this post was submitted on 14 May 2024
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188
Live Updates: Cohen Says Trump Approved Payments at White House Meeting (www.nytimes.com)
submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by [email protected] to c/politics
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[–] Nightwingdragon 58 points 4 months ago (4 children)

I don't know how true this is, but CNN is reporting that the judge has decided to quietly back off further enforcement of the gag order, even though he denied the motion to quash it.

My guess is that this is his way of not actually having his bluff called the next time Trump crosses the line. It's also another great example of how there's a two-tier system of justice in this country. Good to know that when push comes to shove, the judges will continue to do nothing while wondering why Trump continues to run roughshod all over everything.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

I had read Trump posted and deleted a rant on witnesses just yesterday or over the weekend. Maybe that was false or I misread older news.

Edit: looks like I saw an older post. Trump has moved on to having his pawns do the lies for him.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Trump has moved on to having his pawns do the lies for him.

This latest stunt of having a rotating set of bootlicking douche canoes attend court with him then talk shit in the media is pathetic and disgusting.

[–] Nightwingdragon 14 points 4 months ago

This latest stunt of having a rotating set of bootlicking douche canoes attend court with him then talk shit in the media is pathetic and disgusting.

It's also essentially a job interview for future cabinet positions should Trump be re-elected.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It's funny because his lawyers are in court right now arguing that Michael Cohen did not act on Trump's behalf. Meanwhile, there's a parade of losers outside clearly acting on Trump's behalf.

The defense lawyers don't really have a coherent argument, but part of their strategy is to pretend Michael Cohen used his own home equity loan to pay off Stormy Daniels for no reason. As if that's totally normal. We've all (at some point) acted in Donald Trump's best interest, not at his direction, right?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago

their strategy is to pretend Michael Cohen used his own home equity loan_ to pay off Stormy Daniels for no reason. As if that's totally normal.

That's the thing that cracks me up. They've got to convince the jury that there are just rogue lawyers out there taking out home equity loans to protect their clients without discussing it with their clients. Like it's just a completely normal thing to do.

Maybe Trump's current team of lawyers will make their closing arguments and be like "and it turns out that during this trial, the entire defense team has mortgaged their houses to keep this trial going, all unbeknownst to our client. The defense rests."

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago

Yea it is pathetic and disrespectful to his supporters. Trumps says he'll trade jail for free speech, then immediately has his booklicking douche canoes come and do the speaking, so Trump can avoid jail. Imagine how little self respect you have to have to see this and think "Yea, trumps my guy".

[–] Ghostalmedia 17 points 4 months ago (1 children)

IMHO, this isn’t two tiers of justice. It’s three. Trump is on a whole new tier.

[–] FenrirIII 1 points 4 months ago

The Shit Tier

[–] FlowVoid 8 points 4 months ago (2 children)

The point of the gag order was to stop Trump from intimidating key witnesses (Daniels, Cohen, and Pecker). Whether or not it achieved its goal, it's much harder to justify after the witnesses have already testified.

[–] Nightwingdragon 13 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Not really.

Let's say Trump decided to attack Stormy Daniels now that she's done testifying, and she starts getting inundated with threats (or worse, something happens to her). What is the next witness going to think? Why would the next witness testify if they know they're going to be the subject of one of Trump's dog whistles right after they're done?

The gag order needs to stay in place and in full effect until the end of the trial.

[–] disguy_ovahea 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

The only testimony remaining would be from the defense. Cohen’s testimony concluded the prosecution’s case.

The gag order is still in effect. It’s just not justifiably enforceable in protection of witnesses that have completed their testimony.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

IAAL, however, I don't practice in the USA.

Although infrequent, witnesses for the prosecution can be called back if the presiding judge allows reopening of the prosecution's case.

See in the USA: https://katzjustice.com/when-may-a-prosecutor-reopen-the-case-in-chief/

That's why I tend to agree with [email protected]. The order should continue to be enforced until the end of the trial.

[–] disguy_ovahea 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

That’s true. I still think it’s motivated by Merchan’s desire to avoid providing any grounds for appeal. It turns out the request was overturned.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/14/politics/gag-order-appeal-trump-hush-money-denied/index.html

[–] disguy_ovahea 4 points 4 months ago

That is correct. Once the witnesses have testified, there’s no reason to enforce it without inferring bias. The gag order is still very much enforceable in protection of jurors and court staff until the trial is complete.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 4 months ago

People who think this trial might end in a person sentence are completely delusional.

[–] kescusay 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

This has been amazing. Cohen has been calm, cool, and collected, and I'm pretty sure Trump's lawyers are on the verge of tears because of it.

[–] FuglyDuck 1 points 4 months ago

“That sounds like something I’d say,”