Lawrence: Trump lawyers put an uncouth buffoon on the stand to defend an uncouth buffoon
Summary
TLDRThe script discusses the closing moments of Donald Trump's criminal trial, highlighting the lack of a solid defense presented by his high-priced legal team. It criticizes Trump for not spending his own money on his campaign, instead using donations, some of which funded his defense. The script details the courtroom drama involving Trump's lawyer, Robert Costello, who displayed contemptuous behavior towards the judge, leading to a cleared courtroom for a private reprimand. It also notes the judge's scheduling dilemma for final arguments and the prosecution's evidence against Trump for falsifying business records related to his 2016 campaign. The summary ends with the judge's frustration over the defense's repeated attempts to introduce previously ruled-out arguments.
Takeaways
- ๐ The defense for Donald Trump has rested without presenting any substantial defense, highlighting a lack of evidence to counter the charges against him.
- ๐ฐ Trump's high-priced defense lawyers are funded by contributions from supporters who were assured by Trump that he would not ask for money during his campaign.
- ๐คทโโ๏ธ Trump's team failed to provide any evidence during the trial, relying instead on cross-examination tactics that do not constitute as evidence in a criminal case.
- ๐ฃ๏ธ The judge will instruct the jury that lawyers' questions are not evidence and that only witnesses' answers are to be considered as such.
- ๐จโ๐ผ The first witness for the defense was a paralegal assistant whose testimony was brief and did not contribute significant information to the case.
- ๐ค The decision to call Robert Costello as a witness is criticized as a mistake, given his contentious behavior and lack of relevance to the case's criminal charges.
- ๐ฎโโ๏ธ There was a dramatic increase in the presence of armed court officers in the courtroom, which could be perceived by the jury but was not explained to them.
- ๐ซ Robert Costello's emails revealed his eagerness to join Trump's team and his strategy to guide Cohen without appearing to follow instructions from Trump or Giuliani.
- ๐ง District Attorney Susan Hoffinger had to read Costello's emails herself due to his inability to do so without adding editorial comments.
- ๐๏ธ The jury was sent home early for the Memorial Day weekend, with the judge planning to deliver instructions to them after the holiday.
- ๐ The judge faced a scheduling dilemma regarding the final arguments and jury instructions, which will likely take place after the holiday.
Q & A
What was the significance of 10:11 A.M. in the context of the trial?
-At 10:11 A.M., Donald Trump's criminal defense lawyer Todd Blanche announced that the defense rests, indicating that they were not presenting any further evidence or witnesses in Trump's defense.
How was Donald Trump's legal team funded according to the script?
-The script suggests that Donald Trump's legal team was funded by contributions from people who were misled by Trump's promises that he would never ask for money and that he was wealthy enough to self-fund his campaign.
What was the first witness called by Donald Trump's defense team and what was their role?
-The first witness called by the defense was a young paralegal assistant who had created a spreadsheet of a list of phone calls. Their testimony was brief and did not add substantial evidence to the case.
Why was the decision to call Robert Costello as a witness considered a mistake?
-The decision to call Robert Costello was considered a mistake because his conduct on the witness stand was disrespectful and contemptuous, and his testimony did not contribute to Trump's defense against the charges.
What was the issue with Robert Costello's testimony and how did it affect the trial?
-Robert Costello's testimony was problematic because he could not read his own emails without inserting editorial comments, and his emails revealed a strategy that did not seem to be in the best interest of Michael Cohen, which was brought to light by the prosecution.
What was the judge's concern regarding the scheduling of final arguments and jury instructions?
-The judge was concerned about keeping the final arguments by the defense and prosecution together and not separated by a day or a weekend. He also needed additional time to prepare his legal instructions for the jury.
What was the judge's stance on the defense's attempt to introduce the 'advice of counsel' defense?
-The judge had previously ruled out the 'advice of counsel' defense, stating that the defense team had not met the necessary evidentiary requirements to make that defense and that they were precluded from arguing this legal claim.
How did the presence of armed court officers in the courtroom change during the trial?
-The presence of armed court officers more than doubled during the trial, especially after an incident involving Robert Costello, which was a dramatic demonstration of extra control of the courtroom by the court officers.
What was the judge's reaction to the defense's attempt to introduce a new term 'involvement of counsel'?
-The judge found the argument disingenuous and stated that his ruling had not changed. He informed the defense that the jury would not hear that instruction from the bench, and they were not permitted to make that argument.
What is the next step in the trial after the defense rested their case?
-The next step is for the judge to deliver his instructions to the jury, which will likely happen after the lawyers make their final arguments, and then the jury will begin deliberating on the evidence presented to determine if it amounts to proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Outlines
๐ Trump's Defense Rests Without a Case
The script opens with the conclusion of Donald Trump's criminal defense, where his lawyers, funded by contributions from his followers, failed to present any defense for the charges against him. It highlights the irony of Trump's initial campaign promise to self-fund and his subsequent reliance on donations. The defense team's lack of evidence and the brief, inconsequential testimony of a paralegal assistant are underscored. Additionally, the script criticizes the decision to call Robert Costello as a witness, detailing an incident of disrespect towards the judge, which led to an unprecedented clearing of the courtroom for a private reprimand.
๐ Disastrous Witness Performance and Contempt in the Courtroom
This paragraph delves into Robert Costello's courtroom conduct, which the judge deemed contemptuous. It recounts the judge's warning to Costello and describes the heightened security in the courtroom following Costello's disrespectful behavior. The summary also touches on Costello's aspirations to join Trump's legal team and his connection to Michael Cohen, as revealed through his emails. The paragraph concludes with Costello's exit from the witness stand, having contributed nothing to Trump's defense against the charges of falsifying business records.
๐ Incriminating Emails and Strategic Missteps
The narrative continues with the cross-examination of Robert Costello, focusing on his emails that suggest a strategic interest in aligning with Trump rather than genuinely assisting Michael Cohen. The summary highlights the prosecution's effective use of Costello's own emails against him, showing his intent to manipulate Cohen without appearing to follow directives from Trump or Giuliani. The paragraph ends with the judge's scheduling decisions and the anticipation of final arguments and jury deliberations.
๐ Final Arguments and Legal Strategy Critique
The final paragraph discusses the judge's instructions to the jury and the lawyers' arguments regarding these instructions. It details the judge's frustration with Trump's defense lawyers for attempting to introduce a previously ruled-out legal strategy and their disingenuous attempts to circumvent evidentiary requirements. The summary emphasizes the judge's firm stance against allowing this strategy to be presented to the jury, reflecting the legal team's struggle and the impending deliberation on Trump's criminal charges.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กDefense Rests
๐กHigh-Priced Lawyers
๐กIncorrruptible
๐กCross-Examination
๐กContemptuous Conduct
๐กCriminal Lawyer Robert Costello
๐กSpreadsheet
๐กDeluded People
๐กArmed Court Officers
๐กMemorial Day Weekend
๐กLegal Instructions
Highlights
Donald Trump's criminal defense lawyer Todd Blanche declared the defense rests, with no actual defense presented.
Trump's defense lawyers are paid by people who send contributions in response to his requests for money, despite promising not to ask for money.
Trump's campaign was initially funded by loans, which were repaid with contributions from people who believed he wouldn't ask for money.
The defense presented no evidence in Trump's criminal trial, relying only on cross-examination questions which are not evidence.
Judge Merchan will instruct the jury that lawyers' questions are not evidence, and only witness answers are considered evidence.
The first witness for the defense was a paralegal assistant whose testimony added no value to the case.
Robert Costello, a criminal lawyer and friend of Rudy Giuliani, was called as a witness and displayed disrespectful behavior in court.
Costello's emails revealed his eagerness to join Trump's legal team and his connection to Giuliani.
Judge Merchan cleared the courtroom to address Costello's contemptuous conduct privately, an unprecedented action.
Costello's testimony was cut short, and he left the witness stand in disgrace, contributing nothing to Trump's defense.
Judge Merchan faced a scheduling dilemma and decided to send the jury off for the Memorial Day weekend.
The prosecution has presented evidence supporting every element of the crimes Trump faces.
The jury will begin deliberating next week on whether the presented evidence amounts to proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Judge Merchan aims to keep his instructions to the jury to about an hour or less.
Trump's lawyers attempted to introduce a defense that had been ruled out long ago, frustrating the judge.
Judge Merchan found the defense's changing of terms regarding the legal claim to be disingenuous and refused to allow it.
Transcripts
MORE IMPORTANT WAY TONIGHT THAN
BEFORE.
>> AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS I AM
SURE THEY WILL HAVE THOUGHTS ON
THAT THE JUDGE WILL HAVE TO
ANSWER IN THE COMING DAYS.
HAVE A GOOD SHOW.
>>> WELL, AT 10:11 A.M.
TODAY DONALD TRUMP'S LEAD
CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER TODD
BLANCHE STOOD AND SAID, YOUR
HONOR, THE DEFENSE RESTS.
THE TRUTH WAS, THERE WAS NO
DEFENSE.
THE TEAM OF HIGH-PRICED TRUMP
DEFENSE LAWYERS ARE ACTUALLY
PAID BY THE DELUDED PEOPLE WHO
SEND IN CONTRIBUTIONS IN
RESPONSE TO DONALD TRUMP'S
RELENTLESS BEGGING FOR MONEY
FROM PEOPLE HE PROMISED HE
WOULD NEVER ASK FOR MONEY.
WHEN DONALD TRUMP BEGAN HIS
FIRST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN HIS
MAJOR SELLING POINT TO VOTERS
WAS HE WAS SO RICH YOU COULD
PAY FOR HIS OWN CAMPAIGN AND
THEREFORE WAS INCORRUPTIBLE AND
WOULD NEVER ASK THEM OR ANYONE
ELSE FOR MONEY.
THEN DONALD TRUMP PROCEEDED TO
NEVER SPEND A PENNY OF HIS OWN
MONEY ON HIS PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN.
HE LOANED HIS FIRST
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SOME
MONEY AT THE BEGINNING, BUT OF
COURSE THE CAMPAIGN PAID HIM
BACK THROUGH THE DONATIONS OF
THOSE POOR, DELUDED PEOPLE WHO
SEND MONEY TO A LIAR WHO
PROMISED HE WOULD NEVER ASK FOR
MONEY AND NOW THEIR MONEY HAS
GONE TO A HIGH-PRICED LEGAL
TEAM WHO COULD NOT COME UP WITH
ANY DEFENSE AT ALL IN DONALD
TRUMP'S FIRST CRIMINAL TRIAL.
THEY CAME UP WITH CONFLICTING
DEFENSE THEORIES THAT THEY
OFFERED IN CROSS-EXAMINATION
QUESTIONS OF SOME OF THE
WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED FOR THE
PROSECUTION, BUT AN ACTUAL
DEFENSE IN A CRIMINAL CASE IS
NOT MEASURED BY QUESTIONS
DEFENSE LAWYERS ASK IN CROSS-
EXAMINATION.
THOSE QUESTIONS ARE NOT
EVIDENCE.
NEXT WEEK WHEN JUDGE MERCHAN IS
INSTRUCTING THE JURY, HE WILL
TELL THEM THAT LAWYERS
QUESTIONS ARE NOT EVIDENCE.
WITNESSES ANSWERS ARE EVIDENCE.
AND SO THE TRUMP DEFENSE
PRESENTED NO EVIDENCE.
NONE.
IN DEFENSE OF DONALD TRUMP
AGAINST THE CRIMES HE IS
CHARGED WITH.
NONE, NO DEFENSE.
THE FIRST WITNESS THEY CALLED
WAS A TECHNICAL WITNESS WHO DID
NOT ADD ANY EVIDENCE OR
INFORMATION TO THE CASE
WHATSOEVER.
A YOUNG, PARALEGAL ASSISTANT
WHO WORKS FOR THE TRUMP DEFENSE
TEAM WHO HAD CREATED A
SPREADSHEET OF A LIST OF PHONE
CALLS.
THAT WAS IT.
HIS TESTIMONY TOOK ONLY A FEW
MINUTES AND THE DOCUMENT HE
CREATED WAS ACCEPTED AS AN
EXHIBIT IN THE CASE AND THAT
WAS THAT.
AND THEN YESTERDAY THE TRUMP
LAWYERS, POSSIBLY AT THE
INSISTENCE OF DONALD TRUMP,
MADE WHAT EVERY FAIR-MINDED
OBSERVER OF THE TRIAL HAS CALLED
THE GROTESQUE MISTAKE OF CALLING
CRIMINAL LAWYER ROBERT COSTELLO,
WHOSE CHIEF CURRENCY AS A
CRIMINAL LAWYER, JUDGING BY HIS
EMAILS EXPOSED IN THIS TRIAL,
IS THAT HE IS A CLOSE FRIEND OF
THE DERANGED RUDY GIULIANI.
RUDY GIULIANI WAS ROBERT
COSTELLO'S BOSS IN THE 1980S
WHEN GIULIANI WAS THE MANHATTAN
U.S. ATTORNEY AND COSTELLO WAS
A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR WORKING
FOR GIULIANI.
HIS TURN UNDER OATH YESTERDAY
WAS THE WITNESS STAND
EQUIVALENT OF DRUNK DRIVING.
AT THIS HOUR LAST NIGHT I READ
YOU THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF WHAT
JUDGE MERCHAN DID WHEN ROBERT
COSTELLO DECIDED TO VOCALLY
DISAGREE WITH THE JUDGE'S
RULING ON OBJECTIONS WHILE HE
WAS SITTING ON THE WITNESS
STAND.
THE TRANSCRIPT ENTRY THAT WE,
IN THE COURTROOM ALL HEARD,
SHOWS ROBERT COSTELLO SAYING --
THE CHOSEN SPELLING BY THE COURT
REPORTER.
THAT IS WHAT WE HEARD.
I COULD HEAR IT IN THE LAST ROW
OF THE COURTROOM YESTERDAY AND
NONE OF US IN THE COURTROOM HAD
EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT OR
HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT,
ESPECIALLY FROM A WITNESS WHO
IS A LAWYER AND SHOULD KNOW
BETTER, MUCH BETTER.
JUDGE MERCHAN WAS SHOCKED.
HE LEANED FORWARD.
HE ASKED COSTELLO TO REPEAT
HIMSELF, TO WHICH COSTELLO
SAID STRIKE IT, WHICH IS LAWYER
TALK FOR NEVERMIND WHAT I JUST
SAID.
THEN AS WE FOUND OUT LATER THE
JUDGE SAW COSTELLO CONTINUE TO
SIGNIFY HIS IRRITATION WITH AND
DISRESPECT FOR THE JUDGE IN
WAYS THAT WE COULD NOT QUITE
SEE FROM THE AUDIENCE AND THE
JUDGE ORDERED THE COURTROOM
CLEARED SO HE COULD TALK ABOUT
IT DIRECTLY TO COSTELLO.
CLEAR THE COURTROOM.
WORDS NO ONE IN THAT COURTROOM
HAD EVER HEARD BEFORE, BEFORE
THE JUDGE SAID THAT, INCLUDING
THE COURT OFFICERS.
THEY HAD NEVER HAD TO DO THAT
BEFORE.
WITH EVERYONE OUT OF THE
COURTROOM WE LEARNED LATER IN
THE TRANSCRIPT THAT WAS KEPT OF
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE OUT
OF THE COURTROOM, JUDGE MERCHAN
SAID TO COSTELLO, SIR, YOUR
CONDUCT IS CONTEMPTUOUS RIGHT
NOW.
I AM PUTTING YOU ON NOTICE THAT
YOUR CONDUCT IS CONTEMPTUOUS.
IF YOU TRY TO STEER ME DOWN ONE
MORE TIME I WILL REMOVE YOU
FROM THE STAND AND STRIKE THE
ENTIRE TESTIMONY, DO YOU
UNDERSTAND ME?
MR. BOVE, YES JUDGE, I
UNDERSTAND.
WHEN HE SAID YES I UNDERSTAND,
HE AND THE REST OF THE LEGAL
TEAM ALSO FULLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT
A CATASTROPHIC MISTAKE IT WAS
TO PUT AN UNCOUTH BUFFOON ON
THE WITNESS STAND AS A DEFENSE
WITNESS FOR AN UNCOUTH BUFFOON.
AT 9:29 A.M.
TODAY, ROBERT COSTELLO, THE RED-
FACED, WHITE-HAIRED 76-YEAR-OLD
CRIMINAL LAWYER ENTERED THE
COURTROOM AGAIN TO RESUME CROSS-
EXAMINATION BY ASSISTANT
DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUSAN
HOFFINGER, WHO THE DAY BEFORE
COSTELLO HAD INSULTED BY
TELLING HER TO SPEAK INTO THE
MICROPHONE.
ORDERING HER TO SPEAK INTO THE
MICROPHONE, WHEN SHE WAS
ALREADY SPEAKING INTO THE
MICROPHONE AND EVERYONE IN THE
COURTROOM COULD HEAR HER.
THAT WAS A MOMENT THAT NO DOUBT
HELPED EXPOSE MORE OF THE UGLY
ESSENCE OF ROBERT COSTELLO TO
THE JURY OF SEVEN MEN AND FIVE
WOMEN.
WHEN THE JURY ENTERED THE
COURTROOM THREE MINUTES AFTER
THE WITNESS THIS MORNING, THE
COMMUNITY OF THE COURTROOM THAT
THE JURY HAD COME TO KNOW SO
WELL HAD CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.
THE PRESENCE OF ARMED COURT
OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN THE MOST
COURTEOUS AND HELPFUL GUIDES TO
ALL OF US, TAKING OUR PLACES IN
THAT COURTROOM EVERY DAY, HAD
MORE THAN DOUBLED.
WHERE THERE USED TO BE ONE
COURT OFFICER STANDING IN THE
CENTER AISLE, THERE WERE THREE.
AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM WHERE
THERE USED TO BE TWO, THERE
WERE FOUR.
THERE WERE MORE HIGH-RANKING
OFFICERS IN THE ROOM THAN WE
HAD EVER SEEN AT ONE TIME.
ONE OF THE COURTS
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS WHO
HAD BEEN ESPECIALLY HELPFUL TO
MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA AND
WHO WAS RARELY IN THE COURTROOM
WAS NOW STANDING IN THE BACK OF
THE COURTROOM OBSERVING
EVERYTHING.
THIS DRAMATIC DEMONSTRATION OF
EXTRA CONTROL OF THE COURTROOM
BY THE COURT OFFICERS WAS
COMPLETELY LOST ON THE DEFENSE
LAWYERS AND DEFENDANT AND
PROSECUTORS, BECAUSE THEY HAD
THEIR BACKS TO THAT PART OF
THEIR ROOM.
THEY WERE FACING FRONT, WHERE
THEY COULD SEE THE JUDGE AND
THE WITNESS AND SOME OF THE
JURY, BUT THE JURY COULD SEE
EVERYTHING IN THAT ROOM.
THE JURY COULD LOOK AND SEE AT
LEAST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF
THOSE FRIENDLY COURT OFFICERS
WHO THEY HAVE COME TO KNOW.
MORE THAN DOUBLE OF THOSE COURT
OFFICERS THAN THEY HAD EVER
SEEN IN THAT COURTROOM BEFORE
AND THE JURY COULD NOT KNOW
WHY.
THEY HAD BEEN SENT OUT OF THE
ROOM BY THE JUDGE YESTERDAY THE
FIRST TIME THE JUDGE DECIDED
TO, AS HE PUT IT, SPEAK
DIRECTLY TO ROBERT COSTELLO
ABOUT WHAT THE JUDGE CALLED THE
DECORUM IN THE COURTROOM.
IT WAS ONLY WHEN COSTELLO CONTINUED HIS DISRESPECTFUL
CONTINUED HIS DISRESPECTFUL
COURTROOM CONDUCT THAT THE
JUDGE CLEARED THE COURTROOM OF
ALL OF THE REST OF US.
THE REPORTERS, EVERYONE ELSE IN
THE ROOM, AND THE JUDGE HAD A
MORE PRIVATE, ONE-ON-ONE WITH
COSTELLO WHILE THE LAWYERS WERE
STILL PRESENT.
THE JURY COULD NOT KNOW THAT
THIS HUGE, NEW SHOW OF FORCE
AND CONTROL IN THE COURTROOM
THIS MORNING WAS ALL BECAUSE OF
THE CONTEMPTUOUS CONDUCT OF THE
ONLY WITNESS, DONALD TRUMP'S
TEAM BROUGHT INTO THAT COURTROOM
TO OFFER ACTUAL TESTIMONY IN
THIS CASE.
AND HIS TESTIMONY HAD
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH
THE CRIMES DONALD TRUMP IS
CHARGED WITH.
ROBERT COSTELLO WAS ONE OF THE
LAWYERS WHO THE PROSECUTION'S
STAR WITNESS, MICHAEL COHEN,
CONSULTED AFTER THE FBI
EXECUTED SEARCH WARRANTS AT HIS
HOME, THE HOTEL ROOM WHERE HE
WAS TEMPORARILY LIVING, AND HIS
OFFICE.
WHEN MICHAEL COHEN BECAME A
COOPERATING WITNESS AND THE FBI
INVESTIGATION, IT EVENTUALLY
LED TO MICHAEL COHEN PLEADING
GUILTY TO CRIMES, INCLUDING
CRIMES INVOLVING THE PAYOFF TO
STORMY DANIELS, WHICH MICHAEL
COHEN SAID WAS DONE AT THE
DIRECTION OF DONALD TRUMP.
UNDER CROSS-EXAMINATION TODAY
IT BECAME CLEAR THAT ROBERT
COSTELLO WAS EAGER TO BECOME
MICHAEL COHEN'S LAWYER, SO
EAGER THAT HE WROTE AN EMAIL TO
HIS SON BOASTING ABOUT HOW HE
WAS ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING
THE DEFENSE LAWYER FOR, QUOTE,
THE PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO DONALD
J. TRUMP.
HE TOLD HIS SON, QUOTE, I WILL
BE ON THE TEAM.
THE TROUBLE IS, HIS EMAILS
REVEALED THAT THE TEAM WAS
BIGGER THAN MICHAEL COHEN.
IN CROSS-EXAMINATION IT BECAME
CLEAR THAT MICHAEL COHEN WAS
NOT ROBERT COSTELLO'S PRIMARY
INTEREST.
IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR LAWYERS TO
ASK WITNESSES TO READ THEIR OWN
EMAILS ALLOWED AS EVIDENCE.
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
SUSAN HOFFINGER TRIED THAT
YESTERDAY ON CROSS-EXAMINATION,
BUT COSTELLO COULD NOT DO IT,
HE COULD NOT READ HIS OWN
EMAILS WITHOUT CONSTANTLY
INSERTING NEW EDITORIAL COMMENT ON HIS OWN EMAILS, SO TODAY
ON HIS OWN EMAILS, SO TODAY
SUSAN HOFFINGER READ THE EMAILS
HERSELF.
CAN YOU PLEASE BLOW UP THE LAST
PARAGRAPH, PLEASE, IN YELLOW?
THEN SHE READ ROBERT COSTELLO'S
EMAIL TO HIS LAW PARTNER.
QUOTE, OUR ISSUE IS TO GET
COHEN ON THE RIGHT PAGE WITHOUT
GIVING HIM THE APPEARANCE THAT
WE ARE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS
FROM GIULIANI OR THE PRESIDENT.
IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE
CLEAR, CORRECT STRATEGY.
THAT IS NOT A STRATEGY TO HELP
MICHAEL COHEN.
YESTERDAY WHEN THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY ASKED ROBERT COSTELLO
TO INTERPRET ONE OF HIS EMAILS,
COSTELLO'S ANSWER WAS THAT THE
EMAIL, QUOTE, SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
AND SO TODAY, AFTER READING
THAT EMAIL THAT I JUST READ TO
YOU, DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAID,
QUESTION, AS YOU SAID YESTERDAY,
THE EMAIL SPEAKS FOR ITSELF,
CORRECT?
ANSWER.
SOMETIMES.
AND IT GOT WORSE FOR ROBERT
COSTELLO.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY HOFFINGER
QUOTED ANOTHER EMAIL TO HIS
PARTNER ABOUT MICHAEL COHEN.
THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE EMAIL.
WHAT SHOULD I SAY?
HE IS PLAYING WITH THE MOST
POWERFUL MAN ON THE PLANET.
NOW THAT EMAIL CERTAINLY SPEAKS
FOR ITSELF, DOES IT NOT, MR.
COSTELLO?
ANSWER, YES IT DOES.
IT IS CLEAR THAT COSTELLO WAS
INTERESTED TO BE NOT ON THE
TEAM OF MICHAEL COHEN, BUT THE
TEAM OF THE MAN WHO COSTELLO
THINKS OF AS THE MOST POWERFUL
MAN ON THE PLANET.
THE MAN SITTING ACROSS THE ROOM
FROM ROBERT COSTELLO IN THE
DEFENDANT'S CHAIR.
ROBERT COSTELLO LEFT THE
WITNESS STAND IN DISGRACE AT
10:11 A.M.
THIS MORNING AFTER 42 MINUTES
ON THE WITNESS STAND THIS
MORNING, ESTABLISHING
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
FOR DONALD TRUMP'S DEFENSE
AGAINST THE CRIMINAL CHARGES OF
FALSIFYING NEW YORK BUSINESS
RECORDS IN ORDER TO ILLEGALLY
HELP HIS 2016 PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN.
THE JUDGE THEN EXPLAINED THE
SCHEDULING DILEMMA HE FACED.
HE TOLD THE JURY THAT HE LIKES
TO KEEP THE FINAL ARGUMENTS BY
THE DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION
TOGETHER SO THAT THEY ARE NOT
SEPARATED BY A DAY OR A WEEKEND
AND THAT HE WOULD NEED
ADDITIONAL TIME TO PREPARE HIS
LEGAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
JURY, SO HE POINTED OUT THAT
BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY
SCHEDULED NOT TO MEET WEDNESDAY
OF THIS WEEK, THAT THE EARLIEST
THEY COULD BEGIN THE LAWYERS
SUMMATIONS WITHOUT HAVING TO
BREAK THEM UP WOULD ACTUALLY BE
SOMETIME MAYBE ON THURSDAY OF
THIS WEEKEND THAT MIGHT NOT
ALLOW EVERYTHING TO BE
COMPLETED BEFORE THE MEMORIAL
DAY WEEKEND OR HE WOULD SEND
THE JURY INTO DELIBERATIONS AT
THE END OF THE DAY ON FRIDAY,
SO THE BEST WAY FOR THE JUDGE
TO HANDLE IT, HE DECIDED, WAS
TO SEND THE JURY OFF TODAY INTO
WHAT WILL BECOME MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND AND THAT HAPPENED AFTER
THE LAST WITNESS TODAY WHEN
COSTELLO LEFT THE WITNESS
STAND.
THE JUDGE THEN SPENT THE
AFTERNOON CONSIDERING ARGUMENTS
FROM BOTH SIDES ABOUT WHAT
SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE
JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE
JURY THAT WILL PROBABLY BE
DELIVERED NEXT WEDNESDAY, THE
DAY AFTER THE LAWYERS MAKE
FINAL ARGUMENTS TO THE JURY ON
TUESDAY, WHICH WILL OF COURSE
BE THE DAY AFTER THE HOLIDAY,
MEMORIAL DAY.
SO HERE WE ARE.
THE CASE IS IN.
THERE WILL BE NO MORE EVIDENCE.
THE PROSECUTION HAS PRESENTED
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT EVERY
ELEMENT OF THE CRIMES DONALD
TRUMP FACES IN THE COURTROOM.
THE JURY OF 12 MANHATTAN
RESIDENTS WILL BEGIN
DELIBERATING NEXT WEEK.
ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE
EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY AMOUNTS TO
PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT
THAT DONALD TRUMP COMMITTED
THOSE CRIMES.
THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT THE
JURORS THEMSELVES THAT GIVES
YOU THE SLIGHTEST HINT ABOUT
HOW THEY MIGHT BE LEANING IN
THE CASE OR WHAT EVIDENCE THEY
THINK IS IMPORTANT, BUT THEY
ARE ALWAYS VERY ATTENTIVE TO
EVERYTHING IN THAT ROOM,
ESPECIALLY JUDGE MERCHAN'S
INSTRUCTIONS AND THEY WILL
SURELY BE VERY ATTENTIVE WHEN
THE JUDGE DELIVERS THE LAST
WORDS THEY WILL HEAR BEFORE
THEY BEGIN DELIBERATING IN THIS
CASE.
THE JUDGE HAS SAID THAT HE
HOPES TO KEEP HIS INSTRUCTIONS
TO ABOUT AN HOUR OR LESS AND
THIS AFTERNOON IN A HEARING
WITHOUT THE JURY PRESENT,
LAWYERS ON BOTH SIDES ARGUED
ABOUT WHAT THOSE INSTRUCTIONS
SHOULD BE.
IT DID NOT GO WELL FOR THE
TRUMP CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS.
THEY BROUGHT UP SOMETHING THAT
THE JUDGE HAD RULED OUT OF THE
CASE A VERY LONG TIME AGO.
LONG BEFORE THE TRIAL BEGAN AND
THIS WAS FRUSTRATING FOR THE
JUDGE.
JUDGE MERCHAN SAID LOOK, THIS
IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING
ON FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
I WROTE A DECISION ON THIS AND
MY DECISION IS DATED FEBRUARY
7. THAT DECISION DIRECTED THE
DEFENSE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF
DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INTENT TO
RELY ON THE DEFENSE OF ADVICE
OF COUNSEL BY MARCH 11, 2024,
AND TO PRODUCE ALL DISCOVERABLE
STATEMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
WITHIN HIS POSSESSION AND
CONTROL BY THE SAME DAY.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE JUDGE
TOLD THE TRUMP DEFENSE TEAM, IF
YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE MY
LAWYER MADE ME DO IT DEFENSE,
YOU HAVE TO TELL US BEFORE THE
TRIAL, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY
EVIDENTIARY REQUIREMENTS FOR
MAKING THAT DEFENSE.
THE DEFENSE WOULD ESSENTIALLY
BE I JUST FOLLOWED THE ADVICE
OF MY LAWYER, MICHAEL COHEN.
THERE ARE TECHNICAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR MAKING THAT
LEGAL DEFENSE, WHICH DONALD
TRUMP'S LAWYERS CHOSE NOT TO DO.
AND SO WHEN HIS MOUNTING
FRUSTRATION THIS AFTERNOON THE
JUDGE SAID, LATER ON, THE
DEFENSE ON ADVICE OF COUNSEL
MOVED INTO, MORPHED INTO
SOMETHING CALLED THE PRESENCE
OF COUNSEL, WHICH I HAD NEVER
HEARD OF AND I WAS NOT FAMILIAR
WITH, BUT I ADDRESSED IT AND
THE MOTIONS AND AT THAT TIME I
INDICATED THAT YOU ARE
PRECLUDED FROM ARGUING THIS
LEGAL CLAIM OF PRESENCE OF
COUNSEL.
THERE WAS NO SUCH THING.
IT IS JUST A WAY TO GET AROUND
HAVING TO TURN OVER DOCUMENTS
RELATED TO THE ADVICE OF
COUNSEL.
NOW THIS TERM, PRESENCE OF
COUNSEL, HAS MORPHED YET AGAIN
INTO SOMETHING CALLED
INVOLVEMENT OF COUNSEL.
MY ANSWER HAS NOT CHANGED AND
HONESTLY I FIND IT DISINGENUOUS
FOR YOU TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT AT
THIS POINT.
BOVE ATTEMPTS TO GET UP AT THAT
POINT AND THE JUDGE SAYS,
PLEASE DON'T GET UP.
I LET YOU SPEAK, LET ME SPEAK.
ALL RIGHT.
IT WAS CONCERNING WHEN THE TERM
WAS CHANGED TO PRESENCE OF
COUNSEL.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHEN I SAW
IT AGAIN, CALLING IT
INVOLVEMENT OF COUNSEL AND I
UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT THAT
YOU ARE MAKING.
I'M TELLING YOU MY RULING IS
THE JURY WILL NOT HEAR THAT
INSTRUCTION FROM THE BENCH, NOR
ARE YOU PERMITTED TO MAKE THAT
ARGUMENT.
THE TRUMP LAWYERS CANNOT STOP
TESTING JUDGE MERCHAN'S
PATIENTS, BUT IN THE PROCESS
THEY CAN'T STOP HUMILIATING
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
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