In addition to assessing the suitability of jurors, we must not forget about the candor of Judges. The trump cases may eventually go to the Supreme Court. See this expose re Trump, Clarence Thomas and other Revoltking things that subvert Justice
Well, Jon, at least you aren't sitting in the windowsill with rocks and string in your pocket like Alan Painter as a cub reporter covering the Lindbergh kidnapping trial. He would tie notes to the rocks and toss them out the window to his editor -- remember, this was January -- until the court workers nailed the windows shut. You can still see the nailholes in the courtroom windows. So no phone is hardly a hardship. Alan lived long enough to watch the OJ trial, which he said was nowhere near as crazy as Lindbergh. I wonder what he would say about this one.
With hard won enthusiasm, Jon writes "Judge Juan Merchan set the tone for the trial...This court is not going to take any shit from Donald Trump". Perhaps Merchan will be the long-awaited avatar for the survival of democracy in America. We can hope so.
In the chaotic political world that has emerged after the 2015 Trump Tower escalator descent, very few tangible progressive gains have been realized: only the crucial 2020 presidential victory has moved the needle enough to be seen as a positive seismic event for Dems. Now, however, with the criminal trials of the orange monster, the earth is beginning to open wide and fully and finally consume the toxic sludge that is the Republican party.
I wasn't planning to follow this trial obsessively because I'm so sick of Trump, but NOW I will keep up here as if it's OJ. I feel like we all here won the lottery with Jon's press pass.
As always Alter is fabulous. On a legal point, I didn’t think the judge can demand that a defendant has to be in court. I thought the law insists a defendant has the the right to be in court but not that he has to. Am I wrong, Jon?
Great piece. But could we please refer to this trial as the "Election Interference" case instead of the "Hush Money" case. Let's name the crime and connect it to the 2016 election.
Thanks Jonathan for your work on this. Its great to get the inside scoop and what folks near the scene are talking about. One think you said caught my attention: " For still unexplained reasons, the Justice Department decided within days of Joe Biden taking office (before Merrick Garland arrived as attorney general) not to prosecute Trump as they had Cohen." Not sure you meant that facetiously. If not you should check out the book "Holding the Line" by former US Attorney for the Southern District of NY (Geoffrey Berman) who was fired by Barr for refusing to implement the many political requests from AG Barr and particularly for not cancelling the federal investigation into Trump's role after Cohen plead guilty and was sentenced. They even tried to have Cohen's conviction overturned to protect Trump... These are of course only allegations but from a pretty rock-solid source.
In addition to assessing the suitability of jurors, we must not forget about the candor of Judges. The trump cases may eventually go to the Supreme Court. See this expose re Trump, Clarence Thomas and other Revoltking things that subvert Justice
https://davidgottfried.substack.com/p/a-jeremiad-on-jurors-and-clarence
One of the perks of being an Old Goats subscriber. Thank you for letting us vicariously sit in the courtroom with you! :)
Well, Jon, at least you aren't sitting in the windowsill with rocks and string in your pocket like Alan Painter as a cub reporter covering the Lindbergh kidnapping trial. He would tie notes to the rocks and toss them out the window to his editor -- remember, this was January -- until the court workers nailed the windows shut. You can still see the nailholes in the courtroom windows. So no phone is hardly a hardship. Alan lived long enough to watch the OJ trial, which he said was nowhere near as crazy as Lindbergh. I wonder what he would say about this one.
With hard won enthusiasm, Jon writes "Judge Juan Merchan set the tone for the trial...This court is not going to take any shit from Donald Trump". Perhaps Merchan will be the long-awaited avatar for the survival of democracy in America. We can hope so.
In the chaotic political world that has emerged after the 2015 Trump Tower escalator descent, very few tangible progressive gains have been realized: only the crucial 2020 presidential victory has moved the needle enough to be seen as a positive seismic event for Dems. Now, however, with the criminal trials of the orange monster, the earth is beginning to open wide and fully and finally consume the toxic sludge that is the Republican party.
I wasn't planning to follow this trial obsessively because I'm so sick of Trump, but NOW I will keep up here as if it's OJ. I feel like we all here won the lottery with Jon's press pass.
Best reporting from the courtroom, hands down!
Excellent observations, Jonathan.
Delighted that you’re covering this fiasco, Jonathan!
Former President Trump opened Pandora's Box, and suffering sadly and badly. Thank you for your excellent update 😀
As always Alter is fabulous. On a legal point, I didn’t think the judge can demand that a defendant has to be in court. I thought the law insists a defendant has the the right to be in court but not that he has to. Am I wrong, Jon?
Yay for us that you got a ringside seat! Thanks for your coverage and insight.
Great piece. But could we please refer to this trial as the "Election Interference" case instead of the "Hush Money" case. Let's name the crime and connect it to the 2016 election.
Thanks Jonathan for your work on this. Its great to get the inside scoop and what folks near the scene are talking about. One think you said caught my attention: " For still unexplained reasons, the Justice Department decided within days of Joe Biden taking office (before Merrick Garland arrived as attorney general) not to prosecute Trump as they had Cohen." Not sure you meant that facetiously. If not you should check out the book "Holding the Line" by former US Attorney for the Southern District of NY (Geoffrey Berman) who was fired by Barr for refusing to implement the many political requests from AG Barr and particularly for not cancelling the federal investigation into Trump's role after Cohen plead guilty and was sentenced. They even tried to have Cohen's conviction overturned to protect Trump... These are of course only allegations but from a pretty rock-solid source.
I appreciate your insights as always, Jonathan. And I hope you're right that the press pass is Honus Wagner rare.
Thanks Johnathan! Sounds like the judge has control of the situation! Your insider information is great!