CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Sunday 2024 Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler put on the Green Blazer trophy for the second time. Meanwhile Master Conman Donald Trump wants to avoid putting on an orange jail jumpsuit to match his orange skin bronzer.
Monday Trump became the first former U.S. President to be put on criminal trial. Finally facing prosecution for the same crimes his former attorney and ‘fix-it man’ Michael Cohen had been convicted of and served 3 years in prison for.
Trump has been charged with 34 counts for falsifying business and campaign finance records to hide ‘hush-money’ payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and a ‘Catch and Kill’ stories scheme involving Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal during the 2016 Presidential campaign.
Why did it take 8 years to charge and try Trump? Because after Cohen’s conviction, U.S. Attorney General in the Trump Administration, Bill Barr, first tried to reverse Cohen’s conviction, failed at that, but succeeded in suppressing and stalling the DOJ’s Southern District of N.Y. office from pursuing similar charges against Trump, according to the SDNY former head, who Barr fired.
While Cohen’s credibility will certainly be challenged with him already admitting to having perjured himself, the prosecution’s case is mainly made up of documents proof.
Cohen claims his only lie was before Congress when he said he had only discussed the hush money payment scheme with Trump 3 times when it fact it was 10 times.
The first day of the hush money trial began with courtroom instructions from Judge Juan Merchan and jury selection, which could take several weeks. Already in the first round, over 51% of the prospective jurors excluded themselves saying they could not be impartial.
Grand juries that handed down Trump’s three other criminal indictments did include Republicans who acknowledged having been Trump voters.
A real risk is ‘jury nullification.’ One form that could take is a juror claiming they can be impartial but really being a rapid Trump supporting plant who gets on the jury and at the very least forces a mistrial.
Judge Merchan instructed Trump he’ll have zero tolerance for any courtroom misconduct.
“If you disrupt the proceedings in any way, the law permits the court to exclude you from court, commit you to jail and continue the trial in you absence.”
Trump’s request for a recess allowing him to attend the U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments in his immunity appeal was denied by Judge Merchan.
“He’s required to be here. He’s not required to be in the Supreme Court.”
Still pending is Trump’s request for a recess to attend his son Barron’s High School Graduation on May 17.
On social media, Trump balked at that recess not being immediately granted:
“Who will explain for me, to my wonderful son, Barron, who is a GREAT Student at a fantastic School, that his Dad will likely not be allowed to attend his Graduation Ceremony, something that we have been talking about for years because a seriously Conflicted and Corrupt New York State Judge wants me in Criminal Court.”
Expect prosecutors to explain that Trump was directing ‘hush-money’ and ‘catch and kill’ schemes involving his relationships with Porn Star Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate of the Year Karen McDougal while Melania Trump was pregnant with Barron. McDougal claims her relationship with Trump lasted 9 months.
Judge Merchan blocked replaying the vulgar “Access Hollywood” video/audio tape but will allow the text of it to be presented.
DONALD DOZING?
Trump was reportedly seen appearing to nod off asleep at times during the proceedings. He was also said to not look well temperament and energy wise.
The trial is expected to last about eight weeks with a string of witnesses who are former Trump associates and sex partners who will be hard for him to hear from. How will the defendant who’s just a few years younger than Biden hold up?