The Trump Card...

[ATeam]

About the Timing and Delays in Judge Cannon's Court

With Trump's felony criminal trial date now set in the classified documents case, many are wondering if the trial will happen on schedule or if it will be delayed until after the election, as Trump wishes to do. It is widely presumed that Trump wants to delay the trial until after the election because he expects to be elected president, and as president, he can make the trial go away by either pardoning himself or directing the Justice Department to drop the case.

While that is of great concern to some, it is of no concern to me. One of two things will happen. The trial will either happen before the election, or it will happen after.

There is a third scenario in which the trial does not happen. But, for now at least, it is difficult to see how that could be. Trump can't wave a wand and make it go away. DOJ has no intention of making it go away. The judge is doing everything she can to make it happen.

If the trial happens before the election, that's great. I want this trial to conclude as soon as reasonably possible. I believe Trump is guilty of the crimes for which he has been charged. I am eager to see a jury agree, and I believe they will agree because the case is so strong. I believe that if the trial proceeds as scheduled, the jury will find Trump guilty and Cannon will send him to prison.

If the trial happens after the election, the election becomes a referendum about Trump facing trial and accountability. As another writer I quoted above said, "That would cause a massive blue wave, dwarfing 2018."

In that regard, a post-election trial date may be preferable. As the Republican nominee, Trump would be positioned once again to exert strong influence in numerous down-ballot races. He lost the US Senate doing that in 2022 by picking poor candidates to endorse, and he reduced the success Republicans might have otherwise had in securing more House seats. There is nothing to indicate he would change his ways in 2024.

Additionally, a massive, 2024, blue wave would have significant impact in state office and state legislative races, potentially flipping several of them from red to blue. I think this is a likely scenario anyway, because of the motivating effect the Supreme Court's abortion ruling is already shown to have (abortion-rights ballot questions have surprisingly succeeded in red states).

Combining abortion-rights activism with the additional blue motivation a post-election Trump trial would have could produce unwelcome outcomes for Trump-loving Republicans; and welcome outcomes for those who believe abortion rights should be restored, and Trump should be defeated in the election and held accountable for his crimes.

 

[muttly]

Tell that to the judge.

The prosecutors asked for multiple delays in prosecuting j6 defendants because they needed more time. That’s what they told the judge. Often around 2 years or more.

 

[ATeam]

The prosecutors asked for multiple delays in prosecuting j6 defendants because they needed more time. That’s what they told the judge. Often around 2 years or more.

Yep. And after those delays, the defendants were found guilty and sent to prison.

 

[Pilgrim]

While there is a high probability Trump will be the Republican Party nominee for president. I give it a ZERO chance that he will win the general election. With or without a trial delay, zero chance.

There are no absolutes in politics, including zero. Another factor seems to be emerging into the 2024 race since it appears both major parties will offer bad candidates with high disapproval ratings: a third party candidate. The No Labels group is gaining steam, and Joe Manchin seems willing to play ball with them. If a viable, well-known candidate - especially a Democrat - enters the race Biden is toast. A recent CNN/SSRS poll found that if given a choice, the results would be Trump 33%, Biden 32%, and neither 31%. I've seen this poll referenced in reports by three different networks, but I can't find it on the CNN website or on RCP to get more details, so maybe someone can come up with it. In the meantime, below is a link to a segment on Fox.

 

[ATeam]

There are no absolutes in politics, including zero. Another factor seems to be emerging into the 2024 race since it appears both major parties will offer bad candidates with high disapproval ratings: a third party candidate. The No Labels group is gaining steam, and Joe Manchin seems willing to play ball with them.

All true. And this is indeed a factor to watch. Nevertheless, I maintain my belief that there is zero chance Trump will be elected. I can of course change my mind later if new circumstances develop. But as I see things today, zero chance.

 

[danthewolf00]

Yep. And after those delays, the defendants were found guilty and sent to prison.

Many of them were held with out bail and treated worse than getanmno bay prisoners.

 

[danthewolf00]

All true. And this is indeed a factor to watch. Nevertheless, I maintain my belief that there is zero chance Trump will be elected. I can of course change my mind later if new circumstances develop. But as I see things today, zero chance.

Bahahahahaha and you sound like the Democrats on the tv....we got him now he won't get to be president.

 

[muttly]

Yep. And after those delays, the defendants were found guilty and sent to prison.

So what? That isn’t my point. Apparently flew over your head.

 

[muttly]

Many of them were held with out bail and treated worse than getanmno bay prisoners.

The Left thinks that’s fine. They don’t care about the rights of their political adversaries. That’s why they condone and cheer all the malfeasance that has happened in prosecuting Trump.

 

[ATeam]

What to Expect With the Trump Trials in the Months Ahead

Below is a list of matters that are expected to come before the Court before the documents trial actually begins in May. The approximate schedule for these matters is also shown. (Source)

This is just one of multiple trials Trump will face between now and Election Day. While this trial's date is months away, notice how much will happen before then. I don't know how many other matters will surface in the other trials, but based on this pretrial schedule, it's safe to say Trump and/or his attorneys will be in court dozens of times in the weeks and months ahead. As I said above, the man is going to be busy.

The 2024 election cycle is going to be dominated by Trump trial news. It will be an endless drip of routine matters punctuated with occasional big headlines from now to election day. This will annoy pretty much every other candidate who is running for office. With Trump trial news dominating the news, it diminishes the attention other candidates would otherwise receive.

Now Underway: Initial Discovery

Upcoming weeks: Hashing out procedures for classified evidence

September 2023: Defense lawyers get classified documents

October 2023: Disputes over any classified info being withheld

November 2023: Defense motions to throw out the case. The judge set Nov. 3, 2023, as the deadline for pretrial motions, largely expected to come from the defense.

November 2023: Trump’s lawyers are also expected to file a motion claiming that he had the right under the Presidential Records Act to designate any record as personal and retain it and that no court can review his decisions on that score.

November 2023: Trump and Nauta’s lawyers could also file motions seeking to suppress evidence in the case

November 2023: Defense lawyers also have a deadline of Nov. 17, 2023, to identify materials in the classified discovery that they want to introduce at trial.

December 2023: Crucial hearing on pretrial motions. Cannon set Dec. 11, 2023, as the first hearing date for the main pretrial motions. (Incidentally, that’s the same date that prosecutors unsuccessfully proposed for the start of the trial itself.) This could be one of the most pivotal hearings in the case. It’s even possible it could be the last hearing before Cannon if she chooses to throw out the charges.

January 2024: More battles over how to treat sensitive classified info

February 2024: Another motions hearing. Cannon has scheduled a backup hearing on pretrial motions for Feb. 26, 2024, seeming to acknowledge that they are unlikely to all be filed by early November or to be argued at the December hearing.

March 2024: Sparring over ‘prior bad acts’

April 2024: Admissibility of evidence

May 2024: The trial begins

Also:

A variety of legal issues that may come up prior to the trial also aren’t yet slotted in; Including:

Procedures to be used to summon jurors, to screen them for potential bias and whether they’ll be sequestered during the trial.

The possibility that news organizations will intervene to object to the handling of classified information or other aspects of the trial

News organizations seeking to televise the trial.

The prospect that either side could file appeals or seek other relief from the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in the lead-up to Trump’s trial.

 

[muttly]

Or SCOTUS.

 

[muttly]

While there is a high probability Trump will be the Republican Party nominee for president. I give it a ZERO chance that he will win the general election. With or without a trial delay, zero chance.

We don’t even know who the Democrat nominee will be. Will it be Biden? I hear he’s now taking the short steps on Air Force One.

 

[danthewolf00]

We don’t even know who the Democrat nominee will be. Will it be Biden? I hear he’s now taking the short steps on Air Force One.

Well Democrats canceled RFK. Jr in a committee hearing by talking over him......tells you how they feel about him.

 

[Ragman]

Well Democrats canceled JFK. Jr in a committee hearing by talking over him......

Really?
JFK Jr?, Really?

Geeze o Peet's!

 

[ATeam]

Federal Judge Confirms Trump is a Rapist

"On Wednesday [Jul. 19], a federal judge confirmed that a jury ruled that the former President of the United States was a rapist.

"Earlier this year, Donald Trump requested a new trial or reduced damages after a jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll, and awarded her $5 million. Trump’s legal team argued that since the jury did not find him liable for raping Carroll, the verdict was 'grossly excessive.' But U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan slapped down that argument.

“'The finding that Carroll failed to prove that she was ‘raped’ within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape,’” Kaplan wrote. The judge explained that New York’s legal definition of the term is 'far narrower' than the word 'rape' is understood in 'common modern parlance.'

“'Indeed,' he added, 'as the evidence at trial recounted below makes clear, the jury found that Mr. Trump in fact did exactly that.'

'Kaplan's ruling was unambiguous and blunt. 'Mr. Trump’s attempt to minimize the sexual abuse finding as perhaps resting on nothing more than groping of Ms. Carroll’s breasts through her clothing is frivolous,' he wrote. 'The proof convincingly established, and the jury implicitly found, that Mr. Trump deliberately and forcibly penetrated Ms. Carroll’s vagina with his fingers, causing immediate pain and long lasting emotional and psychological harm.'

"Lest you glossed over that, the judge declared there was 'ample, arguably overwhelming evidence' that Trump is a rapist by the word’s most common definitions, and even 'some federal and state criminal statutes.' This wasn’t 'locker room talk,' this was an actual sexual assault committed by one of the most powerful men in America." (Source)

 

[ATeam]

Many Questions to be Resolved in the Weeks and Months Ahead

After posting yesterday the calendar for Trump's classified documents and obstruction of Justice trial, and sleeping on it, I woke this morning feeling really good about what lies ahead.

While I think the justice system moves too slow, I love that many of the questions people have been debating in the political realm will soon be debated in court.

I love that because, in court, the rules of evidence and procedure apply. The law matters. Highly skilled advocates for both sides work within the rules to make their case. This process takes a long time. Every reasonable point that can be made is allowed to be made. Depending on the question, a judge and/or jury of attentive listeners hear all points from both sides, and then decide which points win.

That is a refreshing change from the chaotic public debate in which the truth is more difficult to discern.

Here's three examples:

(1) Months ago, a ton of public energy went into debating the validity of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant. Do you remember that? Some of us debated that here on EO. Millions of others debated it on TV, online, in coffee shops, etc. Some enthusiastically argued it was valid. Others argued it was invalid. Many threw in a lot of misinformation. off-topic information, and hyperbole to enhance their points.

This exact question will be taken up in court before the trial date. It will be debated in a fair and orderly forum (court) as described above.

(2) Trump has repeatedly argued on Truth Social and on the air that the Presidential Records Act allowed and allows him to do certain things with certain documents. That too has been widely and chaotically debated. But now that question will be taken up in a court of law. Trump and his highly skilled advocates will be given every opportunity to make every legally relevant point they can in their favor. The prosecution will be given the same opportunity to present the other side And again, an attentive judge and/or jury will decide.

(3) Recently, in one of the E. Jean Carroll defamation cases, Trump was arguing that he is immune from liability because he was president at the time the defamatory comments were made, and making those comments was part of his official duties. Trump was given every opportunity to make every legally relevant point in his favor in court. And Carroll was given the same. The judge considered both sides and the law, and ruled that immunity does not apply.

With that question answered, the parties can now move on to the next question, and the next, and the next, until the trial concludes or the case is settled or dismissed. Had the decision been opposite, had the judge found Trump's immunity argument valid, the result would be the same. The parties move on to the next step.

I've been waiting for a long time for such questions to be taken up and answered in court. With this case, and all the others Trump is involved in, I am going to enjoy hearing orderly arguments being made in an orderly forum, by people who are learned in and respect the law.

There are dozens and dozens of questions to be answered. As these trials and their pretrial motions proceed, seeing the questions individually taken up and answered will soon become a weekly and maybe even a daily occurrence.

This is already happening and the pace is accelerating. Recently:

No, a special master will not be used.
No, the documents trial will not be postponed until after the election.
No, Trump is not immune from defamation charges because he was president.
No, the falsified records case will not be moved to federal court.
No, the falsified records case will not be dismissed.
No, the falsified records case judge will not recuse.
Yes, the Trump Organization is guilty of tax fraud.
No, executive privilege cannot be used to keep Trump aids from testifying.
No, Fani Willis will not be disqualified from working on the GA election interference case.
No, the GA Special Grand Jury report will not be thrown out.
Yes, a former president of the United States who is again a candidate for president can be indicted, arrested and arraigned.
Yes, the $5 million in damages the jury said Trump must pay Carroll is reasonable.
Yes, the other Carroll case can be amended to include Trump's recent statements and more damages can be sought.
No, the NY AG lawsuit will not be dismissed.
Yes, certain Trump attorney's can be compelled to testify because attorney client privilege does not apply (furtherance of a crime).
Yes, Trump is a rapist.
Yes, Cohen and Trump will settle Cohen's unpaid legal fees lawsuit "in a manner satisfactory to all parties," and this case will not go to trial.

Clarity! Blessed Clarity! And More Clarity to Come!

I LOVE this! One at a time, in good order, we're going to find out what the real answers are to questions that are very important to our country and democracy itself.

 

[danthewolf00]

We will know everything before court happens because the left will leak it.

 

[ATeam]

Trump May Settle

It's early speculation at this point but something to keep your eye on. The election is well over a year away and at least three trials (Documents, Jan 6, GA Election Interference) will put Trump at risk for serious jail time. Those trials will be well along by Election Day, if not complete.

Again, this is early speculation. But note the possibility that Trump will, as a condition of settlement, and as a way to avoid prison, agree to withdraw from public life.

A lot would have to develop between now and then for such a possibility to even emerge, but it is a possibility. And it will remain so, as long as Trump has the option of withdrawing from the race. If he holds out until the election is over, he loses that card to play.

Trump has famously said he does not settle but the record exposes that lie. He has settled many times. He just settled a lawsuit last week with his former attorney Cohen. Does Trump settle? Yes he does. Will he settle to avoid prison? I don't know but I'm aware of the possibility and staying tuned to find out.

 

[danthewolf00]

Trump May Settle

It's early speculation at this point but something to keep your eye on. The election is well over a year away and at least three trials (Documents, Jan 6, GA Election Interference) will put Trump at risk for serious jail time. Those trials will be well along by Election Day, if not complete.

Again, this is early speculation. But note the possibility that Trump will, as a condition of settlement, and as a way to avoid prison, agree to withdraw from public life.

A lot would have to develop between now and then for such a possibility to even emerge, but it is a possibility. And it will remain so, as long as Trump has the option of withdrawing from the race. If he holds out until the election is over, he loses that card to play.

Trump has famously said he does not settle but the record exposes that lie. He has settled many times. He just settled a lawsuit last week with his former attorney Cohen. Does Trump settle? Yes he does. Will he settle to avoid prison? I don't know but I'm aware of the possibility and staying tuned to find out.

Of course the charges will be dropped IF he doesn't run for president.....they have to get the orange man.

 

[muttly]

Trump May Settle

It's early speculation at this point but something to keep your eye on. The election is well over a year away and at least three trials (Documents, Jan 6, GA Election Interference) will put Trump at risk for serious jail time. Those trials will be well along by Election Day, if not complete.

Again, this is early speculation. But note the possibility that Trump will, as a condition of settlement, and as a way to avoid prison, agree to withdraw from public life.

A lot would have to develop between now and then for such a possibility to even emerge, but it is a possibility. And it will remain so, as long as Trump has the option of withdrawing from the race. If he holds out until the election is over, he loses that card to play.

Trump has famously said he does not settle but the record exposes that lie. He has settled many times. He just settled a lawsuit last week with his former attorney Cohen. Does Trump settle? Yes he does. Will he settle to avoid prison? I don't know but I'm aware of the possibility and staying tuned to find out.

Dems politically persecuting their political opponent and disenfranchising the voters. Awesome