[tomder55]

BTW even though she was caught using public funds to wine and dine her paramour ;Willis got 87% of the vote in her primary win.

[tomder55]

Next week Judge Merchan will tell the jury to deliberate to determine if Trump committed 34 felonies by committing 34 misdemeanors in an attempt to cover up another crime. What crime was he covering up ? Who knows . We can only speculate because none was identified .
But mustn't the judge send the jury to deliberations with CLEAR instructions about what the underlying crime was ? In a normal sane world the answer would be yes .

But that subject was evidently the focus of discussion between the judge ;prosecution and defense lawyers . Prosecution that " standard application of the law" was enough for the jury to determine if Trump falsified business records (something in itself I don't believe was clearly established ) with the intent of committing another crime or concealing another crime .
Not surprising ,the judge agreed with the prosecution . This will be another issue to decide in appeal .(again NYS has 2 levels of appeals courts before a case can go to SCOTUS ;and then SCOTUS would have to agree to hear an appeal .

The prosecution insinuates that Trump committed Federal Election finance violations . But the Feds reviewed the evidence already and found he did not .
The physical evidence is 11 invoices from Cohen, 11 checks from Trump , and 12 ledger entries.... 34 pieces of paper... 34 charges .

Bradley A. Smith, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), was going to testify why there was nothing there . But the judge limited what he could say making what he could contribute irrelevant . Merchan ruled that Smith could not testify as an expert witness on matters of law, saying he could only offer "general background" on the FEC and "general definitions" of terms such as campaign contribution. Again ;something that would make for a good appeal .

[jlisenbe]

The lady holding the scales has evidently allowed someone to remove the blindfold.



This site sure has been slow to load/respond the past several days.

[tomder55]

Judge gave mind bending instructions to the jury with the intent to perform a coup de gras on Trump. The judge said they could disagree on 3 different crimes(violations of tax laws, falsification of business records, or violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act.) Trump is being charged with . And if they were to spilt 4-4-4 on guilty then he would treat it as a unanimous verdict.

Jonathan Turley explains how the instructions were rigged .

A Manhattan canned hunt: The Trump jury is out but is the case in the bag? (thehill.com)

[tomder55]

Clueless Joe to hold an Oval office address after Trump verdict.

I think he knows Trump will be found guilty and he will say that he is calling off the June debates because he cannot be on the same stage as a convict .

[jlisenbe]

I guess that would rule out Hunter as well?

It stands to reason that he will do all he can to find some semi-reasonable way of backing out of the debates. I was amazed that he agreed to do them. He stood to lose an awful lot and his chances of coming off looking good were slim at best.

[tomder55]

Here it is 50+ pages of jury instructions the judge read to the jury today. They were not allowed to bring the instructions into the deliberation room

People v. DJT Jury Instructions and Charges FINAL 5-23-24.pdf (nycourts.gov)

this is insane

Jury deliberated for 5 hrs

[tomder55]

His address from the Oval office to comment on a court proceeding of a political opponent that doesn't condemn the whole process just proves the process is completely political.

But that is how Joe roles . The man who campaigned as the anti-Trump in 2020 who would bring dignity back to the office has often mirrored Trump's style.

As President he should've taken a hands off approach to Trump's legal issues. Instead we know that these prosecutors have been frequent visitors of the WH . Instead the President has taken cheap jabs at Trump over his legal issues.

2 recent examples

During the Correspondence dinner he said Trump “had a few tough days lately. You might call it stormy weather”
When he accepted the debate challenge he joked “I heard you’re free on Wednesdays.”

Wednesday he sent surrogate moron Robert DeNiro to stand in front of the court house to say "The fact is, whether he’s acquitted, whether it’s a hung jury, he is guilty—and we all know it.”
So much for the presumption of innocence.
Whatever Joe says from the Oval office after the verdict will convince people what we already know; that the whole process is a political show trial.

[tomder55]

Trump is convicted on all counts of running for President . He's guilty !

[jlisenbe]

As you so very well said, "Whatever Joe says from the Oval office after the verdict will convince people what we already know; that the whole process is a political show trial."

[jlisenbe]

[tomder55]

By bringing such a dubious criminal case against a former president, the Democrats have now openly criminalized public policy differences. This is a dangerous game. It hardly transfigures Trump into Nelson Mandela, an unwise comparison Trump likes to invoke himself. Liberals also bristle at a more current analogy with Trump as Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader exiled, imprisoned, and murdered by Russian authorities on phony charges, presumably on orders from Vladimir Putin.

Democrats would say the comparison offends them because Navalny was a heroic figure and Donald Trump is a menace to society. This view is sincerely held, for sure. But I suspect something else makes Democrats uneasy: Deep down many of them know that they’ve weaponized the criminal justice system in a way that is unhealthy for a republic; that they’ve undermined their own plot line about “saving democracy”; and that in their zeal to get Trump, Democratic Party leaders and millions of rank-and-file Democrats alike have all indulged their inner Vladimir Putin.

‘Democratic Principles and the Spirit of Free Institutions’ | RealClearPolitics

[tomder55]

In Georgia an Appeals Court put a temporary halt to Fani Willis' Trump show trial. But it could be bad news for Trump . The delay could end in October ;a bad time for him to be tied up in court.

[jlisenbe]

The delay could end in October ;a bad time for him to be tied up in court.

That's quite likely the strategy to begin with.

[tomder55]

update Yesterday in a news dump on a Friday evening when the reporters of the compliant press have already hit the bars or are on their way to their summer weekend plans ;Judge Merchan released a bombshell admission.

He said that someone on Fakebook claimed to be a cousin of one of the jurors. That person posted the verdict of the trial the day before it was rendered .

Justice Juan Merchan's letter says that on Friday "the court became aware of a comment" on the court's Facebook page, "now labeled as one week old" from a user named "Michael Anderson".
"My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted," the post says, according to the judge. "Thank you folks for all your hard work!!!"

Judge flags Facebook post claiming inside access to Trump verdict (bbc.com)



The problem is that it is likely that the Judge editied the FakeBook posting . Reports are claiming the actual text is
“Thank you for all your hard work against the MAGA crazies.”

Dinesh D'Souza on X: "How telling that Judge Merchan stealth edited the Facebook post to omit, “Thank you for all your hard (work) against the MAGA crazies.” After all, this sentence exposes the whole rationale for the case. It’s not about justice; it’s about getting the leader of the “MAGA crazies” https://t.co/7SZqgFuwMl" / X

The post has been deleted from Fakebook so I have no way to independently corroborate or if the post itself was an "AI generated "deep fake"</sarc>

[tomder55]

Another thing. Trump is convicted . Isn't it time that the gag order on Trump be lifted ?
Michael Cohen continues to say the most disgusting things about Trump and he is not permitted to respond.

Michael Cohen's Tweets Mocking Donald Trump Draw Laughs From Courtroom | HuffPost Latest News

There is no good reason to legally block Mr. Trump from answering this barrage. If the June 27 presidential debate arrives with no change in the gag order, Mr. Biden would go on stage knowing he could praise the 12 New York jurors, and his opponent might be held in contempt for responding.

Opinion | ‘Donald von S—InPants’ (msn.com)

[jlisenbe]

Rather clearly, the blindfold has slipped off of the lady holding the scales.

[tomder55]

Even though the trial is still over ;the gag order Judge Merchan slapped on Trump is still in effect . Trump's appeal went the the NY Court of Appeals ;the highest court in the state . They refused to hear his appeal .

So even though clowns like Cohen still take daily pot shots at Trump ;he cannot respond without risking fine and jail time.

[tomder55]

The Slimes is on the attack suggesting that Judge Cannon in the Trump document case is in over her head.

Judge in Trump Documents Case Rejected Suggestions to Step Aside - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


Judge in Donald Trump’s documents case rejected suggestions to step aside – The Irish Times


Without proof they claim she has “scant trial experience” She shows “unusual favor” to Trump ;along with the disclaimer that all the compliant press note ;that Trump appointed here. They claim there is “increasing criticism of how she has gone on to handle the case,” that she shows “hostility to prosecutors,” and her rulings were “shocking legal experts”


“As Judge Cannon’s handling of the case has come under intensifying scrutiny, her critics have suggested that she could be in over her head, in the tank for Mr. Trump—or both.”


You would think she has not ruled against Trump at all in this case. Who are these anonymous "collogues " they mention ? Well the Slimes is not clear . In fact they don't even bother to give an actual quote.
The Slimes couldn't possibly be part of an "orchestrated campaign " against Judge Cannon .... could they ?

Since May 16, 2024, the Clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for theEleventh Circuit has received over 1,000 judicial complaints against Judge Cannon thatraise allegations that are substantially similar to the allegations raised in previouscomplaints. These complaints appear to be part of an orchestrated campaign, asdescribed in Judicial-Conduct Rule 10(b) and the accompanying commentary. TheChief Circuit Judge of the Eleventh Circuit has considered and dismissed four of thoseorchestrated complaints as merits-related and as based on allegations lacking sufficientevidence to raise an inference that misconduct has occurred.Many of the complaints against Judge Cannon request that the Chief CircuitJudge remove her from the classified-documents case and reassign the case to a different judge.

GeneralOrder2024-J.pdf (uscourts.gov)

(11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Chief Judge William Pryor )

For perspective this court has also reversed some of Judge Cannon's decisions like the appointment of a "special master " to oversee the case.

The Slimes published this on the eve of hearing arguments about Trump's claim that Jack Smith's appointment as special council was unconstitutional .

The timing was clearly a coincidence</sarc> .

[tomder55]

Reportedly Smith made the argument to Judge Cannon that he is an inferior office ;not subject to Senate confirmation under the Appointment Clause.

That poses a different problem. If he is an inferior officer then he is subject to supervision of the Justice Dept. But Joe and AG Garland claim Smith acts independently.

It can't be both ways. If he is supervised then this prosecution is clearly political election interference. If not then his appointment was unconstitutional.

There is an additional problem with what Smith contends . The law that would pemit him to be appointed as an inferior officer expired in 1999 .

Independent Counsel Law Expiration and the Appointment of "Special Counsels" - EveryCRSReport.com

So either way Judge Cannon should conclude the appointment was unconstitutional.

As noted above; the compliant press is preemptively attacking the judge's competence and authority to make the call. Reeks of desperation . But what do I know ?