Two cases, lots of motions to discuss. We focus first on Trump’s motions to dismiss in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, which he filed late last week. These are only some of the motions pending before Judge Aileen Cannon, who also has discovery issues to handle and a scheduling conference later this week, on Friday. As with the election interference case in Washington, D.C., these are Trump’s dispositive motions, his shot at having some or all of the 31 charges against him in the Southern District of Florida dismissed.
“ That’s a lot of legal ground to cover in one fell swoop, and it’s all high-level.” By golly Joyce how do you keep it all straight?! Moreover, how do you keep from throwing things?😉. Trump is the most excruciatingly exasperating nauseating individual. His very presence steals oxygen from our world. But you dear Joyce help us along and I for one am ever so grateful!
Sally, I fully agree with your assessment. Living in CT, I just had to take the Metro North train into New York last fall and make the subway down to the courthouse so I could be witness to this quasi life form bursting through the courtroom doors. I did. He is certainly sub human. He is a caricature of himself and likely very aware of it. All the world is a stage for him. Without him balleting across life’s stage, he would be self-inexcusable.
He must not under any circumstances be allowed into the White House. But we on the democratic side must understand that all politics is a game of popularity sometimes mixed with principles. We must better learn to play this game better for all of us. I will be there again taking notes when a court resumes on March 25 this time as a media person. Media is allowed to use devises to write with but not spectators. And media gets preference over spectators. A few bennies being credentialed. I will likely write in my blog as well as here live as it happens. I fancied last year in court standing up while Trump was under cross and yelling something really nasty at him which would have sent me into a jail cell. And I thought of who would feed the cats so I refrained myself.
Bill: As a still practicing lawyer myself, I can envision literally dozens of his very highly paid legal team in this case alone who must despise him but their bosses say “do it” or else you can go elsewhere. How demeaning and how disgusting! Most of them know these arguments are frivolous. Someday we will read about the inside story ( perhaps anonymously) and the perversion of law which all of them engaged in for the mighty dollar. I hope at least some of them will regret it but chances are they will just regale their friends and associates with the background stories about the case at very expensive restaurants! Shame on them-each and every one!
Ira, your comment reminded me that the very concept of shame has disappeared from MAGAworld. Trump, who never exhibits any form of shame, and perhaps doesn't have a shame department in his brain, has taught his followers that shame is for losers. Attempts to shame Trump create the opportunity for him to use the very sophisticated response structure of "I'm rubber and you're glue." It's reflexive. Remember how fast he hit Hillary with "Puppet? I'm no puppet. You're the puppet." It's a silencer. The 77 year old man uses, successfully, the rhetorical strategies of the grade school playground.
Absolutely! I don’t think we have ever seen his shameful and disgusting equal before in American politics except briefly McCarthy years ago! He thinks we are all stupid and that he can get away with absolutely everything but his time is up and internally it is killing him emotionally particularly in the middle of the night when he is alone and ranting repeatedly on social media!He knows he is losing or has already lost but I think he is planning and expecting another Jan6 but bigger and more distributed geographically before the election so that he captures a bunch if southern and midwestern states so that the election is thrown into the House of Representatives for decision!
I don't think it is killing him emotionally. Great piece in The New York Times last week written by a sociopath who has insight into her condition. "Sociopaths are different." Doesn't mean we aren't suffering from the fallout. As a Canadian American (citizen of the US since 1998), I think the American legal system is being tested in a new way. We have Joyce! Thank heavens for chickens who love croissants. I keep pecking away at her brilliant posts!
Are the definitions of sociopath and insight compatible? Is malignant narcissist a subcategory of sociopath? I'm tempted to think so. I believe the man lacks the sort of insight that would incorporate restraint and shame, but he is certainly talented in the art of using juvenile methods of belittling opponents to potent effect; perhaps that reflects on our collective maturity that we respond with anything more than parental reprovement to his antics...
I would worry about bombs being placed strategically around the capital grounds at some point. There needs to be extreme measures taken re security come November.
And when Biden gives the State of the Union Address next month. That is, IF the GOP/Johnson allows it. I read an online article last week talking about this weird (to me, anyway) idea they have about stopping him.
I was worried about the Address he gave last year, because I do recall that shortly after 1/6, MTG and a lot of her MAGA lunatics buddies made Capitol Security allow weapons in the building. That's why they got rid of the body scanners. Knowing the GOP, they'll REALLY be adamant about making people walk through the Garrett Scanners.
I also recall how RUDE some of the MAGAs were while Biden was trying to speak.
Ira - I believe in some respects we all must "work" at something in order to survive.
In your professional opinion how does an individual or individuals like Trump, given his schemata and outrageous behavior in and out of court, find a lawyer or law firm to take him as a client?
He has to pay them outrageous hourly rates “up front” and/or he finds true believers in his lying cause? There are also lawyers who want the publicity regardless of the losing arguments they will make because months and years from now prospective clients (or voters) will say:”I remember you…weren’t you on tv in some big case I forget what?”
HE doesn’t pay the outrageous hourly rate; the RNC will be paying his legal bills. This will drain the coffers of the Party, and they will have no money to support down-ballot races. Yeah! Dems win!
Look-if your small firm is getting $2,000 per hour for a relatively new employee to write stupidly irrelevant and totally false legal arguments (such as total lifetime immunity from prosecution when he steals and hides top secret sensitive national security docs AFTER he was president?) that any fair and experienced judge is going to swat down as unsubstantiated, it is an easy way to make $100,000 bucks in a week before he goes bankrupt?
Oh Bill, I would be the same, he is so bad at getting under a good person’s skin just reading about him. I appreciate and look forward to your take on all his antics. I don’t care about him, I do care that he doesn’t taint the Jury and have a mistrial. It is amazing the work that has gone in to all of this. He is dispicable (being kind). Be well. 🇺🇸
What is truly galling is his claim about being treated differently. He is, only much better than any I saw in over 200 trials I presented when working for a large city’s DA office(1994-5).
His antics, his not very disguised attempts at influence, attempts at forcing a mistrial, statements of outright lies, etc. really get under my skin.
Any judge should be quick to draw the line and gain control early so this “defendant” knows the consequences then be even quicker to send his ass to jail(Friday would keep him there for a weekend). I believe Judge Chutkin has the appropriate level of courage to do it…
Mark, you're right! He definitely IS treated differently, but not in a good way. I'm way, way beyond all the breaks he gets, his threats that aren't taken seriously enough, the "farce" involving gag orders, and all the other benefits that none of us would have.
I'm not a spring chicken, so I do recall my parents getting a TV when Eisenhower was POTUS. From then on, I cannot recall one time when a President was so obnoxiously sickening like Trump is. Nixon was not saint, but I don't recall him being as bad!
My parents had a tv during one of Ike’s terms but I am a little bit younger. Born in middle 50’s but I recall JFK’s funeral. I was in grade school.
I used to vote for Independents like John Anderson in 1976, Perot, etc. More to ensure they could receive federal funds by meeting a minimum percentage of votes. Our two party system leads me to believe they are both, “in on it.” And I have pondered suing my current state for not allowing Independents to vote in primaries.
I remember John Anderson, and especially Ross Perot. Perot thought that because he was so rich, he could own the country. Sounds like someone else we know, doesn't it?
I didn't know that states would forbid people from voting independent. So many upper-level politicians force their personal agendas on the rest of us. We can vote them out, but meanwhile we have to wait for elections to vote them out!
I could not agree more. I was a Circuit Clerk for a short time. One of my jobs was giving the Oath and taking notes for our records. We had two Judges in our County. (Small Rural community) I sure can’t see either one of them putting up with the likes of DJT. HE HAS NO CAPACITY for giving RESPECT or TRUTH. He is just a bad joke. Really Bad. Be Well Mark, I appreciate your words. 🇺🇸
Thank you for your civic service. It can be a thankless, but rewarding experience. I spent approximately 2 years working in a large city’s DA office prosecuting abusive parents. It had a burnout rate of 18 months. I have seen things no one should ever witness let alone know about how parents can abuse their children.
I ended up back to an area of law I knew: labor law. It served me well as I could eventually sleep at night. Decades later the nightmares are behind me.
Quick response to your sleepless nights. I was assigned to Juvenile court. Heartless people that have children sometimes. (Stressful for sure) Glad you could move on. I moved on for many reasons (I was not meant for Politics in the Office) I never had any problems just felt it was more than I wanted while raising my own children.
2/2824…now on to our Country’s future… (or not) our SC is not Bias????? “We The People” don’t seem to get much of what we want…stressful????? As Joyce says “We are in this together” 🇺🇸
No wonder she hangs out with her chickens as much as possible! It probably helps alleviate the poisoned feeling that must come from entangling oneself in the legal cases of the scourge of the country. I am grateful for her excellent work, too.
Sally, you said that so much better than I could. I appreciate your comments, and I know for sure that Joyce will, too!
Joyce has the patience of a saint. I need to get some chickens, it the neighbors don't mind. Maybe that will help me calm down because just hearing Trump's name makes my blood want to boil!
Sally, you captured the sentiment with this line: “Trump is the most excruciatingly exasperating nauseating individual. His very presence steals oxygen from our world.”
We’ve been told more than once by Joyce, Robert Hubbell and many others that it would be a rough ride in 2024. But probably not as rough as what would come in 2025 IF TFG wins again.
So, for now we must remain calm breathe new oxygen in to counter the nausea and NEVER give up.
How is it possible for one man to cause so much chaos? Trump has the Christian Right all caught up in politics (see David French). He has the courts in multiple jurisdictions thrashing over what used to be settled law whether it applies to national security or personal liability. He's a one-man litigation generation machine. And he has cultivated unblinking support from the GOP even though he's a relatively recent convert. His name appears above the fold in our newspapers of record at least twice per week. He has our closest allies in Europe and Asia sweating bullets over whether he is entrusted with our nation's secrets. He's secured his place in the history books, that's for sure. Right up there with certain other megalomaniacs.
How is it possible? Simple, really. Social media. When I was a kid, the only way to get news was through the newspaper and the radio, followed by TV and its 60 minutes or so of news per day. Articles had to be more fact news and less entertainment. Today, we are accustomed (I say addicted) to 24 hours of broadcast media. When the news cable channels went 24 hours, obviously they had to fill all that time with something - which of course led to all the talking head drama we see today. Because we are exposed to so much volume, we find it harder to do our own fact checking and depend (trust) on others to do it for us. It's so much easier for folks like Trump to speak continuous nonsense until we are basically brainwashed. Our 1st Amendment rights allow for this and places the burden of determining the "truth" on you, the individual. Trump is also adept at the concept of entertainment as a platform, and again, like others has tapped into our desire to be entertained. Something I've always said should be the domain of Hollywood, and not Washington, D.C.
This is saying something: Trump appears to be the least intellectual president in history. He's excellent at imitation and repetition, but seems to fall way short when it comes to intellectual curiosity.
The most unread, dull, uncivic, person to ever occupy the White House. I wonder how long it took to remove ketchup and mustard stains from the Lincoln Bedroom?
Still, it defies all sense of reality to believe all the b.s. being propagated by the far right news. Just watch Steve Bannon at CPAC. If anyone ever spoke about my family like he did I have four older brothers that would be there before me to hand out a little “family justice.” We were all brought up poor but proud.
The current batch(basket?) of these deplorables stretch our First Amendment to levels never envisioned. Civility has taken a long walk off a short pier.
Well, Mark, I grew up in CT in the 50/60s and was exposed to bullies in school. My community did not condone violence, but we boys were tacitly allowed to defend ourselves and friends, even if it was a fist fight. Back then though, the bully had to stand in front of you in order to bully and be prepared for retaliation. Only happened to me once, and I was able to beat him and stop the bullying. Today unfortunately, one can be a viscous bully from the safety of their basement, from anywhere in the country (world for that matter), knowing full well there is nothing you can do about it. That's the unfortunate power of social media. I long for the old days when I had at least some chance of besting my tormentor, good or bad outcome for me. Beats the powerlessness folks have to put up with in today's environment.
I will suggest that, in addition to Trump's skill in manipulating the media, he also exploits the "hot-button" feelings of two important groups in his base.
The whole "Christian nationalist" thing is dog-whistling to some people's gut-level disgust with the whole "trans" phenomenon (with the Bud Light fiasco showing how important this is to a lot of people).
Then there is the immigration issue, which appeals to gut-level racist fears that dominant Whites are losing their majority and their consolidated power, one state at a time, with Texas now hanging on the edge, unless the Texas Republicans can negotiate a power-sharing agreement with conservative Mexican-Americans.
Swbv: The former president threatens members of Congress and their families to keep them in line. I wonder why the Republicans in both Houses don’t rise up in protest against him. They could do it.
Regarding the classified documents case one has to ask why a former president would steal classified documents and then lie repeatedly about his possession of said documents. I seems abundantly obvious Trump kept those documents as an insurance policy. This is the type of action consistently performed in the past by multiple traitors to our country. Regardless of what might happen in the future by retaining those documents Trump would maintain the ability to buy sanctuary in another country (read Russia) as well as insure his own personal liquidity. Back in he 80's when I lived in NYC Trump filed for I think it was 15 separate bankruptcies and at the last minute bought his way out of them all for pennies on the dollar with the use of funds he obtained from Russian sources. That fact on its face is not illegal but what do you think he had to give up to obtain the Russian funds? Coincidence does not equal correlation but no one gives another person millions of dollars without getting something in return. Another item, one of those 15 filings Trump filed for bankruptcy was his Atlantic City casino. Now how anyone runs a casino into the ground I have no idea. So, it seems not only is Trump a traitor but also an amazingly poor business man. I wonder has Trump ever told the truth about anything in his entire life? I doubt it.
I think Joyce unwittingly contributes to the confusion over the whole classified material/Q-clearance issue in this article. The main problem is because most folks are not aware of how the "system" works because most folks spend their whole life without being exposed to this issue. I think a primer on this subject would go a long way in helping folks understand what the Mar-a-Lago inditements really mean. A couple of basic things to understand,
First; No one - not even the President - has the authority to keep official Classified information in their personal possession. Period. There is an established process for maintaining classified documents, and an established process for declassifying formerly classified documents. Not even the President - except in extremely rare occasions - can change that, and then only as a result of prior coordination with those who classified the material in the first place.
Second, holding a clearance, even "Q-clearance" does NOT automatically mean an individual can look at a classified document. This is where the phrase "need to know," comes in. For example, in my former life as a Marine EOD tech, I had daily access to Top Secret information. If my organization commander - up to a General who also held a Top-Secret clearance - wanted to look at the documents, they would be refused. Nor could they "order" me to present them without risk of going to jail. That is the way the system works, and it actually applies to the President (as our Commander-in-Chief) despite all the spoken nonsense to the contrary.
One other important point I've mentioned before is that we, the government, produce a lot of classified documents - far more than is probably needed. Many are supposed to be classified for a short term - like a how much corn we can produce in the US during a trade negotiation -and then declassified and destroyed. These are mostly the kinds of documents we hear about in the news. Quite possibly, all of our elected officials in D.C. have inadvertently retained some over time. Trump's actions fall outside the norm in so many ways. He has zero right to hold them, and obstructing their return is a clear violation of the law. No matter what he would like you to believe.
Sounds believable but my question is why, according to Trump's defense claiming that he was right to take and keep the documents, was he lying, hiding them and using other subterfuge? This sounds like consciousness of guilt. That is also not to mention the careless disorderly way he kept them knowing they (some) were secret as he admits.
I think the only person who can answer your question is Trump himself. He is the first President that I am aware of to claim the right to physically hold on to documents he has no right to. I've no training in adult mental health issues - I simply see a 5-year-old whining "mine, mine, mine!" I would like to again remind everyone that the classified documents Trump wants to keep belong to the Originator of the document, or NARA. It's not like Trump is prevented from accessing them. Each former President has the ability to establish a Presidential Library to safely store and maintain records. He simply can't keep the stuff in his bathroom because he feels it is his right or privilege. If he wanted a document for his memoirs, or whatever, all he has to do is ask, and then return them. We are wasting so much time and capital on the hissy fit of a child. That is what's so sad.
Also a child could ask my question... so obvious this case is. With chocolate all over his mouth he claims he did not steal the cookies... they were his!
Thank you Jim for your excellent commentary. I worked for 20 years at the largest and most complex network telecommunications company in the world. Very often I worked to resolve issues in classified military locations but whenever I reached a point where I believed I should not venture I reached out to my compatriots with security clearances to assist. Sometimes I think they believed I was overreacting but my father graduated from West Point and I was born in the 7th Army 5th General Hospital in Bad Cannstatt Germany as my father was a member of the army of occupation in post World War II Germany. Even though I was not personally in the military I have always taken the protection of my country as a sacred duty even when I vehemently opposed the actions of my government. This is why Trump's actions seem to be such an abomination to me. Anyway, thank you for clarifying how Top Secret Data and Clearances work. Your analysis is most helpful for anyone concerned with this issue.
Jim: I believe it was Barbara McQuade talking about her new book “How disinformation is Sabotaging America” on MSNBC recently who explained that part of the way disinformation is spread is right out of the fascist playbook that one must lie BIG on something so outrageous that it is believed.
And yet the media considers him the equal of President Biden and crowned him a front runner even before a primary vote was cast. He has broken every one of the Ten Commandments. The only truth I am aware of him saying is YOU KNEW I WAS A SNAKE.
I don't get that "the media" considers Trump the equal of Biden other than re the office he once held. Front runner status comes strictly from early polls which may have a snowballing effect given the vulnerability of people.
And now the reporters try to make news rather than report it. Have you seen the video of the press asking President Biden about “Gavin” before his trip to California? Lawrence O’Donnell was furious plus Biden controlled it really well.
Great comment. I would love to watch Lawrence O'Donnell,but by the time I so through Ari, Joy and Chris I have Oded on all things trump. I love the way Keith Olbermann has nicknamed him "dementia trump".
I totally agree with you, having just discovered Joy myself. There’s one Ari who insists on calling the manbaby “President” so I don’t know which Ari you refer to. Glenn Kirschner and Lawrence O’Donnell use adjectives others are afraid to use. 👍🏻😇❤️💙
Trump threatened/promised to do the exact thing -keep national secrets and use them as a defense to legal problems. I recall the moment as I was horrified at the prospect.
We became so used to his lies, misinformation and unsettling comments that we became numb to the last one we heard. Like drinking from a fire hose….I believe Steve Schmidt(former McCain Election Campaign ) claimed Trump spewed over EIGHT THOUSAND LIES while in office. Probably an understatement.
“This is reminiscent of an ask prosecutors might make in an organized crime case.”
It seems obvious that tRump is a mob boss of the largest organization in American history. Typically when speaking of mobs and mob bosses, the organization itself impacts relatively few people. I never personally feared being a target of organized crime. However, with tRump, the “mob” is about a third of the U.S. population, and tRump directs them like a maestro. People who daily go about their jobs, as they have for years, are now in the crosshairs. It is sad, disgusting and infuriating.
Trump’s dilatory motions are at the heart of what Politico has described as his life-long attack on the legal system. Trained by mob lawyer Roy Cohn in the dark art of dissing the rule of law and the judicial system which enforced it, Trump’s pattern of making endless, specious motions is clearly way over the line. This weekend at the Principles First conference in DC former federal circuit court judge Luttig emphasized the long-term damage Trump and legal team have done to respect for the rule of law. Judge Luttig specifically noted Trump’s blatant disrespect of judges in court and in front of juries. Judge Cannon has an important role to play but she has allowed herself to be played. She needs We the People to remind her over and again that she is a servant of Lady Justice, not a subservient political appointee.
Shesh... I'm glad I'm only an art dealer and a songwriter. And I do enjoy writing and singing about these situations. Here is one such song titled, "Classified Documents." Please enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Og9SDu24V4
How can somebody so much clarity out of so many issues? Thank you Joyce. I hope Alan Bragg, Jack Smith, Fani Willis ( fingers crossed) Merrick Garland and the Supreme Court read your newsletter.
Distract, delay, distract, delay. It appears that Trump and his legal team are throwing the entire pot of spaghetti against the wall in a desperate effort to see if >anything< will stick. He is putting the prosecutorial legal eagles through their paces as Mr. Bragg attempts to counter all the bullshit Trump is capable of releasing.
Every issue raised by DA Bragg that imposes a sort of "code of conduct" upon Defendant tRump WILL be tested by the latter. It's his MO, and as Judge Engoron experienced during the business fraud trial, tRump just won't shut up. Judge Merchan, who will preside over the trial, either brings the hammer down early and hard, or is content with issuing cautions to tRump that he will largely ignore until the case goes to the jury.
It will be a slog, with photo opportunities and rants during breaks and when tRump leaves any day's court appearance.
Yes, I think you’re right here. Joyce, what are the levers the judge can use once (not if) Trump or his team violate the gag order or motions in limine?
I also wondered at how his lawyers could knowingly trigger a mistrial. A sentence tucked away among Joyce's analysis that I've pondered. Sounds like something easily done?
I doubt seriously that it's easily done but I think the motivation is hope that the defendant won't be tried again. That is, I believe, at the discretion of the prosecution.
Trying for a mistrial is a key indicator that the defense is very worried about the verdict, be it bench trial or jury trial.
And "Nero fiddles while Rome burns". At the risk of getting kicked off this excellent substack, has America forgotten that our Supreme Court is sitting on a frivolous and unethical appeal for presidential immunity, and while they sit on it, absolutely nothing is moving forward in Smith's election interference case? Which is the most important of all of them by far. It irks me to no end that Smith purposely avoided cluttering up the indictment with other charges (including seditious conspiracy) for the sole purpose of expediting the trial. Only to see it being delayed indefinitely anyway. It smells very much like the Supreme Court, or at least some members of, are aiding and abetting the Trump legal team in its efforts to delay the trial until after the November election. But who know??? Apparently the Supreme Court gets a pass on giving out any information what so ever on one of the most momentous decisions they will ever make, not because of the nature of the decision but its timing. Joyce suspects dissenting opinions are being slow-walked through the process. Were that to be so (who knows really) then we have Thomas directly putting his thumb on the scales in support of Trump. Which would be borderline treasonous. Every day that this sits is another day of developing a stomach ulcer for me.
While I may want to agree with you, my personal understanding of our sociology compels me to be patient. There truly are a number of parts to this puzzle, and I think SCOTUS really only has one chance to get it right. I think, like the last D.C. ruling, it will have to be very narrow and comprehensive. I may not agree with the majority of you that the wording of 14th Amendment applies specifically to Trump - or any President - but I don't think it matters. I might, for example, use a different word, like sedition. I think Trump is guilty of sedition and should be both removed from public service and imprisoned. But SCOTUS has to publish a ruling that will stand the test of time - and more importantly stand up to the possibility of civil disobedience.
Well, I'll be d....d! Just turned on The Beat with Ari Melber and he is announcing that within the past hour, the Supreme Court has decided to hear the Trump immunity case. They won't hear oral arguments until the week of April 27; a ruling could come much later depending on how much more a majority of the Court will choose to delay Judge Chutkan's trial on the January 6 case against Trump. This is seeming a very deliberate effort on the part of certain Justices to keep the case from going to trial until very close to the election.
Joyce I tremendously appreciate your professional endeavors to sort out Trump’s judicial jiggeries for us non-lawyers.
It is difficult for me as a non-lawyer to understand how Doofus Donald, with 91 indictments in a diversity of courts, can continually shuffle court dockets and engage lawyers to delay and protest three and more years after criminal or civil indictable incidents have occurred.
As an observer, I would think that Bone Spur Donald, not the bravest of warriors, might be running out of lawyers. A number of his first phalanx of lawyers [remember: stolen election and January 6th) are either disbarred or defendants. How he had lawyer fees of $58,000,000 in 2023 I find mind boggling. I presume that lawyers are willing to sully their reputation for that sort of moola—but does Trump actually pay them?
I don’t understand this Trump judicial waltz in which appeals, re-appeals, and the proclivities of individual judges and prosecutors result in Trump freely bloviating about ‘the greatest witch hunt in history.’
As an historian I have endeavored to identify a context within which I can comprehend Trump’s unmanly (yes, Donald, ‘unmanly’) judicial gyrations.
1) Is Trump a deeply flawed Shakespearean villain with a chorus of replaceable lawyers as a spear-carrying chorus?
2) Is Trump a Mafia chief who has violated the ground rules of Mafia chiefdom and now has ‘gone to the mattresses’ to escape other Mafiosos?
3) Is Trump the focus of a Greek tragedy in which his deep character flaws ultimately bring down in entire Trumpian family?
While all three seem rationale, I tend towards an unrational alternative that seems highly plausible to me.
I can best understand Trump’s judicial jiggery within the context of Abbott & Costello’s WHOSE ON FIRST. As you read the dialogue, doesn’t it seem to mesh with Trumpian judiary high jinks? THINK ABOUT IT!
Costello: You know the guys names?
Abbott: I sure do.
Costello: Then tell me the guys names.
Abbott: I say. Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Knows on third, then you.
Costello: You the manager?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: You know the guys name?
Abbott: I’m telling you their names.
Costello: Well, who’s on first?
Abbott: I’m telling you the names.
Costello: Well who’s on first?
Abbott: Yeah.
Costello: Go ahead and tell me.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy on first.
Abbott: Who.
Costello. The guy on first.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy playing first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy playing first base.
Abbott:Who.
Costello: What are you asking me for? I’m asking you.
Abbott: I’m not asking you. I’m telling you.
Costello: You ain’t telling me nothin. I’m asking you, who’s on first……..
NOW I HAVE A CONTEXT IN WHICH TO PLAY THE PRATTLINGS OF TRUMP AND HIS LAWYERS.
I've always kind of liked Shakespeare. His works make my brain hurt from the effort, like a physical workout. I'm more than happy to NOT have another Trump character in my life, thank you.
“Tucked into the hundreds of pages of exhibits that accompany the motion is a brief affidavit from the NYPD Sergeant who runs Bragg’s security detail. Exhibit 13 is an adjective-free recitation of the explosion in the number of threats against the DA, his family, and his staff after the Trump indictment. The numbers are stark, going from as little as one threat per year before the indictment to a: “peak, in March 2023, more than 600 emails and phone calls received by the DA’s office were forwarded for security review; this represents a small subset of the calls and emails received by the office relating to People v. Trump.”
Trump is a MONSTER and a MOBSTER.
Anyone supporting him is a collaborator.
The Repugs who are in league with tRump are TRAITORS.
Anyone who sees themselves in him is a criminal at his/her core.
The proof is endless: The RNC operates as an organized crime syndicate run by FASCIST, BILLIONAIRE, PUPPET MASTERS, like the KKKoch Family.
Trump could provoke a mistrial by having an outburst in court? 90% chance he does that, right? gawd, that sounds like a gimme. I really, really, really want to see this slime-ball convicted. As to the documents case - it is beyond frustrating to see all the delays. Are we super super positive that Cannon didn't somehow weasel getting that case? Cause she's acting like she's in Trumps pocket.
The technicalities do not matter. All that matters is the passage of time and P01135809 is winning that. J. Cannon can protect her path to the Supreme Court by expanding Garland’s gift of time delay. Perhaps she will not. We will see. Tempus fugit. Tick Tock.
I’m not sure if pointing to your own Substack in the Comments section is kosher. But on Trump’s presidential immunity claim, I argue that if the Supreme Court accepted Trump’s impunity argument, they actually would be granting him a license to kill. “The possibility of a re-elected President Trump ordering the assassination of ‘enemies of the people’ is not hypothetical.” https://substack.com/inbox/post/141868880
“ That’s a lot of legal ground to cover in one fell swoop, and it’s all high-level.” By golly Joyce how do you keep it all straight?! Moreover, how do you keep from throwing things?😉. Trump is the most excruciatingly exasperating nauseating individual. His very presence steals oxygen from our world. But you dear Joyce help us along and I for one am ever so grateful!
Sally, I fully agree with your assessment. Living in CT, I just had to take the Metro North train into New York last fall and make the subway down to the courthouse so I could be witness to this quasi life form bursting through the courtroom doors. I did. He is certainly sub human. He is a caricature of himself and likely very aware of it. All the world is a stage for him. Without him balleting across life’s stage, he would be self-inexcusable.
He must not under any circumstances be allowed into the White House. But we on the democratic side must understand that all politics is a game of popularity sometimes mixed with principles. We must better learn to play this game better for all of us. I will be there again taking notes when a court resumes on March 25 this time as a media person. Media is allowed to use devises to write with but not spectators. And media gets preference over spectators. A few bennies being credentialed. I will likely write in my blog as well as here live as it happens. I fancied last year in court standing up while Trump was under cross and yelling something really nasty at him which would have sent me into a jail cell. And I thought of who would feed the cats so I refrained myself.
Bill: As a still practicing lawyer myself, I can envision literally dozens of his very highly paid legal team in this case alone who must despise him but their bosses say “do it” or else you can go elsewhere. How demeaning and how disgusting! Most of them know these arguments are frivolous. Someday we will read about the inside story ( perhaps anonymously) and the perversion of law which all of them engaged in for the mighty dollar. I hope at least some of them will regret it but chances are they will just regale their friends and associates with the background stories about the case at very expensive restaurants! Shame on them-each and every one!
Ira, your comment reminded me that the very concept of shame has disappeared from MAGAworld. Trump, who never exhibits any form of shame, and perhaps doesn't have a shame department in his brain, has taught his followers that shame is for losers. Attempts to shame Trump create the opportunity for him to use the very sophisticated response structure of "I'm rubber and you're glue." It's reflexive. Remember how fast he hit Hillary with "Puppet? I'm no puppet. You're the puppet." It's a silencer. The 77 year old man uses, successfully, the rhetorical strategies of the grade school playground.
Absolutely! I don’t think we have ever seen his shameful and disgusting equal before in American politics except briefly McCarthy years ago! He thinks we are all stupid and that he can get away with absolutely everything but his time is up and internally it is killing him emotionally particularly in the middle of the night when he is alone and ranting repeatedly on social media!He knows he is losing or has already lost but I think he is planning and expecting another Jan6 but bigger and more distributed geographically before the election so that he captures a bunch if southern and midwestern states so that the election is thrown into the House of Representatives for decision!
I don't think it is killing him emotionally. Great piece in The New York Times last week written by a sociopath who has insight into her condition. "Sociopaths are different." Doesn't mean we aren't suffering from the fallout. As a Canadian American (citizen of the US since 1998), I think the American legal system is being tested in a new way. We have Joyce! Thank heavens for chickens who love croissants. I keep pecking away at her brilliant posts!
Here's a gift link to that article: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/02/25/magazine/patric-gagne-interview.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Yk0.u7lg.mORdUVFUfVIj&smid=url-share
Are the definitions of sociopath and insight compatible? Is malignant narcissist a subcategory of sociopath? I'm tempted to think so. I believe the man lacks the sort of insight that would incorporate restraint and shame, but he is certainly talented in the art of using juvenile methods of belittling opponents to potent effect; perhaps that reflects on our collective maturity that we respond with anything more than parental reprovement to his antics...
I would worry about bombs being placed strategically around the capital grounds at some point. There needs to be extreme measures taken re security come November.
And when Biden gives the State of the Union Address next month. That is, IF the GOP/Johnson allows it. I read an online article last week talking about this weird (to me, anyway) idea they have about stopping him.
I was worried about the Address he gave last year, because I do recall that shortly after 1/6, MTG and a lot of her MAGA lunatics buddies made Capitol Security allow weapons in the building. That's why they got rid of the body scanners. Knowing the GOP, they'll REALLY be adamant about making people walk through the Garrett Scanners.
I also recall how RUDE some of the MAGAs were while Biden was trying to speak.
I call them all Treacherous-treasonous-traitors!
Ira - I believe in some respects we all must "work" at something in order to survive.
In your professional opinion how does an individual or individuals like Trump, given his schemata and outrageous behavior in and out of court, find a lawyer or law firm to take him as a client?
Thanks
He has to pay them outrageous hourly rates “up front” and/or he finds true believers in his lying cause? There are also lawyers who want the publicity regardless of the losing arguments they will make because months and years from now prospective clients (or voters) will say:”I remember you…weren’t you on tv in some big case I forget what?”
HE doesn’t pay the outrageous hourly rate; the RNC will be paying his legal bills. This will drain the coffers of the Party, and they will have no money to support down-ballot races. Yeah! Dems win!
Look-if your small firm is getting $2,000 per hour for a relatively new employee to write stupidly irrelevant and totally false legal arguments (such as total lifetime immunity from prosecution when he steals and hides top secret sensitive national security docs AFTER he was president?) that any fair and experienced judge is going to swat down as unsubstantiated, it is an easy way to make $100,000 bucks in a week before he goes bankrupt?
Ira - Many thanks !!
Oh Bill, I would be the same, he is so bad at getting under a good person’s skin just reading about him. I appreciate and look forward to your take on all his antics. I don’t care about him, I do care that he doesn’t taint the Jury and have a mistrial. It is amazing the work that has gone in to all of this. He is dispicable (being kind). Be well. 🇺🇸
What is truly galling is his claim about being treated differently. He is, only much better than any I saw in over 200 trials I presented when working for a large city’s DA office(1994-5).
His antics, his not very disguised attempts at influence, attempts at forcing a mistrial, statements of outright lies, etc. really get under my skin.
Any judge should be quick to draw the line and gain control early so this “defendant” knows the consequences then be even quicker to send his ass to jail(Friday would keep him there for a weekend). I believe Judge Chutkin has the appropriate level of courage to do it…
Mark, you're right! He definitely IS treated differently, but not in a good way. I'm way, way beyond all the breaks he gets, his threats that aren't taken seriously enough, the "farce" involving gag orders, and all the other benefits that none of us would have.
I'm not a spring chicken, so I do recall my parents getting a TV when Eisenhower was POTUS. From then on, I cannot recall one time when a President was so obnoxiously sickening like Trump is. Nixon was not saint, but I don't recall him being as bad!
Diane,
My parents had a tv during one of Ike’s terms but I am a little bit younger. Born in middle 50’s but I recall JFK’s funeral. I was in grade school.
I used to vote for Independents like John Anderson in 1976, Perot, etc. More to ensure they could receive federal funds by meeting a minimum percentage of votes. Our two party system leads me to believe they are both, “in on it.” And I have pondered suing my current state for not allowing Independents to vote in primaries.
Thanks for the reply.
I remember John Anderson, and especially Ross Perot. Perot thought that because he was so rich, he could own the country. Sounds like someone else we know, doesn't it?
I didn't know that states would forbid people from voting independent. So many upper-level politicians force their personal agendas on the rest of us. We can vote them out, but meanwhile we have to wait for elections to vote them out!
I could not agree more. I was a Circuit Clerk for a short time. One of my jobs was giving the Oath and taking notes for our records. We had two Judges in our County. (Small Rural community) I sure can’t see either one of them putting up with the likes of DJT. HE HAS NO CAPACITY for giving RESPECT or TRUTH. He is just a bad joke. Really Bad. Be Well Mark, I appreciate your words. 🇺🇸
Ruth,
Thank you for your civic service. It can be a thankless, but rewarding experience. I spent approximately 2 years working in a large city’s DA office prosecuting abusive parents. It had a burnout rate of 18 months. I have seen things no one should ever witness let alone know about how parents can abuse their children.
I ended up back to an area of law I knew: labor law. It served me well as I could eventually sleep at night. Decades later the nightmares are behind me.
Quick response to your sleepless nights. I was assigned to Juvenile court. Heartless people that have children sometimes. (Stressful for sure) Glad you could move on. I moved on for many reasons (I was not meant for Politics in the Office) I never had any problems just felt it was more than I wanted while raising my own children.
2/2824…now on to our Country’s future… (or not) our SC is not Bias????? “We The People” don’t seem to get much of what we want…stressful????? As Joyce says “We are in this together” 🇺🇸
And wouldn’t THAT be great to see. 🙏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Carry a picture of the cats to stave off taking his bait. I'll be sending positive energy your way. Thanks in advance.
And so thankful for your clear explanations of this horrible person’s attempts to evade consequences owed to him!
No wonder she hangs out with her chickens as much as possible! It probably helps alleviate the poisoned feeling that must come from entangling oneself in the legal cases of the scourge of the country. I am grateful for her excellent work, too.
I am thankful for your brilliant jabs—pretzel logic!!! Anyone who has tried to reason with a magnut has experienced it. 💙💙💙
I wouldn’t be anywhere else. This explanation of legal things to this non- lawyer is invaluable.
Totally agree with you Sally.😔
Sally, you said that so much better than I could. I appreciate your comments, and I know for sure that Joyce will, too!
Joyce has the patience of a saint. I need to get some chickens, it the neighbors don't mind. Maybe that will help me calm down because just hearing Trump's name makes my blood want to boil!
Sally, you captured the sentiment with this line: “Trump is the most excruciatingly exasperating nauseating individual. His very presence steals oxygen from our world.”
We’ve been told more than once by Joyce, Robert Hubbell and many others that it would be a rough ride in 2024. But probably not as rough as what would come in 2025 IF TFG wins again.
So, for now we must remain calm breathe new oxygen in to counter the nausea and NEVER give up.
Me too!!
Me too! Ditto everything you just said! Thanks to and more power to Joyce!what else can I say except, you rock!😎 and I like those pets of yours, too.
How is it possible for one man to cause so much chaos? Trump has the Christian Right all caught up in politics (see David French). He has the courts in multiple jurisdictions thrashing over what used to be settled law whether it applies to national security or personal liability. He's a one-man litigation generation machine. And he has cultivated unblinking support from the GOP even though he's a relatively recent convert. His name appears above the fold in our newspapers of record at least twice per week. He has our closest allies in Europe and Asia sweating bullets over whether he is entrusted with our nation's secrets. He's secured his place in the history books, that's for sure. Right up there with certain other megalomaniacs.
How is it possible? Simple, really. Social media. When I was a kid, the only way to get news was through the newspaper and the radio, followed by TV and its 60 minutes or so of news per day. Articles had to be more fact news and less entertainment. Today, we are accustomed (I say addicted) to 24 hours of broadcast media. When the news cable channels went 24 hours, obviously they had to fill all that time with something - which of course led to all the talking head drama we see today. Because we are exposed to so much volume, we find it harder to do our own fact checking and depend (trust) on others to do it for us. It's so much easier for folks like Trump to speak continuous nonsense until we are basically brainwashed. Our 1st Amendment rights allow for this and places the burden of determining the "truth" on you, the individual. Trump is also adept at the concept of entertainment as a platform, and again, like others has tapped into our desire to be entertained. Something I've always said should be the domain of Hollywood, and not Washington, D.C.
"Truth Social" being a perfect embodiment of the ethos. Lies and entertainment freely mixed. But curiously, glorifying one man.
Do you know "Truth Social" was created by Trump for Trump? Glorifying one man, Trump, is not curious.
This is saying something: Trump appears to be the least intellectual president in history. He's excellent at imitation and repetition, but seems to fall way short when it comes to intellectual curiosity.
The most unread, dull, uncivic, person to ever occupy the White House. I wonder how long it took to remove ketchup and mustard stains from the Lincoln Bedroom?
I meant it's not a curious thing that Truth Social glorifies Trump.. it was created for him or even by him or in his name.
That he is not intellectual is of course true also.
It's a lizard brain at work, but extraordinarily tuned to the art of agitation and drawing others attention to himself. It is narcissism personified.
Yes. I think a perfect example of media that feeds the concept of "confirmation bias." We do like hearing what we want to hear.
Still, it defies all sense of reality to believe all the b.s. being propagated by the far right news. Just watch Steve Bannon at CPAC. If anyone ever spoke about my family like he did I have four older brothers that would be there before me to hand out a little “family justice.” We were all brought up poor but proud.
The current batch(basket?) of these deplorables stretch our First Amendment to levels never envisioned. Civility has taken a long walk off a short pier.
Well, Mark, I grew up in CT in the 50/60s and was exposed to bullies in school. My community did not condone violence, but we boys were tacitly allowed to defend ourselves and friends, even if it was a fist fight. Back then though, the bully had to stand in front of you in order to bully and be prepared for retaliation. Only happened to me once, and I was able to beat him and stop the bullying. Today unfortunately, one can be a viscous bully from the safety of their basement, from anywhere in the country (world for that matter), knowing full well there is nothing you can do about it. That's the unfortunate power of social media. I long for the old days when I had at least some chance of besting my tormentor, good or bad outcome for me. Beats the powerlessness folks have to put up with in today's environment.
Jim,
I grew up in the 50/60’s in Wisconsin. Now I refer to the current basement bullies on social media sites as, “keyboard warriors.”
I recall the days of old, too when bullies existed only to find their antics could have consequences.
Now we bide our time hoping that somehow this country can self correct. Just do not hold your breath.
I will suggest that, in addition to Trump's skill in manipulating the media, he also exploits the "hot-button" feelings of two important groups in his base.
The whole "Christian nationalist" thing is dog-whistling to some people's gut-level disgust with the whole "trans" phenomenon (with the Bud Light fiasco showing how important this is to a lot of people).
Then there is the immigration issue, which appeals to gut-level racist fears that dominant Whites are losing their majority and their consolidated power, one state at a time, with Texas now hanging on the edge, unless the Texas Republicans can negotiate a power-sharing agreement with conservative Mexican-Americans.
And he doesn't pay taxes to support the legal system he abuses.
Here's an idea: you don't pay, we won't protect you.
The attorneys probably get paid weekly, in briefcases filled with cash
Swbv: The former president threatens members of Congress and their families to keep them in line. I wonder why the Republicans in both Houses don’t rise up in protest against him. They could do it.
I think their love of power and pers has totally subsumed their judgment
Regarding the classified documents case one has to ask why a former president would steal classified documents and then lie repeatedly about his possession of said documents. I seems abundantly obvious Trump kept those documents as an insurance policy. This is the type of action consistently performed in the past by multiple traitors to our country. Regardless of what might happen in the future by retaining those documents Trump would maintain the ability to buy sanctuary in another country (read Russia) as well as insure his own personal liquidity. Back in he 80's when I lived in NYC Trump filed for I think it was 15 separate bankruptcies and at the last minute bought his way out of them all for pennies on the dollar with the use of funds he obtained from Russian sources. That fact on its face is not illegal but what do you think he had to give up to obtain the Russian funds? Coincidence does not equal correlation but no one gives another person millions of dollars without getting something in return. Another item, one of those 15 filings Trump filed for bankruptcy was his Atlantic City casino. Now how anyone runs a casino into the ground I have no idea. So, it seems not only is Trump a traitor but also an amazingly poor business man. I wonder has Trump ever told the truth about anything in his entire life? I doubt it.
I think Joyce unwittingly contributes to the confusion over the whole classified material/Q-clearance issue in this article. The main problem is because most folks are not aware of how the "system" works because most folks spend their whole life without being exposed to this issue. I think a primer on this subject would go a long way in helping folks understand what the Mar-a-Lago inditements really mean. A couple of basic things to understand,
First; No one - not even the President - has the authority to keep official Classified information in their personal possession. Period. There is an established process for maintaining classified documents, and an established process for declassifying formerly classified documents. Not even the President - except in extremely rare occasions - can change that, and then only as a result of prior coordination with those who classified the material in the first place.
Second, holding a clearance, even "Q-clearance" does NOT automatically mean an individual can look at a classified document. This is where the phrase "need to know," comes in. For example, in my former life as a Marine EOD tech, I had daily access to Top Secret information. If my organization commander - up to a General who also held a Top-Secret clearance - wanted to look at the documents, they would be refused. Nor could they "order" me to present them without risk of going to jail. That is the way the system works, and it actually applies to the President (as our Commander-in-Chief) despite all the spoken nonsense to the contrary.
One other important point I've mentioned before is that we, the government, produce a lot of classified documents - far more than is probably needed. Many are supposed to be classified for a short term - like a how much corn we can produce in the US during a trade negotiation -and then declassified and destroyed. These are mostly the kinds of documents we hear about in the news. Quite possibly, all of our elected officials in D.C. have inadvertently retained some over time. Trump's actions fall outside the norm in so many ways. He has zero right to hold them, and obstructing their return is a clear violation of the law. No matter what he would like you to believe.
Sounds believable but my question is why, according to Trump's defense claiming that he was right to take and keep the documents, was he lying, hiding them and using other subterfuge? This sounds like consciousness of guilt. That is also not to mention the careless disorderly way he kept them knowing they (some) were secret as he admits.
I think the only person who can answer your question is Trump himself. He is the first President that I am aware of to claim the right to physically hold on to documents he has no right to. I've no training in adult mental health issues - I simply see a 5-year-old whining "mine, mine, mine!" I would like to again remind everyone that the classified documents Trump wants to keep belong to the Originator of the document, or NARA. It's not like Trump is prevented from accessing them. Each former President has the ability to establish a Presidential Library to safely store and maintain records. He simply can't keep the stuff in his bathroom because he feels it is his right or privilege. If he wanted a document for his memoirs, or whatever, all he has to do is ask, and then return them. We are wasting so much time and capital on the hissy fit of a child. That is what's so sad.
My niece, a double Master’s degreed, licensed Psychologist, had a simple description: child.
She went into a more detailed clinical description but it was culminated with, “child.”
Also a child could ask my question... so obvious this case is. With chocolate all over his mouth he claims he did not steal the cookies... they were his!
Thank you Jim for your excellent commentary. I worked for 20 years at the largest and most complex network telecommunications company in the world. Very often I worked to resolve issues in classified military locations but whenever I reached a point where I believed I should not venture I reached out to my compatriots with security clearances to assist. Sometimes I think they believed I was overreacting but my father graduated from West Point and I was born in the 7th Army 5th General Hospital in Bad Cannstatt Germany as my father was a member of the army of occupation in post World War II Germany. Even though I was not personally in the military I have always taken the protection of my country as a sacred duty even when I vehemently opposed the actions of my government. This is why Trump's actions seem to be such an abomination to me. Anyway, thank you for clarifying how Top Secret Data and Clearances work. Your analysis is most helpful for anyone concerned with this issue.
Yes, Jim gets an A+ for that very helpful comment
Jim: I believe it was Barbara McQuade talking about her new book “How disinformation is Sabotaging America” on MSNBC recently who explained that part of the way disinformation is spread is right out of the fascist playbook that one must lie BIG on something so outrageous that it is believed.
And yet the media considers him the equal of President Biden and crowned him a front runner even before a primary vote was cast. He has broken every one of the Ten Commandments. The only truth I am aware of him saying is YOU KNEW I WAS A SNAKE.
I don't get that "the media" considers Trump the equal of Biden other than re the office he once held. Front runner status comes strictly from early polls which may have a snowballing effect given the vulnerability of people.
Gigi: This is where the rubber meets the road. “The Media” is supposed to be bipartisan last time I checked.
And now the reporters try to make news rather than report it. Have you seen the video of the press asking President Biden about “Gavin” before his trip to California? Lawrence O’Donnell was furious plus Biden controlled it really well.
I agree 1000%. The "media" such as it is, made asses of themselves at the Presidential news conference on the Hur report.
To treat the President of the US is an abomination. There was one that truly made a fool of herself. I would love to know who she is.
Great comment. I would love to watch Lawrence O'Donnell,but by the time I so through Ari, Joy and Chris I have Oded on all things trump. I love the way Keith Olbermann has nicknamed him "dementia trump".
I totally agree with you, having just discovered Joy myself. There’s one Ari who insists on calling the manbaby “President” so I don’t know which Ari you refer to. Glenn Kirschner and Lawrence O’Donnell use adjectives others are afraid to use. 👍🏻😇❤️💙
Ari Melber. He's on MSNBC at 6 pm ET.
What did Jared Kushner sell for $2Billion?
Recall Trump had to overrule the decision to withhold security clearance from Jared?
What will he or Donald soon sell for $500M?
Secrets
Mob blackmail. And selling to his buddy Putin for a sly attaboy.
Trump threatened/promised to do the exact thing -keep national secrets and use them as a defense to legal problems. I recall the moment as I was horrified at the prospect.
We became so used to his lies, misinformation and unsettling comments that we became numb to the last one we heard. Like drinking from a fire hose….I believe Steve Schmidt(former McCain Election Campaign ) claimed Trump spewed over EIGHT THOUSAND LIES while in office. Probably an understatement.
The guy on CNN that used to count them said 30,000 I believe. That includes that tfg said his grandparents immigrated from a lovely town in Sweden.
His dad left Germany to escape service in their armed forces.
From Joyce’s Substack:
“This is reminiscent of an ask prosecutors might make in an organized crime case.”
It seems obvious that tRump is a mob boss of the largest organization in American history. Typically when speaking of mobs and mob bosses, the organization itself impacts relatively few people. I never personally feared being a target of organized crime. However, with tRump, the “mob” is about a third of the U.S. population, and tRump directs them like a maestro. People who daily go about their jobs, as they have for years, are now in the crosshairs. It is sad, disgusting and infuriating.
Trump’s dilatory motions are at the heart of what Politico has described as his life-long attack on the legal system. Trained by mob lawyer Roy Cohn in the dark art of dissing the rule of law and the judicial system which enforced it, Trump’s pattern of making endless, specious motions is clearly way over the line. This weekend at the Principles First conference in DC former federal circuit court judge Luttig emphasized the long-term damage Trump and legal team have done to respect for the rule of law. Judge Luttig specifically noted Trump’s blatant disrespect of judges in court and in front of juries. Judge Cannon has an important role to play but she has allowed herself to be played. She needs We the People to remind her over and again that she is a servant of Lady Justice, not a subservient political appointee.
Shesh... I'm glad I'm only an art dealer and a songwriter. And I do enjoy writing and singing about these situations. Here is one such song titled, "Classified Documents." Please enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Og9SDu24V4
Catchy tune. 👍🏻🏆 That might be his next court filing— I don’t know where they came from. Maybe Melanie Mercedes did it.
Thank you all.
Bill, nice Travis pickin’
More 🎶 when you can Bill.🎶
Who’s behind these smokescreen motions, I wonder? Surely not ex-potus, who can barely comprehend a Mickey D’s menu.
Trump has an army of diaper changers.....
That’s why they’re full of poo…
How can somebody so much clarity out of so many issues? Thank you Joyce. I hope Alan Bragg, Jack Smith, Fani Willis ( fingers crossed) Merrick Garland and the Supreme Court read your newsletter.
Distract, delay, distract, delay. It appears that Trump and his legal team are throwing the entire pot of spaghetti against the wall in a desperate effort to see if >anything< will stick. He is putting the prosecutorial legal eagles through their paces as Mr. Bragg attempts to counter all the bullshit Trump is capable of releasing.
Every issue raised by DA Bragg that imposes a sort of "code of conduct" upon Defendant tRump WILL be tested by the latter. It's his MO, and as Judge Engoron experienced during the business fraud trial, tRump just won't shut up. Judge Merchan, who will preside over the trial, either brings the hammer down early and hard, or is content with issuing cautions to tRump that he will largely ignore until the case goes to the jury.
It will be a slog, with photo opportunities and rants during breaks and when tRump leaves any day's court appearance.
Yes, I think you’re right here. Joyce, what are the levers the judge can use once (not if) Trump or his team violate the gag order or motions in limine?
I also wondered at how his lawyers could knowingly trigger a mistrial. A sentence tucked away among Joyce's analysis that I've pondered. Sounds like something easily done?
I doubt seriously that it's easily done but I think the motivation is hope that the defendant won't be tried again. That is, I believe, at the discretion of the prosecution.
Trying for a mistrial is a key indicator that the defense is very worried about the verdict, be it bench trial or jury trial.
And "Nero fiddles while Rome burns". At the risk of getting kicked off this excellent substack, has America forgotten that our Supreme Court is sitting on a frivolous and unethical appeal for presidential immunity, and while they sit on it, absolutely nothing is moving forward in Smith's election interference case? Which is the most important of all of them by far. It irks me to no end that Smith purposely avoided cluttering up the indictment with other charges (including seditious conspiracy) for the sole purpose of expediting the trial. Only to see it being delayed indefinitely anyway. It smells very much like the Supreme Court, or at least some members of, are aiding and abetting the Trump legal team in its efforts to delay the trial until after the November election. But who know??? Apparently the Supreme Court gets a pass on giving out any information what so ever on one of the most momentous decisions they will ever make, not because of the nature of the decision but its timing. Joyce suspects dissenting opinions are being slow-walked through the process. Were that to be so (who knows really) then we have Thomas directly putting his thumb on the scales in support of Trump. Which would be borderline treasonous. Every day that this sits is another day of developing a stomach ulcer for me.
While I may want to agree with you, my personal understanding of our sociology compels me to be patient. There truly are a number of parts to this puzzle, and I think SCOTUS really only has one chance to get it right. I think, like the last D.C. ruling, it will have to be very narrow and comprehensive. I may not agree with the majority of you that the wording of 14th Amendment applies specifically to Trump - or any President - but I don't think it matters. I might, for example, use a different word, like sedition. I think Trump is guilty of sedition and should be both removed from public service and imprisoned. But SCOTUS has to publish a ruling that will stand the test of time - and more importantly stand up to the possibility of civil disobedience.
Well, I'll be d....d! Just turned on The Beat with Ari Melber and he is announcing that within the past hour, the Supreme Court has decided to hear the Trump immunity case. They won't hear oral arguments until the week of April 27; a ruling could come much later depending on how much more a majority of the Court will choose to delay Judge Chutkan's trial on the January 6 case against Trump. This is seeming a very deliberate effort on the part of certain Justices to keep the case from going to trial until very close to the election.
Joyce I tremendously appreciate your professional endeavors to sort out Trump’s judicial jiggeries for us non-lawyers.
It is difficult for me as a non-lawyer to understand how Doofus Donald, with 91 indictments in a diversity of courts, can continually shuffle court dockets and engage lawyers to delay and protest three and more years after criminal or civil indictable incidents have occurred.
As an observer, I would think that Bone Spur Donald, not the bravest of warriors, might be running out of lawyers. A number of his first phalanx of lawyers [remember: stolen election and January 6th) are either disbarred or defendants. How he had lawyer fees of $58,000,000 in 2023 I find mind boggling. I presume that lawyers are willing to sully their reputation for that sort of moola—but does Trump actually pay them?
I don’t understand this Trump judicial waltz in which appeals, re-appeals, and the proclivities of individual judges and prosecutors result in Trump freely bloviating about ‘the greatest witch hunt in history.’
As an historian I have endeavored to identify a context within which I can comprehend Trump’s unmanly (yes, Donald, ‘unmanly’) judicial gyrations.
1) Is Trump a deeply flawed Shakespearean villain with a chorus of replaceable lawyers as a spear-carrying chorus?
2) Is Trump a Mafia chief who has violated the ground rules of Mafia chiefdom and now has ‘gone to the mattresses’ to escape other Mafiosos?
3) Is Trump the focus of a Greek tragedy in which his deep character flaws ultimately bring down in entire Trumpian family?
While all three seem rationale, I tend towards an unrational alternative that seems highly plausible to me.
I can best understand Trump’s judicial jiggery within the context of Abbott & Costello’s WHOSE ON FIRST. As you read the dialogue, doesn’t it seem to mesh with Trumpian judiary high jinks? THINK ABOUT IT!
Costello: You know the guys names?
Abbott: I sure do.
Costello: Then tell me the guys names.
Abbott: I say. Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Knows on third, then you.
Costello: You the manager?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: You know the guys name?
Abbott: I’m telling you their names.
Costello: Well, who’s on first?
Abbott: I’m telling you the names.
Costello: Well who’s on first?
Abbott: Yeah.
Costello: Go ahead and tell me.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy on first.
Abbott: Who.
Costello. The guy on first.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy playing first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy playing first base.
Abbott:Who.
Costello: What are you asking me for? I’m asking you.
Abbott: I’m not asking you. I’m telling you.
Costello: You ain’t telling me nothin. I’m asking you, who’s on first……..
NOW I HAVE A CONTEXT IN WHICH TO PLAY THE PRATTLINGS OF TRUMP AND HIS LAWYERS.
I hope this also helps you.
I've always kind of liked Shakespeare. His works make my brain hurt from the effort, like a physical workout. I'm more than happy to NOT have another Trump character in my life, thank you.
“Tucked into the hundreds of pages of exhibits that accompany the motion is a brief affidavit from the NYPD Sergeant who runs Bragg’s security detail. Exhibit 13 is an adjective-free recitation of the explosion in the number of threats against the DA, his family, and his staff after the Trump indictment. The numbers are stark, going from as little as one threat per year before the indictment to a: “peak, in March 2023, more than 600 emails and phone calls received by the DA’s office were forwarded for security review; this represents a small subset of the calls and emails received by the office relating to People v. Trump.”
Trump is a MONSTER and a MOBSTER.
Anyone supporting him is a collaborator.
The Repugs who are in league with tRump are TRAITORS.
Anyone who sees themselves in him is a criminal at his/her core.
The proof is endless: The RNC operates as an organized crime syndicate run by FASCIST, BILLIONAIRE, PUPPET MASTERS, like the KKKoch Family.
Trump could provoke a mistrial by having an outburst in court? 90% chance he does that, right? gawd, that sounds like a gimme. I really, really, really want to see this slime-ball convicted. As to the documents case - it is beyond frustrating to see all the delays. Are we super super positive that Cannon didn't somehow weasel getting that case? Cause she's acting like she's in Trumps pocket.
Yes, this struck me as well and I commented on that above, wondering how easily this could be done?
The technicalities do not matter. All that matters is the passage of time and P01135809 is winning that. J. Cannon can protect her path to the Supreme Court by expanding Garland’s gift of time delay. Perhaps she will not. We will see. Tempus fugit. Tick Tock.
Thank you the review and for your perseverance!
I’m not sure if pointing to your own Substack in the Comments section is kosher. But on Trump’s presidential immunity claim, I argue that if the Supreme Court accepted Trump’s impunity argument, they actually would be granting him a license to kill. “The possibility of a re-elected President Trump ordering the assassination of ‘enemies of the people’ is not hypothetical.” https://substack.com/inbox/post/141868880