Midway Through Trump's Testimony
The NY fraud trial in which Trump is testifying today is on a lunch break. I don't want to say much about it at this point because the trial is not televised and we're getting only bits and pieces as the testimony unfolds.
In general, it seems that Trump is receiving questions of the type that are typical of those asked of a witness in a trial, and he is answering them in ways typical of his Truth social posts.
It may or may not be that Trump and his lawyers are following the strategy described above. If they are, the judge does not seem to be taking the bait. There have been a few heated moments in the trial today, but nothing that would suggest the judge has committed a reversible error or demonstrated bias such that it would give a higher court grounds to reverse the judge on appeal.
Someone connected with Trump was quoted on TV today saying the trial is going great for Trump and Trump's testimony is a huge win. Politically, he may be correct. But this is a court of law and the question is not, what effect will Trump's testimony have on the polls? They question before the Court is, how severe will Trump's punishment (disgorgement) be for the massive, systematic, and years-long fraud Trump committed?
This is a golden opportunity for Trump, under oath, to explain directly to the prosecutors and the judge how his financial statements were not at all falsified but were as accurate as any could be for an organization as large as Trump's. This is his time to prove to all concerned that no fraud was committed. This is his time to demonstrate for all to hear how the Trump Organization was fully committed to a culture of compliance with generally accepted accounting principals and New York law. This is Trump's time to show that the Trump Organization and the co-defendants on trial run an upstanding and pristine business that in no way deserves to be found liable for fraud.
Trump has not done so yet. Maybe he's saving that part for after lunch.
Update: Here's a (nearly) commentary free compilation of courtroom reports about Trump's full day in court:
The NY fraud trial in which Trump is testifying today is on a lunch break. I don't want to say much about it at this point because the trial is not televised and we're getting only bits and pieces as the testimony unfolds.
In general, it seems that Trump is receiving questions of the type that are typical of those asked of a witness in a trial, and he is answering them in ways typical of his Truth social posts.
It may or may not be that Trump and his lawyers are following the strategy described above. If they are, the judge does not seem to be taking the bait. There have been a few heated moments in the trial today, but nothing that would suggest the judge has committed a reversible error or demonstrated bias such that it would give a higher court grounds to reverse the judge on appeal.
Someone connected with Trump was quoted on TV today saying the trial is going great for Trump and Trump's testimony is a huge win. Politically, he may be correct. But this is a court of law and the question is not, what effect will Trump's testimony have on the polls? They question before the Court is, how severe will Trump's punishment (disgorgement) be for the massive, systematic, and years-long fraud Trump committed?
This is a golden opportunity for Trump, under oath, to explain directly to the prosecutors and the judge how his financial statements were not at all falsified but were as accurate as any could be for an organization as large as Trump's. This is his time to prove to all concerned that no fraud was committed. This is his time to demonstrate for all to hear how the Trump Organization was fully committed to a culture of compliance with generally accepted accounting principals and New York law. This is Trump's time to show that the Trump Organization and the co-defendants on trial run an upstanding and pristine business that in no way deserves to be found liable for fraud.
Trump has not done so yet. Maybe he's saving that part for after lunch.
Update: Here's a (nearly) commentary free compilation of courtroom reports about Trump's full day in court:
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