#Trump’s unruly behavior at the NY trial makes him a candidate for #jail time, as does his #felony #crime of falsifying business records: Over the past decade in #Manhattan, >⅓ of these convictions resulted in defendants spending time behind bars. Across NY State, the proportion is even higher — about 42% of those convictions led to jail or prison time.

@Nonilex Speaking of #WitnessIntimidation, was the goon squad still in attendance?

#Steinglass continues the argument on #WitnessIntimidation, noting that #Trump attacked #StormyDaniels on social media the same day she had an interview w/the Manhattan DA’s office. Steinglass argues that the post contains a lie — in it, Trump said that he hadn’t seen or spoken to Daniels since meeting her on a golf course in 2006.

Steinglass says that the jury knows it to be a lie because #RhonaGraff, Trump’s loyal asst, testified that Daniels had met w/Trump at Trump Tower.

#Steinglass again reads passages of obe of Trump’s books, in which he wrote that he can’t stomach disloyalty. Steinglass argues that #Trump disparages #witnesses who speak out against him in order to discourage other witnesses from coming forward.

Steinglass reads a Truth Social post of Trump’s from Aug 2023, in which he wrote in all capital letters: “if you go after me, I”m coming after you.”

#SebastianGorka, Trump’s fmr White House *adviser*, walks in w/ a silver case bearing what appears to be a presidential seal.

With his legal team & Secret Service agents in the mix, #Trump’s group numbers more than two dozen. #WitnessIntimidation #JuryTampering

#RobertCostello is on the stand.
Justice Merchan reminds him that he’s under oath.

#Hoffinger, one of the prosecution’s leaders, is expected to continue her cross-examination of Costello.

#Hoffinger, the prosecutor, is now detailing a lawsuit that #Trump filed against #MichaelCohen in Florida, well after the presidency. Ultimately Trump decided not to be deposed [wonder why¿] & the case was dismissed. That suit was widely seen as #WitnessIntimidation.

Cohen reflects on his time w/Trump:
“I don’t regret working at the Trump Organization.” But in order to stay in Trump’s good graces & obey his orders, “I violated my moral compass, & I suffer the penalty.”

Madeleine Westerhout wrote a book, Off the Record: My Dream Job at the White House, How I Lost It, and What I Learned August 11, 2020
https://www.amazon.com/Off-Record-Dream-White-Learned/dp/1546059709
Here's some excepts
https://people.com/politics/donald-trump-ex-secretary-tells-her-white-house-story/

#TrumpTrial #MadeleineWesterhout #Witness #WitnessIntimidation
@GottaLaff

This is #WitnessIntimidation and it needs to be stopped.

The #TrumpCampaign has removed 2 posts from its campaign website that Justice Merchan determined were violations of a gag order preventing #Trump from attacking potential #witnesses. Both posts involved #MichaelCohen.

It appears that the 7 social media posts that were also found to be violations of the #GagOrder have been deleted as well. Justice #Merchan ordered the posts' removal by this afternoon.

Lawyers indicated that their opening statements will take a little more than an hour combined. Justice Juan #Merchan also noted that one #juror reached out before court resumed to express nervousness about the media attention surrounding the case, but the judge added that the juror is still here.

BLANCHE: What if I commit to the Court & the People that *President* #Trump will not tweet about any witness?

MERCHAN: I don't think you can make that representation... they won't give it to you today or tomorrow--& they're not required to.

#Trump, for example, has taken aim at #MichaelCohen, his onetime fixer & one of #AlvinBragg’s main witnesses, calling him a “liar” & a “rat.” And in a rambling & angry post on his social media site on Tues, Trump made an ominous reference to Cohen, claiming w/o explanation that his former fixer was “death.” He also referred to one of Bragg’s prosecutors in pejorative [#racist] terms.

…in seeking the #GagOrder last month, #AlvinBragg’s prosecutors highlighted #Trump’s “longstanding history of attacking witnesses, investigators, prosecutors, judges, & others involved in #legal proceedings against him” — comments that the judge seized on in his ruling.

“His statements were threatening, inflammatory, denigrating,” Justice #Merchan wrote in the Tues order.

@heatherlynn8571
Me too!
@scentedmeat
Thinks @jensorensen is That's 300% liking!
I like her so much I just subscribed to her Patreon!
You can too!
https://www.patreon.com/jensorensen/posts
This line is spot on.
"I believe in playing by the rules. Except when someone tries to apply them to Trump. Then they aren't rules anymore, but Partisanship."

Trump has violated more than rules, he's violated LAWS. It's NOT partisanship to demand consequences for his #WitnessIntimidation. Fines don't stop him. JAIL!

“If any party or #counsel violates these restrictions or the other #laws or obligations by which they are bound, I will, either upon receipt of a motion or sua sponte, consider #sanctions as may be necessary. Thank you.
“We're adjourned.”

“No other #criminal defendant would be allowed to do so, & I am not going to allow it in this case.

“For the reasons discussed during this hearing, therefore, I find that these measures are consistent w/the rights secured by the 1st, 5th, & 6th Amendments, & that they are both necessary & narrowly tailored to #safeguard the integrity of these proceedings as well as to protect the #safety of the people assisting w/them.

“Now, let me be clear: Mr. #Trump may still vigorously seek public support as a presidential candidate, debate policies & people related to that candidacy, criticize the current administration, & assert his belief that this prosecution is politically motivated.

“But those critical #FirstAmendment freedoms do not allow him to launch a pretrial #SmearCampaign against participating government staff, their families, & foreseeable #witnesses.