Post-match: The Post Presidency :: Trump Faces The Music Thread

Why don't you try something like that and see if you get a visit from the Feds

 

Right—there’s your answer.

 

Is it fascism yet?

As footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is displayed in the background, former President Donald Trump stands while a song, “Justice for All,” is played during a campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport, Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. pic.twitter.com/j8y1XSfJD1

— Evan Vucci (@evanvucci) March 26, 2023

 

These guys are just literally admitting the crimes on TV

TACOPINA: What was he supposed to put in his personal ledger? "Payment for hush money to quiet an affair that I claim I never had so my family doesn't get embarrassed"?

CHUCK TODD: How about the truth? Shouldn't it be the truth? pic.twitter.com/XGcWV0Y0J7

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 26, 2023

 

It's just so crazy how every story goes thru the Trumpian arc where he at first denies the crime then ends up saying he did it but so what

What more does Bragg want now?

Trump's lawyer literally admitted the whole crime on TV

 

He's relapsed.

 

prolapsed

 

i don’t think this is true. I listened to some prosecutors explain these may be damaging admissions.

it is a complex area because of the hearsay rule of course.

 

@xtomx or @yossarian will know better than me if any hearsay exceptions might apply here but as a general rule, you can introduce statements where you are not using them to prove the truth of the matter stated

This case is a bit confusing because Trump's defence appears to have changed. Back in the day he claimed he never paid Stormy rather he paid Cohen a retainer for legal fees. Cohen then went to jail because he pleaded guilty inter alia, to making 130K payment on behalf of Trump, then concealing the reimbursement as retained legal fees. At least part of the prosecution case appears to be that this is some form of felony conspiracy for example, to commit the federal crime of not declaring the payment as a campaign contribution (the payment was mis-declared as legal expenses - a non felony crime).

Trump's new defence, at least in part, appears to be that he was extorted by Stormy, so paid her in order to protect his family - then misfiled the payment because reasons. So his TV lawyer admitted at least part of the crime.

Why this could be bad is Trump has said different things about the payment over time.

So you don't use the tv statement to try to prove the truth of the content - rather It seems to me the prosecution could at least try to show that Trump has made numerous inconsistent statements

For example, the prosecution might be trying to prove Trump made statements to people about the payments, but not as to whether the statements were true - if that makes sense.

 

By chance i listened to Preet and Joyce Vance on the Stormy case today - I don't have a sub so only heard a short outtake but basically they talked about how Trump's lawyer is out there with his new defence admitting trump paid off Stormy, but that misreporting the payment was not done with fraudulent intent. Rather it's only internal bookkeeping and Trump was extorted.

It's a dumb argument at best, but what is strange is the lawyer admits part of the factual basis of the crime, whereas in the last day or so, Trump repeated his claim that he does not know Stormy, did not have an affair with her, and didn't know about the payment. Errr....

Subject to the law around out of court statements - this would appear to be an alarming dumb thing to do trump and his lawyer have opposite claims, one of which must be incorrect.

 

Sigh. The musicians are taking a break again so no music-facing will happen soon.

But wait, what's this?

NEWS: Our colleagues at @NBCNewYork have confirmed tonight former Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg's attorneys, who were being paid for by the Trump Org, are no longer representing him. @KFAlegal shares some analysis of what that might mean. pic.twitter.com/wb2Vtvd2pR

— Alex Wagner Tonight (@WagnerTonight) March 30, 2023

Is that... hope? A faint light on the horizon? Allan Weisenberg, currently serving a very short sentence for whatever shenanigans they managed to get him on when he refused to flip on Trump before, is changing lawyers to non-Trump lawyers. Is this a prelude to a flip?

Or is that light at the end of the tunnel the oncoming train?