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Live coverage: Trump's first criminal trial starts with opening statements

by Mark Sumner for Daily Kos Liveblogs

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Monday, Apr. 22, 2024 Monday, Apr. 22, 2024 at 6:30:11am PDT

Former President Donald Trump awaits the start of proceedings during jury selection at Manhattan criminal court, Thursday, April 18, 2024 in New York. (Brendan McDermid/Pool Photo via AP)

On Monday, the first criminal trial of Donald Trump will start with opening statements, and there is the possibility that one or more witnesses will testify. CNN is reporting that the first witness could be National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.

The prosecution will be up first and is expected to describe how Trump orchestrated a scheme to suppress stories involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels just weeks before the 2016 election, at a time when the release of the “Access Hollywood” recording had already damaged his campaign.

Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, and the prosecution is expected argue that Trump illegally covered up a scandal that could have altered the outcome of the 2016 election.

Trump’s defense team is likely to focus on Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, painting him as the real source of any illegal acts. Trump’s attorneys may also follow the tactic Trump has taken in social media by describing the entire case as politically motivated.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 4:44:02 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Thanks for hanging in there through the first morning of testimony in Trump’s first criminal trial. As noted below, the prosecution intends to show that Trump had a pattern of not just promiscuity, but ignoring the law in handling his business transactions. In 2016, both of those things came together in a scheme to conceal Trump’s scandals by falsely reporting a series of monetary transactions. That scheme was directly related to protecting Trump’s position in the polls and may have been critical in determining the outcome of the election.

Trump’s defense will paint the catch-and-kill scheme as something that a lot of wealthy celebrities have in place to deal with those who try to extort them for cash. They’ll dismiss most of the prosecution’s case as trying to titillate the jury with scandal while maintaining that there’s no real case, but only some boring paperwork that is being mischaracterized by noted liar Michael Cohen.

And the jury is going to get a helluva ride.

Tune in tomorrow.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 4:33:37 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

And that’s it. Things are ending early today and tomorrow in recognition of the Passover holiday. But once again, Merchan shows that he wants to squeeze every bit of trial into every moment available.

Now that they’ve actually heard the first moments of testimony and started taking notes, it will be interesting to see if the jurors feel “hooked,” cutting off additional worries about anyone walking away because of media scrutiny. Also, at least in the sources followed today, there was much more care demonstrated in not describing the jurors.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 4:29:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Pecker talking about Howard is as far as things get today. Merchan asks the prosecution to pause so he can issue instructions to the jury before they depart.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 4:28:17 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Remember Merchan saying that jurors could take notes? Almost every source in the courtroom has mentioned the same thing: Jurors seem to be taking a lot of notes.

As Jonah Bromwich notes at The New York Times, this is going to be an interesting case for jurors, and not just because it involves Trump. They are getting a big behind-the-scenes look at the world of celebrity and scandal that’s usually only encountered when reading the headlines.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 4:25:30 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Side note:

You can review AMI's non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors from 2018 here.https://t.co/dS8muYkKzJ
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 4:24:33 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Just 10 minutes left to the scheduled end of day, but Pecker is still talking.

Pecker says he is here today pursuant to a subpoena. He is now being asked about Dylan Howard, the former National Enquirer editor-in-chief.
— erica orden (@eorden) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 4:23:10 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Keeping things moving seems to be Judge Merchan’s central theme, and we are moving directly into testimony.

Pecker explains his past job as President, Chairman, and CEO of AMI. In addition to the National Enquirer, AMI owned other celebrity tabloids, including Star, Life & Style, and the Globe.

Pecker says he had final say on what got published wrt the celeb tabloid side of business.
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 4:21:50 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

"The People call David Pecker."
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 4:11:54 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

From what we heard this morning, it seems like the two cases are going to work out this way:

Prosecution will walk through Trump’s catch-and-kill scandal scheme, showing the roles that Cohen and Pecker played. That means revisiting three cases:

The Dino the doorman case involving a $30,000 payment to bury a story about Trump having a secret child.
The Karen McDougal case, where a nude model involved in an affair with Trump got $150,000 to shelve a proposed book.
The Stormy Daniels case, whose $130,000 payoff is the direct focus of the illegal accounting behind this trial.

In addition, the jury will hear about other cases, including the Trump Foundation and civil fraud trial, showing Trump’s frequent disregard for proper handling of his business dealings. And they’ll get a refresher on Trump’s sexual assault trial against E. Jean Carroll and the “Access Hollywood” incident to cover Trump’s abusive, dismissive attitude toward women as well as his own sense of privilege. The Carroll defamation case may also play a role when it comes to what’s likely to be the defense’s biggest line of attack: going after Cohen.

Defense will more or less concede that the catch-and-kill scheme existed, but will paint it as nothing special. They’ll present McDougal and Daniels as people who attempted to extort Trump and were paid a small amount to go away. Instead of defending this part of the story, defense will focus on undercutting Cohen and focusing on the supposed crimes behind the 34 felony counts. In other words, they’ll accuse the prosecution of trying to distract the jury with scandal while saying that no actual crime occurred.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:54:28 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Blanche wraps up his opening with another round of attacks on Cohen and telling the jurors to listen to the evidence and use “their common sense.”

“We’re New Yorkers,” says Blanche. “That’s why we’re here.”

With that, court goes into a 10-minute break. Considering that there will be only a half hour left on the day when things resume, it’s unclear if we’ll actually see David Pecker take the stand.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:51:16 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Trump is having a better day in Engoron’s court.

AGREEMENT REACHED: Kise says they'll agree to maintain the Schwab account in cash and give Knight exclusive control of the account. Under a previous agreement, a Trump trust shared control. Seems like this will moot the AG's challenge to the bond.
— Rachel Scharf (@rscharf_) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:49:55 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Blanche insists that Stormy Daniels owes Trump $600,000 for violating her NDA and “knows nothing about the charges here.”

Blanche goes after Stormy Daniels by claiming she was trying to extort Trump. Prosecution objects and it is sustained.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

Maybe Blanche is trying to gain jury sympathy by making it seem as if everyone is against Trump, but launching into an opening statement where he tries to sneak past one falsehood after another also doesn’t seem like a winning strategy.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:44:11 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Blanche tries, twice, to suggest that Cohen perjured himself in the civil fraud case, as well.

That sparks to objections from the prosecution, both sustained.

"Please approach," the judge says, calling the attorneys for a sidebar.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:42:07 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

This seems like the theme that Trump’s defense team is going to stand on. It also seems like something Trump had a hand in himself.

Blanche: "I have a spoiler alert: There's nothing wrong with trying to influence the election. It’s called democracy."
— erica orden (@eorden) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:40:00 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Blanche is now spending his time attacking Cohen’s credibility, as the prosecution already predicted to the jury.

Blanche says that Michael Cohen called Trump a "despicable human being" and wanted to see him in an "orange jumpsuit."

"That was last night," he emphasizes.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:37:16 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Blanche is still wallowing in how paying someone not to talk about the sex they had with a guy about to face a national election is no big deal. This, folks, is the definition of a losing argument.

Blanche: Entering into a non disclosure agreement is perfectly legal. People who are wealthy or famous enter into non disclosure agreements regularly and there is nothing illegal about it.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:34:40 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

After explaining that the money to Cohen was “reimbursement” and not a payback scheme, Blanche insists that the whole effort to stifle Daniels wasn’t illegal anyway … which is both beside the point and a bad place for Blanche to spend his time.

The prosecution also claims that the so-called "hush money" payments were illegal. But Michael Cohen paying Daniels 130K to not publicly spread “false” claims about “President Trump” is not illegal, Blanche says. You'll learn that paying for non-disclosure agreements is common..
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:29:58 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Obviously, this trial has a long, long way to go and enough twists should be expected to upset Twizzlers. But Blanche starting out by asking the jury to speculate doesn’t seem like a very strong opening.

Blanche: "Would a frugal businessman…Would a man who pinches pennies…repay a 130k debt to the tune of 420k? This was not a payback.”
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:27:54 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

As The Washington Post coverage reports, Blanche gets off to a forceful start.

“President Trump is innocent,” Blanche began. “President Trump did not commit any crimes. The Manhattan D.A.’s office should never have brought this case.”

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:26:21 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo ends with a defense of Michael Cohen’s testimony, saying that he expects Trump’s team to spend a lot of time trying to undercut Cohen because he’s so damaging to them.

Todd Blanche stands up, Trump’s defense is underway.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:22:33 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Words are important, and how this is being phrased to the jury is a big part of keeping the power of the opening statement alive in these apparently dry paperwork charges.

The defendant and others concocted a scheme to use “doctored” records to conceal the payoff.

Specifically, the repayment scheme to Cohen involved falsifying records that claimed Cohen was being paid for "legal services" instead of a reimbursement.
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:20:26 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

In a nearby courtroom, it sounds as if Trump’s attorneys and the state may have reached an agreement on most aspects of Trump’s bond in the civil fraud case. More details when everyone returns in about 20 minutes.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:18:14 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo is now on to how the scheme included the paperwork issues that resulted in this case. Each of those 34 charges of financial misreporting would look trivial hanging in space, but at this point the prosecution has done a good job of showing how these charges attach to that big, repeating scheme by which Trump was protected from his actions and hid information from voters.

There’s no doubt this part of the story is less interesting, but it’s a necessary step. Once again, what Colangelo is doing fits directly with the instructions Merchan gave to the jury this morning. He’s describing how the charges address not just the crime, but the evidence.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:13:02 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Pair this line with Colangelo’s opening three sentences that described the case. Together, this is a fantastic job of framing and setting the scope of the issues.

Colangelo: “It was election fraud, pure and simple.”
— erica orden (@eorden) April 22, 2024

Every pundit who spent the last six months dismissing this case as nothing, while insisting we needed to get to Florida or Washington for a “serious” case, should be made to eat their press pass. With a side order of crow.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:08:40 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Jonah Bromwich at The New York Times:

For years, this story has been told by reporters with caveats and caution. So it’s really striking to hear Colangelo lay the hush money scheme directly at Trump’s feet, with perfect clarity. “It was election fraud, pure and simple,” Colangelo says bluntly.

It’s remarkable how the Times is marveling over the way reporters tiptoed around this story. It’s “striking” for them to hear the story without the bumpers they’ve put around it all this time.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:04:22 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo is now reading quotes from the “Access Hollywood” transcript. While this goes to the attitude behind the string of Trump scandals, it’s no less ugly now than it was in 2016.

That people were willing to look past this or dismiss it as “locker room talk” is an indictment of the nation.

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UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 3:01:15 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

If, as expected, Pecker is the first witness to be seated, this is the story he’s going to be asked about: 1-2-3 scandals for Trump, with that final scandal resulting in the coverup that’s the basis of this case.

The 3rd "catch and kill" scheme involved another woman who planned to speak out about her past sexual relationship with Trump: Stormy Daniels, aka Stephanie Clifford.

As Coangelo tells it, Daniels planned to come forward at a particularly sensitive time for the campaign...
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:58:03 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

The basic setup for Cohen and Pecker to tag-team Trump’s constant stream of scandal.

Prosecution: Trump invited David Pecker to that infamous Trump Tower meeting in 2015. Cohen was also present. Cohen's job was to be Trump's fixer.

The men came to an agreement: Pecker would be the “eyes and ears” for the Trump Campaign and he would gather info that would be…
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:54:05 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo intends to deal with three incidents involving Trump and the National Enquirer, including how doorman Dino Sajudin was paid $30,000 to shut up about a claim that Trump had a secret child out of wedlock.

That story was, according to Colangelo, the first time that Enquirer publisher David Pecker paid for a story without bothering to investigate first.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:50:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Jurors will hear recordings about the supression of McDougal’s story—recordings that presumably include Trump’s voice instructing Cohen to shut this thing down.

Colangelo says Cohen taped a phone call about silencing McDougal's account:

"You will get a chance to hear that recording during this trial."
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:48:09 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo moves into the Karen McDougal story. McDougal is expected to testify, along with Daniels, and her story goes a long way in showing that Trump had a pattern of behavior both in cheating on Melania and on how he covered up his affairs.

"The evidence will show that the defendant desperately did not want this information about Karen McDougal to become public" because he was concerned about how it would affect the election, Colangelo says.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 22, 2024

Colangelo telling jurors to expect a lot of evidence in terms of phone records and text messages showing how “desperate” Trump was to bury this story.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:43:14 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo is working methodically and chronologically through the conspiracy, identifying the main characters and their involvement. He speaks clearly and succintly.

Sidebar: Colangelo often uses "the evidence will show" to let the jury have that evidence roadmap we talked…
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:39:01 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

And in case anyone still had any doubt, this is not a “hush money” case involving minor errors with accounting in a private affair. This is an election interference case over the highest possible stakes.

The Prosecution's Opening:

"This case is about a criminal conspiracy. Trump orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election. Then he covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his NY business records over and over and over again."
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:36:56 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo moving quickly through the basics of that scheme, but since the prosecution has announced they will take 45 minutes, expect more than just this bare skeleton of events.

Prosecutor: The Defendant claimed the payments to Michael Cohen were for legal services. That was a lie. The Defendant falsified 34 business records. He was indicted. Falsified were invoices, voucher enties and payment checks with check stubs
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:34:40 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo reportedly has little criminal trial experience. But he does have experience with Trump.

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, who took down Trump's "charitable" entity in an earlier phase of his career working for the NY AG, begins opening statement for the people with these words, "This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up."
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:33:21 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

And here we go with opening statements. Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo is now addressing the jury.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:31:43 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Merchan announces that the case will continue tomorrow at 11 AM ET—after the hearing on whether Trump should be held in contempt over violations of the gag order, which begins at 9:30 AM ET.

So testimony is likely to continue on Tuesday.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:29:59 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Meanwhile, in that other nearby courtroom …

Engoron seems dubious of relying on Charles Schwab to maintain $175M of collateral:

"What if they break the agreement?” he asks.

"Your hypothetical is calling into question the veracity of one of the largest financial institutions in the world," responds Trump atty Chris Kise.
— Rachel Scharf (@rscharf_) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:23:33 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

According to Kate Chritobek at The New York Times, Trump’s sleeping sickness may be spreading.

Trump is sitting largely motionless as Justice Merchan instructs the jury. He occasionally fidgets to adjust in his seat. At least two of his lawyers have let out yawns this morning.

The jury is reportedly paying rapt attention to Merchan. The defense may be sleepy, but the jury appears to be highly engaged.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:20:59 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Merchan is still walking the jurors through the basics of criminal proceedings and their role in the process. There doesn’t seem to be anything extraordinary in these instructions so far, or anything specific to this case.

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UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:18:31 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

As several folks have noted in the comments, Trump’s other New York trial today is to determine whether his bond is sufficient in the civil fraud trial for overvaluing his property—not either of the E. Jean Carroll cases, as I incorrectly stated earlier.

Later today, witness statements in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case should be made public.

Coming on Thursday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Trump’s claims of “absolute immunity.”

It’s a busy week for Trump’s legal team.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:13:26 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Several reports that while Merchan was talking to the jurors, Trump was looking at … space. His whole attitude toward the jury has been one of near contempt.

Merchan is addressing the jury. Blanche has turned himself toward the jurors. Trump is continuing to stare straight ahead, not looking at the jurors.
— erica orden (@eorden) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:11:29 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Some valuable and historic artifacts are about to be created.

The jurors are advised that they can take notes, if they so choose. The notes cannot be a distraction, though, for them during the trial. The notes are to refresh their recollection and are for that juror's own personal use.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:10:15 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Merchan still moving through the standard elements of a criminal trial: what it means when something is entered into evidence; why something may be marked as an “exhibit”; aTnd that the defendant is considered innocent unless proven guilty.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:06:07 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Merchan provides brief instructions to the jury, informing them that the prosecution is required to deliver an opening statement describing the case, but the defendant is not required to make an opening statement. The burden of proof lies with the prosecution.

There’s nothing here that hasn’t been said before, but somehow this is suddenly feeling much more “real” than Trump’s other cases.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:03:19 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

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UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:02:29 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

The New York Times’ coverage reports that jurors have now entered the jury box.

We are going to be careful about giving physical descriptions of individual jurors, who are anonymous, but may describe their general reactions if we can see them.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 2:00:34 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

These are all reasons why Trump’s attorneys should shackle him to his chair and hope he sleeps through the whole trial.

Now, Judge Merchan announces his ruling from the bench on the People's Sandoval Notice:

If Trump takes the stand the people can inquire about the following six determinations, in four separate proceedings:
-Feb 16, 2024 he violated the law by fraudulently misstating the value…
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:58:21 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Merchan continues to describe the evidence he will allow to be used to confront Trump during his testimony. So: original E. Jean Carroll case; defamation case; Trump Foundation case; Trump’s civil trial over improperly valuing properties; and the transcript (though not tape) of the “Access Hollywood” incident are all in.

Justice Merchan: Also from People by James v. Trump, the Court will allow in that Defendant consented to the dissolution of the Trump Foundation, and why. This is a Sandoval compromise. The Court cautions Defendant this is a shield, not a sword
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:52:26 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

This is something the prosecution had been seeking, and it looks like they’re going to get it.

NEWS

Trump can be confronted by the ruling against him NYAG's civil fraud case, the judge rules.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:49:32 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Judge Merchan then addressed the defense's renewed objection from last week regarding the introduction of the Access Hollywood transcript. He rules that he will not revisit the issue so the transcript will still be allowed to be used.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:47:26 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

A juror reportedly expressed concern over the media attention, but will (for now, at least) remain on the panel.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:46:05 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Reminder that today is scheduled to be only a half day in court. So proceedings will end at 12:30 ET unless something changes.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:45:08 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Before heading inside, Trump paused to complain about another court proceeding that’s taking place today—the hearing over his bond in the E. Jean Carroll case.

Trump calls Judge Engoron "extremely crazed" but stops short of mentioning him by name (he's complaining about his civil trial outside his criminal trial, if you're having a hard time keeping track!) pic.twitter.com/iZEYGfrmRH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 22, 2024

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:42:46 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Trial has taken an early break because one of the jurors reportedly has a medical issue. Attorneys have joined Merchan in chambers to discuss the issue.

Unclear at the moment which juror was involved, but replacing a juror on Day 1 would not be a great sign for a trial in which all of the jurors can be expected to experience high levels of stress and concern over their safety.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:39:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Defense reports they expect to take only about 25 minutes.

If both sides hold to that schedule, we may well see the first witness today.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:36:15 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

The trial is underway. The prosecution has advised that their opening will take around 45 minutes.

UPDATE: Monday, Apr 22, 2024 · 1:35:11 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Trump is starting the morning by moaning that more civil disturbances aren’t focused on him.

Trump tweet complaining about lack of violence protest.

There are reportedly a group of anti-Trump protesters outside the courthouse chanting about how no one is above the law. That should make Trump feel better— at least they’re thinking of him.

The trial will take a different direction on Tuesday morning, when Judge Juan Merchan will hear arguments over whether Trump violated the gag order with his social media posts. Court will be out for the remainder of the week and resume the following Monday.