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The sound of laughter was revealing.
Contained in the media room on the hush cash trial, say those that had been there, lots of the reporters overtly chuckled when the prosecutor took jabs at Donald Trump. They discovered that fairly amusing.
For all of the craziness surrounding the primary felony trial of a former president, the closing arguments – and the choose’s complicated directions – packed some surprises. Now the media’s largest problem is filling air time and column inches – let’s herald ex-jurors from different circumstances! – whereas ready for the seven males and 5 girls to ship a verdict.
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The consensus of those that had been there may be that Trump lawyer Todd Blanche, who has little expertise in such circumstances, spoke in a monotone EXCEPT FOR OCCASIONALLY RAISING HIS VOICE. At the very least his summation lasted solely three hours.
Josh Steinglass of the Manhattan D.A.’s officer was much more passionate and animated, however he spoke for an eye-glazing 5 hours. Who on earth thought that was a sensible thought? The jurors clearly misplaced focus as he bought into the weeds of calls and emails, then repeated a lot of it, and saved them there till 8 p.m.
How a lot data is the jury supposed to soak up?
Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on his option to Manhattan felony courtroom, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Picture/Yuki Iwamura)
That was equally true yesterday as Decide Juan Merchan spent an hour on the essential jury directions that solely attorneys may love.
If somebody testified falsely, you may disregard his complete account.
Michael Cohen, whose credibility was savaged by the protection, is an “confederate.”
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The jury can’t convict on Cohen’s phrase alone, however can use his testimony if it’s corroborated with different proof.
The extent of the defendant’s participation doesn’t matter so long as there’s a “basic intent to defraud.” Ah, however intent doesn’t require premeditation.
The defendant have to be discovered to have falsified enterprise data or prompted them to be falsified.
Former President Trump sits within the courtroom throughout his hush cash trial at Manhattan Prison Courtroom on Might 21, 2024, in New York Metropolis. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photos)
So long as the jury agrees on the details, they will use completely different reasoning, whether or not it applies to, say, election fraud or taxes.
And the thriller crime that supposedly boosts this into felony territory? A violation of New York election regulation, about which we’d heard virtually nothing.
Whew. Received that?
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It comes right down to the jurors simply utilizing their widespread sense.
Todd Blanche scored some factors, resembling branding Cohen the GLOAT (Best Liar of All Time). However he left a number of gaping holes.
The protection lawyer started by saying that Trump and Stormy Daniels have repeatedly denied {that a} sexual encounter occurred in 2006. Effectively, Stormy did lie about it in change for the cash from Cohen, however she simply as clearly now insists there was a hookup, as she testified.
Blanche mentioned the president might have been too busy to concentrate on the 11 reimbursement checks he signed for Cohen. He argued that there was no e-mail exhibiting a conspiracy – uh, even incompetent criminals who’ve seen a few mob films know you don’t depart a paper path.
Blanche mentioned the Nationwide Enquirer didn’t interact in catch-and-kill offers with the Trump marketing campaign – after all they did, whereas the time period wasn’t used, and that was confirmed by David Pecker.
The largest shortcoming: The Trump protection didn’t deal with the emails, texts, Sign messages and banking data that again up Cohen’s account – as a result of they don’t have another model of occasions.
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, walks out of a Manhattan courthouse after testifying earlier than a grand jury, in New York, United States on March 15, 2023. ((Picture by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Company through Getty Photos))
The prosecution tried to knock down Blanche’s argument that Cohen did authorized work for Trump and his spouse in 2017 which the president might need thought was reliable. However Cohen devoted lower than 10 hours to that work and, Steinglass mentioned, had spent extra time being cross-examined on the trial.
Sure, Cohen lied over time, Steinglass mentioned, sure he stole from the Trump Group, however now he’s only a “tour information” for the proof. Proper.
The prosecutor mentioned Trump’s workforce had “shamed” Stormy and instructed her story has not modified over time. After all it has!
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Steinglass did rebut the argument that there was no panic because the media pursued the porn star after the “Entry Hollywood” tape by citing Hope Hicks’ saying all of them felt Trump may lose the election.
Essentially the most absurd second for the prosecution got here when he hypothetically reenacted a 90-second name through which Cohen claims he each complained about harassing calls from a 14-year-old and mentioned the Stormy state of affairs with Trump. Solely took 46 seconds! However in the event you don’t purchase that, Steinglass mentioned, possibly Cohen bought the date unsuitable.
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Oh, and who within the Biden marketing campaign thought it was an excellent thought for Robert De Niro to point out up on the courthouse and begin slamming Trump?
Howard Kurtz is the host of FOX Information Channel’s MediaBuzz (Sundays 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET). Based mostly in Washington, D.C., he joined the community in July 2013 and recurrently seems on Particular Report with Bret Baier and different packages.
Complicated directions to deceptive summations: Trump trial now in jury’s arms
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