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☆ Sparring in Trump Documents Hearing Highlights Case’s Slow Pace
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In this case, the topic was an unproven accusation by Mr. Trump’s legal team that at an early stage of the inquiry prosecutors sought to get one of his co-defendants to cooperate against him by threatening his lawyer. The exchange occurred at a hearing where the prosecutor, David Harbach, angrily denied the accusation and the judge, Aileen M. Cannon, pressed him for details. The dispute concerned a meeting nearly two years ago at the Justice Department. A lawyer for the co-defendant, Walt Nauta, claims that prosecutors hinted that they could derail a judgeship he was seeking if he did not prevail on Mr. Nauta to turn on Mr. Trump. “The story about what happened at that meeting is a fantasy,” Mr. Harbach told Judge Cannon at one point.

Persons: Donald J, Trump’s, David Harbach, Aileen M, Cannon, Walt Nauta, Nauta, Trump, Mr, Harbach, Judge Cannon Organizations: Justice Department Locations: Florida

☆ 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

☆ Trump’s trial reaches crescendo as tempers fray in the courtroom
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The presumptive Republican nominee’s lawyers made a long-shot bid for the dismissal of his first criminal trial before the jury has even been asked to deliberate. And he implored Merchan not to hand jurors a case so reliant on testimony from Cohen, a confessed liar. Key developmentsMonday’s court action at times threatened to spin out of control — in a way that only a Trump trial can. “I know it may feel like you’re on trial here after cross-examination, but are you actually on trial?” she asked Cohen. Courtroom chaosVeteran lawyers and court reporters said they’d never seen anything like the scene precipitated by defense witness Robert Costello.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Juan Merchan, Michael Cohen, sensationally, ’, Todd Blanche, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Cohen, ” Blanche, ”, “, Blanche, he’d, ” Trump, Daniels, won’t, —, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, Keith Schiller, Susan Hoffinger, LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, Jake Tapper, they’d, Robert Costello, Costello, there’s, ” Merchan, ” Cordell, Tapper, Bob Costello, I’ve, Terri Austin, CNN’s Erin Burnett, we’ll Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, Republican Party, Trump Organization, “ Locations: Merchan, Trump, Manhattan

☆ Rudy Giuliani and 10 others plead not guilty to charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | Kyung Lah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Phoenix CNN —Rudy Giuliani and 10 others pleaded not guilty in an Arizona court Tuesday to charges of allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Giuliani was served Friday in Palm Beach, Florida, at his 80th birthday bash held by a GOP operative. Arizona prosecutors spent weeks trying to track down Giuliani and eventually found him based on some of his podcasts. That evening, Giuliani posted a tweet saying that “if Arizona authorities can’t find me by tomorrow morning” they would have to dismiss the indictment. “I haven’t been hiding from anyone,” Giuliani told the judge during Tuesday’s hearing.

Persons: Phoenix CNN — Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, Donald Trump, Christina Bobb, Trump, ”, Mike Roman, Kelli Ward, John Eastman, Mark Meadows, Boris Epshteyn, Jenna Ellis, ” Giuliani, Nicholas Klingerman, Giuliani “, Klingerman, can’t, “, …, I’ve, Donald Trump ’, didn’t Organizations: Phoenix CNN, New, GOP, Republican National, Arizona Republican, White House, Trump Locations: Arizona, New York, Palm Beach , Florida, Florida, France, Netherlands

CNN —The defense rested its case in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial on Tuesday after roughly 90 minutes of testimony – and without the former president taking the stand. Here are takeaways from the final day of testimony in the Trump hush money trial:Trump doesn’t take the standOver the last several months, Trump repeatedly teased that he would take the stand in his own defense. “That was a lie,” Blanche alleged of Cohen’s testimony he spoke to Trump about moving forward with the hush money deal. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger also tried to remind jurors that it was Trump – not Cohen – who was on trial in this case. In their first meeting, Costello said Cohen was “absolutely manic” and suicidal after the FBI raid on his properties.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Robert Costello, Michael Cohen, Trump, Cohen, ” Trump, Todd Blanche, Costello, Sandoval, –, Jean Carroll, Donald J, Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, Cohen –, Trump’s, Blanche, Keith Schiller, Schiller, Daniels, ” Blanche, Keith, ” Cohen, Prosecutors, Susan Hoffinger, Trump –, ” Hoffinger, “, Juan Merchan, ” Merchan, Merchan, ” Costello, Emil Bove, Bob, Donald Trump, ”, scold Costello, Hoffinger, Rudy Giuliani, Mercahn Organizations: CNN, FBI, Publicly, Trump, New, Mr, Giuliani Locations: Wisconsin, New York, Florida

☆ Federal appeals court rejects Hunter Biden’s latest bid to pause gun trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected the latest attempt by Hunter Biden to pause his upcoming gun trial while the president’s son pursues some long-shot appeals. The quick decision came from the same three-judge panel that previously rejected one of Hunter Biden’s attempts to throw out the indictment. This is one of several bids by Hunter Biden to slow down or postpone his gun trial. Hunter Biden testified at a court hearing last year that he has been sober since 2019. That trial is scheduled for late June, a few weeks after the gun case is expected to wrap up.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Hunter Biden’s, Joe Biden, hasn’t, David Weiss, he’s, Weiss, Hunter, Beau Biden, Prosecutors, Weiss ’, Hallie Biden, Biden’s, Beau, Hallie Biden’s, ” Weiss ’, Stuart Goldberg Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democratic, Justice Department, Justice Locations: Delaware, California, Los Angeles

☆ 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

☆ Tsai Ing-wen: the leader who put Taiwan on the map and stood up to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Wayne Chang | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

While supporters applaud Tsai for standing up to China, defending Taiwan’s sovereignty, freedom and democracy, critics blame her for straining ties with Beijing, stoking cross-strait tensions. Beijing, which deems the tacit agreement a precondition for dialogue, has cut official contact with Taipei since Tsai took office. Taiwan President Tsai inspects reservists at a training session at a military base in Taoyuan on May 11, 2023. But under Tsai, Taiwan has sought to enhance its asymmetric defense capabilities, developing and procuring cheaper and more mobile weapon systems that could be instrumental in halting a potential Chinese invasion. Taiwanese military experts have increasingly advocated for such an approach, noting that Taiwan can never match China in military might and assets.

Persons: Taipei CNN — Tsai Ing, introvert, ” Tsai, Xi Jinping, Xi, Tsai, stoking, Taiwan’s, Lai Ching, ”, Alex Chan Tsz Yuk, Wellington Koo, “, Vanessa Hope, Ma Ying, Taiwan's, Jose Lopes Amaral, Wen, Amanda Hsiao, Nancy Pelosi, Chien Chih, Nancy Pelosi’s, Huang, Jameson Wu, ” Sung, ” Hsiao, “ Tsai, Sawayasu Tsuji, Sung, ” Tsai’s, –, Lai Organizations: Taipei CNN, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, World Health Organization, WHO, Atlantic, Trump, Biden, International Crisis, US, Getty, World Health Assembly, National Chengchi University, Getty Images, Taiwan’s Military Academy, ” Tsai’s DPP Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, United States, Beijing, Tsai, Asia, Wellington, Ukraine, Gaza, Japan, Czech Republic, Republic of China, Taoyuan, AFP, Washington, Hong Kong

CNN —A federal judge has granted a motion to reopen the sentencing in the case against David DePape, the man convicted of the 2022 attack on House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, because he did not get a chance to speak during his sentencing hearing Friday. The judge will reopen the sentencing portion of the case on May 28 at 9:30 a.m. Nonetheless, it was the Court’s responsibility to personally ask Mr. DePape if he wanted to speak. Testifying in his own defense, DePape recalled that he was looking for Nancy Pelosi and that her husband was not on his list of targets. A state case against DePape that includes charges of attempted murder, burglary and assault is expected to go to trial this summer.

Persons: David DePape, Nancy Pelosi’s, Paul, DePape, ” DePape, didn’t, ”, Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, “, ‘, I’ll, Pelosi “, ” Pelosi, “ I’ve Organizations: CNN Locations: San Francisco

☆ Trump's hush-money trial is almost over. Deliberations could begin Thursday — especially if Trump doesn't testify.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewAfter one week of jury selection and four weeks of prosecution testimony, Donald Trump's New York hush-money trial is now in its home stretch. Then, the defense case will begin. "I'm doing everything possible to avoid big breaks between summations, jury charge, jury instructions, and deliberations," Merchan told the parties Thursday. AP/Christine CornellThursday: Deliberations could beginAgain, if the scheduling stars align, deliberations could begin Thursday, the last trial day before the four-day holiday. AdvertisementBefore deliberations can begin, jurors need to hear the entirety of the defense case — with or without Trump.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Juan Merchan, Trump, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Julia Nikhinson, Cohen, Trump's, Todd Blanche, Susan Hoffinger, Blanche, — Bradley, Smith, Juan Merchan Jane Rosenberg, Christopher Conroy, Merchan's, Conroy, Merchan, Will Trump, Matt Gaetz, Mike Segar, Judge Cannon, Aileen Cannon, Christine Cornell Organizations: Service, Business, AP, Commission, Prosecutors, Reuters, Federal Election, Trump Locations: York, Florida, summations

A state ethics panel quietly dismissed a complaint last summer against the New York judge presiding over the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump, issuing a warning over small donations the judge had made to groups supporting Democrats, including the campaign of Joseph R. Biden. The judge, Juan M. Merchan, donated a total of $35 to the groups in 2020, including a $15 donation earmarked for the Biden campaign, and $10 to a group called “Stop Republicans.”Political contributions of any kind are prohibited under state judicial ethics rules. “Justice Merchan said the complaint, from more than a year ago, was dismissed in July with a caution,” the spokesman for the court system, Al Baker, said in a statement. A caution does not include any penalty, but it can be considered in any future cases reviewed by the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct. A letter outlining the caution was not released because of the commission’s rules, and Justice Merchan did not make the letter available.

Persons: Donald J, Joseph R, Biden, Juan M, ”, Merchan, Al Baker Organizations: New, Trump, Republicans, state’s, Judicial Locations: New York

☆ Opinion | The Authoritarians Have the Momentum
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( David Brooks | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The central struggle in the world right now is between liberalism and authoritarianism. In this contest, we liberals should be wiping the floor with those guys! Modi seems to be on the verge of re-election. Over the last two centuries liberalism has evolved into a system that respects human dignity and celebrates individual choice. As other moral systems, like religion, have withered in many people’s lives, liberalism itself has expanded to fill the hole in people’s souls.

Persons: Donald Trump, Viktor Orban, Narendra Modi, Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Trump, Modi, ” Alexandre Lefebvre, isn’t Locations: Iran, Russia

☆ Embattled Georgia DA Fani Willis and Trump trial judge hit the campaign trail
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Sara Murray | Jason Morris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Wise Smith, meantime, has faced some skepticism from voters worried that if he ousts Willis it could endanger the Trump case. The disqualification drama surrounding Willis hasn’t spared Wise Smith from skepticism from some Democrats who believe Willis will most aggressively prosecute the Trump case. “Some folks were worried that me jumping in the race, you know, might mean we lose that case,” Wise Smith said in an interview with CNN. Let me say this, I think the case is in grave jeopardy right now,” Wise Smith said of the Trump case. In a rarity for a sitting judge, McAfee has also been granting interviews to local media.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Scott McAfee, ” Willis, “, Trump, Willis, Christian Wise Smith, Willis ’, Wise Smith, McAfee, Robert Patillo, he’s, Courtney Kramer, ”, Michael J, Moore, she’s, Willis hasn’t, ” Wise Smith, Wise Smith –, –, ” McAfee, wouldn’t, “ I’ve, Patillo’s, ” Patillo, “ It’s, Patillo, Brian Kemp, Roy Barnes, Kemp, Barnes, Ray Smith III, Smith, ” Moore, that’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic Party, Democratic, Trump, Trump White House, Middle, Middle District of, WSB, Georgia Gov, Republican, Democrat, McAfee, Boy Scouts Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Middle District, Middle District of Georgia, Inman

☆ Appeals Court Upholds Gag Order on Trump in Manhattan Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Alan Feuer | More About Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A New York State appeals court on Tuesday upheld a gag order imposed on former President Donald J. Trump in his criminal trial in Manhattan, rejecting arguments that the measure had violated Mr. Trump’s First Amendment rights. The judge overseeing the trial, Juan M. Merchan, initially issued the order in March, barring Mr. Trump from threatening many participants in the proceeding, including jurors, witnesses, line prosecutors and staff members of the court. The order does not cover the judge himself or Alvin K. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, who brought the case against the former president. Since then, Justice Merchan has twice held Mr. Trump in contempt for violating the order, imposing $10,000 in fines. The judge has also warned Mr. Trump that if he continues to break the rules, he could face time in jail.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Trump’s, Juan M, Merchan, Alvin K, Bragg, ” Locations: York State, Manhattan

☆ Musk wins court reprieve in fight against Australian government over church stabbing videos
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk's social media platform X won a reprieve Monday after an Australian court refused to extend a temporary order to block videos of a Sydney church stabbing. Following the incident, the country's eSafety Commissioner was granted a temporary legal injunction ordering X to hide posts that showed footage of the attack. In an interview last month, Albanese said Musk thinks "he's above Australian law" and called him out for his "arrogance." "The e-Safety Commissioner has made a ruling. Still, online safety "requires platforms to do everything practical and reasonable to minimize the harm it may cause to Australians," the eSafety Commissioner added.

Persons: Elon Musk, The Beverly Hilton, Elon, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, Musk, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, " Albanese Organizations: SpaceX, Tesla, The Beverly, eSafety, Tech Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Sydney

☆ Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case? Mr. Menendez goes to trial on May 13 with two of the businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. Fred Daibes New Jersey Real Estate Developer Mr. Daibes is accused of giving Mr. Menendez furniture, gold and cash. Nadine Menendez Mr. Menendez’s Wife Ms. Menendez served as a go-between for Mr. Menendez, Egyptian intelligence officials and men who were seeking political favors from the senator, according to the indictment. Defense LawyersAdam Fee Lawyer for Robert Menendez He previously spent five years as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District — the same office prosecuting Mr. Menendez.

Persons: Menendez, Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mr, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Menendez's, Daibes, Nadine Menendez Mr, Menendez’s, Ms, Jose Uribe, Uribe, Uribe's, Sidney H, Stein, Bill Clinton, Jennifer Shah, Hassan Nemazee, Damian Williams, Williams, President Biden, Sam Bankman, Fried, Juan Orlando Hernández, Christina Clark, Clark, Charles McGonigal, Catherine Ghosh, Eli Mark, Paul Monteleoni, Robert Hadden, Lara Pomerantz, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Norman Seabrook, Daniel Richenthal, Sheldon Silver, Michael Avenatti, Adam Fee, Fee, Avi Weitzman, Lawrence Lustberg Organizations: Democrat, Robert Menendez New Jersey, Senate Foreign Relations, Jersey Real, EG, Prosecutors, United, Jose Uribe Former New, Benz, U.S, Southern, of, Democratic, Attorney, Southern District of, ex, Public, New, New York City Housing Authority, Justice Department, Southern District’s, New York State Assembly, Nike . Defense, Southern District Locations: New Jersey, Manhattan, Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, United States, Jose Uribe Former New Jersey, of New York, Southern District, Southern District of New York, Russian, New York City, Brooklyn, Columbia, New York, U.S, California

☆ Jailing Trump on contempt would likely mean locking him up for an hour or two behind the courtroom, experts predict
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Could Trump's next courtroom outburst or gag-violating Truth Social post really be the final straw that gets him locked up on contempt of court? "You get more due process" when you commit an act of contempt outside the courtroom, Levine said. "It's when the judge calls the court officers and tells them to surround the defendant so that he doesn't try to walk out of the courtroom." AdvertisementBut Trump already has at least two court officers standing behind him at all times in Merchan's courtroom, for his own protection. Reality will instead set in when the judge gives what's usually the final instruction to the court officers, "Take charge," Galluzzo said.

Persons: Trump, —, audibly, Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, misbehaving, Trump's, Juan Merchan, Arthur Aidala, Harvey Weinstein, Weinstein, Aidala, Arnold Levine, Levine, heckles Daniels, Matthew Galluzzo, Galluzzo, Daniel Scott, who's, Scott, Joe Schmoe, Daniels Organizations: Service, , New, Trump, Legal Aid Society of New York, Defense Task Force, Secret Service Locations: ,, Manhattan, Merchan's, Merchan, Trump

☆ The judge in Trump's classified documents case just gave him exactly what he wanted — again
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Judge Aileen Cannon on Tuesday delayed Donald Trump's classified documents case indefinitely. AdvertisementUS District Judge Aileen Cannon handed former President Donald Trump yet another legal win when she delayed his classified documents case indefinitely on Tuesday. It's just the latest legal win for Trump in the classified documents case handed to him by Cannon. Ty Cobb, a former Trump White House attorney, told CNN on Tuesday that Cannon's latest decision was "a combination of bias and incompetence." In light of Cannon's latest delay, Kalir said it was not surprising given her prior actions on the case.

Persons: Aileen Cannon, Donald Trump's, It's, —, Donald Trump, Cannon, Trump, Jack Smith's, Canon, Katie Charleston, Justice Department —, Paula Reid, Judge Cannon, I'm, She's, aren't, Ty Cobb, galvanizes, Charlie Kolean, Kolean, Tre Lovell, it's, Doron Kalir, Fani Willis, Nathan Wade, Kalir Organizations: Trump, Service, Business, Justice Department, FBI, Mar, Appeals, Associated Press, Court, Trump White House, CNN, RED PAC, Cleveland State University College of Law Locations: Lago, Southern Florida, Trump's, South Florida, Georgia, New York

☆ Opinion | The Darker Side of Stormy Daniels’s Testimony
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jessica Bennett | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To be clear, Stormy Daniels has never accused Donald Trump of anything but a payoff. Daniels took the stand on Tuesday and spoke confidently. She gestured with her hands, at times joking, and at other times she spoke so quickly that the judge had to ask her to slow down. Trump was not threatening during the sexual encounter, she testified, though he was standing between her and the door. She did not say no to sex with him, but she also didn’t consent to him not using a condom.

Persons: …, “, Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, Trump, Daniels, —, ” Locations: Lake

Stormy Daniels took the stand at Trump's hush-money trial Tuesday. "My name is Stormy Daniels," the porn star at the center of the historic trial said as she swore to tell the truth while at the witness stand of a Manhattan courtroom, just 20 feet from Trump. Daniels told the jury she directed her first adult film at age 23. Advertisement"They marked it down in the books, the check was signed," Trump told reporters before he headed into the courtroom. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger explained that there will be details in Daniels' testimony about how the porn star "ended up having a sexual encounter" with Trump.

Persons: Stormy Daniels, Trump, Daniels, —, Donald Trump's, Stephanie Clifford, Susan Hoffinger, Daniels —, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Michael Cohen, fumed, Cohen, We're, Susan Necheles, Juan Merchan, It's, Necheles, Merchan, Hoffinger Organizations: Service, Trump, Prosecutors, Attorney, Trump Organization, New Locations: Trump, Manhattan, Trump's, Lake Tahoe, Israel

☆ Judge threatens Trump with contempt for 'cursing audibly' during Stormy Daniels testimony, new trial transcript shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In a private sidebar conversation, Donald Trump's hush-money judge said he acted out while Stormy Daniels testified. Trump was "cursing audibly" and "uttered a vulgarity" while Daniels answered questions for jurors, the judge said. "I understand that your client is upset at this point, but he is cursing audibly, and he is shaking his head visually and that's contemptuous," Merchan told Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche. AdvertisementDonald Trump was "cursing audibly" during testimony from Stormy Daniels, according to New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan. The judge also said Trump "uttered a vulgarity" when Daniels testified about "The Apprentice."

Persons: Donald Trump's, Stormy Daniels, Trump, audibly, Daniels, —, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Todd Blanche, Donald Trump, Susan Hoffinger, Hoffinger, Blanche, Jean Carroll's, Lewis Kaplan, Carroll, Kaplan Organizations: Service, New, Trump, New York, NBC Locations: Lake Tahoe , California, New, Manhattan, Trump's

☆ India marital rape: Woman accuses husband of ‘unnatural sex’ but judge says it is not a crime in marriage
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

According to the Madhya Pradesh High Court order, the woman told police her husband came to her house in 2019, soon after they were married, and committed “unnatural sex,” under Section 377 of India’s penal code. India’s Supreme Court increased marital consent from the age of 15 to 18 in a landmark judgement in 2017. The woman also accused her in-laws of mental and physical harassment “on account of nonfulfilment of demand of dowry,” the court order said. At least 18 of those women reported marital rape to the police, including 10 women who alleged rape by a former partner or husband. Four women were explicitly told by police that they could not do anything as marital rape was not a crime, the report said.

Persons: it’s, Gurpal Singh Ahluwalia, Ahluwalia’s, Karuna Nundy Organizations: CNN, Court, Health, Government of Locations: Madhya Pradesh, India, Delhi, country’s, Government of India, Mumbai

☆ Judge threatens Trump with jail for court violations: 'I have a job to do'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A judge on Monday delivered a dire warning to Donald Trump: Stop violating the court's orders, or you will be thrown in jail. "I do not want to propose a jail sanction," Merchan said, but "that I will, if necessary." But he said he would not hastily take the drastic step of throwing Trump in jail for his continued contempt. Prosecutors then called to the witness stand Jeff McConney, the former longtime controller of the Trump Organization. McConney, who worked under the company's former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, previously gave emotional testimony in a New York civil business fraud trial against Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Trump, Jeff McConney, McConney, Allen Weisselberg Organizations: Trump, Prosecutors, Trump Organization, White Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, United States, New York

☆ Trump Hush-Money Trial Sees 'Falsified' Documents at Heart of Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Those witnesses, longtime Trump Organization employees Jeffrey McConney and Deborah Tarassoff, handled the checks, invoices, and other records that comprise the 34 business records the Manhattan district attorney's office alleges Trump illegally falsified. He was sentenced to five months in jail in 2022 for a Trump Organization felony payroll tax-fraud prosecution, and is now serving another five-month sentence for felony perjury in last year's Trump Organization civil fraud trial. The Trump Organization needed to reimburse Cohen for some money, McConney testified that Weissberg told him. Yet another Trump Organization employee would FedEx the checks to Trump in DC, he testified. In the afternoon, prosecutor Christopher Conroy slogged through more records with Tarasoff, who said she has worked at the Trump Organization for 24 years.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Jeffrey McConney, Deborah Tarassoff, Trump, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Daniels, Melania Trump, McConney, Cohen, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Weissberg, Colangelo, Keith Davidson —, Jeffrey McConney's, pic.twitter.com, c2d9IQyKe5, Jacob Shamsian ⚖️, Dear Allen, Christopher Conroy slogged, Tarasoff, Todd Blanche, yawn, Conroy, Tarassoff, he'd Organizations: Service, Prosecutors, Trump, Business, Trump Organization, Attorney, Tahoe, White, FedEx Locations: Donald Trump's Manhattan, Manhattan, Weisselberg, Florida, Trump, New York, DC, Sharpie

After the judge rebuked Mr. Trump for violating a gag order and mounting “a direct attack on the rule of law,” the prosecutors provided jurors with their first look at the 34 records they say he falsified to cover up an infamous payment. Mr. Trump made the payment to his longtime fixer, Michael D. Cohen, reimbursing him for a $130,000 hush-money payoff to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, prosecutors say. Before Mr. Trump repaid Mr. Cohen, prosecutors say, he orchestrated a scheme to falsify the records. Mr. Trump, the first American president to face prosecution, is on trial for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, one for each document: 11 checks to Mr. Cohen, 11 invoices from Mr. Cohen and 12 entries in Mr. Trump’s general ledger. The invoices and ledger entries claimed that Mr. Cohen had been repaid for “legal expenses” that arose from a “retainer agreement.”

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Mr, Michael D, Cohen, reimbursing, Stormy Daniels, ”

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