’re, what’s, Sandoval, they’ll, Jean Carroll, that’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Trump, CNN, Twitter Locations: New York, Manhattan, New Yorker

☆ Trump hush money trial judge scolds press after juror is dismissed over fears she had been identified
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the trial, told news outlets to watch how they report on the jurors and forbade the press from reporting where jurors are employed. The ruling came after one juror was dismissed from the trial after expressing concerns that portions of her identity had been made public by the news media. The juror told the judge she had concerns that she could not be impartial after those close to her asked if she was a juror on the case. Christine Cornell“We just lost what probably would’ve been a very good juror,” Merchan added. Former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Toobin told CNN that Merchan could hold news outlets in contempt if they publish identifying information about a juror.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Juan Merchan, “ I’m, it’s, Donald Trump, — Emil Bove, Todd Blanche, Judge Juan Merchan, Christine Cornell “, ” Merchan, “, Merchan, “ It’s, Jeffrey Toobin, ” Toobin, ”, Toobin Organizations: CNN, New, Fox News, NBC, ABC, Politico, New York Post Locations: Manhattan

Donald J. Trump is a creature of social media. And the lawyers representing him in his criminal trial in Manhattan showed themselves to be savvy at using it during jury selection this week to try to get some prospective jurors dismissed. Mr. Trump’s defense lawyers, Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles, managed to dig up old social media posts by a number of prospective jurors that attacked the former president, creating fascinating exchanges with people who had to explain, under oath, comments that were often years-old. While Mr. Trump’s team succeeded in getting some prospective jurors removed, Day 3 of jury selection ended on Thursday with a full panel of 12 jurors in the case, which could move to opening arguments on Monday. In one lengthy exchange on Thursday, Ms. Necheles highlighted a series of posts by a woman that were highly critical of Mr. Trump and the Republican Party, leading the woman to apologize in court in front of the former president.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Todd Blanche, Susan Necheles, Trump’s, Necheles Organizations: Republican Party Locations: Manhattan

☆ 12 jurors — including 3 finance guys and a woman whose friend is a convicted fraudster — have been chosen for Trump's Manhattan criminal trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewTwelve of Donald Trump's peers — 7 men, and 5 women — have been chosen to decide the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president. On Thursday afternoon, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan selected the 12th juror in Trump's Manhattan criminal case. AdvertisementTwo men chosen in the afternoon filled seats that had been vacated earlier in the day. One out of six alternate jurors, a woman, was also chosen. AdvertisementThere's a man who says he knows "little" about Trump's criminal cases and gets his news from The New York Times, The Daily Mail, Fox News, and MSNBC.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Trump, doesn't, Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Christine Cornell, Stormy Daniels, Blanche, That's, Joshua Steinglass, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, The New York Times, The Daily Mail, Fox News, MSNBC, AP Pool Trump, Prosecutors Locations: Manhattan, New

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