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Here’s what led to the dismissal in the Baldwin case. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer presides over actor Alec Baldwin's trial on involuntary manslaughter in First Judicial District Court on July 12, 2024 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The items, however, were cataloged separately from Baldwin’s case, excluded from the “Rust” case inventory and not tested to see if they matched the lethal round, according to Poppell’s testimony. Attorney Luke Nikas embraces actor Alec Baldwin during his trial on involuntary manslaughter at Santa Fe County District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on July 12, 2024. Dismissal with prejudice is warranted to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the efficient administration of justice.”Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney, Jason Bowles, said he will move to dismiss her case following Baldwin’s case dismissal.

Persons: Alec, ”, Mary Marlowe Sommer, Baldwin, Hilaria, Halyna Hutchins, “, Hutchins, “ Rust, Joel Souza, Seth Kenney, – Erlinda Johnson –, Marlowe Sommer, Kari Morrissey, Alex Spiro, ” Morrissey, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, Alec Baldwin's, Ramsay de, Baldwin’s, Brady, Marissa Poppell, Troy Teske, Gutierrez, Teske, ” Marlowe Sommer, Luke Nikas, Alec Baldwin, ” Gutierrez, Jason Bowles, ” Bowles, CNN’s Julia Vargas Jones Organizations: CNN, Images Defense, Cornell Law School, Office, Court, Getty, State Locations: New Mexico, Mexico, Judicial, Santa Fe , New Mexico, . Maryland, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County

☆ A Mark of Shame for 900 Years. Until Now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The question now is whether the label will actually tarnish Mr. Trump, as it has so many people over the centuries. President Biden seems to be betting that it will. But in a sense, its power derives from its elastic boundaries: Unlike specific crimes, which hinge on the defendant’s behavior, the felony category is defined only by its punishments. “We don’t have a positive definition,” said Elise Wang, a historian who has traced the word’s origins back to medieval literature. “We only have a tautology.”

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Donald J, Trump, Biden, ”, Trump “, who’s, “, Elise Wang Organizations: Biden Locations: Manhattan

CNN —Donald Trump will not be sentenced on his business fraud conviction until September, a New York judge ruled Tuesday in the wake of Monday’s Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. The ruling could impact the indictments of Trump in the classified documents and Georgia election interference cases as well. Trump’s legal team filed a letter Monday seeking to challenge the former president’s conviction after the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have an absolute immunity from prosecution for core official acts. Will Scharf, an attorney who represents Trump in the immunity case, told CNN Monday night the high court’s ruling “absolutely” impacts the hush money case. Video Ad Feedback Biden reacts to Supreme Court's immunity ruling 04:35 - Source: CNN“Under Trump, this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Juan Merchan, Jack Smith’s, –, defendant’s, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump’s, Will Scharf, “, ”, Hope Hicks, Biden, Trump ‘, ’ ”, ’ Organizations: CNN, Monday’s, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney’s, Attorney, ” Locations: New York, Georgia, Manhattan, Trump

☆ Supreme Court Rules for Member of Jan 6. Mob in Obstruction Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Supreme Court sided on Friday with a member of the mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, saying that prosecutors had overstepped in using an obstruction law to charge him. The ruling may affect hundreds of other prosecutions of rioters, as well as part of the federal case against former President Donald J. Trump accusing him of plotting to subvert the 2020 election. But the precise impact of the court’s ruling on those other cases was not immediately clear. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for the majority, read the law narrowly, saying it applied only when the defendant’s actions impaired the integrity of physical evidence. Lower courts will now apply that strict standard, and it will presumably lead them to dismiss charges against many defendants.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, John G, Roberts Organizations: Capitol

☆ Live Updates: Supreme Court Rules for Member of Jan 6. Mob in Obstruction Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Nor was it clear that a ruling in Mr. Fischer’s favor would erase the two charges against Mr. Trump under the law. In a separate case, the justices will soon decide whether Mr. Trump is immune from prosecution. 23-5572, was whether the law could be used to prosecute Mr. Fischer, a former Pennsylvania police officer. According to the government, Mr. Fischer sent text messages to his boss, the police chief of North Cornwall Township, Pa., about his plans for Jan. 6. “When the crowd breached the Capitol, Mr. Fischer was in Maryland, not Washington, D.C.,” his lawyers wrote in their brief.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, John G, Roberts, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Amy Coney Barrett, Joseph W, Fischer, Fischer’s, Jack Smith, Trump’s, Mr, ”, “, ” Mr, Joseph R, Biden, Judge Florence Y, Judge Gregory G, Katsas Organizations: Capitol, Mr, Sarbanes, Oxley, Enron Corporation, ” Prosecutors, D.C, Congress, Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit Locations: United States, Pennsylvania, North Cornwall Township, Pa, Maryland, Washington

☆ Live Updates: Supreme Court Says Prosecutors Overstepped With Jan. 6 Charge
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The Supreme Court sided on Friday with a member of the mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, saying that prosecutors had overstepped in using an obstruction law to charge him. Nor was it clear that a ruling in Mr. Fischer’s favor would erase the two charges against Mr. Trump under the law. 23-5572, was whether the law could be used to prosecute Mr. Fischer, a former Pennsylvania police officer. According to the government, Mr. Fischer sent text messages to his boss, the police chief of North Cornwall Township, Pa., about his plans for Jan. 6. “When the crowd breached the Capitol, Mr. Fischer was in Maryland, not Washington, D.C.,” his lawyers wrote in their brief.

☆ Judge rolls back parts of Trump gag order ahead of sentencing in New York criminal case
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Lauren Del Valle | Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Trump, however, cannot discuss any prosecutor, court staffer or their family members, according to a court order on Tuesday from Judge Juan Merchan that rolls back parts of the gag order imposed before the trial began. That aspect of the gag order remains in effect at least until his sentencing, which is set for July 11. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement that Merchan’s order “leaves in place portions of the unconstitutional gag order” and that Trump plans to appeal the ruling. Trump repeatedly complained about the gag order throughout the seven-week trial, arguing that witnesses, including Cohen, were taking advantage of the gag order to attack him when he couldn’t respond. In the filing, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it did not oppose lifting the portion of the gag order that blocked Trump from making statements about witnesses.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Joe Biden, Trump, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Biden, Steven Cheung, ” Cheung, ” Trump, Cohen, Daniels, Donald, Donald’s, ” Merchan, “ Organizations: CNN, Trump, Democratic, “, New, Trump fixer Locations: Manhattan

☆ ‘Rust’ prosecutors intend to paint Alec Baldwin as repeatedly ‘reckless’ while handling firearm, court document shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Cindy Von Quednow | Josh Campbell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Baldwin previously stated to CNN that he did not pull the trigger on the weapon during the deadly incident. “I never took a gun and pointed at somebody and clicked the thing,” Baldwin said at the time. The special prosecution team also alleged Baldwin was “inattentive during the firearms training” conducted by on-set armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, claiming the actor was texting and video conferencing with family members rather than focusing on the safety briefing. In the filing, special prosecutors repeatedly insisted Baldwin exercised complete control over the set and crew during instances where alleged unsafe practices were identified on video. Cinematographer Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza injured when a gun held by Baldwin fired a live round during a scene rehearsal on the set of the western.

Persons: Alec Baldwin, Halyna Hutchins, Baldwin, ” Baldwin, Hutchins, Luke Nikas, ”, Baldwin “, ” “, “, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, Joel Souza Organizations: CNN —, ” Prosecutors, CNN Locations: Santa Fe County’s

☆ Hunter Biden convicted on all 3 charges at federal gun trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Marshall Cohen | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A federal jury has convicted Hunter Biden on all three federal felony gun charges he faced, concluding that he violated laws meant to prevent drug addicts from owning firearms. Leaving the courthouse after the verdict, Hunter Biden shuffled his family members into an elevator as he held hands with his wife. The weeklong gun trial featured intensely personal and gut-wrenching testimony about Hunter Biden’s well-known struggles with alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction. Hunter Biden’s defense team argued, unsuccessfully, that he didn’t view himself as a user or addict when he bought and possessed the gun. Defense attorney Abbe Lowell had implored the jury to acquit Hunter Biden on those grounds.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden’s, David Weiss, Melissa, ” Hunter Biden, God, Biden, “, ”, “ Jill, Hunter, Jill, Jill Biden, Kevin Morris, Valerie Biden, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Hunter Biden’s, Trump, Joe Biden, Weiss, Weiss ’, Maryellen Noreika, ” Prosecutors, Hallie Biden, Beau Biden –, Abbe Lowell, acquit Hunter Biden, CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz, Paula Reid, Kit Maher Organizations: CNN, Department, Trump, ” Locations: Delaware, “, New York, China

☆ Trump completed pre-sentencing interview with New York probation office, source tells CNN
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Kristen Holmes | John Miller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump completed his pre-sentencing interview with the New York City Department of Probation on Monday after his hush money trial conviction last month, a source familiar with the proceedings told CNN. “Earlier today, President Trump completed a routine interview with [the] New York Probation Office. Trump answered all questions in the virtual interview and was described as polite, respectful and accommodating to the probation officers, according to a New York City official familiar with the interview. The probation department did not rule out the possibility of a follow-up meeting, the source added. In a pre-sentencing interview, a defendant is typically asked about their conviction and other basic background information such as their employment and criminal history.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Hunt, ”, Juanita Holmes, Todd Blanche, Juan Merchan, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Alayna Treene, Lauren del Valle Organizations: CNN, New York City Department, New, New York Probation, New York City, New York City Department of, Trump, Manhattan Locations: New York, Manhattan, New

CNN —Former President Donald Trump is scheduled for a pre-sentencing interview with a probation officer Monday after his hush money trial conviction last month, according to a Trump campaign official and two sources familiar with the matter. The interview will be virtual and, as CNN previously reported, Trump attorney Todd Blanche will be present. In the pre-sentencing interview, a defendant is typically asked about their conviction and other basic background information such as their employment and criminal history. “President Trump and his legal team are already taking necessary steps to challenge and defeat the lawless Manhattan DA case,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement Saturday. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office will also submit a memo telling the judge what sentence it sees fit for Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Juan Merchan, Trump, –, ” Trump, Steven Cheung Organizations: CNN, Trump, NBC News, Manhattan DA, Manhattan, Prosecutors Locations: Manhattan

☆ Hunter Biden’s Laptop Makes a Brief Appearance at His Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Robert Draper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a federal prosecutor, Derek Hines, brandished the headliner in question — Mr. Biden’s notorious laptop, a silver Apple MacBook Pro encased in a plastic cover. He waggled it about with his left hand while reminding a government witness, Erika Jensen, an F.B.I. special agent, of all the data that had been seized during the Department of Justice’s investigation of Mr. Biden. The jurors and courtroom spectators gazed at government Exhibit 16 as if expecting sparks to fly from it. Three seconds later, Mr. Hines returned the laptop to the prosecutors’ table, soon to be buried under a heap of other government evidence.

Persons: Hunter, Derek Hines, Erika Jensen, Mr, Biden, Hines Organizations: of

☆ Judge Cannon expands hearing on Trump’s request to declare special counsel’s appointment invalid
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Dan Berman | Katelyn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Cannon is planning on holding a sprawling hearing on Trump’s request to declare Jack Smith’s appointment as special counsel invalid, signaling she could be more willing than any other trial judge to veto the special prosecutor’s authority. Wednesday, Cannon went further, adding a hearing on a gag order request from prosecutors to limit Trump’s rhetoric about law enforcement and allotting more time to hear arguments on the special counsel issue. Cannon’s signal of willingness to entertain challenges to the special counsel comes in the same week Republicans are bearing down on Attorney General Merrick Garland for his use of special counsels. A third group says the Department of Justice’s use of a special counsel should be upheld. Cannon still agreed to the hearing Trump wanted.

Persons: Aileen Cannon, Donald Trump’s, Cannon, Jack Smith’s, It’s, –, Trump, Evan Corcoran, Hunter, didn’t, Paul Manafort’s, Robert Mueller’s, Andrew Miller, Roger Stone, General Merrick Garland, David Weiss, Hunter Biden, – Cannon, ” Bradley Moss, Edwin Meese, Michael Mukasey, Meese, Mukasey, ’ Organizations: CNN, FBI, Trump, Southern District of, Justice Department, Republican Locations: Los Angeles and Delaware, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Delaware, Washington ,

☆ Takeaways from Day 2 of the Hunter Biden federal gun trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Marshall Cohen | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It doesn’t matter who you are or what your name is.”Melissa Cohen Biden, Hunter Biden’s wife, vigorously shook her head in disapproval when Hines argued that Biden knew he was an addict when he bought the gun. Lowell, well into his statement, had explained how despite claims from prosecutors, the evidence doesn’t show Biden was using drugs the day he bought the gun. Video Ad Feedback Ex-federal prosecutor expects Hunter Biden to be found guilty. The dealer ended the text with, “We will always be friends, bro.”A video of Hunter Biden shirtless is seen on screen during the trial on Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware. Bill HennessyIn other messages, Biden said he was “sleeping on a car smoking crack” at a street corner in downtown Wilmington that’s only a few blocks away from the federal courthouse where the trial is under way.

Persons: Hunter, Biden, Derek Hines, Joe Biden’s, “ isn’t, ” Hines, Hines, ” Melissa Cohen Biden, Hunter Biden’s, Abbe Lowell, “, ” Lowell, Lowell, Hallie Biden, ”, Hunter Biden, Jill Biden, stoically, Erika Jensen, Ashley, bro, Bill Hennessy, Biden’s, Jensen, Kathleen Buhle, Macayla Cook, Evan Perez Organizations: Delaware CNN, CNN Prosecutors, FBI, Prosecutors, Republicans Locations: Wilmington, Delaware, Arizona, Los Angeles, California, Massachusetts, Wilmington , Delaware, Russia

☆ Hunter Biden’s Ex-Wife, a Key Witness, Is Expected to Testify in Gun Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Eileen Sullivan | Glenn Thrush | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the government deepens its argument against Hunter Biden, prosecutors are expected to start calling his former partners to the stand on Wednesday, inviting them to air sordid details of his life and the depths of his addiction to crack cocaine. On Tuesday, prosecutors presented texts that showed Hunter Biden’s desperate scramble to obtain crack cocaine in the spring and summer of 2018. A day later, in his cross-examination, Mr. Lowell was able to get an F.B.I. agent to admit that none of the material covered his activity in the fall. The two divorced in 2017 after nearly a quarter-century of marriage and have three daughters.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Biden’s, Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s, Lowell, Biden, David C, Weiss, Kathleen Buhle

The first day of testimony in Hunter Biden’s trial on gun-related charges kicked off Tuesday with the surreal sound of the defendant’s own voice ringing through the courtroom, narrating his descent into drug addiction, when prosecutors played the audiobook of his memoir. It ended with bitter written words: expletive-laced, panicked texts to Hallie Biden, his brother’s widow and his onetime girlfriend, berating her for disposing of a handgun and warning, presciently, that it might set off a federal investigation. The government’s case against President Biden’s son — for all the drama, media swirl and complex political dynamics — is pretty straightforward legally: proving that Mr. Biden was abusing drugs when he filled out a federal firearms application claiming he was not an “unlawful user” of controlled substances. Prosecutors stressed that point in their 15-minute opening argument before a packed courtroom that included Jill Biden, the first lady. Lying on a federal gun application is illegal and “nobody is allowed to lie, not even Hunter Biden,” said Derek Hines, a top deputy to the special counsel, David C. Weiss.

Persons: Hunter Biden’s, Hallie Biden, Biden’s, —, Biden, Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, ”, Derek Hines, David C, Weiss Organizations: Prosecutors

The judge left the courtroom, and Trump, his lawyers and the prosecutors remained behind to wait for the end of the day. But everything changed when the judge re-entered the courtroom at 4:36 p.m. with a stunning note: The jury had reached a verdict. The jury needed 30 minutes to fill out the forms, leaving Trump and the attorneys sitting in the courtroom until the judge and jury returned. When the judge returned to the bench, he warned the parties and the audience against “reactions” or “outbursts of any kind” before the jury entered. The jurors were polled one-by-one to confirm this was their verdict, and Trump turned and craned his neck to the right to look at the jurors.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Todd Blanche, Juan Merchan, Merchan, “, ”, Eric, Eric patted, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s, CNN’s Nicki Brown Organizations: CNN, Trump

☆ The tense tick, tick, tick of jury deliberations at Trump’s first criminal trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Trump’s vigilAs Merchan laid out his instructions for the first time on Wednesday, Trump watched from the defense lawyers’ table. Trump’s routine — aimed at voters as he seeks to delegitimize the case before the jury makes up its mind — is getting old. One new wrinkle Wednesday was his warning that the jury instructions could doom his defense. These charges are rigged.”The jury hears none of this, so it’s clear Trump is playing an outside political game. Two of the jurors are attorneys and could potentially give deliberations some structure, according to Jeff Swartz, a former Florida judge.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, tugging, David Pecker, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Cohen, ’, Daniels, Juan Merchan, what’s, doesn’t, it’s, Elie Honig, Merchan, Todd Blanche, —, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Joe Biden, “, Theresa, Jeff Swartz, ” Swartz, ” Organizations: CNN, mull, Trump, Prosecutors, Manhattan, Attorney’s Office, New York City —, Boeing, GOP Locations: Manhattan, Ireland, New York, New York City, West Harlem, Florida

CNN —The jury in Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial finished its first day of deliberations Wednesday without reaching a verdict after meeting for more than four-and-a-half hours. ET to resume deliberations, but the 12 men and women will also again hear from Judge Juan Merchan. Jurors also want to re-hear Merchan’s instructions on the law that he had given them earlier Wednesday morning. The testimony the jurors are requesting relates to interactions Trump had directly with Pecker. While most federal judges will send the actual document with the jury as it deliberates, New York state courts forbid this practice.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Juan Merchan, David Pecker, Michael Cohen, Trump, Karen McDougal’s, Cohen, Pecker, Joe Biden, Merchan, Stormy Daniels, ” Merchan, Elie Honig, “, ” Honig, ”, They’ve Organizations: CNN, National Enquirer, AMI, Trump, New Locations: York, New York, Manhattan

☆ Harvey Weinstein retrial: New accusers have come forward, prosecutor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Jean Casarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

NEW YORK CNN —A Manhattan prosecutor said Wednesday a new indictment against Harvey Weinstein is possible as additional accusers have come forward with claims against the powerful Hollywood producer whose downfall became a symbol of the #MeToo movement. That trial similarly used “prior bad acts” witnesses and has also been appealed. In addition, three other women testified at trial as “prior bad acts” witnesses. They argued the “prior bad acts” witnesses should not have been allowed to testify and the court should not have given prosecutors the ability to question Weinstein about instances of verbal abuse and bullying on cross-examination. In sexual assault cases, their testimony can turn a difficult “he said, she said” case into a more convincing “he said, they said” case.

Persons: Harvey Weinstein, Nicole Blumberg, Justice Curtis Farber, “, ”, Weinstein, Blumberg, ” Blumberg, –, ” Weinstein, Arthur Aidala, Miriam “ Mimi ” Haley, Haley, ” Aidala, Farber, CNN Weinstein, Love, Jessica Mann, Mann, Prosecutors, – Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff, Lauren Young –, uncharged Organizations: YORK CNN, Hollywood, Manhattan Supreme, ” Prosecutors, New, ”, CNN, Weinstein’s Locations: Manhattan, “, Los Angeles, Hollywood, York, New York

☆ 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

Cohen testified that Trump bodyguard Keith Schiller put Trump on the phone so Cohen could tell him he was going forward with the Daniels payment. Blanche also said that prosecutors offered no evidence connecting Trump to the payment to Daniels outside of Cohen’s testimony. They speak in coded language, and they speak fast,” Steinglass said of Cohen and Trump. “Trump is deputizing Cohen right in front of Pecker so that Pecker knows that any go ahead from Cohen is a go head from Trump. When the “Access Hollywood” story came out in October 2016, Steinglass said that Trump and the campaign went into panic mode.

Persons: ”, Donald Trump, Michael Cohen –, Stormy Daniels, Cohen, Juan Merchan, Michael Cohen’s, Todd Blanche, Trump’s, Blanche, Tom Brady, ” Blanche, Keith Schiller, Trump, Daniels, Schiller, texted Schiller, “, Michael Cohen, Merchan, there’s, Joshua Steinglass, David Pecker, ” Steinglass, Steinglass, “ Hey, Keith, how’s, Karen McDougal, “ Trump, deputizing Cohen, Donald J, Pecker, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Jeff McConney, “ I’m, –, Dino, McDougal Organizations: CNN — Prosecutors, Trump, Defense, ” Prosecutors, CNN, AMI, ”, Trump Organization, Trump Org, ” Defense, Trump . Trump Locations: Trump’s New York, Trump, Weisselberg

☆ Appeals court rejects argument that Democratic-lean of DC’s jury pool makes it unfit for January 6 cases
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A federal appeals court, including two Donald Trump appointees, ruled Tuesday that the Democratic-lean of Washington, DC’s, population does not make its jury pool too biased to try a January 6 Capitol rioter case. The DC US Circuit Court of Appeals, in an opinion written by Barack Obama-appointed Judge Patricia Millett and joined by Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, both Trump appointees, rejected the version of the argument put forward by Webster. “Webster asserts that the District overwhelmingly voted for President Biden and historically votes for Democratic candidates. … That may be,” Millett wrote. “Generalized disapproval of criminal conduct — even the specific conduct at issue in a defendant’s case — says nothing about a juror’s ability to be impartial in deciding whether a particular individual committed a crime or not.”

Persons: Donald Trump, Thomas Webster, Barack Obama, Patricia Millett, Gregory Katsas, Neomi Rao, Webster, “ Webster, Biden, ” Millett, Richard Nixon, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Capitol, New York Police, Trump, DC, Circuit, Appeals, DC Circuit Locations: Washington, DC’s

☆ Special counsel plans to use infamous Hunter Biden laptop as evidence at gun trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Marshall Cohen | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Special counsel David Weiss plans to introduce Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop as evidence against him at his upcoming trial on felony gun charges. Republican officials and right-wing outlets have seized on the laptop’s embarrassing emails and images to attack Biden, the son of President Joe Biden. Hunter Biden’s lawyers have said the files were manipulated, and even sued a computer repair shop owner who publicly released the material. In their own court filings earlier this week, Hunter Biden’s lawyers said they want to contest the authenticity of the materials from the laptop if Weiss brings it up at trial. The testimony, prosecutors say, is “an attempt to substitute the testimony of an expert for the testimony of” the defendant.

Persons: David Weiss, Hunter, Weiss, Biden, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden’s, “, ” Weiss ’, –, Donald Trump, Hunter Biden, Maryellen Noreika, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Republican, “, FBI, Apple, ” Prosecutors, Prosecutors Locations: Delaware, China, Ukraine

☆ 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

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