From "Judge Cites Trump for Contempt, and Says He Is Attacking the Rule of Law/Donald J. Trump again broke a gag order meant to bar him from attacking participants in his criminal trial, Justice Juan M. Merchan ruled. He threatened the former president with jail" (NYT).
I guess Trump also has a job to do — run for President. He doesn't want to go to jail, but at the end of the day....
And here's Alan Dershowitz, yesterday, denouncing the judge for not understanding free speech law and imposing a prior restraint:
A Gag Order = Prior Restraint#law #lawyer #news #trending #trump #biden #shorts #Elections2024 pic.twitter.com/5B3Q5NWGY4
— Alan Dershowitz (@AlanDersh) May 5, 2024
Posts
141 comments:
The indignity of a judge in a constitutional republic.
I hope Merchan is stupid enough to try to put Trump in jail.
Please please please please...
Go for it.
Jail him and watch the fallout. Looking forward to it.
If the judge had any respect for the rule of law, he would have recused himself given his daughter is fundraising off the trial. But he doesn't.
The "last thing he wanted to do" is a lie. He's only trying to not make it completely obvious.
What a fascinating battle of nerves.
Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?
Read an article this morning that Trump hater/ serial liar Adam Schiff paid the judges daughter several million $$$.
Love the facial expression that Dershowitz gets frozen with at the end of the video.
Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?
I disagree - Trump over the past 8 years has shown incredible respect for the institution of the court system - unlike Biden, Trump actually obeyed and respected court orders shutting down his executive orders, for example. Here, however, the "institution" is not putting him on trial and screwing him over in the process - it is the individual judge and prosecutor who is doing it, and they as individuals have certainly earned no respect in their handling of this case.
Cmon Dersh, you really think the judge doesn't understand exactly what he's doing? He knows that your less honest legal brethren will go on TV and defend it. As they have all along, every day. If a court overturns him, they'll cry "special treatment!" and pretend Trump is "getting away with" something, that "this proves Trump is above the law."
We all know how the progs roll by now. The scripts are prewritten.
Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?
The former. Respect for institutions isn't owed, it's earned, and these institutions have shown themselves to be corrupt, incompetent, and stupid.
You know who showed a lot of respect for institutions? Bukharin.
It's not unusual for people to do dumb things when they're doing the dirty work of others.
Speaking is "attacking the rule of law?"
Only in leftist Soviet world.
What's the justification for the gag order? The jury is supposed to decide based on what happens in the courtroom but the gag order is specifically directed at behavior outside the courtroom. Meanwhile, the prosecutor makes inappropriate statements, trying Trump on twitter and that's ok.
When this is all over, both the judge and the prosecutor should find themselves before an ethics committee.
"The dignity of the justice system"
LOL. Lmao even.
I don't understand why a defendant can't talk about what is going on with the trial and what he thinks about it. It seems to me that the only people who shouldn't be discussing it with anyone are the members of the jury.
Is it common for the judge to forbid the defendant to talk about the trial? I can see why his own lawyers might tell him not to, but this just looks like the judge wants only one side to be reported in the news media.
tommyesq said...
5/6/24, 11:12 AM
I second your most excellent comment.
Ann Althouse said...
What a fascinating battle of nerves.
Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?
The institution is necessary. Not the people that inhabit it.
That is why political apparatchiks like "Judge" Merchan have wormed their way in to abuse that authority. Judge Merchan's family is literally fundraising of this trial. They are literally making money off of prosecuting Trump. This "Judge" is just straight up profiting off of this persecution.
Trump is shining a light on and trying to heal the institutions that the Uniparty has corrupted. The biggest threat to the judicial branch is the obvious corruption that has infested it.
People like you should be supporting Trump if you actually care about these institutions.
Merchan may be right that it would be the last thing he does as a judge. After all, Progressive and their BLM militants already lack respect for the Justice system. Might as well make sure the Right has reason to distrust it too.
As for Dershowitz, I suppose blocking the publication of the names of spies (like Valeria Plame) or nuclear codes (whatever those are) wouldn't be a violation of free speech, but the initial issue would be obtaining that information is illegal. In this case, Trump pointing out the Judge has a conflict of interest because the Judge's wife worked for the Prosecutor and the Judge's daughter is fundraising as the President of a SuperPAC campaigning against Trump; obtaining that information is not illegal. Judge Merchan is a making a mockery of justice and should be sanctioned since he didn't have the decency to recuse himself.
Contempt for THIS court and THIS pathetic judge should be the default position. What a crock!
Merchan and dignity can not be present at the same time.
He knows this.
This judge has no dignity or respect for the law. His complaints about what he "has to do" are as phony as the rest of this farce.
AA: "Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?"
Substitute 'and' for 'or'. More accurately, is he refusing to feign respect for an institution that has been weaponized against him? If this is what they are prepared to do to him, make them live up to the threat. Then we have an action. He seems willing to live with the consequences to exercise his first amendment rights. Are they willing to live with the consequences of dropping that particular hammer?
Trump knows how good he looks in orange.
Does an unequally applied justice system deserve respect? I thought we worked this out last century. Apparently the lessons did not stick.
... or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?
Displaying enough civility to show up for a show trial and gain cred?
Withholding enough civility to draw attention to a show trial and gain cred?
Everything Dersh and McCarthy and Turley ever learned or knew is long gone. The battle is over. Barr ain’t riding to the rescue. The law is now a plaything for progressives, who could care less about the constitution, and only about power. As The Red Queen once said, sentence first, trial later.
There is no suspense as to what will happen next, so don’t be surprised when it happens.
...the dignity of the justice system.
YGBSM. The "justice system" is a wreck and this insignificant POS "judge" is on the brink of joining Gavrilo Princip in the history books. A 'triggering' action???
Respect is mutual.
And a significant part of respecting an institution, ingrained in our very history and Constitution, is the freedom to call out corruption and injustices.
Trump should make reforming the courts and addressing inequalities in how justice is applied part of his campaign. There's a lot of people who don't have any power or influence who have likewise dealt with this sort of political and social judicial corruption.
“Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?”
Yes, to his followers only he is. The respect for institutions is essential in a democracy.
“Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?”
Who could respect this institution!?!? Who in this weaponized DOJ-fueled charade has shown even a modicum of respect for the “institution”?
Merchan should be institutionalized.
Merchan and the NY prosecutors are the ones shitting all over the justice system. There is no dignity for it to save. If I were in Trump's shoes, I would defy the judge's orders here, but that is me.
Ann Althouse said...
"What a fascinating battle of nerves.
Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?"
Now instead of Trump insert the judges name.
This may just be a guy thing but every leader worth a damn leads by example. That's where the respect comes from.
"Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?"
The institutions at issue here don't deserve any respect. Bragg and Merchan are completely and utterly corrupt in bringing this case and not dismissing it on day one. A leader points this out and refuses to bend the knee. This is a political show trial and it makes me ashamed of the United States.
Institutions with respectable rules deserve respect to the extent that their personnel follow the rules.
“The last thing I want to do is put you in jail,” Justice Merchan said
Does he think anyone believes that? Perhaps the most gullible of the gullible. No one normal.
If the judge puts Trump in jail, the case is tainted. The jury will hear about it. Then what?
Is it a prior restraint? Trump can say what he wants, then the judge decides whether what he said violates the terms of the gag order.
This "judge" has banned FEC testimony about campaign finance law about the Stormy Daniels "hush money" payment. I look forward to the fireworks when Trump's attorneys call such experts. The Democrat Partisans behind the bench and at the prosecutor's table will have a meltdown. When the DP behind the bench denies the testimony, Trump's attorneys should serve these two partisans with a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit. When DP behind the bench hits the defense with a contempt of court charge, the response should be "Damn right! We hold you in contempt as a little person pretending to be a judge. See you in Federal court."
Merchan is not just a politically compromised hack, he is a constitutionally ignorant hack!
I bet Hillary Clinton would find it amusing if they lock him up.
I don't necessarily agree that chaos will reign if Trump is jailed. I still believe that our side will not match the lawlessness of the lefties.
I assume, but do not know, that a jailing would be immediately appealable. Might be a good, calculated decision on Trump's part to end at least part of this farce as soon as possible.
Trump supporters should beat the Biden campaign and their surrogates to the punch.
Create an AI Trump to say what needs to be said.
Dershowitz implies — the constitutional questions raised by imprisoning a presidential candidate have not been raised before.
Do they have to be considered? Because considering them is dog-whistle for "presidential candidates are above the law and cannot be imprisoned", which would be a very bold extension of presidential immunity...
Merchan has clearly thought about this. How many defendants would be allowed 10 violations of a contempt of court order before being jailed? I’ve never heard of such leniency.
He’s bent over backwards for Trump, but at some point he’s going to have to jail him, because Trump simply can’t tolerate being told “no”.
How about imposing a gag order on everyone involved in the trial, as is usual when gag orders are imposed?
Because Michael Cohen, the chief witness for the prosecution, is out there running his mouth each and every day and the judge seems seems to not care even a little bit.
The only reason that the judge has not given Trump jail time is that he is afraid that such an action would help Trump's campaign. The only reason that the judge has not recused himself or dismissed the case outright is because he wants to hinder Trump's campaign. This is a travesty inside of a mockery enclosed within an outrage....The Democrats felt that Clinton having sex with an intern inside the Oval Office was just about sex and that Clinton should not have been impeached. Trump having sex with a porn star, on the other hand, is a crime worthy of jail. Can the Democrats not recognize there's something unhinged about such a disparity.
Not a single thing that Trump said was untrue. Merchan has brought disrepute on his profession.
Harry Callahan:
Listen, punk. To me you’re nothin’ but dogshit, you understand? And a lot of things can happen to dogshit. It can be scraped up with a shovel off the ground. It can dry up and blow away in the wind. Or it can be stepped on and squashed. So take my advice and be careful where the dog shits ya!
Marchan clearly should have recused himself from this case considering all the money his daughter is making opposing Trump.
Frankly, he should be removed as a judge and disbarred. What a tyrant.
He's also a liar. Marchan is itching to jail Trump for contempt or when this biased jury convicts him. And it will.
If the court had any respect for the “dignity of the justice system”, the case would have been dismissed before it got to a court room, or the Judge would not be allowing witnesses and evidence, like the transcript of the Access Hollywood tape, that have nothing to do with case, or allowing witnesses to say they violated election laws, or gagging Trump while the chief witness Michael Cohen talks about the case and trashes Trump 2x/week on his podcast and makes money off of trashing Trump on TikTok while the judge’s own daughter is fundraising for Democrats off the trial, etc., etc., etc. Heck, the prosecution has still failed to properly articulate what crime Trump is alleged to have committed. The entire prosecution is trampling all over the system; why should Trump play along? I thought lefties were all about civil disobedience. Just another thing that doesn’t apply to anyone but themselves, I guess.
Protect the dignity of the Justice system?? He and the other Democrat operatives are spitting on it, getting ready to take a crap on it. What a joke that he thinks he is saving Democracy when he is a big part of destroying it.
One way or another, the Democrats are going to be punished for these show-trials, and taught an extremely harsh lesson about never again daring to flirt with Stalinism.
Ideally this will be the spark for a 42-state blowout victory for Trump, with a filibuster-proof Republican Senate along with Republican control of the House. That would be infinitely preferable to a bloody Second American Revolution led by the unorganized militia of Title 10, Section 311, U.S.C., but I question whether the Democrats are smart and honest enough to avoid it. From where I sit, it appears to be baked in the cake now. If not this year or next year, then certainly in 10 or 15 years, when interest on the Federal debt will consume 100% of government revenues.
Juan, aka el caudillo.
Who will blink first. I agree this is very interesting to watch.
(And I do think the case is a whole lot of nothing -- but I Am Not A Lawyer)
"Justice Merchan acknowledged that jailing Mr. Trump was 'the last thing' he wanted to do, but explained that it was his responsibility to 'protect the dignity of the justice system.'"
If you wanted to do that, "Judge", you would have recused yourself from a case where your daughter is making money fundraising off of the case.
Since you didn't "Justice Merchan" (when did he become a "Justice" rather than a judge?) the only person where showing contempt for the justice system is you.
But, please do throw Trump into jail. it should be good for several million votes for Trump
if he wanted to protect the dignity of the justice system, he would dismiss these bogus charges against Trump and then resign in disgrace.
Kangaroos have to honor the other kangaroos. Now a judge will normally want to let lawyers for both sides try their case as the lawyers see fit. But about the only potentially criminal act (achieved with a lot of hocus pocus on the part of Bragg--you have to love a a lawyer with imagination) has to do with an accounting entry. Meantime Bragg is bringing up things that are so far out in left field with respect to that charge that they're not even in the stadium.
The judge is allowing Bragg to fling legal monkeypoo at the wall in the hopes that some will stick. The judge wants to corral Trump, but let Bragg run wild. Folks notice things like that.
Progs don't care about the Constitution. I know, I know, but hear me out.
Progs care about the Constitution like they care about the Code of Hammurabi, it's ancient history. They have their own convictions now, new and modern and fluid and they believe things should be done according to rules derived from modern thinking.
In the Prog view, those who revere the Constitution are bitter clingers, they are uneducated rubes who lack discernment and comprehension. These backward, ignorant folk have only a poor, misguided and nostalgic substitute for real understanding, something they are not capable of. They are dangerous. A firm hand is needed to keep these folks from taking us back to darker times. To Progs, talking about the Constitution or the Founders is no different than saying, "The South will Rise Again."
However, Progs do value the Constitution as a tool to use when needed. And every tool is a weapon if you hold it right.
Another in-kind contribution to the Trump campaign.
Trial Judges are still the most powerful people in the country. The Appellate guys sometimes make up the facts when they want a ruling to protect interests, but the Trial Judges actually steer 95% of the finding of what become the facts in a case.
The networks of establishment Law Firms from whence most trial Judges come are the glue of the legal system. Hence their hourly rates. Litigation costs are the true penalty.
Trump has been polite in court.
Outside court he’s free to say what he wants.
The judge disagrees. But the judge doesn’t have the balls to jail Trump because he’ll get reversed in a New York minute if he jails Trump for violating an unconstitutional court order.
Chants of Free Trump would echo throughout The Republic.
So Judge, would you be willing to share your emails with the DOJ?
"Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?"
Firstly, the institution must be respectable, no? Althouse's phrase "respect for institutions" brings to mind a historic use of that term. There was a time when slavery in the United States was called the peculiar institution, mostly by those seeking to garner respect for the practice of chattel servitude. I suspect we are a better nation for men like Abraham Lincoln notably lacking that sought-after respect.
If anyone is displaying an unseemly disrespect for institutions, it's Merchan.
“The dignity of the justice system…”
HaHaHaHa……
Trump needs to just shine the trial and the State of New York. Walk out of the court room and never come back. It's not like he's going be exonerated by the jury - no chance. So he should just leave, reduce his business there to minus zero and let them go fuck themselves by way of explanation.
The country is miles apart. This judge sees himself "protecting the justice system" while over half the country sees him as a part if its destruction and corruption.
Liberals support lawfare and turning state supreme courts into defacto legislatures because the are the opposite of democracy. If you can't win at the ballot box - implement voter fraud. If that doesn't work head to court to overturn constitutional legislation, and try to bankrupt and put your opponent in jail.
Trump is the mentally toughest person in the history of the universe. Who else could run for president facing over 90 felony counts and possible financial ruin?
The Left wants to create that Bastille moment when the MAGA crowd breaks Trump out of Rikkers Island. The Left wants chaos.
Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?
If an institution such as our court system becomes corrupted, it deserves zero respect. Only a true leader would put himself on the line to challenge it.
Biden has zero respect for the US Supreme Court, and continues to had out Student debt relief to purchase votes.
If the if the CIA or military want to start wars on their own, is a President obligated to capitulate out of respect? Look at all of our past leaders that bowed to Hoover and his secret blackmail files.
It's taken some time, but all the clamoring to destroy Trump exposed the rot. At one time, they acted with impunity. Today, they're in the crosshairs. I think many know this, and they'll do anything they can to avoid the punishment they deserve.
Blogger Ann Althouse said...
What a fascinating battle of nerves.
Where is the battle? Justice Merchan will put Trump in jail if and when he is told to do so. Right now the Biden White House and the DOJ realize Trump in jail...helps Trump. So Merchan was told to give Trump a chicken shit $9000 fine.
I also don't believe Trump's nerves are bothered at all. He's thriving on this. Go to court. Call out a corrupt trial...and then show up to a Formula One Racing event to the cheers of tens of thousands.
If these trial extend to the Milwaukee GOP convention, is Trump limited in what he can say during his nomination speech? A main theme of the campaign is the corruption of our justice system and our federal institutions.
Trump can complain as much as he wants, about Judge Merchan.
Trump can complain as much as he wants, about DA Bragg.
Trump can complain as much as he wants, about the legalities and the politics of, the entire prosecution.
None of that is barred by the amended pretrial order. (Again I ask the commenters here; have all of you actually read the order? I have twice previously posted hyperlinks, as I recall. I think they both passed through Althouse moderation.)
Then of course we have the repeated spectacle of Trump parading himself before reporters on the way into the courtroom, falsely claiming that he cannot testify, or answer reporters' questions (questions that do not call for violations of the court's order). Daily, nationally-televised lying from Trump. Straight up lying. Telling his low information voters something about the court's order that isn't true.
'Defending the Legal System' - that he's basically trashing.
Ah, isn't it impressive when the clowns come out and demand you treat their antics with serious respect instead of laughing at them?
Judge Smails : I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
Ann Althouse said...
What a fascinating battle of nerves.
Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?
Biden is "showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy" when it keeps on trying to do end runs around SCOTUS in order to steal taxpayer money and give it to his voters for "student loan relief"
Trump is showing proper respect for the judicial system by calling out and denying to follow illegal rulings by a corrupt political official who happens to have been made a "judge".
This is "civil disobedience" at its finest, esp if Trump can push the corrupt thug to order him jailed.
Which would pretty much end the trial, because Trump will appeal the sentence, and the coverage will create so much egg on Democrat faces that some court (SCOTUS if everyone below them is a complete idiot) will reverse the order, and stop the trial while things get fought out.
It will also guarantee at least 6 votes on SCOTUS for Presidential Immunity, since that's teh only way they can prevent States from puling this BS
Trump knows how good he looks in orange.
=============
Trump usually dresses in business man colored suits.
what is he comes to court wearing orange suit nicely tailored? [will that be Respect]
“Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?”
That's a good question.
What's your opinion, Professor Althouse?
Some stunning logic here by Left Bank(/sarc>)
"Is it a prior restraint? Trump can say what he wants, then the judge decides whether what he said violates the terms of the gag order."
No, Trump cannot say what he wants- the threat of fines and jail time is the prior restraint- it serves as a restraint for what he will say tomorrow or the day after- how anyone could not understand this basic fact is astonishing to me. Who do you have to hire to wipe your ass every day, Left Bank- or who has to hire that person for you?
The judge wants Trump to respect the court.
The judge is a fucking clown.
There's no way in hell that a conviction won't be overturned on about 87 different grounds.
'Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?'
Respect is earned.
It was legal for democrats in the south to deny blacks every sort of civil right.
Should those laws have been respected?
This is more of a platypus court.
Orders prohibiting the parties from speaking publicly in a way that could influence or intimidate witnesses, jurors, or officers of the court are NOT unusual. They are imposed against criminal defendants in cases when deemed necessary.
But Trump is not your usual defendant. No, he is much WORSE in the bullying and insults than your typical defendant. All of which are spewed by Trump for a reason - for the same reason that anyone says anything: to prompt some action. In short, Trump is trying to influence and intimidate witnesses and jurors and officers of the court.
The "gag order" has been shown to be necessary. Trump himself shows it's necessary and it was imposed basically because he asked for it.
His jailing for violating those orders in contempt of court is something Trump has asked for as well. He is practically begging for it. So, it would not be improper for the court to give him that. Order him to be jailed....BUT also give Trump the keys to the jail cell door. Give him jail time, but also allow him to purge that contempt by simply publicly apologizing and taking back what he has said. Leave it up to Defendant Trump where he wants to sleep at night.
Merchan would not be in this unenviable position if he had followed the law and dismissed the case. indictment for a crime whose commission depends on the fact of another crime being established should not stand when the other crime has not been established by conviction, or even alleged by indictment. It's a disgrace to the rule of law that Merchan has allowed it to stand.
Hopefully, Judges Merchan, Engoron, Chutkan, and Kaplan will have much to answer for next year. I will greatly enjoy the wailing and gnashing of teeth at the unprecedented assault on the judiciary.
Wince "Create an AI Trump to say what needs to be said."
What a great idea. Toss that cat in the henhouse!!
The Soviet left have been desperate to slam Trump behind bars ever since he beat Hillary.
Judge Smails : I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
Lacey Underall: ["Judge" Merchan] says you got a screw loose.
Ty Webb: Oh yeah? ["Judge" Merchan] molests collies.
Jailing Trump would be absolutely terrific. His poll numbers would outrace Jack's beanstalk.
Re the gag order, the judge refuses to provide guidance on what is verboten and permitted. This was Friday
bring the jurors in?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: I am handing up articles that President Trump would like to post on his Truth Social. But they mention witnesses and prosecutors - the gag is order ambiguous
Prosecutor: They are asking for advance rulings. Sure there is a political campaign. But there is a criminal trial here.
Justice Merchan: I'm not going to issue an advance ruling. I'd say, be cautious.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: He want to argue it's political
Justice Merchan: I'd say, Steer clear. Get the jury.
John Henry
Visualizing the judge ordering Biden not to give any speeches or interviews during the balance of the campaign. Why that's not a penalty, that's a plus for Biden!!
“I don't understand why a defendant can't talk about what is going on with the trial and what he thinks about it. It seems to me that the only people who shouldn't be discussing it with anyone are the members of the jury.”
The gag order does not prohibit Trump from talking about the trial, or from testifying. It prohibits Trump from saying things about the jury, witnesses or relatives of the judge or court staff that would affect in their role as juror, witness, or endanger them from doing their civic duty, or endanger relatives of court staff including the judge.
Like no one ever heard of a gag order before.
An apocryphal tale:
Judge-"Mr. Marshall, are you attempting to display contempt for this court?"
Counsel-"On the contrary, your honor, I am doing my best to conceal it."
“Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?” The former.
The gag order does not prohibit Trump from talking about the trial, or from testifying. It prohibits Trump from saying things about the jury, witnesses or relatives of the judge or court staff that would affect in their role as juror, witness, or endanger them from doing their civic duty, or endanger relatives of court staff including the judge.
None of Trump's statements do any of these things, so the point of the gag order, again, is...?
Have we gotten to the crime part yet in this drama? Haven’t heard that articulated.
Let the biased jury & judge convict Trump and then appeal, all the way to SCOTUS if necessary. Meanwhile Trump campaigns and then the judge and jury can be made to own their partisan foolishness.
and then you have the truth
https://twitter.com/TM1Politics/status/1787518509347442939
I don't recall this much hand-wringing concerning the dignity of the justice system related to the open defiance of a Supreme Court ruling from the other candidate.
Again, you leftists have no idea of the fire you're playing with.
None.
If these assholes want to protect the dignity of the justice system they should step in front of a bus.
Mark said…
BUT also give Trump the keys to the jail cell door. Give him jail time, but also allow him to purge that contempt by simply publicly apologizing and taking back what he has said. Leave it up to Defendant Trump where he wants to sleep at night.
So, compelled speech in addition to prior restraint?
Why not a forced confession under duress?
Do any of the people making these arguments understand what they are advocating be done to the justice system?
The gag order does not prohibit Trump from talking about the trial just prevents saying things about the jury, witnesses or relatives of the judge or court staff
Thanks for the tautology.
The "dignity".
The guy has a twisted sense of humor.
Wince's idea about an AI generated Trump saying the things Trump would say otherwise is simply brilliant- someone in his campaign needs to implement this.
"Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader in a democracy?"
He is giving vent to continuous temper tantrums, revealing his narcissistic self-absorption and his contempt for any constraints that might be placed on him in any context and from any source. He has no respect or regard for anyone or anything, (other than those who share his bullying personality, e.g., Putin and Kim), and he is entirely driven by his own infantile needs.
(One can have a modicum of empathy for him, when considering how his parents fucked him up, but he remains responsible for his own behavior, and he is due no more elasticity than anyone else placed under judicial restraints.)
"Trump is the mentally toughest person in the history of the universe. Who else could run for president facing over 90 felony counts and possible financial ruin?"
That's simply desperation. He's counting on winning the presidency as a means to escape any and all judicial sanctions he is facing. As for fear of possible financial ruin, assuming he isn't incarcerated he'll continue flimflamming people as he has done throughout his career.
I sure do wish Tom Wolfe was alive for this.
Is Trump proving his worth as a leader or showing that he lacks the respect for institutions that is necessary for a leader b>in a democracy?
That is exactly the way I frame this stand-off.
Respect for institutions.
I think our founders took great care in protecting the sovereignty of the people.
I have no idea about the law, but has any judge gagged the defendant ONLY, during the trial? The defendant is accorded every advantage against the all powerful government. Her we have a State Judge silencing a Presidential candidate during the campaign. If the Defendant violates a law with his speech, then charge him. But like Dirschowitz this is prior restraint of speech. Its the defendants right to a fair trial. If the defendant is infringing on the integrity of trial, I guess thats on him. But what exactly is the judge's goal. What does the gag order do to improve the trial FOR THE DEFENDANT?
Throwing a person in jail during a campaign is yet another precedent created by Democrats. It joins the Senate just dismissing an impeachment with no trial.
Fun stuff to work with in the future.
YES this is how a leader amasses followers.
Couldn’t the judge ask defense lawyers to “control their client”, like the tv?
I thought that phrase “at the end of the day” had been retired.
I don’t think anybody ever contributed anything new after saying “at the end of the day”.
I haven’t had time to read the comments, so I’m sure others have said this, but…
I honestly believe that if Trump goes to jail, he wins the election.
And Narciso in his link above is correct- the prosecution just called the witness that destroys their case in its entirety- it wasn't Trump that labeled the payments "legal expenses"- it was a third party in the Trump company, and he did it because the invoice came from Michael Cohen, one of Trump's lawyers. If I were Trump's lawyers, I would immediately ask for a directed verdict acquittal- the government's own witness contradicts the key criminal charge- a man can't be guilty of an act he provably didn't commit.
The gag order does not prohibit Trump from talking about the trial, or from testifying.
I didn't say that I thought he couldn't testify. It seems very peculiar that you would just toss that in. I appreciate you trying to answer my question, but I know how to Google. You have only said what is true of any gag order. What, specific to this case, is the rationalization for the order?
Donald Trump wants to go to jail. Then you guys will love him even more than you already do. His best play for the White House is an orange jumpsuit.
There's plenty to like and dislike about President Trump. But about 20 years ago, I worked with some people who had a few business dealings directly with him. I didn't. However, they claimed directly and on the spot, that he was very, very good at setting the negotiation table. I think that's what he'd doing here.
The gag order does not prohibit Trump from talking about the trial, or from testifying.
I didn't say that I thought he couldn't testify. It seems very peculiar that you would just toss that in. I appreciate you trying to answer my question, but I know how to Google. You have only said what is true of any gag order. What, specific to this case, is the rationalization for the order?
The gag order is unconstitutional. Throw Trump in jail. He will be guaranteed a win.
Tommyesq is right. This isn't a soap opera, or a battle of nerves.
It's about the law and proper procedural conduct.
I'd say I was disappointed by your cavalier response, but what you're doing is just a pathetic and shallow confluence of bad law and bad politics, and that has been your go-to behavior for a long time. Does anything matter to you, or is it all just funny?
Are you starting to understand the nature of the political philosophy you've been voting for, Ann?
He is giving vent to continuous temper tantrums, revealing his narcissistic self-absorption and his contempt for any constraints that might be placed on him
Interesting rant from one of the obvious narcissists on this blog.
Trump has a way of making the ridiculous moral posturing and preening of leftists blatantly obvious.
Here's what I see as the great irony. Marchan, and Fani Willis, and Jack Smith (and some others, don't make me google) thought at Christmas 2023, "I'm going to be such a hero! My friends will love me. They will say 'You're the one who saved us from Trump!'" Now it looks more likely like those friends will say, "You stupid idiot. Your over-reaching has given us four more years of Trump. Go sit at another table. I can't be polite to you."
Dave Begley said...
Trump is the mentally toughest person in the history of the universe. Who else could run for president facing over 90 felony counts and possible financial ruin?
If he loses, he goes to jail and is financially ruined
If he wins, he gets to do that to the Democrats, instead.
It takes no special mental toughness to run when that's your only hope for safety.
The nice thing here is that the Democrats have established two things:
1: Trump has absolutely nothing to lose by siding crowds on any Dem "vote counters" who try to play games and steal States
2: We normal people know there's no extra cost to violent protesting over peaceful protesting, because the Feds will do their best to destroy our lives no matter which we do
So if the Fulton Co Dem "vote counters" try to shut down the vote counting and kick everyone out like they did in 2020, Trump will have every reason to immediately call them out for stealing the election, and right wingers who don't want a fraudulent election result will have every reason to just break in and stop them, by any means necessary.
So while we will probably end up with some dead Democrat "vote counters", we'll probably have a much more honest vote count.
"Have we gotten to the crime part yet in this drama? Haven’t heard that articulated."
Forget it, Jake. It's Trump.
As I write, there are 119 comments and no one has noted that the third word of the Times quotation is a damned lie: "Justice Merchan acknowledged" is only true if what he "acknowledged" is true. If he's lying about jailing Trump being "the last thing" he wants to do, then he "asserted" or "alleged" or "stated" or "pronounced" it but he sure as Hell did not "acknowledge" or "admit" it, because it's obviously not the last or second-to-last or tenth-to-last thing he wants to do.
assuming he isn't incarcerated he'll continue flimflamming people as he has done throughout his career.
Yeah, that's why all those banks who worked with him as discussed in Letitia James' ridiculous lawfare pursuit of Trump want nothing more to do with him.
President Trump is showing the entire world the meaning of courage under fire.
Dr Weevil said...
" As I write, there are 119 comments and no one has noted that the third word of the Times quotation is a damned lie: "
Take the stick out of your ass, Sparky.
MadisonMan said...
" Yeah, that's why all those banks who worked with him as discussed in Letitia James' ridiculous lawfare pursuit of Trump want nothing more to do with him."
No New York bank wanted anything to do with Trump, that's why he was fucking around with Deutsche Bank. The New York Real Estate Industry considered him a tv clown who didn't pay his bills.
Obama was right on the money when he said: “I mean, he comes from New York. There’s nobody in New York who does business with him or lend him money. He’s not considered a serious guy here.”
Since wrote “Do any of the people making these arguments understand what they are advocating be done to the justice system?“
I believe they think that this is “Lex Trump”—special laws just for Trump.
We've seen this movie
Judge Chamberlain Haller: I don't like your attitude.
Vinny Gambini: So what else is new?
Judge Chamberlain Haller: I'm holding you in contempt of court.
Vinny Gambini: [to Bill] Now there's a fucking surprise.
Judge Chamberlain Haller: What did you say? What did you just say?
Vinny Gambini: Huh? What did I say?
Jim writes: "Again, you leftists have no idea of the fire you're playing with. None."
Trump would love to be jailed for contempt. His supporters have no idea what it is and it will be a martyrdom to say he’s being silenced by the Deep State. His political objective is civil war.
Rich said …
[Trump’s] political objective is civil war.
How typically lefty, to blame everyone else for your objectives and what you’re doing.
"Justice" Merchan.
That's a laugh! After this trial, his name will be Mudd, but he'll be immortalized in law journals.
The laughing Jackass.
Reminds me of Judge Smails from Caddyshack.
“Danny, I’ve sent boys younger than you to the chair. Didn’t want to do it. But I thought I owed it to them.”
'The last thing I want to do is put you in jail,' Justice Merchan
It's funny watching someone working tirelessly to do the very thing they claim they don't want to do.
“[Trump’s] political objective is civil war.”
“How typically lefty, to blame everyone else for your objectives and what you’re doing.”
it’s the Dems and the left who seem to want a civil war, and their odds at winning it are even lower this time around. That time they had more than their fair share of trained fighters, and esp officers and generals. Early on, they even had some parity in arms. That didn’t last, and the latter part of the war was, to some extent, a war of attrition, that they couldn’t win. From that point of view, the South was like the Axis countries during WW II. in all these cases, they figured on a quick victory. They didn’t get it, and were destroyed when the US just significantly out produced them, while destroying their own ability to eat and build arms. This time around, their enemies would control their food, water, and energy, while being grossly better armed, and significantly better well trained, and esp in asymmetric warfare.
I think that they underestimated Trump. They figured that indicting him, and even getting convictions, on bogus charges, in heavily biased courts, would intimidate him into quitting. That’s not working very well. He’s turned the lemons into lemonade. The harder they try, and the more visible, the more support he gets. If this judge puts him in jail, pictures of him in an Orange jump suit would likely win him several million new supporters. As time goes on, and his support grows, the only ways to stop him are going to be to either kill him (thus, the Senate bill to strip ex Presidents of Secret Service protection if convicted of a felony), or such massive voter fraud that much of the country wouldn’t stand for it. And, yes, that is when the civil war could easily go kinetic.
traditionalguy said...
"President Trump is showing the entire world the meaning of courage under fire."
"The laws having been knocked flat."
I don't like the world the left has made for us.
rich said
My wife once asked me when did I feel happiest? Upon consideration, I responded when I wept.
Brother, you gonna be happiest guy on this blog when election is over
"Interesting rant from one of the obvious narcissists on this blog."
I PROTEST! My narcissism on this blog is not obvious, but is sweetly subtle and artfully disguised.
Rich said...
Jim writes: "Again, you leftists have no idea of the fire you're playing with. None."
Trump would love to be jailed for contempt.
I don't know if he would, but he should want that. Because it's teh quickest path to a complete slap down of "judge" Marchan.
SCOTUS ruled 9-0 against Colorado and all the TDS lunatics supporting that move, because NONE of the members of SCOTUS are stupid enough to rule for TDS when it's on the public stage.
So if Trump can force SCOTUS to get involved, and throwing him in jail will do that unless a lower court quickly reverses it, this entire prosecution is dead.
His supporters have no idea what it is and it will be a martyrdom to say he’s being silenced by the Deep State. His political objective is civil war.
Well Rich, his non-supporters like me understand that every single case against Trump is complete and total crap.
We also understand that the Democrats' desire to create a two-tiered justice system aimed at us is an exestential threat. And that a mass slaughter or your team is infinitely superior to letting you get away with this.
It is your side driving for civil war, by your refusal to accept that both sides are allowed to win. I dont' care if it's because you're just power hungry monsters, or that you're a bunch of religious zealots who believe that you have the one true way that the rest of us must be forced to follow.
You will obey the written US Constitution, the rule of law, and democracy, in that order. Or we will kill you in job lots until those who are left accept that you ar not our rulers
Blogger YoungHegelian said...
How about imposing a gag order on everyone involved in the trial, as is usual when gag orders are imposed?
Because Michael Cohen, the chief witness for the prosecution, is out there running his mouth each and every day and the judge seems seems to not care even a little bit.
--
Beacuse..because..
Truuuuuuummmmmmpppp!!!
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