For starters, some important news: The state of New York will make daily transcripts of the trial available. They announced each day’s transcript would be available by the end of the following day. You can also find key pleadings and orders at the link. Bookmark it and you can follow up on any specific parts of the day’s proceedings that interest you.
It's a little weird to have a legal system where just about everyone knows one party is dead wrong from the outset but are given all sorts of leeway in finding outs for themselves.
Yes, it's as important to protect the not guilty as convict the guilty...
To say nothing of the utter lack of consequences for elected officials we know took part in J6.
Donald Trump is NOT president. I believe it is wrong that his lawyers are permitted to refer to him as President Trump throughout their remarks. When a policeman is called to testify he/she cannot wear their uniform, as it might be unfairly prejudicial, giving him/her a false aura of authority or deference, just as calling him “President Trump” could.
The president is not on trial. The former president is. Do you think we’d be hearing Hillary Clinton referred to as Madame Secretary were she on trial?
Thank you for this Joyce. What a world we live in these days. I would never have believed we would be here. What a shame for all Americans and democracy that we have to deal with someone like Trump.
I think that the Court should hold Trump in contempt but reserve sentence until such time that it would be appropriate to impose it, which could be at the conclusion of the trial.
Trump is clearly attempting to bait the judge into falling into his trap of incarcerating him to make him appear to be a "political prisoner".
This is Trump's end-game: to divert the country's attention away from his crimes and turn him into a martyr. As Jesus sacrificed his life for humanity, so will our hero Donald Trump sacrifice his freedom on the pyre of human liberty.
As Trump said, "I am willing to go to jail for our country to win and become a democracy again," and it would be a "great honor" to do so.
We are now seeing this sleazy con man in all his flamboyance trying to convince both the American people and himself that everything he has done in his life (including his lies, lecheries, infidelities and crimes) has been for the American people. This is pure show-biz and symptomatic of a very unstable and delusional mind spinning out of control.
Cohen not only committed this CRIME at the "direction of and for the benefit of Individual 1" ie Donald Trump. He perjured himself, also "at the direction of and for the benefit of" Donald Trump when he LIED to Congress about Trump's plans for a hotel in Moscow. No matter the verdict in this case, what is clear as day is Trump's willingness to CHEAT in order to "win." This trial will change nothing in that regard. Vladimir Putin's minions are already flooding social media as he "revs" up his mis/disinformation campaign designed to turn "we the people" against each other to the benefit of both Trump and Russia. To me, being informed is the minimum adult responsibility, but, sadly, there's so much information flowing across the internet it's hard for many people to understand up from down. For me, I'm grateful for Joyce's "sober" explanation of the legal issues most of us, me in particular, don't understand without some help. I've just finished Reading Rachel Maddow's "Prequel" and it's got me more focused on doing what I can to convince people how important the next few elections will be. Getting the "MAGA" influence out of our political arena is going to take (likely) a generation - I'm thinking of the SCOTUS. Thank God for these judges and prosecutors in New York who are not intimidated by Trump. (Well, I guess in the case of Judge Merchan his rulings on Trump's OBVIOUS contempt will be a signal, one way or the other, whether Trump will finally be "treated like any other CRIMINAL defendant.)
Thank you for this comprehensive review and analysis. Passover started last night- the tradition is a story of redemption. I hope with the start of the trial today, we as a nation are beginning that long walk to redemption of our democracy. This trial shows our system holds accountable even the most powerful when it walks the walk- “no one is above the law”.
As for the transcripts, I read portions of the transcripts last night on the news and could not help but read how many times Trump's lawyer, in his opening statement to the jury, referred to "President Trump" did this, "President Trump" did that, "President Trump", "President Trump" and "President Trump". This is all being done, I believe, to intimidate the jurors and send a subliminal message to them that the man sitting over there has been and will be again the President of the United States and that they should think twice before holding this great man in judgment.
"And he's a person, just like you and just like me.” I've been wondering whether I could have served as a fair and impartial juror and realized, reading this enormously offensive statement from Mr. Blanche, that I could not. No, sir, this defendant is NOT like me, in any way, shape or form.
Thank you Joyce, your comments in this are excellent and very helpful to the lay reader. You have made sense out of a nonsensical Dimwit's hot seat...who continues to think he is above the law....which of course he isn't.
Thanks. Great summary and presentation of the start to the trial. Hard to believe such a despicable human being can garner so much support. But seeing interviews at trump rallies, few if any can explain why they support Trump, what he has done for them, or what he will do. Blind fealty is scary.
We know tRump lies, and that his “followers” believe every word. When the Mueller Report was published, tRump proudly proclaimed he was exonerated, which he clearly was not. That didn’t stop his “fans” from shouting it from the rooftops though. Anything short of a guilty verdict will produce the same result. I agree that acquittal is not likely, but if there is a hung jury the public result will be the same as “not guilty”. tRump will shout that he wasn’t convicted, that a jury found him innocent and his minions will swallow it whole. That would be a sad day indeed.
Thank you for keeping us up to date. In the US I am surrounded by people who are so burnt out by Trump that they are paying marginal attention to what he is doing, and praying that he does not win. In Germany people turn to me to explain Trump and whether I think he will win again. So, while I have no one to really discuss it with, your forum provides the substance of my thinking on the case. Much appreciated.
It's a little weird to have a legal system where just about everyone knows one party is dead wrong from the outset but are given all sorts of leeway in finding outs for themselves.
Yes, it's as important to protect the not guilty as convict the guilty...
To say nothing of the utter lack of consequences for elected officials we know took part in J6.
Donald Trump is NOT president. I believe it is wrong that his lawyers are permitted to refer to him as President Trump throughout their remarks. When a policeman is called to testify he/she cannot wear their uniform, as it might be unfairly prejudicial, giving him/her a false aura of authority or deference, just as calling him “President Trump” could.
The president is not on trial. The former president is. Do you think we’d be hearing Hillary Clinton referred to as Madame Secretary were she on trial?
Thank you for this Joyce. What a world we live in these days. I would never have believed we would be here. What a shame for all Americans and democracy that we have to deal with someone like Trump.
I think that the Court should hold Trump in contempt but reserve sentence until such time that it would be appropriate to impose it, which could be at the conclusion of the trial.
Trump is clearly attempting to bait the judge into falling into his trap of incarcerating him to make him appear to be a "political prisoner".
This is Trump's end-game: to divert the country's attention away from his crimes and turn him into a martyr. As Jesus sacrificed his life for humanity, so will our hero Donald Trump sacrifice his freedom on the pyre of human liberty.
As Trump said, "I am willing to go to jail for our country to win and become a democracy again," and it would be a "great honor" to do so.
We are now seeing this sleazy con man in all his flamboyance trying to convince both the American people and himself that everything he has done in his life (including his lies, lecheries, infidelities and crimes) has been for the American people. This is pure show-biz and symptomatic of a very unstable and delusional mind spinning out of control.
Cohen not only committed this CRIME at the "direction of and for the benefit of Individual 1" ie Donald Trump. He perjured himself, also "at the direction of and for the benefit of" Donald Trump when he LIED to Congress about Trump's plans for a hotel in Moscow. No matter the verdict in this case, what is clear as day is Trump's willingness to CHEAT in order to "win." This trial will change nothing in that regard. Vladimir Putin's minions are already flooding social media as he "revs" up his mis/disinformation campaign designed to turn "we the people" against each other to the benefit of both Trump and Russia. To me, being informed is the minimum adult responsibility, but, sadly, there's so much information flowing across the internet it's hard for many people to understand up from down. For me, I'm grateful for Joyce's "sober" explanation of the legal issues most of us, me in particular, don't understand without some help. I've just finished Reading Rachel Maddow's "Prequel" and it's got me more focused on doing what I can to convince people how important the next few elections will be. Getting the "MAGA" influence out of our political arena is going to take (likely) a generation - I'm thinking of the SCOTUS. Thank God for these judges and prosecutors in New York who are not intimidated by Trump. (Well, I guess in the case of Judge Merchan his rulings on Trump's OBVIOUS contempt will be a signal, one way or the other, whether Trump will finally be "treated like any other CRIMINAL defendant.)
JOYCE! What would we do without you, woman!!
Thank you for this comprehensive review and analysis. Passover started last night- the tradition is a story of redemption. I hope with the start of the trial today, we as a nation are beginning that long walk to redemption of our democracy. This trial shows our system holds accountable even the most powerful when it walks the walk- “no one is above the law”.
As for the transcripts, I read portions of the transcripts last night on the news and could not help but read how many times Trump's lawyer, in his opening statement to the jury, referred to "President Trump" did this, "President Trump" did that, "President Trump", "President Trump" and "President Trump". This is all being done, I believe, to intimidate the jurors and send a subliminal message to them that the man sitting over there has been and will be again the President of the United States and that they should think twice before holding this great man in judgment.
My hunch is that Trump wants to be incarcerated as it will provide him a persecuted victumhood. This is the only solution.
Still in celebration of Earth Day, here is a song I wrote titled, "Song of Greta Thungberg." Please enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5lXby9apjI
"And he's a person, just like you and just like me.” I've been wondering whether I could have served as a fair and impartial juror and realized, reading this enormously offensive statement from Mr. Blanche, that I could not. No, sir, this defendant is NOT like me, in any way, shape or form.
Thank you Joyce, your comments in this are excellent and very helpful to the lay reader. You have made sense out of a nonsensical Dimwit's hot seat...who continues to think he is above the law....which of course he isn't.
If a lawyer knows his client is lying — he has seen evidence — and he repeats this lies to defend his client, isn’t he committing perjury?
“Blanche went beyond that, “The story that you just heard, you will learn, is not true.”
Thanks. Great summary and presentation of the start to the trial. Hard to believe such a despicable human being can garner so much support. But seeing interviews at trump rallies, few if any can explain why they support Trump, what he has done for them, or what he will do. Blind fealty is scary.
Frankly I'm tired of him being referred to as "President". He's the ex-President and we all know he was just horrible at the job.
We know tRump lies, and that his “followers” believe every word. When the Mueller Report was published, tRump proudly proclaimed he was exonerated, which he clearly was not. That didn’t stop his “fans” from shouting it from the rooftops though. Anything short of a guilty verdict will produce the same result. I agree that acquittal is not likely, but if there is a hung jury the public result will be the same as “not guilty”. tRump will shout that he wasn’t convicted, that a jury found him innocent and his minions will swallow it whole. That would be a sad day indeed.
Thank you for keeping us up to date. In the US I am surrounded by people who are so burnt out by Trump that they are paying marginal attention to what he is doing, and praying that he does not win. In Germany people turn to me to explain Trump and whether I think he will win again. So, while I have no one to really discuss it with, your forum provides the substance of my thinking on the case. Much appreciated.