Former President
Donald Trump has resorted to every idea in the book to try to slow down or throw out the Manhattan hush money trial — most recently, a claim of presidential immunity, despite the fact that virtually all the alleged conduct occurred before he was even president. Ultimately he was smacked down by Judge Juan Merchan for not making the motion in a timely
fashion . The former president needs to be careful at this point, wrote legal experts Norm Eisen and Taylor Redd for MSNBC on Thursday — his tactics, which reek of "desperation," could make an enemy of the judge, and end his defense before it even begins. "Even if absolute presidential immunity existed — which, as we’ve previously explained , it doesn’t — Merchan rightly recognized that Trump’s motion was too little, too late," they wrote. "As an initial matter, Merchan noted, Trump filed his request to adjourn the trial months after 'the 45-day period [after arraignment and before commencement of trial] provided by statute.'
New York courts have discretion to vary that stricture. But Trump offered little in the way of justification for his tardiness. As Merchan pointed out, Trump was long ago 'well aware that the defense of presidential immunity, even if unsuccessful, might be available to him.' There was absolutely no reason Trump could not have at least tried to bring it up more promptly." ALSO READ: 'Outlooks mediocre or worse': Trump Media investors warned off in alarming Forbes analysis The problem for the former president, they continued, is that "Merchan has had to deal with and reject numerous other delaying maneuvers by Trump." And that is a grave risk: "It is not wise to lose the judge before the trial has even started, both because of the myriad decisions affecting the defense he will have to make during its pendency and because if Trump is convicted, Merchan will mete out the sentence." All of this might have been a risk worth taking when Trump had the runway to try to stop the trial from happening at all — but, they concluded, it's inevitable at this point, and he's just hurting his own prospects. "Trump’s one constant throughout all of his prosecutions is his attempt to delay proceedings," they wrote. "As the Manhattan trial inexorably approaches, he will surely become even more frantic. But that is a profound sign of weakness — indeed, it shows that Trump now recognizes that he is finally facing his reckoning." Donald Trump is purportedly using flattery to help pave the way to freedom. On Thursday, former President Donald Trump played U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon's ardent defender, calling her "highly respected" after she came under criticism by Special Counsel Jack Smith. "Deranged 'Special' Counsel Jack Smith, who has a long record of failure as a prosecutor, including a unanimous decision against him in the U.S.
Supreme Court , should be sanctioned or censured for the way he is attacking a highly respected Judge, Aileen Cannon, who is presiding over his FAKE Documents Hoax case in
Florida," the former president wrote in a post on his
Social Media platform, Truth Social . ALSO READ: 'Outlooks mediocre or worse': Trump Media investors warned off in alarming Forbes analysis Smith's court filing earlier this week beat back Cannon's move to postpone a decision until a jury is impaneled to "rest on an unstated and fundamentally flawed legal premise." Cannon has faced questions of favoritism after she has decided that Trump's motion for dismissal based on a widely panned theory that he had autonomy under the Presidential Records Act (PRA) holds or sinks after a trial begins, thereby nixing any chance for the government to seek remedies because it would create a double-jeopardy situation. Trump, who is the
Republican presumptive nominee in the upcoming
election, is facing three dozen charges involving the mishandling of classified documents that he took with him from the
White House to Mar-a-Lago and for obstruction the government's effort to recover them. He has pleaded not guilty. While appearing on CNN's "Out Front" Alyssa Farah Griffin, who's served as White House Communications Director under President Donald Trump, peeled back Trumpworld's curtain to say that his genuflecting is intentional. "He wants to prejudice the public or his supporters against judges he doesn't like and he wants to make them favorable to the ones that he does [like]," she said. "But also it's a nod to the judge." "I mean, it's very similar to one of his attorneys referring to
Brett Kavanaugh when he's going to be ruling on immunity, saying Trump appointed him so we think he'll be with us." In fact, Griffin said that it's a common move to cozy up to wishful allies. "This is something that they do and kinda put out there publicly in hopes of swaying the judges in their favor," she said. "Now of course, judges should be unbiased; that shouldn't affect them — but that's what he's thinking and saying this." Watch below or click the link here. CONTINUE READING Show less New York Attorney General Letitia James wants answers on how former President Donald Trump's bond in the civil fraud case is structured — and she is strategizing multiple avenues to get the information she needs, wrote legal expert Lisa Rubin on X. "Earlier today, the New York Attorney General filed a motion seeking more information about Trump's $175 million bond in their case," wrote Rubin. "But they're also apparently going at the issue sideways as well through a letter sent to Judge Arthur Engoron tonight." "Specifically, that letter asks Engoron to modify his post-trial order concerning the powers and duties of the independent monitor in two ways. One of the AG's requests is that Engoron clarify that the monitor can communicate with any of the parties ex parte -- meaning, without all sides present," wrote Rubin, posting a copy of James' proposed order. ALSO READ: 'Outlooks mediocre or worse': Trump Media investors warned off in alarming Forbes analysis What makes this so significant, Rubin noted, is that the monitor, retired federal judge Barbara Jones, has information about the bond "that is not yet public." "Given that provision, the AG's team could be hedging its bets. Either they'll get information on how the bond is collateralized through their motion for justification of the surety - -or, if Engoron expands the monitor's ability to speak to either party ex parte , they can just ask her for it," Rubin concluded. Trump is on the hook for over $450 million after Judge Engoron found he and his adult sons systematically falsified property valuations in order to manipulate tax liabilities and the terms of loans — but he is appealing it. A state appellate court lowered the bond he had to post to $175 million, after which he managed to get the bond secured by Don Hankey, a billionaire who made his fortune in subprime car loans and was previously investigated by Trump's own administration . CONTINUE READING Show less The No. 3 Democrat in the
Colorado Senate is reportedly seeking treatment for substance abuse related to alcoholism. Assistant Senate Majority Leader Faith Winter made the announcement after she appeared intoxicated this Wednesday during a community hearing, slurring her speech and seeming confused, according to the Colorado Sun . “I deeply regret my behavior last night,” Winter said in a written statement. “I made a mistake and I’m truly sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort I caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am committed to making things right. I especially apologize to the city of Northglenn and the citizens that came out — I deeply care about your thoughts and community. I am now under the care of medical professionals and receiving treatment for my substance abuse disorder.” ALSO READ: 'Outlooks mediocre or worse': Trump Media investors warned off in alarming Forbes analysis According to reports, concerned colleagues have tried to confront Winter about her drinking and have encouraged her to seek treatment. Winter said she's taking a break from her role as chair of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee “in order to focus on my health.” “I apologize to anyone who was affected by my actions and I appreciate your understanding,” she said. “Thank you for respecting me and my family’s privacy at this time.” Winter was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease which she said “led to the development of pulmonary hypertension and put incredible stress on my heart.” In September, she suffered a serious head injury and had to undergo surgery after an accident while riding her bike. In a post to her X account, she said she crashed into a curb while trying to “avoid being hit by a large truck.” With about a month left to go in Colorado’s 2024 legislative session, it's not clear how her treatment will conflict with her duties as a lawmaker. CONTINUE READING Show less