President Biden: The NEW one and only politics thread

If TFG testifies, he'll probably drmd him to the chair.

 

Aww, whiny baby's mad that a movie made coup daddy look bad

Inside the Legal Battle to Recut Trump Movie ‘The Apprentice’: Why Billionaire Investor Dan Snyder Is Furious With Ex-President’s Portrayal (EXCLUSIVE)

 

Statement blaming the gag order in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ...

 

Trump was never going to testify. No sane defense lawyer would allow a client like him to do so.

Also, maybe I'm just being hopeful, but I really wonder if Costello's behavior did some serious damage today.

"Robert Costello is nitpicking at Susan Hoffinger as she questions him, correcting her mild misstatements, such as describing him as a former chief of a criminal division rather than deputy chief. He also takes issue with her use of the term “raid” when she refers to the F.B.I. executing a search warrant against Michael Cohen that year. And he just instructed her to talk into the microphone. There are five women on the jury."

Update from Jonah Bromwich

And then, when they tried again to argue for a dismissal of the case - or at least Cohen's testimony - Merchan snapped at the defense.

"Justice Merchan’s fatigue with the defense is beginning to show. Despite how angry the defense lawyers have been at Merchan at various points, he has tried quite hard to be fair to them. He is clearly losing patience."

"Merchan cuts Blanche off. “You said that his lies were irrefutable but you think he’s going to fool 12 New Yorkers into believing this lie?” he asks. As Blanche begins to respond, Merchan signals he is done with the defense for now and adds, “I’d like to hear from the people.”

Update from Maggie Haberman

 

Being clear and thoughtful should be one of his main advantages over Mushmouth.

 

Just MHO, but Trump would have used his time on the stand not to defend himself, but to lash out at Cohen and Daniels. Bur unlike on social media, the prosecution would have bought the hammer during their cross.

 

It should be more than just the judge saying it. Typically the judge directly asks the defendant on the record a series of questions about his decision not to testify. I admit, I've never been involved in a case in New York state court, but I've seen it in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and the federal courts.

The purpose is to prevent an appeal argument that the defendant didn't know he had a right to testify or that he was somehow coerced into not testifying.

 

What was that phrase eight years ago? Take him seriously, but not literally?

 

"See!! 46 years old!! Young and virile!! Alpha male!!"