i'm trying to understand why they sent deniro in the first place.
was michael rappaport busy today?
in all seriousness, this was a dumb move. biden is trying to give the election away.
Why do you think it's dumb to call out the criminality of your political opponent?
To be clear, I'm not exactly for or against any such strategy, as I haven't thought about it deeply. But will DeNiro turn "non-committed" voters to Trump? I don't see how. In fact, how many non-committed voters can there really be with these two? I feel like it's 100% about turnout.
it should have been an actual biden spokesperson.
deniro is talking to the choir here. what good is it for him to potentially get into a confrontation with trump supporters here? in my opinion more bad can come from it than good.
it is about turnout. but if i am from a rural community in the south, i am not going to listen to some loudmouth with a new york accent. kind of like how if i am from new york or california, i am not going to listen to some dude from south carolina or alabama or florida yelling at me about something i already know. i'm just not.
the thing is, with these maga idiots, everyone preaching against trump is preaching to the choir. if you're voting trump at this point, not even zombie jesus coming back will convince you.
What is the point of having Robert Deniro representing Biden today? How is this a good idea?
Is he “representing” Brandon or just a private citizen with “star power” sharing his personal views in a public forum of outside the courthouse? Seems there are private citizens representing POOTWH outside the courthouse so why can’t Robert, who lives in NYC, I believe, stroll down and speak to the assembled press and bystanders and “represent” Brandon.
I encourage everyone to speak up and out, even those with views I vehemently disagree with.
Regardless of whether he's representing or just sharing his opinion, if a Democrat-leaning 'star' shows up at the courthouse where Trump's on trial to preach anti-Trump rhetoric, it's quite obvious that Trump will claim it shows interference from the Biden administration, and it's quite obvious that his base will agree. Does that matter? Who knows.
I mean, he showed up with members of the Biden campaign team. He's also narrating a new tv ad for Biden.
It's just a tone deaf look when half the country already, albeit not necessarily correctly, views the dems as elites that are out of touch with ordinary Americans.
Didn't know those facts, but given that, fully agree.
My confidence levels in this campaign are sadly not high. Biden is currently losing to a guy who is staring down a possible criminal conviction this week....
At this point I’m thinking Trump would have the same numbers regardless of whoever the dem candidate is.
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The Juggler
Behind that bush over there. Posts: 47,470
What is the point of having Robert Deniro representing Biden today? How is this a good idea?
Is he “representing” Brandon or just a private citizen with “star power” sharing his personal views in a public forum of outside the courthouse? Seems there are private citizens representing POOTWH outside the courthouse so why can’t Robert, who lives in NYC, I believe, stroll down and speak to the assembled press and bystanders and “represent” Brandon.
I encourage everyone to speak up and out, even those with views I vehemently disagree with.
Regardless of whether he's representing or just sharing his opinion, if a Democrat-leaning 'star' shows up at the courthouse where Trump's on trial to preach anti-Trump rhetoric, it's quite obvious that Trump will claim it shows interference from the Biden administration, and it's quite obvious that his base will agree. Does that matter? Who knows.
I mean, he showed up with members of the Biden campaign team. He's also narrating a new tv ad for Biden.
It's just a tone deaf look when half the country already, albeit not necessarily correctly, views the dems as elites that are out of touch with ordinary Americans.
Didn't know those facts, but given that, fully agree.
My confidence levels in this campaign are sadly not high. Biden is currently losing to a guy who is staring down a possible criminal conviction this week....
At this point I’m thinking Trump would have the same numbers regardless of whoever the dem candidate is.
Maybe. Maybe not. Biden has accomplished a lot. He and his administration have just been really bad at letting people know about it. Part of that is on him not being a great communicator at this point in this life. I hate to say it but if he was 15 years younger, I bet his approval #'s would still be about where they were three years ago and he'd be cruising to a landslide victory.
i think people are just so fatigued with both trump and biden. its been 9 fucking years that we have been hearing about trump every single day.
unfortunately trump seems to want the job more than biden does. trump is demanding the job and begging for it. i think some people may be like "ok fine if it will shut him up." he lost in 2020 and never ever went away. look at herschel walker. he lost and nobody has heard from him since. dr oz too. this is how you are supposed to lose.
even if trump loses this year, he is still not going away. we are going to hear about him in the news every single day until his health deteriorates to the point where he is incapacitated or until the day he dies.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.- Hemingway
the media is 1000% responsible for covering citizen trump every day. they treat him like royalty. if they ignored him, or at least stopped normalizing him it would be better for the country.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.- Hemingway
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 36,357
so what was said in deniros speech that was egregious or detrimental to bidens campaign? I'll read back but the objection thus far seems not be about content but messenger? deniro wasnt the only speaker as well.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
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The Juggler
Behind that bush over there. Posts: 47,470
so what was said in deniros speech that was egregious or detrimental to bidens campaign? I'll read back but the objection thus far seems not be about content but messenger? deniro wasnt the only speaker as well.
Yes.
Nobody else will care about the other speakers as two time academy award winner, liberal elite lunatic, Robert Deniro overshadows them all.......or at least that is how the maga right will successfully frame it.
so what was said in deniros speech that was egregious or detrimental to bidens campaign? I'll read back but the objection thus far seems not be about content but messenger? deniro wasnt the only speaker as well.
he got into it with a heckler.
plus fanone and harry dunn were there, which was just begging for maga scorn and heckling. to me, responding to that drowned out his entire message.
democrats should be above the juvenile crap maga does every day. democrat messaging should be "we are here running the country so you do not have to worry about all of the sideshow political carnival barker bullshit from maga." it is all about the show and its all just so embarrassing.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.- Hemingway
POOTWH will be found guilty. Will immediately appeal and will never see a day in jail. Appeals process will drag on for years or until a repub governor pardons him. That’s my prediction.
POOTWH will be found guilty. Will immediately appeal and will never see a day in jail. Appeals process will drag on for years or until a repub governor pardons him. That’s my prediction.
accepting a pardon requires admission of guilt, no?
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
POOTWH will be found guilty. Will immediately appeal and will never see a day in jail. Appeals process will drag on for years or until a repub governor pardons him. That’s my prediction.
accepting a pardon requires admission of guilt, no?
Sure does but accepting guilt and the bs’ing how you had to do it and how it was a witch hunt to begin with will follow. POOTWH doesn’t feel shame and wouldn’t give a fuck if it keeps him out of prison. Look at Paulie Manaforte and Roger Dodger Stoned. Both accepted pardons and are going on in life like nothing ever happened. No harm, no foul.
so what was said in deniros speech that was egregious or detrimental to bidens campaign? I'll read back but the objection thus far seems not be about content but messenger? deniro wasnt the only speaker as well.
Yes.
Nobody else will care about the other speakers as two time academy award winner, liberal elite lunatic, Robert Deniro overshadows them all.......or at least that is how the maga right will successfully frame it.
If my co-worker is any sort of bellweather as to MAGA sentiment, Deniro's been persona non grata with them for some time now.... I can't see yesterday's appearance making much difference in that regard.
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 36,357
so what was said in deniros speech that was egregious or detrimental to bidens campaign? I'll read back but the objection thus far seems not be about content but messenger? deniro wasnt the only speaker as well.
Yes.
Nobody else will care about the other speakers as two time academy award winner, liberal elite lunatic, Robert Deniro overshadows them all.......or at least that is how the maga right will successfully frame it.
If my co-worker is any sort of bellweather as to MAGA sentiment, Deniro's been persona non grata with them for some time now.... I can't see yesterday's appearance making much difference in that regard.
wasnt about converting the cult. its about driving turnout amongst the rational....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
so what was said in deniros speech that was egregious or detrimental to bidens campaign? I'll read back but the objection thus far seems not be about content but messenger? deniro wasnt the only speaker as well.
Yes.
Nobody else will care about the other speakers as two time academy award winner, liberal elite lunatic, Robert Deniro overshadows them all.......or at least that is how the maga right will successfully frame it.
If my co-worker is any sort of bellweather as to MAGA sentiment, Deniro's been persona non grata with them for some time now.... I can't see yesterday's appearance making much difference in that regard.
wasnt about converting the cult. its about driving turnout amongst the rational....
Jury in Donald Trump’s hush money case asks to rehear testimony as deliberations get underway
By MICHAEL R. SISAK, JENNIFER PELTZ, ERIC TUCKER and MICHELLE L. PRICE
13 mins ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations began Wednesday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, placing the outcome of the history-making case in the hands of a dozen New Yorkers who have vowed to be fair and impartial in the face of their unprecedented task.
Just hours after embarking on their closed-door discussions, the jury returned with separate notes asking to rehear testimony about the alleged hush money scheme at the heart of the case and to rehear legal instructions from the judge that are meant to guide them in their deliberations.
The notes were the sole communication with the court since the jury of seven men and five women was sent to a private room just before 11:30 a.m. to begin weighing a verdict in the historic case. Though the deliberations are secret, notes are used to send questions or messages about the case and to notify the court of a verdict, or if they are unable to reach one.
“It is not my responsibility to judge the evidence here. It is yours,” Judge Juan M. Merchan told jurors earlier in the day before dispatching them to begin deliberations. He also reminded them of their vow during the selection process to judge the case fairly and impartially.
Trump struck a pessimistic tone after leaving the courtroom following an hourlong reading of jury instructions, repeating his assertions of a “very unfair trial” and saying: “Mother Teresa could not beat those charges, but we'll see. We'll see how we do."
Trump and his lawyers, along with prosecutors, were instructed to remain inside the courthouse during deliberations. While waiting behind closed doors there, he continued making a series of posts on his social media network complaining about the trial and quoting legal and political commentators who view the case in his favor.
In one post, written in all-capital letters, he said: “I don't even know what the charges are in this rigged case — I am entitled to specificity just like anyone else." He added, “There is no crime!”
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records at his company in connection with an alleged scheme to hide potentially embarrassing stories about him during his 2016 Republican presidential election campaign.
The charge, a felony, arises from reimbursements paid to then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen after he made a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims that she and Trump had sex in 2006. Trump is accused of misrepresenting Cohen’s reimbursements as legal expenses to hide that they were tied to a hush money payment.
Trump has pleaded not guilty and contends the Cohen payments were for legitimate legal services. He has also denied the alleged extramarital sexual encounter with Daniels.
To convict Trump, the jury would have to find unanimously that he created a fraudulent entry in his company’s records, or caused someone else to do so, and that he did so with the intent of committing or concealing another crime.
The crime prosecutors say Trump committed or hid is a violation of a New York election law making it illegal for two or more conspirators “to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means.”
While the jury must unanimously agree that something unlawful was done to promote Trump’s election campaign, they don’t have to be unanimous on what that unlawful thing was.
The jurors — a diverse cross-section of Manhattan residents and professional backgrounds — often appeared riveted by testimony in the trial, including from Cohen and Daniels. Many took notes and watched intently as witnesses answered questions from Manhattan prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers.
Jurors started deliberating after a marathon day of closing arguments in which a prosecutor spoke for more than five hours, underscoring the burden the district attorney's office faces in needing to establish Trump's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
A defense lawyer spoke for about half that time; the Trump team need not establish his innocence to avoid a conviction but must instead bank on at least one juror finding that prosecutors have not sufficiently proved their case.
Earlier Wednesday, the jury received instructions in the law from Merchan, who offered some guidance on factors the panel can use to assess witness testimony, including its plausibility, its consistency with other testimony, the witness’ manner on the stand and whether the person has a motive to lie.
But, the judge said, “there is no particular formula for evaluating the truthfulness and accuracy of another person’s statement.”
The principles he outlined are standard but perhaps all the more relevant after Trump’s defense leaned heavily on questioning the credibility of key prosecution witnesses, including Cohen.
Jurors asked to rehear testimony from Cohen and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker about an August 2015 meeting with Trump at Trump Tower where the tabloid boss agreed to be the “eyes and ears” of his fledgling presidential campaign.
Pecker testified the plan included identifying potentially damaging stories about Trump so they could be squashed before being published. That, prosecutors say, was the beginning of the catch-and-kill scheme at the heart of the case.
Jurors also want to hear Pecker’s account of a phone call he said he received from Trump while he was an investor meeting in New Jersey. The publisher testified that Trump tracked him down and phoned him at the investor’s offices after hearing a rumor that another outlet had offered to buy former Playboy model Karen McDougal’s alleging that she had a yearlong affair with Trump in the mid-2000s.
Pecker testified that on the call, Trump told him, “Karen is a nice girl” and asked, “What do you think I should do?” Pecker said he replied: “I think you should buy the story and take it off the market.” He added that Trump told him he doesn’t buy stories because it always gets out and that Cohen would be in touch.
The publisher said he came away from the conversation thinking Trump was aware of the specifics of McDougal’s claims. Pecker said he believed the story was true and would have been embarrassing to Trump and his campaign if it were made public. The National Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc., eventually paid McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story in an agreement that also included writing and other opportunities with its fitness and other publications.
The fourth item jurors requested is Pecker’s testimony about his decision in October 2016 to back out of an agreement to then sell the rights to McDougal’s story to Trump through a company Cohen had established for the transaction, known as an “assignment of rights.”
“I called Michael Cohen, and I said to him that the agreement, the assignment deal is off. I am not going forward. It is a bad idea, and I want you to rip up the agreement,” Pecker testified. “He was very, very, angry. Very upset. Screaming, basically, at me.”
Pecker testified that he reiterated to Cohen that he wasn’t going forward with the agreement and told him to, “Rip it up.”
“And he said, excuse me, Michael Cohen said, The Boss is going to be very angry at you,” Pecker testified.
Any verdict must be unanimous. During deliberations, six alternate jurors who also sat through every minute of the trial will be kept at the courthouse in a separate room in case they are needed to replace a juror who falls ill or is otherwise unavailable. If that happens, deliberations will start anew once the replacement juror is in place.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 36,357
swallow that sip of whatever you are drinking.... video in link....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 36,357
The defense contended these were payments for legitimate legal services. Haven't seen this question raised anywhere myself, but just how was cohen paid the rest of the time? retainer payments? if so what did that look like, frequency, amounts etc. salary or combination of the two?
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
POOTWH puke is complaining about his trial? Read the judge’s instructions to the jury. The shit is lucky to be in a NY courtroom with the best legal minds money can buy, I might add.
POOTWH puke is complaining about his trial? Read the judge’s instructions to the jury. The shit is lucky to be in a NY courtroom with the best legal minds money can buy, I might add.
They cannot convict Trump on Michael Cohen’s testimony alone because he’s an accomplice, but they can use his evidence if corroborated with other evidence;
seems important then they wanted Peckers testimony read back to them.....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
POOTWH puke is complaining about his trial? Read the judge’s instructions to the jury. The shit is lucky to be in a NY courtroom with the best legal minds money can buy, I might add.
They cannot convict Trump on Michael Cohen’s testimony alone because he’s an accomplice, but they can use his evidence if corroborated with other evidence;
seems important then they wanted Peckers testimony read back to them.....
Although I'm not getting my hopes up for anything more than a hung jury, I agree... the request about Pecker's testimony seems noteworthy.
Comments
www.headstonesband.com
unfortunately trump seems to want the job more than biden does. trump is demanding the job and begging for it. i think some people may be like "ok fine if it will shut him up." he lost in 2020 and never ever went away. look at herschel walker. he lost and nobody has heard from him since. dr oz too. this is how you are supposed to lose.
even if trump loses this year, he is still not going away. we are going to hear about him in the news every single day until his health deteriorates to the point where he is incapacitated or until the day he dies.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Nobody else will care about the other speakers as two time academy award winner, liberal elite lunatic, Robert Deniro overshadows them all.......or at least that is how the maga right will successfully frame it.
plus fanone and harry dunn were there, which was just begging for maga scorn and heckling. to me, responding to that drowned out his entire message.
democrats should be above the juvenile crap maga does every day. democrat messaging should be "we are here running the country so you do not have to worry about all of the sideshow political carnival barker bullshit from maga." it is all about the show and its all just so embarrassing.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
accepting a pardon requires admission of guilt, no?
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
wasnt about converting the cult. its about driving turnout amongst the rational....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
The real meaning of the De Niro stunt - by The Ink
Narratives matter, and the narrative that trump is a crook / slumlord / dirtbag / all around piece of shit needs to be broadcast ad nauseum.
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
It's enough to make one think "Blue Lives Matter" was about something other than protecting the lives of LEOs....
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7jhKIWPg6t/?igsh=Y2Q1ZzZkbTdoanhv
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations began Wednesday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, placing the outcome of the history-making case in the hands of a dozen New Yorkers who have vowed to be fair and impartial in the face of their unprecedented task.
Just hours after embarking on their closed-door discussions, the jury returned with separate notes asking to rehear testimony about the alleged hush money scheme at the heart of the case and to rehear legal instructions from the judge that are meant to guide them in their deliberations.
The notes were the sole communication with the court since the jury of seven men and five women was sent to a private room just before 11:30 a.m. to begin weighing a verdict in the historic case. Though the deliberations are secret, notes are used to send questions or messages about the case and to notify the court of a verdict, or if they are unable to reach one.
DONALD TRUMP
The Latest | Jury in Trump's criminal trial asks judge to rehear instructions and witness testimony
Read the 34 charges Donald Trump faces in his hush money trial
"Are you with me?" Biden and Harris launch Black voter outreach and warn of a second Trump term
“It is not my responsibility to judge the evidence here. It is yours,” Judge Juan M. Merchan told jurors earlier in the day before dispatching them to begin deliberations. He also reminded them of their vow during the selection process to judge the case fairly and impartially.
Trump struck a pessimistic tone after leaving the courtroom following an hourlong reading of jury instructions, repeating his assertions of a “very unfair trial” and saying: “Mother Teresa could not beat those charges, but we'll see. We'll see how we do."
Trump and his lawyers, along with prosecutors, were instructed to remain inside the courthouse during deliberations. While waiting behind closed doors there, he continued making a series of posts on his social media network complaining about the trial and quoting legal and political commentators who view the case in his favor.
In one post, written in all-capital letters, he said: “I don't even know what the charges are in this rigged case — I am entitled to specificity just like anyone else." He added, “There is no crime!”
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records at his company in connection with an alleged scheme to hide potentially embarrassing stories about him during his 2016 Republican presidential election campaign.
The charge, a felony, arises from reimbursements paid to then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen after he made a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims that she and Trump had sex in 2006. Trump is accused of misrepresenting Cohen’s reimbursements as legal expenses to hide that they were tied to a hush money payment.
Trump has pleaded not guilty and contends the Cohen payments were for legitimate legal services. He has also denied the alleged extramarital sexual encounter with Daniels.
To convict Trump, the jury would have to find unanimously that he created a fraudulent entry in his company’s records, or caused someone else to do so, and that he did so with the intent of committing or concealing another crime.
The crime prosecutors say Trump committed or hid is a violation of a New York election law making it illegal for two or more conspirators “to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means.”
While the jury must unanimously agree that something unlawful was done to promote Trump’s election campaign, they don’t have to be unanimous on what that unlawful thing was.
The jurors — a diverse cross-section of Manhattan residents and professional backgrounds — often appeared riveted by testimony in the trial, including from Cohen and Daniels. Many took notes and watched intently as witnesses answered questions from Manhattan prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers.
Jurors started deliberating after a marathon day of closing arguments in which a prosecutor spoke for more than five hours, underscoring the burden the district attorney's office faces in needing to establish Trump's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
A defense lawyer spoke for about half that time; the Trump team need not establish his innocence to avoid a conviction but must instead bank on at least one juror finding that prosecutors have not sufficiently proved their case.
Earlier Wednesday, the jury received instructions in the law from Merchan, who offered some guidance on factors the panel can use to assess witness testimony, including its plausibility, its consistency with other testimony, the witness’ manner on the stand and whether the person has a motive to lie.
But, the judge said, “there is no particular formula for evaluating the truthfulness and accuracy of another person’s statement.”
The principles he outlined are standard but perhaps all the more relevant after Trump’s defense leaned heavily on questioning the credibility of key prosecution witnesses, including Cohen.
Jurors asked to rehear testimony from Cohen and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker about an August 2015 meeting with Trump at Trump Tower where the tabloid boss agreed to be the “eyes and ears” of his fledgling presidential campaign.
Pecker testified the plan included identifying potentially damaging stories about Trump so they could be squashed before being published. That, prosecutors say, was the beginning of the catch-and-kill scheme at the heart of the case.
Jurors also want to hear Pecker’s account of a phone call he said he received from Trump while he was an investor meeting in New Jersey. The publisher testified that Trump tracked him down and phoned him at the investor’s offices after hearing a rumor that another outlet had offered to buy former Playboy model Karen McDougal’s alleging that she had a yearlong affair with Trump in the mid-2000s.
Pecker testified that on the call, Trump told him, “Karen is a nice girl” and asked, “What do you think I should do?” Pecker said he replied: “I think you should buy the story and take it off the market.” He added that Trump told him he doesn’t buy stories because it always gets out and that Cohen would be in touch.
The publisher said he came away from the conversation thinking Trump was aware of the specifics of McDougal’s claims. Pecker said he believed the story was true and would have been embarrassing to Trump and his campaign if it were made public. The National Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc., eventually paid McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story in an agreement that also included writing and other opportunities with its fitness and other publications.
The fourth item jurors requested is Pecker’s testimony about his decision in October 2016 to back out of an agreement to then sell the rights to McDougal’s story to Trump through a company Cohen had established for the transaction, known as an “assignment of rights.”
“I called Michael Cohen, and I said to him that the agreement, the assignment deal is off. I am not going forward. It is a bad idea, and I want you to rip up the agreement,” Pecker testified. “He was very, very, angry. Very upset. Screaming, basically, at me.”
Pecker testified that he reiterated to Cohen that he wasn’t going forward with the agreement and told him to, “Rip it up.”
“And he said, excuse me, Michael Cohen said, The Boss is going to be very angry at you,” Pecker testified.
Any verdict must be unanimous. During deliberations, six alternate jurors who also sat through every minute of the trial will be kept at the courthouse in a separate room in case they are needed to replace a juror who falls ill or is otherwise unavailable. If that happens, deliberations will start anew once the replacement juror is in place.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of former President Donald Trump at https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
https://www.cnn.com/shorts/cnn-shorts
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/29/politics/read-the-jury-instructions-from-judge-juan-merchan-in-the-trump-hush-money-trial/index.html
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14