Listen now | The Trump legal news just keeps coming. Judge Cannon denied Trump’s motion to dismiss, but Jack Smith is still in a bind. The election interference criminal trial against Trump kicks off on Monday in New York. Don't worry -- George Conway will explain it all to Sarah Longwell (and you!).
What if Trump has just written personal checks to Stormy and Karen, if he were merely worried about Melania finding out? Wouldn’t that have been simpler, if it was legal? She doesn’t strike me as the type to look over credit card statements or balance the family checkbook.
Not a lawyer, but won't an important question be, did Trump know he was signing a check for Michael Cohen for the purpose of hushing Stormy Daniels? Probably many checks are put in front of him every day to sign. Can he argue that the check in question was just one in a pile that he signed automatically because a trusted person gave it to him to sign?
Does all this posturing from all directions fuel the idea of calling a "mistrial" regardless of the trial outcome? I wonder if the lawyers among us might elaborate on what constitutes grounds for a mistrial, and whether both prosecution and defense can make that assertion, or if only one could in a given trial?
The question nagging me is, can the prosecution get a fair jury? One MAGA Party sympathizer on the jury is all Trump needs and at a minimum, he buys more delay. Sorry for the cynicism! He seems to have more lives than Felix the Cat!!
Alan Weisselberg, Trump Org's CFO, already fined and jailed on income charges related to Trump Org's hiding income to him has now been sentenced to five months at Rikers for his part in misstating the value of Trump's penthouse, BUT as part of his plea deal, he is not required to testify in the Stormy Daniels case. Why? It's reasonable to assume that any fraudulent accounting must have had his fingerprints on it.
The only reason I can think of is that Bragg thinks he already has enough witnesses to convict Trump, and he can get by without Weisselberg. Does Weisselberg know something that Michael Cohen doesn't know?
Weisselberg certainly knowns something about Rikers Island. Cohen spent time in the Federal system. It's past time their former boss and longtime resident of NYC spends some time in Rikers.
Thanks, George for explaining what's going on in the Trump trials. Thanks, Sarah for moderating. You guys make a good team.
George's information is useful but the songs are cracking me up.
I know he knew and you know he knew, but will his defense team be able to introduce a sliver of doubt into just one juror? That's all it would take.
A hung jury is the horror scenario. Just imagine what the MAGA universe will do with that.
Great commentary. Excellent explanations of the legal aspects and nuances! Always enjoy this podcast.
Mind if I share a tune that’s quite appropriate under the circumstances?
https://youtu.be/S2WmY6grohE?si=DdkUqFXlT0iWctHt
I’m glad you’re covering this but I’m sure sick of the trials and tribulations of Yam Face.
What if Trump has just written personal checks to Stormy and Karen, if he were merely worried about Melania finding out? Wouldn’t that have been simpler, if it was legal? She doesn’t strike me as the type to look over credit card statements or balance the family checkbook.
"It Probably had some bad juju" (OJ's House)
Imagine after the new owner razed it and started finding a whole slew of bodies buried underneath it...
Not a lawyer, but won't an important question be, did Trump know he was signing a check for Michael Cohen for the purpose of hushing Stormy Daniels? Probably many checks are put in front of him every day to sign. Can he argue that the check in question was just one in a pile that he signed automatically because a trusted person gave it to him to sign?
Trump knew. That rat never signs a check without knowing where it’s going!! And Cohen ins’t stupid, he wouldn’t mess with his boss!
This is NY!
Way to donate eclipse glasses:
https://astronomerswithoutborders.org/programs/solar-glasses-distribution
Does all this posturing from all directions fuel the idea of calling a "mistrial" regardless of the trial outcome? I wonder if the lawyers among us might elaborate on what constitutes grounds for a mistrial, and whether both prosecution and defense can make that assertion, or if only one could in a given trial?
The question nagging me is, can the prosecution get a fair jury? One MAGA Party sympathizer on the jury is all Trump needs and at a minimum, he buys more delay. Sorry for the cynicism! He seems to have more lives than Felix the Cat!!
Alan Weisselberg, Trump Org's CFO, already fined and jailed on income charges related to Trump Org's hiding income to him has now been sentenced to five months at Rikers for his part in misstating the value of Trump's penthouse, BUT as part of his plea deal, he is not required to testify in the Stormy Daniels case. Why? It's reasonable to assume that any fraudulent accounting must have had his fingerprints on it.
The only reason I can think of is that Bragg thinks he already has enough witnesses to convict Trump, and he can get by without Weisselberg. Does Weisselberg know something that Michael Cohen doesn't know?
Weisselberg certainly knowns something about Rikers Island. Cohen spent time in the Federal system. It's past time their former boss and longtime resident of NYC spends some time in Rikers.
Maybe Hope Hicks' testimony will make it clear that it had nothing to do with protecting Melania?
George - You are great, I'm always glad to watch you... but ya gotta quit interrupting Sarah. Let her finish a sentence, please.
He got it from JVL.
George sounds like Danny DeVito in "L.A. Confidential!" Hahahahha