This right here is who Trump is. Over and over. He is the same. He never changes.
“An embarrassing moment for Trump on redirect. Cohen testified that Trump was at the bottom of a list of famous businessmen in the last century in a CNBC poll. Red Finch was paid to acquire IP addresses to help Trump get a higher spot. Trump rose to #9, but he stiffed them anyway.”
This right here is who Trump is. Over and over. He is the same. He never changes.
“An embarrassing moment for Trump on redirect. Cohen testified that Trump was at the bottom of a list of famous businessmen in the last century in a CNBC poll. Red Finch was paid to acquire IP addresses to help Trump get a higher spot. Trump rose to #9, but he stiffed them anyway.”
The relevant portion of the Red Finch testimony was Cohen admitted he stole $30,000 from the Trump Organization and provided fake invoices to cover it up.
In addition to being a serial liar your star witness admitted to grand larceny and forging invoices...
That's problematic when the single piece of "evidence" you idiots have is an invoice from Cohen.
Blanche first witness is his own paralegal? This guy sure knows how to make a first impression.
Now they call Costello. He is a shady AF Trump attorney mentioned in the Mueller report. He is Bannons lawyer and that squeaky clean guy named Rudy.
Many thought the wise move would be to call no witnesses and pound the table that the prosecution has proved nothing. (A lie)
This is s big gamble. One has to wonder if Trump is forcing this strategy.
I question the decision to call Costello too. Seems like something Trump would demand against his lawyers' advice. If I'm right, all Costello is going to testify is that Cohen said in 2018 that Trump was in the dark on all the NDAs and payments? We know Cohen said that in 2018. He said that to the media. I don't see how having Costello repeat that helps. I think the jury will now be more inclined to think "why doesn't Trump get up here and deny all knowledge of NDAs and payments?"
I agree, the defense should have just rested and moved for acquittal and get everyone's mind off the fact that it sure doesn't look like Trump is going to testify, despite all his promises earlier (and all his lies about the gag order preventing him).
The relevant portion of the Red Finch testimony was Cohen admitted he stole $30,000 from the Trump Organization and provided fake invoices to cover it up.
In addition to being a serial liar your star witness admitted to grand larceny and forging invoices...
That's problematic when the single piece of "evidence" you idiots have is an invoice from Cohen.
Watch for right wingers to make a bid deal about this but he admitted to this two weeks ago on direct. It’s not new.
Mobsters surround themselves with mobsters
Meanwhile:
.Judge Merchan to Robert Costello before clearing the courtroom. "I'd like to discuss proper decorum in the courtroom...If you don't like my ruling, you don't give me side eye and you don't roll your eyes." Then in a raised voice, Merchan asks, "Are you staring me down right now?!"
The relevant portion of the Red Finch testimony was Cohen admitted he stole $30,000 from the Trump Organization and provided fake invoices to cover it up.
In addition to being a serial liar your star witness admitted to grand larceny and forging invoices...
That's problematic when the single piece of "evidence" you idiots have is an invoice from Cohen.
Watch for right wingers to make a bid deal about this but he admitted to this two weeks ago on direct. It’s not new.
Mobsters surround themselves with mobsters
Meanwhile:
.Judge Merchan to Robert Costello before clearing the courtroom. "I'd like to discuss proper decorum in the courtroom...If you don't like my ruling, you don't give me side eye and you don't roll your eyes." Then in a raised voice, Merchan asks, "Are you staring me down right now?!"
When your star witness is a convicted liar and he admits to grand larceny and forging documents it's a pretty "big deal" if your entire case is based on his word.
No rational human being thinks this trial isn't a politically driven farce at this point.
Blanche first witness is his own paralegal? This guy sure knows how to make a first impression.
Now they call Costello. He is a shady AF Trump attorney mentioned in the Mueller report. He is Bannons lawyer and that squeaky clean guy named Rudy.
Many thought the wise move would be to call no witnesses and pound the table that the prosecution has proved nothing. (A lie)
This is s big gamble. One has to wonder if Trump is forcing this strategy.
And it looks like Costello is doing some drama acting on the stand. He actually forced the judge to order, in front of the jury, to have the courtroom cleared. REALLY bad look. Trump's lawyers are in cringe mode now. Reacting like Costello did in front of the jury seldom gains sympathy from the jury, most of whom look up to the judge as an authority figure. Juries appreciate the decorum and rules that judges provide.
Dumb call. Either put Trump up there or get the fvck out asap and move for acquittal.
The Prosecution: methodical, disciplined, verifies assertions with receipts, their witnesses stay composed under cross and mostly color inside the lines.
The Defense: flailing, rambling with their cross, cannot read the room, their first witness gets theatrical and pisses off the judge within 30 minutes…while their client takes naps in court.
The Prosecution: methodical, disciplined, verifies assertions with receipts, their witnesses stay composed under cross and mostly color inside the lines.
The Defense: flailing, rambling with their cross, cannot read the room, their first witness gets theatrical and pisses off the judge within 30 minutes…while their client takes naps in court.
Trump is master at shooting himself in the foot... they just got some relief with the Cohen cross and now this. All because Trump demanded Costello participate. The jury usually has a strong bond and trust with the judge, and for them to see the judge have to do this is going to really hurt trump.
Watch for right wingers to make a bid deal about this but he admitted to this two weeks ago on direct. It’s not new.
Mobsters surround themselves with mobsters
Meanwhile:
.Judge Merchan to Robert Costello before clearing the courtroom. "I'd like to discuss proper decorum in the courtroom...If you don't like my ruling, you don't give me side eye and you don't roll your eyes." Then in a raised voice, Merchan asks, "Are you staring me down right now?!"
When your star witness is a convicted liar and he admits to grand larceny and forging documents it's a pretty "big deal" if your entire case is based on his word.
No rational human being thinks this trial isn't a politically driven farce at this point.
Merchan is a clown.
Winston: trump humpers are rational human beings. LOLz
When your star witness is a convicted liar and he admits to grand larceny and forging documents it's a pretty "big deal" if your entire case is based on his word.
No rational human being thinks this trial isn't a politically driven farce at this point.
Merchan is a clown.
Winston: trump humpers are rational human beings. LOLz
You opted for the insult rather than addressing the point because in your shriveled little leftist heart you know the case is BS.
It seems level headed attorneys get caught up in trying to please an audience of one. He was simply a fact witness in the case and he does this? Tries to take on the judge in front of the jury???
The Prosecution: methodical, disciplined, verifies assertions with receipts, their witnesses stay composed under cross and mostly color inside the lines.
The Defense: flailing, rambling with their cross, cannot read the room, their first witness gets theatrical and pisses off the judge within 30 minutes…while their client takes naps in court.
Trump is going to have Costello strangled. He blew his part. All that the jury will remember is him insulting the judge and having the courtroom cleared. Really bad job by Costello considering he's an experienced trial lawyer. You look down, maybe slightly shake your head, maybe put on a practiced look of annoyance. You don't audibly (reported by stenographer) take the name of the lord in vain and act like an objection to a lawyer's question is somehow a personal slight to you as a witness. Good grief dude. He needed witness 101 school. Took all the steam out of whatever testimony he gave.
It seems level headed attorneys get caught up in trying to please an audience of one. He was simply a fact witness in the case and he does this? Tries to take on the judge in front of the jury???
It's irrational unless they strongly suspect they are going to lose and decided to use this witness to fight the judge and cause chaos. I suspect this was simply stable genius Trump ordering his team to put Costello up there thinking it was a 4d chess move.
The Prosecution: methodical, disciplined, verifies assertions with receipts, their witnesses stay composed under cross and mostly color inside the lines.
The Defense: flailing, rambling with their cross, cannot read the room, their first witness gets theatrical and pisses off the judge within 30 minutes…while their client takes naps in court.
Trump is going to have Costello strangled. He blew his part. All that the jury will remember is him insulting the judge and having the courtroom cleared. Really bad job by Costello considering he's an experienced trial lawyer. You look down, maybe slightly shake your head, maybe put on a practiced look of annoyance. You don't audibly (reported by stenographer) take the name of the lord in vain and act like an objection to a lawyer's question is somehow a personal slight to you as a witness. Good grief dude. He needed witness 101 school. Took all the steam out of whatever testimony he gave.
Nope.. trump is going to think Costello did amazing and was the only one who took a bullet for him. It's purely asymmetrical loyalty with trump. He expects loyalty and gives none back, while there are too many power hungry aholes willing to risk it.
So Trump will not testify. I'll be somewhat damned. I thought he'd go for it, especially after his promises and all the fake fuss about the gag order. Blanche and Co. did a good job of talking him out of it.
I hope the prosecution has no rebuttal, and says they can do closings tomorrow. We could get a verdict this week . . . . .
Nope.. trump is going to think Costello did amazing and was the only one who took a bullet for him. It's purely asymmetrical loyalty with trump. He expects loyalty and gives none back, while there are too many power hungry aholes willing to risk it.
This is my take as well. Trump likely heard Blanche say the course of wisdom strategically is to call no witnesses This is wise because it explains to the jury why Trump isn’t taking the stand. But now that they called Costello the Jury is saying: why are we hearing from this hot head and not Trump?
Trump probably flipped his wig and said, the hell we aren’t calling witnesses! Get my guy up there to perform like a monkey for my pleasure!
Nope.. trump is going to think Costello did amazing and was the only one who took a bullet for him. It's purely asymmetrical loyalty with trump. He expects loyalty and gives none back, while there are too many power hungry aholes willing to risk it.
This is my take as well. Trump likely heard Blanche say the course of wisdom strategically is to call no witnesses This is wise because it explains to the jury why Trump isn’t taking the stand. But now that they called Costello the Jury is saying: why are we hearing from this hot head and not Trump?
Trump probably flipped his wig and said, the hell we aren’t calling witnesses! Get my guy up there to perform like a monkey for my pleasure!
Defendants rarely testify. Unless the jury is as dumb as you they will be aware of this.
Costello testified because he has first hand knowledge of Cohen's complete lack of credibility.