18:36 2024-04-22
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_ Trump Urges Supporters To "Peacefully Protest" As Day 1 'Opening Arguments' In Hush-Money Case Concludes Early
Trump Urges Supporters To "Peacefully Protest" As Day 1 'Opening Arguments' In Hush-Money Case Concludes Early
Day one of former President Donald Trump’s so-called “hush-money” trial concluded early on Monday after Judge Juan Merchan said that an alternate juror can visit a dentist appointment despite previously telling Trump he would have attend every day without fail-missing his son's graduation-or face jail.
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Judge Merchan had previously planned to adjourn the trial at 2 p.m.ET due to the Passover holiday.But he said Monday that it would adjourn at 12:30 p.m.
He previously said he would end at 2 p.m.on Tuesday for the holiday.
At issue were claims from an adult film performer, Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, that she was engaged in a relationship with the former president.President Trump has denied her claims and has pled not guilty.
‘Use Your Common Sense’
An attorney for the former president spoke to the jury, asking them to “use your common sense” when they assess the case.
“We’re New Yorkers.It’s why we’re here,” Todd Blanche said.
“There will be a very swift not guilty verdict” if they decide based on the evidence involved, he said.
“You told all of us, you told the court, you told me, you will put aside whatever views you have of President Trump,” Mr.Blanche told the jury as he wrapped up his arguments.
“The 34 counts, ladies and gentlemen, are really just pieces of paper,” Mr.Blanche said of the indictment.“None of this was a crime.”
Mr.Blanche was critical of Ms.Clifford, saying that she has earned income and fame from her allegations about an alleged affair that occurred in 2006.
“She also wrote a book.She was paid for a documentary,” Mr.Blanche says of Ms.Clifford, adding that courts have sided with President Trump’s legal disputes with Ms.Clifford.
As for Mr.Cohen, Mr.Blanche accused him of profiting off his criticism of President Trump.
“His entire financial livelihood depends on President Trump’s destruction,” he said of Mr.Cohen.
“You cannot make a serious decision about President Trump relying on the words of Michael Cohen.”
“He has a goal, an obsession with getting President Trump,” Mr.Blanche said of Mr.Cohen, who is expected to be a witness.“I submit to you that he cannot be trusted.”
But prosecutors claimed on April 22 that the case wasn’t just about the payments to Mr.Cohen.They argued that it constituted election fraud.
‘Orchestrated a Criminal Scheme’
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, in a bid to reframe the narrative, said that President Trump, Mr.Cohen, and former National Enquirer boss David Pecker “formed a conspiracy...to influence the presidential election.”
“The defendant, Donald Trump, orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election,” he alleged.
“Then he covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his New York business records over and over and over again.”
Calling it “election fraud,” he provided several instances when the three allegedly conspired to block negative press about President Trump from becoming public before the 2016 contest.
The plan was allegedly hatched at Trump Tower shortly after the then-presidential candidate had announced his candidacy in what Mr.Colangelo is referring to as the “Trump Tower conspiracy.”
During that meeting, prosecutors say, Mr.Pecker agreed to “help the defendant’s campaign by working as the eyes and the ears of the campaign.”
Mr.Colangelo, senior counsel to the district attorney, told jurors that although the payments to Mr.Cohen, then Trump’s personal lawyer, were labeled as legal fees pursuant to a retainer agreement, there was no retainer and there were no legal services.
“The defendant was paying him back for an illegal payment to Stormy Daniels on the eve of the election.The defendant falsified those business records because he wanted to conceal his and others’ criminal conduct,” he said.
'Peacefully Protest'
In a Truth Social post before he left for the courthouse on Monday morning, President Trump
“America Loving Protesters should be allowed to protest at the front steps of Courthouses, all over the Country,” the former president wrote on social media, making reference to demonstrators who have appeared in front of the Manhattan courthouse where his trial is being held.
Those protests are “allowed for those who are destroying our Country on the Radical Left, a two tiered system of justice,” he added.“Free Speech and Assembly has been ‘CHILLED’ for USA SUPPORTERS.”
Later, he urged his supporters to “GO OUT AND PEACEFULLY PROTEST.RALLY BEHIND MAGA.SAVE OUR COUNTRY!”
When entering the courthouse on Monday, President Trump again criticized the case during a brief interview with reporters.
“I’m here instead of being able to be in Pennsylvania and Georgia and lots of other places campaigning and it’s very unfair,” he said.
A small group of anti-Trump protesters was seen outside the courthouse ahead of opening statements, chanting, “No one is above the law,” while members of the media and public lined up to get inside, according to reporters on the scene.It’s unclear if any pro-Trump demonstrators heeded the former president’s call on social media.
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