Will he or won’t he? In every criminal trial, the smart money says no. Absolutely, absolutely not. Very few defendants take the witness stand in their own defense, and Trump, given his past performance and proclivities, should not be one of them. The man whose lawyers were afraid to let him sit down for an informal Q&A with Special Counsel Bob Mueller has no business on the witness stand. If he testifies, he will be subject to relentless and free-ranging cross-examination by a highly skilled prosecution team in Manhattan. As much as I’d like to see this, it’s a sure thing Trump’s lawyers will do everything they can to keep him off the stand.
What a disrespectful POS! Nice impression there for the jurors and they won’t forget cause he’ll do it every time they enter. He’s a bluffing bully that will claim his testimony will be silenced by the judge cause he can’t get up there and spew his hatred. Bullies don’t take the stand. Too bad the violating the gag order isn’t today instead of the Sandoval hearing. I agree with Andrew and Tim (a writer) that financial penalties will do nothing, just put him in jail for 30 days. No makeup or styling his hair for court daily and no horrible lying news clips daily.
Thank you, joyce for this wonderful update. ‘Will he or won’t he’ requires some kind of a pool betting to be set up. I’m going to bet he will testify. He thinks he’s able to convince the jury because he is such a convincing liar. Indeed, he thinks he is above the law. But he also thinks he’s better than anyone sitting in that jury box. He’s not standing up for them. That’s a huge mistake and they won’t forget it. They are sacrificing their time and they don’t have residual money as he does. They have to keep paying the bills and some of them are paying childcare. I’m not sure what New York jury would pay, but they certainly don’t pay enough to cover the cost of being there. Of the many horrid things he’s done this is at the top. Of course, he has absolutely zero respect for the rule of law. Round one: the People won! And thank you as well for giving us the copy of the questions the prosecutor would like to ask Trump should he testify. Thank you for sharing so much of your time with us.
Prediction #2: Trump sent to Rykers Island for a minimum of 10 days for violating the gag rule.
Prediction #3: I am accepted as a media rep in court and report back to you as well as my blog.
Prediction #4: In the middle of the street circus, I yell something revealing about the trial to which the media rolls cameras as I pull my “Donald’s Vanity Trantrums “ and fandango free publicity .
Why isn't there a penalty for disrespect? The man refuses to acknowledge the potential jurors, indicating that he sees them as someone or "something" to be distained, or unworthy of sitting in judgement on the case. He certainly isn't courting them as potential allies. He is capable of singing praises for the most unlikely and scurrilous characters, then abandoning them later, so at the very least shouldn't he at least pretend to trust New Yorkers, of all people, to have sympathy with his demeanor and tactics towards others with regard to his public reputation? Where's the authority that can say "and here's another swat for talking back to me..." like the parent he so desperately needs? Why can't the justices say, in effect; "you may not respect me personally, but you WILL respect the office and the position I hold; I hold you in contempt of the judiciary for your conduct on social media, outside the courtroom and at your political rallies when you disparage the court". Any justice excercising excess restraint due to concern about the possibility of later appeals or violence on the part of the defendant's tribe of lunatics might live to see some backlash, but would be a HERO to so many millions of the rest of us who DO respect the court system, for the most part (not so sure about most of SCOTUS) and want the court to demonstrate to the WORLD that our justice system can't be treated like schoolyard wimps by a blow-hard bully.
And, forget about fines as a deterrent to his behavior; he isn't spending his money anyway; he's hijacked the entire Republican fundraising apparatus to fill the coffers of his PACs who appear to be able to legally pay his legal bills. It's SO LOW to believe that he would actually demand a piece of another candidates fundraising to use his name in their public appearances. He's promoting a political kleptocracy in addition to the rest of the shit show he wants to bring back to Washington DC.
Thank you so much, Joyce. You help me to contain all my anxiety about what is going on. I pray for the jurors, the Judge, all of the witnesses that they remain safe and not falling into harm from this madman.
That’s the first time I’ve seen him ask his cult to do anything peacefully in a longtime, if ever. However, I’m curious what the distinction is between donating money peacefully or not looks like. Perhaps this is another example of his misuse of adjectives and adverbs such as the way he describes calls with dictators, battlefields and attempts to ask someone to fraudulently find votes beautiful.
As always, thanks Joyce for leading us through the murk.
It seems to me Judge Merchan is going to have to continue to be very astute. I am sure trump’s attorneys will look for the slightest thing for an appeal.
After reading the 13 incidents that the DA will present, they all seem true to me. Saving grace is they can be used to cross examine him.
trump has no respect for anyone. He is a bully who needs to be incarcerated.
I’m pretty sure trump will say he’s going to testify until the very last second.
I say turn off the AC and let him sleep through the trial. Combination of stress he is feeling and warmth of the court room he will be like Rip van Winkle.
I still worry about everyone’s safety. I hope the MAGA thugs won’t intimidate or do harm to anyone. Yesterday morning I saw fear in a Michael Cohen’s eyes.
Let’s all get some sleep. Good night and thanks again.
(P.S. my editor was a no show tonight. I looked this over and apologize if I have misspoken or misspelled. )
That glowering picture is a caricature by now. It's not intimidating to anyone, it radiates petulance instead of power, and it doesn't look like a man who could stop scowling long enough to formulate or complete a rational thought. Hence, I predict he will say he WANTS to testify, but without cameras to capture the habitual showboating that won't help his case, he won't.
Omg! Joyce do you have an assistant? The amount of work you do in a day is incredible! Chickens, cats, dogs,lawyering,cooking, knitting, gardening, professering 👩🏫 and most appreciated… enlightening and educating us daily. Thank you!🙏 🙏🙏
Thanks for the daily update. Love the illustrations too. Who knows indeed if TFG will testify. It seems like every time he boasts about something he is eager to do, it turns out to be all talk and no action🤔
What a disrespectful POS! Nice impression there for the jurors and they won’t forget cause he’ll do it every time they enter. He’s a bluffing bully that will claim his testimony will be silenced by the judge cause he can’t get up there and spew his hatred. Bullies don’t take the stand. Too bad the violating the gag order isn’t today instead of the Sandoval hearing. I agree with Andrew and Tim (a writer) that financial penalties will do nothing, just put him in jail for 30 days. No makeup or styling his hair for court daily and no horrible lying news clips daily.
Joyce you are a guiding light
TRUMP TRIAL
DAY 3
There's no knowing where we're going,
In the courtroom winds are blowing,
With Trump and jurors in a row,
Through the trial's ebb and flow.
•
Is it freezing? Is it warm?
Trump in suit, just the norm,
Jurors quiver, media swarm,
As the judge tries to reform.
•
Round and round the questions fly,
From every lawyer, sly and spry,
"Can you judge without a sigh?"
Bias whispers, some comply.
•
Juror twelve or maybe three,
Likes the news from MSNBC,
Can they set their judgments free?
Or will bias be the key?
•
Dismissals here, a challenge there,
Jurors ousted from their chair,
Oh, the drama we can bear,
In the courthouse, stark and bare.
•
Social posts from years ago,
"Oops," she said, a major blow,
Trump's a racist? Off you go!
In the river, currents flow.
•
Now the panel's finally set,
Twelve New Yorkers placed to bet,
On the truth they've yet to get,
In the trial of the jet-set.
•
Trump sits quiet, scene surreal,
Silent now, what does he feel?
Legal battles, zest and zeal,
In the courthouse, fate will seal.
•
Jurors from the city's core,
One in finance, one in law,
Tech and health care, schools and more,
New York's fabric, rich in lore.
•
Salesman, teacher, minds diverse,
Candid thoughts they will converse,
Can impartial hearts immerse
In the drama, chapter, verse?
•
Amidst the juror's thoughtful tides,
Trump's voice on social media rides,
Prosecutors sternly chide,
Gag order breached, he must abide.
•
Where we're going, who can tell?
Gavel sounds like a ringing bell,
In this legal carousel,
Round the twists of truth we delve!
Thank you, joyce for this wonderful update. ‘Will he or won’t he’ requires some kind of a pool betting to be set up. I’m going to bet he will testify. He thinks he’s able to convince the jury because he is such a convincing liar. Indeed, he thinks he is above the law. But he also thinks he’s better than anyone sitting in that jury box. He’s not standing up for them. That’s a huge mistake and they won’t forget it. They are sacrificing their time and they don’t have residual money as he does. They have to keep paying the bills and some of them are paying childcare. I’m not sure what New York jury would pay, but they certainly don’t pay enough to cover the cost of being there. Of the many horrid things he’s done this is at the top. Of course, he has absolutely zero respect for the rule of law. Round one: the People won! And thank you as well for giving us the copy of the questions the prosecutor would like to ask Trump should he testify. Thank you for sharing so much of your time with us.
Prediction #1: Guilty on all counts.
Prediction #2: Trump sent to Rykers Island for a minimum of 10 days for violating the gag rule.
Prediction #3: I am accepted as a media rep in court and report back to you as well as my blog.
Prediction #4: In the middle of the street circus, I yell something revealing about the trial to which the media rolls cameras as I pull my “Donald’s Vanity Trantrums “ and fandango free publicity .
Why isn't there a penalty for disrespect? The man refuses to acknowledge the potential jurors, indicating that he sees them as someone or "something" to be distained, or unworthy of sitting in judgement on the case. He certainly isn't courting them as potential allies. He is capable of singing praises for the most unlikely and scurrilous characters, then abandoning them later, so at the very least shouldn't he at least pretend to trust New Yorkers, of all people, to have sympathy with his demeanor and tactics towards others with regard to his public reputation? Where's the authority that can say "and here's another swat for talking back to me..." like the parent he so desperately needs? Why can't the justices say, in effect; "you may not respect me personally, but you WILL respect the office and the position I hold; I hold you in contempt of the judiciary for your conduct on social media, outside the courtroom and at your political rallies when you disparage the court". Any justice excercising excess restraint due to concern about the possibility of later appeals or violence on the part of the defendant's tribe of lunatics might live to see some backlash, but would be a HERO to so many millions of the rest of us who DO respect the court system, for the most part (not so sure about most of SCOTUS) and want the court to demonstrate to the WORLD that our justice system can't be treated like schoolyard wimps by a blow-hard bully.
And, forget about fines as a deterrent to his behavior; he isn't spending his money anyway; he's hijacked the entire Republican fundraising apparatus to fill the coffers of his PACs who appear to be able to legally pay his legal bills. It's SO LOW to believe that he would actually demand a piece of another candidates fundraising to use his name in their public appearances. He's promoting a political kleptocracy in addition to the rest of the shit show he wants to bring back to Washington DC.
Thank you so much, Joyce. You help me to contain all my anxiety about what is going on. I pray for the jurors, the Judge, all of the witnesses that they remain safe and not falling into harm from this madman.
That’s the first time I’ve seen him ask his cult to do anything peacefully in a longtime, if ever. However, I’m curious what the distinction is between donating money peacefully or not looks like. Perhaps this is another example of his misuse of adjectives and adverbs such as the way he describes calls with dictators, battlefields and attempts to ask someone to fraudulently find votes beautiful.
As always, thanks Joyce for leading us through the murk.
So grateful for you, Joyce! For all you do to keep us informed, and to help us keep our sanity during these strange surreal years.
Joyce, thankYou so much. This was so informative.
It seems to me Judge Merchan is going to have to continue to be very astute. I am sure trump’s attorneys will look for the slightest thing for an appeal.
After reading the 13 incidents that the DA will present, they all seem true to me. Saving grace is they can be used to cross examine him.
trump has no respect for anyone. He is a bully who needs to be incarcerated.
I’m pretty sure trump will say he’s going to testify until the very last second.
I say turn off the AC and let him sleep through the trial. Combination of stress he is feeling and warmth of the court room he will be like Rip van Winkle.
I still worry about everyone’s safety. I hope the MAGA thugs won’t intimidate or do harm to anyone. Yesterday morning I saw fear in a Michael Cohen’s eyes.
Let’s all get some sleep. Good night and thanks again.
(P.S. my editor was a no show tonight. I looked this over and apologize if I have misspoken or misspelled. )
Just that face with that look is sufficient to put him against a wall as an act of garbage removal.
I doubt that little Donnie T ever had a teddy bear as a child. That’s got to be a contributing factor to all that is so horribly wrong with him.
That glowering picture is a caricature by now. It's not intimidating to anyone, it radiates petulance instead of power, and it doesn't look like a man who could stop scowling long enough to formulate or complete a rational thought. Hence, I predict he will say he WANTS to testify, but without cameras to capture the habitual showboating that won't help his case, he won't.
Omg! Joyce do you have an assistant? The amount of work you do in a day is incredible! Chickens, cats, dogs,lawyering,cooking, knitting, gardening, professering 👩🏫 and most appreciated… enlightening and educating us daily. Thank you!🙏 🙏🙏
Now here's a judge who is moving carefully, yet compared to Eileen Cannon, seems to be moving at light speed.
Thanks for the daily update. Love the illustrations too. Who knows indeed if TFG will testify. It seems like every time he boasts about something he is eager to do, it turns out to be all talk and no action🤔