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☆ American Battleground: The fight to the finish — and what lies beyond the 2024 campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Tom Foreman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +25 min

“Do you think Donald Trump is a fascist?” Anderson Cooper asked her in a CNN town hall just two days earlier. They are indeed the ‘enemy from within.’”Former President Donald Trump addresses the crowd during his campaign rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden on October 27. You’re a sh*t vice president.’”It’s crude, it’s rude, but for Trump’s campaign it is right on target. “We know what Donald Trump wants,” Harris says in DC just outside the vice presidential residence. As Trump’s 2020 campaign communications director Erin Perrine puts it, “Donald Trump is a political anomaly.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Read, Trump, Kamala Harris, ” Anderson Cooper, “, ” Harris, Rebecca Wright, John Kelly, Trump “, Defense James Mattis, John Bolton, Mark Esper, Bob Woodward, Staff Mark Milley, Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, ”, Harris, ” “, Tony Hinchcliffe, Puerto Rico, ’ ”, Anna Moneymaker, ” Trump, Ezra Klein, Maggie Haberman, He’s, Edward, Isaac Dovere, …, ” Demonizing Harris, Frank Luntz, CNN’s, Michael Duncan, you’ve, Erick Erickson, Arnold Palmer’s, ’, Jenny Kane, Jeff Zeleny, Gloria Borger, he’s, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, “ She’s, Eva McKend, ” Zeleny, CNN’s Laura Coates, Biden, ” Coates, Julia Roberts, Eminem, Oprah, Beyonce, Michelle Obama, CNN’s Dovere, Barack Obama, Jonathan Drake, Reuters Trump, ” McKend, Erin Perrine, “ Donald Trump, Daniel Dale, Hurricane Helene, Mike Pence, “ Let’s, Let’s, Sinéad O’Connor, Hillary Clinton, We’ve, Norm Eisen, Eisen, – Trump, –, Stephanie Cutter, Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters Harris, Abraham Lincoln Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, ABC, ”, Trump, Trump’s, New York Times, Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Republican, Marxist, Madison, Democratic, Puerto Ricans, New, Garden, GOP, Fox, WIN, Political, Illegal Voters, The New York Times, ” CNN, Fox News, Reuters, Biden, Univision, Capitol, “, United States Capitol Locations: Delaware County , Pennsylvania, York City, Puerto, Mexico, Portland , Oregon, Pennsylvania, DC, Georgia, In Michigan, Detroit, Charlotte , North Carolina, Trump, Hurricane, Madison, Washington ,

But the court’s opinion also makes clear that this ruling is not a death knell for Smith’s case. Smith charged Trump with engaging in a “criminal scheme” to subvert the 2020 election; Trump has pleaded not guilty to four counts. In Nixon v. Fitzgerald, the Supreme Court held that a president enjoyed civil immunity for all “official acts.” Now, in Trump v. United States, the court grappled with which “official” acts should also receive criminal immunity. In order to settle the extent of Trump’s immunity, Chutkan should expeditiously schedule the mini-trial to hear witness testimony and receive other relevant evidence from both parties. In response to Trump’s assertion of civil immunity there, the DC Circuit put in place a lengthy discovery schedule for the lower court to determine the extent of Trump’s civil immunity.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Danya Perry, Joshua Kolb, Neil Gorsuch, Jack Smith’s, Donald Trump’s, Norm Eisen, Tanya Chutkan, Smith, Trump, Nixon, Fitzgerald, —, Joshua Kolb CJ, John Roberts, Justice Department —, Mike Pence, Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark —, Clark, Steve Jones, Meadows, Brad Raffensperger, Jones, Meadows’s, Sotomayor, Chutkan, Pence, Bill Barr —, Trump’s, slimming, ”, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson Organizations: CNN, Perry Law, Division, Southern, of, State, Moreland Commission, Nixon, Trump v ., Justice Department, Trump, White, Trump administration, Georgia, Meadows, Circuit, Congress, Capitol Police, Capitol, DC Circuit, Twitter Locations: of New York, New York, Moreland, Trump v, Trump v . United States, Georgia, Fulton, Meadows

☆ Opinion: I’ve observed the Trump jury. Here’s what could be happening in deliberations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

They are the first jury in the 235-year history of the United States to be confronted with that weighty question. The payment was made to keep her silent about allegations that she and Trump had a sexual encounter (which Trump denies) ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Merchan then offered a detailed explanation of the legal rules that the jury must apply to make those determinations. This time it was for the judge to re-read the jury instructions to them, another indicator of the care they are taking in deliberations. We will see how long their deliberations take, but this afternoon’s developments suggest that it will not be an instant process.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, ”, Juan Merchan, Donald Trump’s Manhattan, Trump, Norm Eisen, Norm Eisen Trump, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, —, David Pecker, Todd Blanche, Michael Cohen, Blanche, Pecker, Cohen, Karen McDougal, McDougal Organizations: CNN, Yorkers, National Enquirer, Trump, Twitter, Facebook Locations: American, United States, Manhattan

☆ Opinion: Trump trial verdict now hinges on these three questions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —On Tuesday, we at last came to closing arguments in the Manhattan criminal trial of former President Donald Trump after 20 days of trial, testimony from 22 witnesses and over 200 exhibits. Were the 34 allegedly false records actually false? The first pivot point is whether the 34 business records at the heart of the case actually contain false information. And Steinglass pushed back on Blanche’s emphasis on the much-discussed October 24, 2016, Cohen call to Trump’s bodyguard, Keith Schiller. Indeed, Blanche continued, Trump repeatedly disclosed the reimbursement — including on Twitter, a 1099 form to the IRS and a federal financial disclosure form.

Persons: Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Joshua Steinglass, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, Blanche, Daniels, ”, Norm Eisen, Madame Tussaud’s, Cohen, Steinglass, Keith Schiller, Schiller, Allen Weisselberg, “, ” Steinglass, …, ” Blanche, Hope Hicks, Madeline Westerhout, Cohen — Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump Foundation, Trump Organization, Twitter, IRS, New, White House, Facebook Locations: Manhattan, New York

☆ Opinion: Alito’s second red flag
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Kirsi Goldynia | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

This is not the first time Alito has found himself in hot water over displaying a controversial flag on his property. The upside-down flag, a signal of distress, was adopted by Trump supporters who believed the false claim that the election had been stolen. (Alito said his wife had raised the upside-down flag in response to a disagreement with a neighbor. The discovery also comes at a time when the Supreme Court will be making a decision about Trump’s claims of sweeping presidential immunity, his get-out-of-jail-free card for the federal cases he faces. “The notion that the Supreme Court can be trusted to be an arbiter above partisan politics has suffered major blows in recent years.

Persons: ”, Scott Peck, Samuel Alito, “, Alito, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Julian Zelizer, Walt Handelsman, Michael J, Broyde, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Donald Trump, ‘, ’, ” Nikki Haley’s, Nikki Haley’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, Nancy Pelosi, She’s, Joe Biden ‘, I’ve, ” Clay Jones, Drew Sheneman, Judge Juan Merchan, Robert Costello, Michael Cohen, Norm Eisen, Costello, ’ Merchan, cautioning, …, Eisen, Sunak, Rishi Sunak, Henry Nicholls, Holly Thomas, Sunak —, Thomas, Joel Pett, Adolf Hitler, Ruth Ben, Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Said Ben, Anna Sauerbrey, Sauerbrey, Biden, America —, Richard Curtis ’, Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Laura Beers, it’s, —, Ebrahim Raisi, Frida Ghitis, Ali Khamenei, Peter Kuper, Cagle, “ I’m, What’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al, Masri, Ismail Haniyeh, Peter Bergen, ” Netanyahu, Israel’s, Netanyahu, Kerri Kennedy, Biden “, Israel, ” Don’t, Agency Carrie Sheffield, Noah Berlatsky, Singleton, Biden’s Morehouse, Jill Filipovic, Diddy, Cassie Ventura, Catherine Tan, Shanahan, Brian Castrucci, Frank Luntz, Mark Zandi, Trump Will Cathcart, Joyce M, Davis, Bill Maher, Jimmy Kimmel, Randy Holmes, Bill, ” Nicole Hemmer, Said Will, Maher, Hemmer, ” “ Maher, It’s Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Agency, Trump, South Carolina Gov, Republican, NHS, Labour, Tory, Social, Italiana, European Union, ”, Islamic, Education, Workforce, Harvard, University of California, Columbia University, Columbia, Criminal Court, ICC, Israeli, International Court of Justice, United Nations Security, American Friends Service Committee, RFK, Disney, Entertainment, Democrats Locations: Alito’s Virginia, New Zealand, AFP, ”, England, Trump’s America, America, Italian, Germany, Poland, France, Berlin, Hill, American, British, London, Notting Hill, Iran, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic, University of California Los Angeles, Gaza, United Kingdom, Rafah, Georgia’s, Moscow, Africa

☆ Opinion: Trump’s defense ends on one disastrous witness
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Part of the reason for those modest hopes was the fact that the defense case would not include testimony by the defendant. Later, the charging conference to agree on jury instructions showed how daunting the law is that Trump faces. All of that is bad news not just for Costello, whose clash with Merchan won Trump’s praise outside the courtroom Monday, but also for the defense. Because Costello was one of Trump’s only witnesses, there is also the risk that he — and the jury’s reaction to his poor attitude — will taint the defense case overall. There was little the defense could do about the law in the charging conference beyond their usual able argument.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Robert Costello, Costello, Michael Cohen, Susan Hoffinger, ” Cohen, Rudy Giuliani, Cohen, —, Trump, Norm Eisen, Stormy Daniels, ”, parrying, Merchan, it’s, Matthew Colangelo, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump —, FBI, Prosecutors, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Manhattan, , New York

☆ Opinion: Trump’s defense got one last shot at Michael Cohen. Did they make their case?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The biggest drama in the trial of former President Donald Trump on Monday came not, as expected, in the cross-examination of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. His testimony wrapped without any moments approaching the significance of last week’s defense hits on the star witness. Cohen had already admitted that he lied to Costello, and indeed lied more broadly to protect Trump before cooperating with the government. But Cohen has already testified that he lied about Trump’s knowledge of the payment to Daniels before cooperating with prosecutors. It culminated before the lunch break with a bit of razzle- dazzle to bolster Cohen’s testimony about what happened on that phone call with Schiller and Trump.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, — Robert Costello, Cohen —, audibly, Juan Merchan, Costello, ” Merchan, cautioning, ’, …, ” Costello, Merchan, Norm Eisen, Cohen, chastising Costello, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Keith Schiller, Schiller, —, Trump’s, ”, Susan Hoffinger, Perry Mason Organizations: CNN, Monday, Trump, Trump Organization, SPAN, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Trump’s Manhattan, Tampa , Florida

☆ Opinion: Credibility is the key at Trump trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

The idea that Cohen talked to Trump about Daniels on that call “was a lie,” Blanche alleged. Moreover, my experience has been that juries don’t decide based upon one moment — they base their judgment on an overall view.”There were allegedly three parties aware of the scheme to conceal the real reason Trump paid Cohen more than $400,000 in supposed legal fees: Trump, Cohen and Allen Weisselberg, then-chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. “Weisselberg could be the linchpin to validate Cohen’s claims about Trump agreeing to reimburse him through Trump Organization, as a business expense,” wrote attorney Stacy Schneider. Trump seems to be tempted to go mano a mano and show that he is better fit to be commander-in-chief. The new requirement for GOP politicians wanting to demonstrate their loyalty to Trump seems to be visiting the Manhattan courthouse where he’s on trial.

Persons: CNN —, ” Mark Twain, “, Twain, ” Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, —, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Norm Eisen, Blanche, ”, pummeled Cohen, Robert Mueller, Nick Anderson, Agency Cohen, Keith Schiller, Daniels, ” Blanche, ” Eisen, don’t, Allen Weisselberg, Stacy Schneider, Weisselberg, David Zurawik, “ I’ve, Sen, Robert Menendez, He’s, George Santos ., CNN “ It’s, he’s, ‘, Henry Cuellar, ” Cupp, Drew Sheneman, Georgia —, Vladimir Putin’s, Frida Ghitis, ” Ghitis, Joe Biden’s, ” Dana Summers, “ Biden, ” Julian Zelizer, mano, Biden, ” Bill Bramhall, Stephanie Griffith, Howard Tucker, Gayle Fleming, Michael Ventura Gayle Fleming, Biden —, ” Tom Brady’s, Kara Alaimo, Tom Brady “, Kevin Hart, Gisele Bündchen, Brady, Benjamin, Vivian, ’ Brady, ’, Alaimo, Brady didn’t, Nafees Syed, Kamel El Hilali, Andrew Borene, freakout Scott Stantis, Jeff Yang, … ” Brown, Keith Magee, Brown, backpedaling, Forget, Doug Burgum, Scott Jennings, Burgum’s, Bill Bramhall, Content Agency Clarence Thomas Washington, Clarence Thomas ’, Dean Obeidallah, Thomas, Harlan Crow, ” Clay Jones, John Oliver’s, Steve Vladeck, “ Thomas, ” Don’t, Clayton Swope, Dan Perry, Netanyahu, Jill Filipovic, Miss Teen USA Mary Ziegler, Bob Kolasky, Megan L, Ranney, Karen Tang, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Jonathan Yeo, King Charles III, Aaron Chown, Holly Thomas, King Organizations: CNN, Trump, Tribune, Agency, Trump Organization, Twitter, Facebook, DC, Robert Menendez of New, GOP, ” Texas, White, Europe, Russia, Kyiv, Biden, ABC, Democratic Party, Netflix, Garden State, Content Agency, Capitol, Consumer Financial, Board, Fifth Circuit, ICC, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Buckingham Palace, Royal Locations: New York, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Russian, Ukraine, Slovakia, Georgia, Soviet Republic, United States, Cleveland, “, Manhattan, North, . North Dakota, ” That’s, Louisiana , Mississippi, Texas, Florida’s, Buckingham

☆ Michael Cohen gives Donald Trump his best day in hush money trial so far
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Donald Trump finally had a good day in court. But on Thursday, he got to savor his former fixer-turned-enemy Michael Cohen wobbling on the stand under a fearsome cross-examination. And now, the prosecution faces a stiff challenge in repairing the damage when they get to their redirect examination of Cohen’s testimony following the close of cross-examination next week. “I think it was a very interesting day, it was a fascinating day. And it also raises the possibility that some jurors might believe that they have been lied to by Cohen earlier in the trial.

Persons: Donald Trump, Michael Cohen wobbling, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, “, ” Ryan Goodman, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Trump, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Daniels, ’, Keith Schiller, Schiller, …, ” Blanche, President Trump, doesn’t, ”, Juan Merchan, Nikki Lotze, “ Jim, Norm Eisen, ” Eisen, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, George Conway, ” Cohen, kingpins, Cohen’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, NYU Law, Florida, Conservative

☆ Opinion: Did Trump’s defense think this strategy would work on Cohen?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The forceful direct examination of former Trump fixer-turned-star prosecution witness Michael Cohen concluded Tuesday in the Manhattan criminal trial of former President Donald Trump. But the cross was uneven and Cohen, like Stormy Daniels before him, held his own. Whether that will change in the days ahead remains to be seen, but in any event, the cross of Cohen got off to an inauspicious start. ), his anti-Trump podcast (showing bias, but Cohen owned it) and even selling anti-Trump merchandise (showing financial motive, but again failing to get a rise out of Cohen). However, even when Blanche confronted Cohen with his most inflammatory social media comments, such as calling Trump a “dictator douchebag” and a “Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain,” Cohen was utterly unfazed.

Persons: Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Allen, Weisselberg, Daniels, Norm Eisen, Susan Hoffinger, ”, Hoffinger, “, Blanche, ” Cohen, Susan Necheles, Necheles, Judge Juan Merchan, douchebag ”, mercifully, Blanche’s Organizations: CNN, Trump fixer, Trump, Trump Organization, Trump “, Twitter Locations: Manhattan

☆ Opinion: Michael Cohen has lied. Here’s why the Trump jury can believe him
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Pecker explained that for the scheme to further benefit Trump’s campaign, he later set in motion the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump claimed Cohen made the payment on his own and not at Trump’s direction, but Hicks did not believe him. He testified that he was under the belief that Cohen needed Trump’s approval to wire any funds and that Trump was the source. Former Trump Organization accountant Deborah Tarasoff also told the jury that Trump was directly involved in reimbursing Cohen. She spoke at length about how Trump continued to focus on personal and Trump Organization business minutiae while in the White House.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, CNN — Michael Cohen, Trump, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Norm Eisen, Daniels, David Pecker, Pecker, Hope Hicks, ” Hicks, Hicks, Allen Weisselberg, ” Trump, Weisselberg, Keith Davidson, Davidson, Deborah Tarasoff, reimbursing Cohen, Tarasoff, Donald J, Eric Trump, Reimbursing Cohen Cohen, Trump’s, Jeffrey McConney, I’ve, ” McConney, Madeleine Westerhout, Westerhout, Sally Franklin, ” Organizations: CNN, Trump, American Media, National Enquirer, Trump Organization, Trump Revocable Trust, White House, White, Twitter, Facebook, Random, “ Trump, The Trump Organization Locations: Trump’s Manhattan, Manhattan, Trump, “

☆ Opinion: Stormy Daniels turned the tables on the Trump team’s strategy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Trump denies having a sexual encounter with Daniels and has pleaded not guilty. It was expected that the cross would be even tougher today and, indeed, Necheles furiously attacked Daniels from the get-go. In the most pointed back-and-forth of the day, Necheles attacked Daniels’ recollection of the circumstances surrounding her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. It also reinforced Daniels’ Tuesday testimony that she felt a power imbalance with Trump at the time of the encounter. I interviewed him on these identical facts for the first Trump impeachment and I expect he, like Daniels, will exceed expectations.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Susan Necheles capably, Norm Eisen, Necheles, Trump, ” Daniels, I’m, unclothed, ”, Michael Cohen Organizations: CNN, Manhattan, Trump, Prosecutors, Twitter, Facebook

☆ The Trump hush money trial might be tawdry but it’s likely the only one he’ll face before the election
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

He learned late Tuesday afternoon that Judge Aileen Cannon, whom he appointed, indefinitely postponed a trial in his classified documents case in Florida. She told the jury Tuesday about a $130,000 hush money payment she received from Cohen before the 2016 election. But prosecutors allege Trump falsified business records to hide it and to mislead voters in an early bout of election interference. The judge complained that the ex-president was “cursing audibly” during Daniels’ testimony and was shaking his head. “Am I correct that you hate President Trump?” Necheles asked.

Persons: CNN —, Stormy Daniels, Donald, —, he’s, Trump, scowling, Daniels, Aileen Cannon, Ty Cobb, Cannon, ” Cobb, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Cannon’s, Trump’s, it’s, Michael Cohen, Cohen, He’s, “, Donald Trump, Norm Eisen, CNN’s Wolf, Judge Juan Merchan, audibly ”, ”, Todd Blanche, Jeremy Herb, Merchan, Susan Necheles, Necheles, ” Necheles, ” Daniels, ‘, Let’s, ’, Daniels —, Eric Trump, ” Trump Organizations: CNN, White, Trump, White House, ” Locations: Florida, Lake Tahoe

☆ Opinion: Stormy Daniels clears up hush money events for jury while clouding Trump’s defense
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

We can break down Daniels’ testimony by five critical “C” components:Curiosity: From the moment Daniels entered the room on stage right, the jury’s eyes — indeed, all eyes in the courtroom — were on her. Character: Assistant District Attorney Susan Hoffinger spent the first 15 minutes or so of direct examination introducing Daniels to the jury. Join us on Twitter and FacebookCross: As with every witness in this trial, the defense, in this case the able Susan Necheles, landed some blows. More fundamentally, Necheles challenged the witness’ credibility on the 2006 encounter with Trump, pointing out that Daniels had previously denied it as recently as 2018. The widely anticipated testimony of Stormy Daniels did not disappoint.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, CNN —, Stormy Daniels, Norm Eisen, Norm Eisen Daniels, Trump, Daniels, Susan Hoffinger, ”, Hoffinger, Juan Merchan, Michael Cohen, Susan Necheles, Necheles Organizations: CNN, Trump, Prosecutors, Texas, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Manhattan, Baton Rouge , Louisiana

☆ Opinion: Trump trial prosecutors in hush money case rack up points
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

He was a financial professional at the Trump Organization for decades who proved to be an effective guide to the second phase of the prosecution’s case. The controller agreed that he “rarely spoke” with Trump while at the Trump Organization, never spoke to Cohen about these issues and was never asked by Trump to make the questioned business entries. Join us on Twitter and FacebookA similar back-and-forth unfolded after the lunch break, including when another member of the Trump Organization accounting staff, accounts payable supervisor Deborah Tarasoff, testified. While we have a ways to go on both halves of the case, prosecutors are scoring more points so far. So while Trump can feel good about his team’s effort, he can’t be very encouraged about where the overall scoreboard stands.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan’s, Jeffrey McConney, Norm Eisen, McConney, David Pecker, Trump, Matthew Colangelo, Allen Weisselberg, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Cohen, Emil Bove, Deborah Tarasoff, District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Hope Hicks Organizations: CNN, Trump Organization, National Enquirer, Assistant, Trump, Cohen, Twitter, Facebook, District Attorney, White House

☆ Opinion: Hope Hicks’ testimony was a nightmare for Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —It’s a cliché to say that electricity surged through a courtroom — but it did when Hope Hicks took the stand Friday morning for her testimony in the election interference trial of former President Donald Trump. That is because as special counsel for the first Trump impeachment, I took her testimony on the alleged 2016 election influence scheme. When I took Hicks’ testimony for the impeachment proceedings, I found her to be a compelling witness, and the same was true Friday. Trump appeared to nod off repeatedly, including during Hicks’ testimony about how she first learned of the Daniels story. !” Asleep or awake, for Trump, Hicks’ testimony was a nightmare.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, CNN —, Hope Hicks, Norm Eisen, Hicks, ”, Trump, Stormy Daniels, –, Daniels, ” Hicks, Matthew Colangelo, Michael Cohen, Cohen, — Organizations: CNN, Trump, Washington Post, Twitter, Facebook Locations: East

☆ Opinion: How one text exchange gave Trump an ominous day in court
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Norm Eisen Courtesy Norm EisenIn Donald Trump’s Manhattan election interference trial, the case is coming in better than expected, and that is ominous for the former president. The prosecution asked Davidson to explain the meaning of a text he had sent to Howard that evening. As the election was about to be called for Trump, Davidson sent a text to Howard asking, “What have we done?”Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Davidson what the meaning of those words were. It also highlighted the stakes here: Unlike Trump’s 2020 election interference cases pending in Georgia and federal court, the unlawful effort to impact the election alleged in this case might have actually worked. I was watching the jury closely when Davidson spoke, and they were riveted.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, CNN CNN —, Norm Eisen, Donald Trump’s, Keith Davidson, Davidson, Karen McDougal, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Michael Cohen, Daniels, David Pecker, Cohen, Dylan Howard —, Howard, Joshua Steinglass, ”, Matthew Colangelo Organizations: CNN, CNN CNN, American Media, Inc, National Enquirer, Trump, Twitter Locations: ”, Donald Trump’s Manhattan, Georgia

☆ Opinion: Even if Trump can’t stay awake this week, the jury will have reason to
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Welcome to week two of the Trump 2016 election interference trial. And the case Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought is, at heart, a documents case – Trump has been charged with 34 counts of felony record falsification, actions allegedly taken to cover up hush money payoffs connected to the 2016 election. But as demonstrated by longtime Trump assistant Rhona Graff’s testimony Friday afternoon, the methodical nature of the testimony and evidence doesn’t mean it will be dull for the jury. The testimony of Gary Farro, Cohen’s onetime banker, is emblematic of what we are likely to hear from other witnesses this week. When defense counsel elicited from Graff on cross-examination that Trump was a good boss, she became a free character witness.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, David Pecker, Norm Eisen, Attorney Alvin Bragg, – Trump, Rhona Graff’s, Trump’s, paramours, Karen McDougal, Stormy Daniels, Pecker, Dallas ”, ” –, Trump, Michael Cohen, Daniels, Gary Farro, Cohen’s, Farro, Graff, Cohen, Rebecca Mangold, McDougal, Mangold, It’s, Team Trump Organizations: CNN, National Enquirer, Attorney, Trump, Dallas, Prosecutors, Team, DA Locations: Manhattan

☆ Opinion: Trump should go to jail if he violates judge’s gag order again
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Merchan sanctioned Trump for violating his gag order for nine posts and reposts on his Truth Social site and campaign website, targeting witnesses and jurors in his Manhattan prosecution. In his written order, summarized from the bench at the start of the trial on Tuesday, the judge also warned Trump that if he persists in violating the gag order, he faces jail time. Perhaps the new sanctions — or those likely to come in response to the newest four allegations of gag order violations — will be the end of it. As I have previously explained, Trump’s argument that the gag order infringes his First Amendment rights is specious. In any event, even if Trump believes those things, that is no excuse under New York law to violate a court order.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Norm Eisen, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Trump, ” Trump, incarcerate, Nelson Mandela, it’s, —, ”, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, Liberal, New, White House Locations: Manhattan, New York

☆ Opinion: Winds of fate confront Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | 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. To Trump’s delight, the top court’s session dimmed the chances the federal case will go to trial before the election. (Trump has denied the affairs with Daniels and McDougal and has pleaded not guilty to the hush money charges. Here’s why we should tune in anyway 04:27 - Source: CNNAs SE Cupp noted, “Trump and Biden debated twice in 2020. Chris Pizzello/Invision/APCNN anchor Victor Blackwell is a fervent Beyoncé fan but her foray into country music didn’t initially grab him.

Persons: CNN —, Yabushige, Yoshii, ”, “, Toranaga, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Jack Smith, Steve Vladeck, Neil Gorsuch, ” Clay Jones, immunizing Trump, John Roberts, Roberts, ” Vladeck, Joey Jackson, David Pecker, Pecker’s “, Michael Cohen …, Norm Eisen, George T, Conway III, Jill Filipovic, Melania Trump, Melania, Daniels, McDougal, ” Bill Bramhall, Frida Ghitis, Jonathan Greenblatt, ” “, Rev, Serene Jones, Israel … ”, Julian Zelizer, …, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Richard Daley, Richard Nixon, Fareed Zakaria, Ian Berlin, I’m, Bill Bramhall, Kara Alaimo, ” Alaimo, “ Trump, Biden, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Chip Bok, Clarissa Wei, Mike Johnson, Sen, John Fetterman of, Johnson, Scott Jennings, it’s, Mark Hannah, “ Biden, ” Biden, Hannah, Deborah Carr, Gerry Turner, Theresa, ’ —, ” Carr, ” Don’t, Terri Gerstein, Hasan Merali, Tess Taylor, Jeff Yang, Dean Obeidallah, Joey Weatherford, Beyoncé, Chris Pizzello, Victor Blackwell, didn’t, ’, Carter, she’s, CNN FlashDocs, Duke Ellington, Sammy Miller, Billy Strayhorn, Ellington, Strayhorn, Michael Ochs, “ Ellington, — Organizations: CNN, Republican, Art Deco New, “, Trump, New, American Media, National Enquirer, Agency, Columbia University , Yale, Defamation League, Hillel, Columbia, Force, Union Theological Seminary, New York City Police Department, Columbia University, Twitter, Facebook, Democratic, Convention, Chicago police, Yale, Real Housewives, Syndicate, Theresa Nist, Nashville’s, Max, Michael Ochs Archives Locations: New York, Washington, Florida, Georgia, Israel, Israeli, Columbia, Gaza, Chicago, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, America, Taipei, ”, Ukraine, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Fetterman, Crimea, Los Angeles, Sugar, Harlem

☆ Opinion: Trump attorney gives David Pecker an embarrassing courtroom apology
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Indeed, Bove was forced to apologize to Pecker in front of the jury to open the day. Bove got Pecker to concede that the National Enquirer did “catch and kill” stories to bury damaging information about high-profile people all the time. Bove also contrasted Pecker’s testimony with what was in the FBI notes of Pecker’s first 2018 interview with the feds. And Bove intimated that Pecker cannot directly connect Trump to the allegedly illegal payments then-Trump fixer Michael Cohen made to Daniels at a later date. As for Trump’s recognition of yours truly, it happened again as he left the courtroom Friday for the mid-day break.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Trump, Donald Trump, David Pecker, Norm Eisen, Emil Bove, Bove, Stormy Daniels, —, Juan Merchan, Bove’s, Pecker, Daniels, Hope Hicks, Merchan, Trump’s, ” Merchan, blunting, Pecker’s, Michael Cohen Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Enquirer, White House Communications, Twitter Locations: New York, Manhattan, Washington, York, —, Trump

☆ 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

☆ 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: 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

☆ 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

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