DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ 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

☆ 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 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

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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Opinion: Trump’s refusal to follow gag order could cost him
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Norm Eisen Courtesy Norm EisenTuesday morning, however, will be something I have never seen before in my three decades of criminal law practice. Seven of the 10 came after Trump was put on notice of the gag order hearing and were rolled into it. As the Court found in issuing the gag order, Trump’s history of attacking his perceived foes presents a serious threat to the safety of witnesses and jurors (among others) and thus to the integrity of the trial. Moreover, the comments at issue concern the trial and are not in regard to Trump’s presidential campaign – at all. The judge may split the baby and order sanctions for some but not all of Trump’s statements.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Trump, Donald Trump’s, Norm Eisen, Juan Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Daniels, Michael Cohen, Merchan, they’re, Emil Bove, Cohen “, Mr, Cohen, ” Organizations: CNN, Trump, Attorney, TRUMP Locations: 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

☆ How Donald J. Trump’s Criminal Trial Will Unfold
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Kate Christobek | More About Kate Christobek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Monday morning, a Manhattan jury will hear opening statements in People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump, the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president. It is the next phase of a criminal trial that will unfold like any other — even though it has a defendant like no other. Mr. Trump, the prosecutors say, authorized the payoff of the porn star, Stormy Daniels, to silence her story of a sexual encounter with him. The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, argues that this deal was part of a larger scheme to suppress negative stories about Mr. Trump leading up to the 2016 election. He charged him with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Juan M, Merchan, Stormy Daniels, Alvin L, Bragg Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S

☆ 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

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

☆ Will Trump testify? What he says and why it’s a risky bet
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Video Ad Feedback Smerconish: Will Trump testify? While he is under no obligation to testify, Trump has promised he will. And the truth is that there’s no case, they have no case,” Trump said. When juries and a judge have seen Trump testify, he lostThe first Carroll trial jury in 2023 was played a videotape of Trump’s deposition by lawyers. Not a hush money case, but an election interference caseOne other key thing to note out of the prosecution’s opening statement is that they want to portray this case as an election interference case rather than a hush money case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, National Enquirer David Pecker, Cohen, Pecker, Will Trump, I’m, ” Trump, Juan Merchan, Kara Scannell, Lauren del Valle, Jeremy Herb, E, Jean Carroll, ►, – Trump, Merchan, Hillary Clinton, Joey Jackson, Jackson, “, Jake Tapper, Will Scharf, Scharf, ”, ” Scharf, Carroll, Marla Maples, Read, Feedback Trump, Arthur Engoron, reimbursing Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Clifford, Daniels, … … …, CNN’s Paula Reid Organizations: CNN — Prosecutors, New, National Enquirer, Trump, CNN, Mar, Trump Organization, Prosecutors Locations: New York

☆ Opening statements to show the stark personal and political stakes of Trump’s first criminal trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

But on Monday, his diminished reality as a criminal defendant will become clear in humbling fashion during opening statements in his first criminal trial. The process, known as a Sandoval hearing, offered the ex-president a glimpse of personal and unflattering revelations that the trial could dredge up. The political case against the prosecutions was laid out by South Dakota Gov. But Noem rehearsed a political argument that Trump and his associates will be seeking to land as the trial goes ahead. But the deeply consequential political and personal stakes for the former president will become even clearer when the first trial begins for real on Monday.

Persons: Donald Trump, he’s, Trump, Joe Biden, –, victimhood, He’s, “, ” Trump, president’s, haggled, Sandoval, Stacey Schneider, Jean Carroll, ” Schneider, it’s, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, Pecker, Joshua Steinglass, ”, Juan Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Biden, There’s, Kristi Noem, ” Noem, CNN’s Dana, Noem, Cohen Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Trump, American Media Inc, National Enquirer, Prosecutors, Manhattan, Attorney, Democratic, Mar, South Dakota Gov, New York Times Locations: Manhattan, North Carolina, New York, United States, “ State, Siena, Dakota

☆ Prison director killed in attack as Ecuador votes in referendum focused on crime
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Ana María Cañizares | Marlon Sorto | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The director of an Ecuadorian prison known as “El Rodeo” was killed Sunday in an attack that came as millions of people in the country headed to the polls for a referendum focused largely on President Daniel Noboa’s war on crime. Ecuador Prosecutor’s Office reported that another person was injured in the attack and that officers on the scene have started an investigation. Parrales was killed the same day that Ecuadorians were called to the polls for a referendum dominated by security issues that could bolster President Daniel Noboa’s agenda to fight crime. Noboa hopes those measures will help him rein in burgeoning levels of organized crime linked to drug cartels. Ecuador was once known as an “island of peace,” nestled between the world’s two largest cocaine producers, Peru and Colombia.

Persons: ”, Daniel Noboa’s, Cosme Damián Parrales Merchán, SNAI, Parrales, CNNE, Noboa, Adolfo Macias Organizations: CNN, SNAI, Ecuador Prosecutor’s, Social Rehabilitation, Ecuadorian National Police Locations: Ecuador, Ecuadorians, ”, Peru, Colombia, United States, Europe, Mexico, Guayaquil

☆ Trump’s Trial Challenge: Being Stripped of Control
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Maggie Haberman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

“Sir, can you please have a seat.”Donald J. Trump had stood up to leave the Manhattan criminal courtroom as Justice Juan M. Merchan was wrapping up a scheduling discussion on Tuesday. But the judge had not yet adjourned the court or left the bench. Mr. Trump, the 45th president of the United States and the owner of his own company, is used to setting his own pace. Still, when Justice Merchan admonished him to sit back down, the former president did so without saying a word. For the next six weeks, a man who values control and tries to shape environments and outcomes to his will is in control of very little.

Persons: ” Donald J, Trump, Juan M, Justice Merchan Locations: Manhattan, United States

☆ As hush money trial begins, Trump hits the trail in North Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Appearing in Greensboro, North Carolina ahead of the state’s primary last month, Trump remarked on his legal peril at length. Nikki Haley managed to win support from 23% of Republican primary voters in North Carolina, with many in Trump’s party saying they could not overlook the vast legal challenges he faces. “Polling shows the American people see right through the Stalinist tactics employed by Crooked Joe and his allies,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN in a statement. Without cameras inside the courtroom, Trump has also challenged the narratives that have emerged from those watching the proceedings. I’m supposed to be in North Carolina, South Carolina.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, baselessly, ”, ” Trump, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, don’t, Crooked Joe, Karoline Leavitt, Judge Juan Merchan, “ I’m, I’m, I’ve, Joe Biden’s, Trump’s, ” Leavitt Organizations: CNN, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice, South Carolina Gov, Republican, GOP Locations: Manhattan, North Carolina, Wilmington, Charlotte, New York, York, Greensboro , North Carolina, New Hampshire, Georgia, South Carolina

☆ Trump berates judge for 'rushed' hush money trial, days before opening statements
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former US President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Donald Trump on Saturday took to social media to deliver another tirade against the judge and the circumstances of his New York hush money trial, which wrapped up jury selection on Friday and is expected to begin opening arguments on Monday. "THIS SCAM 'RUSHED' TRIAL TAKING PLACE IN A 95% DEMOCRAT AREA IS A PLANNED AND COORDINATED WITCH HUNT," the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee wrote in one of several Truth Social posts on Saturday morning. Trump's social media rants targeting Merchan and others involved in the trial have become a regular pattern for the former president, despite a gag order imposed in March. The prosecutors requested a $1,000 sanction for each of the three posts and asked the judge to warn Trump that future violations could result in jail time.

Persons: Donald Trump, HUNT, Juan Merchan, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Michael Cohen Organizations: WHO, New, Manhattan Locations: Manhattan, New York, York, New York City, U.S

☆ Outside Court, Trump is the Center of Attention. Inside, He Has a Rival.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jonah E. Bromwich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Everywhere in our universe, a basic physical law applies: the greater the mass of an object, the stronger its gravitational field. The accumulated mass of fame and political status places Donald J. Trump at the center of most rooms he finds himself in. If he were to storm out of court suddenly, as he has in other proceedings, it would be the biggest news of the day. But in court, unlike almost everywhere else, Mr. Trump has competition: The judge, Juan M. Merchan, exudes his own gravity and has power Mr. Trump does not. And on Thursday, after a new pool of 96 prospective jurors walked into the high-ceilinged room, their attention slid from the former president seated at the defense table to the judge.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Juan M, Justice Merchan Organizations: Secret Service Locations: York

☆ Takeaways from the final day of jury selection in Trump’s historic hush money trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jeremy Herb | Lauren Del Valle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

There had been estimates at the start of the week that jury selection could spill into a second week, and it appeared likely after Merchan lost two empaneled jurors on Thursday. Here are takeaways from the final day of jury selection in Trump’s hush money trial:The jury is setFour women and one man were added to the jury on Friday as five of the six alternates for the case. The fourth day of jury selection played out similarly to the first three. Trump is still trying to stop his trialDespite seating a jury, Trump’s legal team again tried to stop the trial in its tracks with another strategic appeal. The DA’s team argued at that point that the motion was premature because jury selection hadn’t happened yet.

Persons: Judge Juan Merchan, Donald Trump’s, Merchan, Trump –, “, ” Trump, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, I’m, ”, ” Merchan, Trump, Cliff Robert, Robert, Trump’s, Steven Wu, ” There’s, Prosecutors haven’t Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney’s Locations: New York, Spain, New Yorker, Manhattan

Fire extinguishers (R) are left at the park across from Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City after a man reportedly set himself on fire during the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump, in New York City on April 19, 2024. A man set himself on fire Friday outside of the New York courthouse where a jury was being picked for the criminal hush money trial of former President Donald Trump. NBC News reported that the man was in an area across from Manhattan Supreme Court that is cordoned off for protestors. Judge Juan Merchan had been scheduled to hold a hearing Friday afternoon on the admissibility of past conduct by Trump as evidence at the trial. On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was spotted just outside the building.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, Eric Adams Organizations: Manhattan Criminal, NBC News, Manhattan Supreme, Flames, Trump, Brooklyn Bridge, CNBC, New York Police Department, New York City Locations: Manhattan, New York City, York, Brooklyn, New York

☆ As Press Reports Some Juror Details, Polarized Reactions Take Over
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Tiffany Hsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Opening arguments in former President Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial will not start until next week, but media coverage of the proceedings has already been met with partisan furor. Jury selection, which began on Monday, produced a full 12-person panel by Thursday and ended Friday with the selection of alternates. Over the course of the week, many conservatives claimed that the selection process had been rigged against Mr. Trump, while some progressives argued that the press was releasing too many details about possible jurors, putting them in potential danger. The judge, Juan M. Merchan, has ordered that the names of the potential and selected jurors remain confidential. The proceedings on Friday kicked off with a warning from a court official to reporters and members of the public attending the trial to follow courtroom rules around filming, photographs and technology.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Juan M Organizations: Mr Locations: Manhattan

☆ Day 4 of Trump’s Criminal Trial: Five Takeaways
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jesse Mckinley | Kate Christobek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The first week of the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump ended with a disturbing jolt: a 37-year-old man set himself on fire outside the courthouse, an event that overshadowed the legal proceedings inside. The news of the immolation rippled through the press corps just as the final members of Mr. Trump’s jury — including 12 seated jurors and six alternates — were being sworn in. After lunch, Justice Juan M. Merchan conducted a hearing to determine which questions prosecutors might ask Mr. Trump if he were to testify in his own defense. Mr. Trump, 77, is charged with falsifying 34 business records in an attempt to cover up a payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who has said they had a sexual encounter in 2006. He has denied the charges; the former president could face probation or prison if convicted.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Juan M, Merchan, Stormy Daniels Organizations: Prosecutors Locations: Lower Manhattan

☆ Prosecutors Want to Ask Trump About Attacks on Women
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jonah E. Bromwich | Matthew Haag | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If Donald J. Trump takes the stand at his criminal trial in Manhattan, prosecutors want to cross-examine him about recent lawsuits he’s lost, attacks he’s made on women and a judge’s opinion that his sworn statements in a civil case rang “hollow and untrue.”In hearing on Friday afternoon, the prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office who want to ask those questions will seek permission from Justice Juan M. Merchan, the state judge presiding over Mr. Trump’s trial on charges that he falsified business records to cover up reimbursements for a hush-money payment made to a keep a sex scandal quiet. The proceeding, known as a Sandoval hearing, is a high-stakes affair for all the parties: the prosecutors, the defense team, Mr. Trump and Justice Merchan himself. Whatever the judge decides will inform whether the former president decides to testify and, if he does, what prosecutors can ask him. Though Mr. Trump has said he would testify in his own defense, there have been plenty of signs that he is not fully committed to doing so. This week, his lawyers asked prospective jurors to assure them that they wouldn’t hold a failure to testify against Mr. Trump.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, he’s, Juan M, Trump’s, Sandoval, Justice Merchan Organizations: Justice, Mr Locations: Manhattan

Search resuls for: "MERCHAN"

25 mentions found