Trump Trials & Tribulations: N.Y. Trial Dispatch, May 13

On May 13 at 5:30 p.m. ET, Lawfare Senior Editor Roger Parloff will speak to Lawfare Editor-in-Chief Benjamin Wittes, Managing Editor Tyler McBrien, and Courts Correspondent and Legal Fellow Anna Bower for Lawfare's post-court dispatch. The livestream start time may be changed if the court lets out early or late. Any change in time will be announced on Lawfare's social media and here.
Material supporters will receive a link to join the webinar to watch it without ads. It will be livestreamed on KZbin for all other viewers.
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[@emydonavan6254]

Tyler was a champ today with the play by play online. Thanks team!

[@CJMac71]

The finest black electrical tape. Lawfare spares no expense.

[@billEarth42]

You may say that it will come down to whether the jury believes Cohen, but in fact the way the prosecution has presented it, that is not true. They have receipts 😏

[@JR-pr8jb]

After Michael Cohen, the jury verdict (Guilty) will almost be an anticlimax. We Americans owe Cohen, as well as the highly competent Manhattan prosecution team.

[@JR-pr8jb]

Assuming a guilty verdict on all/most counts, the real question is whether the traitor will get a just sentence.

[@JarrodFrates]

For this case, what is a just sentence? Is it one consistent with what others have gotten for a nonviolent Class E felony? Because in that case, a non-custodial sentence is pretty common, with a large portion of offenders getting probation and a fine. Justice Merchant can only work with the case immediately in front of him, and he will want to make any sentence as strong as possible against appeal. We're not going to see a maximum sentence, certainly not a bunch of consecutive sentences. If he does get a custodial sentence, there's a good chance that it will be on the order of months, not years.

[@beguile302]

The justice in the case already answered that when he said “the LAST thing I want to do is put you in jail. You’re a former president & possibly the next president.” I will be pleasantly shocked if he gets more than a slap on the wrist.

[@JarrodFrates]

@@beguile302 Merchant was talking about jailing him for contempt. In New York, contempt fines cannot go above $1000 per offense, an amount that generally means little to wealthy defendants (although the first $9000 did seem to catch Trump's attention to a small degree) while contempt fines in civil court have no cap (which Engoron used to great effectiveness to gain Trump's adherence).

[@JR-pr8jb]

The U.S. justice system has been so vilified for its weakness and corruption, yet in this case I sense a coming degree of redemption. Thanks to DA Bragg, his brilliant team, and a wonderfully lineup of witnesses.

[@unclvinny]

I still don’t understand why the prosecutor couldn’t call Weisselberg.

[@sorcierbleu4752]

Because the prosecution has little confidence that Weisselberg’s testimony would be helpful. Weisselberg is currently in jail for lying under oath in another case in an attempt to protect Trump.

[@RobertGaudetteUA]

Ricola!! Thank you for the coverage.

[@brucearntson8549]

When the jury convenes, is a juror allowed to say to the others that she knows Weiselberg is in jail for perjury?

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Are you asking for a friend?

[@CurtOntheRadio]

Thanks folks! Hope Ben is ok with that cough.

[@onlykarlhenning]

Good show!

[@jeffwelker8114]

Seems like Al Capone in that movie with Kevin Costner. " You got nothin, you got nothin " then he was busted for tax issues.

[@jeffwelker8114]

Sorry, just taking it all in.

[@jeffwelker8114]

Well, it's great to hear that the key witness is now a true Boycott.

[@M.J.212]

A cult of personality arises when a leader is represented as larger-than-life through imagery and words of uncritical praise and flattery. Propaganda is a common vehicle used to help create personality cults. Leaders are often depicted as superhuman, courageous, wise, and incapable of error. What is the narcissist cult of personality? The narcissist claims to be infallible, superior, talented, skilful, omnipotent, and omniscient. He often lies and confabulates to support these unfounded claims. Within his cult, he expects awe, admiration, adulation, and constant attention commensurate with his outlandish stories and assertions.

[@jeffwelker8114]

He redeemed himself today, by admitting that the crime is now what ?

[@jeffwelker8114]

The problem is the witness today has lied under oath before and in fact is a self admitted liar ?

[@MarcosElMalo2]

And he plead guilty to it without a deal from the prosecutor. And he served his debt to society.

[@JR-pr8jb]

Ben cautions us excessively about lawyer Todd Blanche's cross examination effectiveness. Trump's whole legal team has been embarrassingly incompetent to the point of stupidity.