DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Stakes are high for prosecutors to rescue Cohen testimony as Trump trial enters endgame
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Defense lawyers say they expect to complete their bruising cross-examination of Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and enforcer, on Monday morning. In dramatic testimony, Cohen last week directly implicated Trump in the alleged scheme, saying the former president directed him to hand over $130,000 to Daniels and promised him reimbursement. With the end of Cohen’s testimony looming, there is uncertainty over the extent of Trump’s defense case. Blanche referred to the possibility of Trump’s testimony on Thursday, the last day the court was in session. After the defense case wraps up, the prosecution has a chance to put on its own rebuttal.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Michael Cohen —, Cohen, Trump’s, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, ” Cohen, Todd Blanche, Keith Schiller, Blanche, President Trump, Schiller, ’, Randy Zelin, Republican nominee’s, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, — Bradley Smith, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Smith, —, backtrack, “, ” Blanche, Arthur Engoron, president’s, Engoron Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Cornell Law School, Central ”, Republican, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, Commission Locations: New York, Lago, Manhattan, Louisiana, Lake Tahoe

☆ Trump trial heads into home stretch as Michael Cohen returns for hush money testimony
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court with his attorney Todd Blanche (L) on May 20, 2024 in New York City. The end of the criminal hush money trial of Donald Trump may soon be in sight, as testimony from his one-time personal lawyer Michael Cohen resumes Monday. Now, one big question looms over a New York courtroom: Will the former president take the witness stand? Cohen is a key witness against Trump, and prosecutors have already said he will be their last witness in the trial. But doing so would carry major risks for Trump, including the danger of being angered and rattled by cross-examination by prosecutors, and giving an answer that supports their case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Trump, Trump's, hedged, Judge Juan Merchan Organizations: U.S, Criminal, Trump Locations: New York City, New York, Manhattan

☆ Opinion: I changed my mind about the strength of the prosecution’s case against Donald Trump. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Opinion Stacy Schneider | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The heated exchange between Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche and Cohen marked the biggest blow to the prosecution’s case so far. But the DA also must prove the actual business records crime, for which Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. How I see it, Cohen’s testimony only satisfied half the equation beyond a reasonable doubt. Weisselberg could be the linchpin to validate Cohen’s claims about Trump agreeing to reimburse him through Trump Organization, as a business expense. If so, there would have been no intent to falsify the business records.

Persons: Stacy Schneider, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Cohen, Trump, Todd Blanche, Stormy Daniels, David Pecker, Keith Davidson, Daniels, Hope Hicks, Trump’s, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Juan Merchan, Pecker, won’t, Madeleine Westerhout Organizations: CNN, Attorney’s, Trump, American Media Inc, Trump Organization, Twitter, Facebook, DC Locations: Manhattan, New York

☆ House committee hearing disrupted as Marjorie Taylor Greene and AOC clash over 'fake eyelashes' jibe
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA House Oversight Committee was disrupted on Thursday evening when Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exchanged barbs that led to nearly an hour of disorder. The pair traded jibes until Ocasio-Cortez told Greene, "Oh, girl, baby girl, don't even play." AdvertisementOh girl, baby, girl... don't even play!' Chairman Comer suspended the hearing while they decided whether to strike Greene's words. AOC and Greene have a long history of animosityIn 2021, Greene attacked Ocasio-Cortez with a slew of offensive remarks.

Persons: —, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Merrick Garland, Joe Biden's, Robert Hur, Greene, Judge Juan Merchan, Donald, Jasmine Crockett, MAGA, Joe Biden, Jemal Countess, New York Democrat Ocasio, James Comer, Comer, Crockett, Marjorie Taylor Greene Bill Clark, MTG, Ocasio, H6rXG66GJk Organizations: Service, Business, Georgia Republican Rep, Texas Democratic, U.S . Rep, New York Democrat, Getty, Greene, CNN Locations: Alexandria, New York, Ocasio, Cortez, American, America

☆ 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

CNN —Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett criticized Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling her “racist,” following a tense House Oversight markup Thursday evening that quickly devolved into personal attacks. Speaking to reporters on Friday about the incident, Crockett said, “That’s all it is, it is racism. After a series of votes in response to Greene’s explosive rhetoric, Crockett made a dig that appeared to be directed at the Republican. Crockett said on Friday that Greene is unserious and does not respect the process. The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin, said that House Republicans’ behavior “brought disgrace to the whole institution,” criticizing Greene’s conduct in the hearing.

Persons: Jasmine Crockett, Marjorie Taylor Greene, General Merrick Garland, Joe Biden’s, Robert Hur, Greene, ” Greene, Crockett, “, can’t “, Judge Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, “ I’m, ” Crockett, doesn’t, we’re, MAGA, ”, I’m, Tim Burchett, butch, ’, Jamie Raskin, Greene’s Organizations: CNN — Democratic, Republican, Georgia Republican, CNN, Republicans, Trump, Democrats, Democratic, New York Democrat, Democrat Locations: Georgia, New York, Texas, Alexandria

☆ Donald Trump's allies are doing his dirty work while tiptoeing around his gag order
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Geoff Weiss | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But while the former president has been uncharacteristically restrained recently, a cast of Republican lawmakers and Trump surrogates have traveled to court to rail about the proceedings. It's raised questions about whether the "surrogates" could be violating Trump's gag order. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who has been floated as a potential VP pick, told Newsmax one reason he attended was to "overcome this gag order." Under the gag order, Trump is not allowed to comment about Cohen. But Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told BI that "practically speaking," Judge Merchan can do little to stop lawmakers from speaking on Trump's behalf.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, It's, Mike Johnson, JD Vance, Ohio, Rick Scott of, Vivek Ramaswamy, Vance, Doug Burgum, Matt Gaetz, Michael M, Trump, Juan Merchan's, Andrew Rice, he'd, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Lauren Boebert, Cohen, Boebert, Donald J, Andrew Lieb, Lieb, ANGELA WEISS, Laurie Levenson, Neama, Merchan, Rahmani, Jeff Modisett Organizations: Service, Republican, Trump, Business, Sens, Gov, Republicans, MSNBC, Caucus, Loyola Law, Former Indiana Locations: Rick Scott of Florida, Florida, Alabama, Colorado, Manhattan

☆ Analysis: Cohen gets a breather after bruising cross-examination as Trump looks on
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Blanche took Cohen through a long list of the insults he’s unleashed at Trump since becoming estranged from his former mentor, highlighting his penchant for serial lying. He drew jurors’ attention to a social media post in which Cohen wore a T-shirt that depicted Trump in jail, as he spun a narrative of bias and obsession. A key legal conundrum is whether prosecutors have so far succeeded in validating the legal theory behind the case. That foreboding realization was exacerbated by a new posse of Trump supporters at the courthouse on Tuesday, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. While Cohen’s reluctance to offer yes-and-no answers came across at times as flippant and confrontational, he did not appear to say or do anything to torpedo the prosecution case.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Michael Cohen, don’t, Cohen, ”, Todd Blanche, president’s, didn’t, he’s, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Blanche, ” Cohen, he’d, ” Blanche, douchebag, ” Michael Moore, “, Moore, Juan Merchan, Will Trump’s, ” Shira Scheindlin, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” Scheindlin, “ Cohen, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Andrew McCabe, Cohen’s, ” Moore, Daniels, Susan Hoffinger, reimbursements, ’ ” Cohen Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Middle, Middle District of, Louisiana Republican, Defense, FBI Locations: Ohio, Kentucky, Middle District, Middle District of Georgia, New York, Louisiana, Blanche, Manhattan

“Sounds like something I would say,” responded Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer. The question set the tone for the cross-examination of the Manhattan district attorney’s key witness in the hush money trial against the former president. For roughly two hours, Blanche began a cross-examination to try to discredit Cohen’s allegations against Trump. Blanche then asked whether Cohen called Trump a “Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain.”“That also sounds like something that I said,” Cohen said. “You were telling the truth, correct?” Blanche asked in regards to the compliments Cohen gave Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Todd Blanche, Michael Cohen, Blanche, Cohen, Cohen “, ”, Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Daniels, Joshua Steinglass, Juan Merchan, ” Cohen, “, Donald Trump, ’ ” Cohen, Trump Blanche, ” Blanche, Blanche . Trump, Robert Mueller’s, Jay Sekulow, –, Susan Hoffinger, Florida Sen, Rick Scott, Sen, J.D, Vance of Ohio, Doug Burgum, Mike Johnson, Byron Donalds, Cory Mills, Vivek Ramaswamy, Johnson, Lara Trump, Eric Trump, ” Ramaswamy, ” Trump Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump . Assistant, Trump –, Federal, Commission, FBI, Trump Organization, North Dakota Gov, Republican National Committee Locations: Manhattan, Russia, United States, New York, Florida, Louisiana

☆ Prosecution seeks to land Trump hush money case as Cohen cross-examination looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“This case is going to turn in large part on the cross-examination of Mr. Cohen. Cohen said that Trump told him: “Women are going to hate me. “This was all about the campaign.” Cohen also testified that Trump said he would not be on the market for long, implying he could get another wife quickly. Throughout his testimony, Cohen said he always kept Trump up to speed with his activities. “Everything required Mr. Trump’s sign-off,” he said, noting the Daniels payment was no exception.

Persons: CNN — “, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s, Cohen, Trump, ” Ryan Goodman, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Trump, Bernarda Villalona, “, Donald Trump, ”, “ Michael Cohen, David Schoen, ” Schoen, CNN’s Wolf, quagmire, Joe Biden, Judge Juan Merchan, Cohen –, –, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, mulls, “ What’s, Stormy Daniels, Susan Hoffinger, Hoffinger, Daniels, Daniels ’, —, ” Cohen, smirked, Trump’s, ’, ‘, reimbursements Cohen, Allen Weisselberg Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Republican, NYU Law, Trump, New, New York Times, Judge, Alabama, GOP, Ohio Republican, Trump Organization, White House Locations: New York, Siena, York, Ohio

☆ 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

Prosecutors say it’s entirely possible they could rest their case by the end of this week. Cohen himself was federally charged with campaign finance violations, tax crimes and lying to Congress in previous testimony. Judge to Cohen: Please stop talking: Trump attorney Todd Blanche urged Judge Juan Merchan on Friday to order Cohen to stop talking about the trial and Trump. Trump is not allowed to talk about Cohen because of the gag order in place. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass responded that prosecutors have repeatedly instructed Cohen and all of the other witnesses in the case not to speak publicly about it.

Persons: Donald Trump, Cohen, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, He’s, Trump, Alvin Bragg’s, Todd Blanche, Judge Juan Merchan, Blanche, Joshua Steinglass, ”, Merchan, White, Madeleine Westerhout, Westerhout, Daniels, she’d, Read Organizations: Trump, Manhattan, White, White House

Cohen’s testimony ties together the prosecution’s allegations that Trump broke the law by falsifying business records to reimburse Cohen and conceal the hush money payment that Cohen said he made at Trump’s direction. Cohen described his conversations with Trump during the Daniels hush money negotiations, which prosecutors backed up using Cohen’s phone records to show when the two had spoken. Trump,” Cohen said. “Reimbursement of my money,” Cohen said. They joined Trump for the high-profile Cohen testimony, sitting in the gallery behind the former president at the defendant’s table.

Persons: CNN — Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Cohen, Daniels, Susan Hoffinger, Todd Blanche, perjurer, David Pecker, Keith Davidson, Karen McDougal, Pecker, Davidson, Dylan Howard, Hope Hicks, “, ” Cohen, ”, Hoffinger, ” Hoffinger, “ Mr, Michael Cohen's, Melania, CNN “, Trump’s, reimbursements Cohen, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, “ David Dennison ”, Peggy Peterson ”, would’ve, ” –, McDougal, glanced, Hicks, Madeleine Westerhout, Cohen’s, wasn’t, Juan Merchan’s, Eric Trump, Susie Wiles, Sen, Rick Scott, J.D, Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville, Nicole Malliotakis, Alina Habba Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Enquirer, Melania Trump, New York, Republican Locations: Yom Kippur, –, Trump, Cohen’s, Republic, Manhattan, Florida, Alabama, Staten, Iowa

☆ Trump’s former ‘thug’ Michael Cohen set for trial-defining testimony in hush money case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Cohen’s testimony is set to be the critical moment of the hush money trial that could make Trump the first ex-president to be convicted of a crime. He has talked extensively about his desire to see President Trump go to prison. He has talked extensively about his desire to see President Trump’s family go to prison. He has talked extensively about President Trump getting convicted in this case,” Blanche said. While the hush money trial harks back to the 2016 election, its end game could play a significant role in the destiny of the White House eight years later.

Persons: CNN — Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s “, Trump, Stormy Daniels, —, Cohen, Daniels, ” Cohen, “, Matthew Colangelo, “ Cohen, ”, ” Colangelo, Anthony Scaramucci, Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Todd Blanche, Trump’s, ” Blanche, John Dean, Roy Cohn, He’s, Judge Juan Merchan, Fani Willis, Joe Biden, he’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, Republican, Trump Organization, House, Nixon White, “ CNN, Mr, Fulton, White House, GOP Locations: Russia, New York, Florida, Fulton County

“It was Michael Cohen,” Davidson responded. Cohen is the only witness who will testify about Trump’s alleged involvement in both the decision to pay Daniels and the plan to reimburse Cohen for advancing the money. Prosecutors allege that during the February meeting, Trump and Cohen agreed how Cohen would be paid back. Arguably the most negative assessment of Cohen came from Davidson, who negotiated the hush money deal with Cohen on Daniels’ behalf in 2016. “There were times where Mr. Cohen did things that you felt were not helpful to what you were trying to accomplish, right?” Bove asked Trump’s 2016 campaign press secretary.

Persons: Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, David Pecker, Hope Hicks, “, Daniels, Keith Davidson, Daniels ’, Gina Rodriguez –, “ Gina, Keith, ’ ” Davidson, ”, Joshua Steinglass, ” Davidson, Trump, Trump’s, Pecker, ” Steinglass, Todd Blanche, Elie Honig, Cohen’s, antagonizing Trump, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Cohen ’, Emil Bove, ” Pecker, Bove, Gary Farro, ” Farro, Davidson, ” Cohen, Christ, I’m, I’ve, ’ ”, Jeff McConney, ” McConney, Matthew Colangelo, Hicks, –, ” Bove, ” Hicks Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Enquirer, American Media Inc, Prosecutors, Office, Daniels, Trump Organization Locations: Manhattan, Trump’s New York, Moscow, thedirty.com, Washington

AdvertisementThe unprecedented criminal trial of a former US president has delivered several stunning moments so far. Jurors get a peek at the 34 records at the heart of the caseTwo weeks into Trump's trial, jurors finally saw the paperwork at the heart of the matter. A courtroom sketch of Stormy Daniels on the witness stand in Donald Trump's hush-money trial. On the stand, Daniels said Trump told her she reminded him of his daughter, commenting on her blond hair and beauty. Trump's legal team requested a mistrial on the basis of Daniel's testimony.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen —, Hope Hicks, Cohen, Daniels, Hicks, Andrew Harnik, Jeffrey McConney, Deborah Tarassoff —, Alvin Bragg, Stephanie Clifford, Donald Trump's, Jane Rosenberg, Juan Merchan, audibly, Merchan, Judge Merchan, MARK PETERSON, Donald, Von ShitzInPantz, Todd Blanche, Joe Biden, Blanche, Cohen's Organizations: Service, Business, White House, Trump, White House Communications, AP, Trump Organization, Prosecutors, Reuters, Truth, Manhattan Criminal, Getty Locations: Manhattan, Lake Tahoe, New York City

☆ Trump's worst rebukes from NY judges were all for attacks on women who made him look bad in court
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Cowbells herald a third Trump outburstDonald Trump at his criminal hush-money trial with lawyers Todd Blanche, left, and Emil Bove. I will not tolerate that," state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan complained of Trump to defense lawyer Todd Blanche, his voice raised. Then there was Stormy DanielsA courtroom sketch of Stormy Daniels on the witness stand in Donald Trump's hush-money trial. Defense lawyer Susan Necheles questions Stormy Daniels as Donald Trump and Judge Juan Merchan look on. Advertisement"As recently as, I believe, Wednesday night, he was on TikTok," Blanche, the defense lawyer, complained to Merchan before court broke for the week on Friday.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Trump, riled Trump, they're, Debbie Walsh, Walsh, Donald Trump's, Allison Greenfield, enemies.i Curtis, David Dee Delgado, Arthur Engoron, who'd, Greenfield, Jean Carroll Donald Trump, Jean Carroll, Andrew Kelly, Luiz C . Ribeiro, Lewis Kaplan, audibly —, Carroll, Roberta Kaplan, Cowbells, Todd Blanche, Emil Bove, Jabin, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniel, Joe Biden's, Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, Jane Rosenberg, Daniels, swatting Trump, Merchan, audibly, — Daniels, Blanche, Susan Necheles, Mary Altaffer, Michael Cohen Cohen — Trump's, fining Trump, Cohen, he's, MAGA Organizations: Service, Business, Trump, Center for American Women, REUTERS, New York Daily News, Tribune, Getty, Reuters, GOP, AP Locations: Manhattan, York, New, New York City, Lake Tahoe, New York

Here are the takeaways from day 15 of the Trump hush money trial:Cohen is on deckCohen is expected to take the stand Monday, putting him face-to-face with his former boss. With Cohen’s testimony implicating Trump, however, comes all of the baggage that accompanies the former president’s longtime fixer. Judge to Cohen: Please stop talkingAhead of Cohen’s expected testimony, Trump attorney Todd Blanche urged Judge Juan Merchan to order Cohen to stop talking about the trial and Trump. Video Ad Feedback Pollster: Trump's trial won't affect votes in November 03:46 - Source: CNNMerchan has already said he cannot gag witnesses in the case. Prosecutors introduce key text and call records into evidenceAfter Westerhout left the stand, prosecutors spent the rest of the day calling a series of custodial witnesses to introduce cell phone records into evidence.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Michael Cohen, Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Cohen, Daniels, He’s, Alvin Bragg’s, Cohen’s, Todd Blanche, Judge Juan Merchan, Blanche, ” Blanche, Joshua Steinglass, ”, CNN Merchan, Merchan, “, ” Cohen, White, Madeleine Westerhout, Susan Necheles, Westerhout, didn’t, ” Westerhout, she’d, Allen Weisselberg, ” Necheles, she’s “, Weisselberg, Cohen reimbursements, Stormy Daniels ’, Gina Rodriguez, Dylan Howard, Howard, Rodriguez, David Pecker, “ We’re, ” Rodriguez texted Howard, “ Keith, Davidson, ” Howard, ” Rodriguez, Steinglass, ” Merchan, wasn’t Organizations: CNN, White, Prosecutors, Trump, Manhattan, White House, Trump Org ., National Enquirer, American Media Inc, Trump Org Locations: Manhattan

Donald Trump is heading into the most perilous phase of his hush money trial aside from the moment when the jury retires to consider its verdict. Merchan also instructed Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, to rein in his client after complaining that the defendant had cursed audibly and shaken his head during Daniels’ testimony. The judge was concerned that the jury might notice the witness being intimidated — which he warned he could not allow to continue. So far, Trump — who has launched searing attacks on the judge — has managed to refrain from openly attacking Daniels since she took the stand. And her appearance is only an appetizer for expected explosive evidence in the coming days of the biggest star witness, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen.

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Todd Blanche, Daniels, —, Michael Cohen Organizations: Trump, Trump —

CNN —Judge Juan Merchan called out former President Donald Trump’s defense team during their motion for a mistrial Thursday afternoon, telling them there were many times they could have objected to Stormy Daniels’ testimony, but did not. For the second time this week, Merchan expressed surprise that Trump’s lawyers had not objected more when Daniels was on the stand. And for the second time this week, Merchan rejected their motion for a mistrial. Merchan specifically pointed to Daniels’ testimony about the trailer park, in which Daniels suggested Trump told her she would be stuck living in a trailer park before they had sex in 2006. Merchan also referred back to the defense’s opening statement when Blanche denied there was ever a sexual encounter between Daniels and Trump.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Daniels, Todd Blanche, Daniels ’, Trump, Susan Necheles, ” Merchan, Blanche, CNN’s Laura Dolan Organizations: CNN, Trump

☆ Critical days of Trump trial will test whether he can exercise discipline and restraint
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Her evidence on Tuesday was deeply embarrassing for Trump and drew an aggressive cross-examination from his attorney trying to shatter Daniels’ credibility. Merchan also instructed Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, to rein in his client after complaining that the defendant had cursed audibly and shaken his head during Daniels’ testimony. So far, Trump — who has launched searing attacks on the judge — has managed to refrain from openly attacking Daniels since she took the stand. And her appearance is only an appetizer for expected explosive evidence in the coming days of the biggest star witness, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. The coming days will therefore require qualities that Trump has always struggled to demonstrate in a riotous life in business and politics: restraint and self-discipline.

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Daniels, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Todd Blanche, —, Michael Cohen, Cohen, he’d, ” Daniels, Sarah Matthews, CNN’s Jim Acosta, “, He’s, ” Matthews, Matthews, ” Trump, he’s, Arthur Engoron, Engoron, Trump’s, Jean Carroll Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump —, White, Trump White House, Prosecutors, Trump Organization Locations: Florida, Lake Tahoe, misbehave

☆ Trump trial: Stormy Daniels cross-examination ramps up
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Court sketches of Stormy Daniels as she offers unflattering testimony about sex with Trump Artist: Jane RosenbergThis is developing news. Porn star Stormy Daniels will face cross-examination Thursday by lawyers for Donald Trump, after her first turn on the witness stand drew an angry reaction from the former president. Trump's attorneys, who began questioning Daniels on Tuesday afternoon, will likely continue their efforts to undermine her credibility and raise doubts about her account of having sex with Trump. The alleged one-night stand is a key component of the criminal hush money trial in Manhattan Supreme Court. Stormy Daniels arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 09, 2024 in New York City.

Persons: Stormy Daniels, Jane Rosenberg, Donald Trump, Daniels, Judge Juan Merchan, Michael M, audibly, Merchan, Trump Organizations: Trump Artist, Trump, Criminal, Santiago, Getty Locations: Manhattan, New York City

“If that story was untrue, I would have written it to be a lot better,” Daniels said of her encounter with Trump. “You have a lot of experience of making phony stories about sex appear to be real,” Necheles asked. “You’re celebrating the indictment by selling things from your store,” Necheles asked. “Not unlike Mr. Trump,” Daniels responded. Prosecutor Josh Steinglass said Trump was aware of the “messy details” of the encounter in 2016 and that shows motive for the hush money payment and cover up.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Susan Necheles, Trump, Daniels, ” Daniels, Juan Merchan, combatively, Necheles, ” Necheles, “, That’s, she’d, “ You’re, Madeleine Westerhout, Westerhout, Rhona Graff, Joe Scarborough, Jeanine Pirro, Serena Williams, Tom Brady, ”, ” Westerhout, Michael Cohen, Melania, Melania Trump, “ Madeline, it’s, Merchan, Todd Blanche, Blanche, ‘, ” Merchan, Trump’s, Josh Steinglass Organizations: CNN, Trump, White, Wing, ” Prosecutors, Daniels, NBC, White House, longtime Trump Organization, Trump Org, ” Trump Locations: New York

Trump’s lawyers are urging the full panel of appellate judges to rule on the constitutionality of the gag order, people familiar with the matter say. Previously, Trump’s lawyers asked an appeals court judge to take emergency action and stop the trial so they could appeal the gag order. After hearing oral argument, the appeals court judge denied the request and both sides were ordered to file written briefs. Trump’s attorneys are now asking the appellate panel to expedite their ruling on whether the gag order is constitutional. Judge Juan Merchan has found Trump has violated the gag order 10 times and fined him $10,000 for public statements Trump made about certain witnesses and the jury.

Persons: Donald Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, Trump, Merchan Organizations: CNN Locations: York, Manhattan

☆ Jimmy Kimmel Wants the Dirty Details From Stormy Daniels
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Trish Bendix | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“The judge said Stormy could testify about her sexual relationship with Trump, but also said, ‘We don’t need to know the details.’ And see, now that’s where I have to object. Yes, we do need to know the details. Some of us are trying to host a show here, OK?” — JIMMY KIMMEL“Ahead of Stormy Daniels’s testimony today in former President Trump’s criminal hush-money trial, one of the prosecutors told Judge Juan Merchan that Daniels will not describe Trump’s genitalia because it would violate the gag order.” — SETH MEYERS“She said they had sex in the missionary position, and that Trump told her she reminded him of his daughter. Feels like we should lock him up just for that, right?” — JIMMY KIMMEL“During former President Trump’s criminal hush-money trial, adult film star Stormy Daniels testified that she and Trump had sex ‘in missionary position.’ ‘Don’t even think about it!’ shouted Judge Merchan to the sketch artist.” — SETH MEYERS

Persons: Trump, JIMMY KIMMEL, Juan Merchan, Daniels, ” — SETH MEYERS “, JIMMY KIMMEL “, Stormy Daniels, ’ ‘, ’, Merchan, ” — SETH MEYERS

Search resuls for: "Judge Juan Merchan"

25 mentions found