Bragg Manhattan DA charges tfg? Hush money. tfg “INDICATED!”

[SuzieC]

MSNBC going live to the courthouse.

[Reality Check]

Motion to dismiss denied. March 25th date holds.

[Reality Check]

More from Adam Klasfeld:

Blanche is furiously opposing the judge's adherence to the trial date, saying the court is putting his client in an "impossible situation."
Justice Merchan said he made clear that March 25 was a "date certain."

"You don't have a trial date in Georgia. You don't have a trial date in Florida."

After Blanche tries to get a word in, Merchan snaps that he shouldn't interrupt.
Trump's lead lawyer Todd Blanche talks politics.

"We are in primary season, and it is a different landscape as it was" since the last hearing.

Complaining about campaign interruption, Blanche claims it's "completely election interference" for Trump to stand trial in Manhattan.
Merchan says he expects the trial to last six weeks.

[Slim Cognito]

What a great excuse. So I can commit a crime and if I turn around and apply to run for city Council, I can get the trial delayed. Brilliant!

[Kendra]

I was getting ready for work at the time, but tfg did make his usual election interference comments outside the courtroom. This NY case by a NY DA is all Biden's doing

[Reality Check]

AK cont'd:

Blanche complains about "media saturation" of Trump's various civil and criminal cases in the wake of the civil fraud and E. Jean Carroll trials.

Merchan won't hold for the buzz to die down, noting the potential conflicts on Trump's calendar.
Merchan: "There are multiple parts, and we don't have control over all of those parts."

After Trump's lawyer presses the matter, the judge adds sharply: "Mr. Blanche, please have a seat."

[SuzieC]

It's fitting that this case will be the first one to go to trial. As Joyce Vance pointed out on MSNBC, the Stormy Daniels payoff really represents the origin story of Trump's election crimes. Back in 2016, after the Access Hollywood story hit, the last thing Trump wanted voters to find out was that he paid off a porn star to keep quiet about a sexual liaison. He never, ever thought he would be found out and held accountable. It's no one else's fault that he's facing a six-week criminal trial in New York during the election.

[Volkonski]

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/ ... index.html

23 min ago
Trump's attorney puts on a show for an audience of one
From CNN's Jeremy Herb

As Todd Blanche delivers extended protests during Thursday's hearing on Donald Trump's upcoming criminal trial in New York, it's clear he's partially putting on a show for an “audience of one” – his client sitting several feet to the right of him.

Blanche argued that the trial date was “unconstitutional,” raising concerns about both the three additional criminal trials Trump has as well as the 2024 presidential election.

Trump, sitting alongside Blanche at the defense table, looked on at his lawyer as he argued with the judge.

Judge Juan Merchan dismissed Blanche’s objections, saying that Trump would not be on trial in two places at the same time.

Blanche then tried a new tactic, arguing there had been media saturation of Trump’s trials with the New York civil fraud trial and the E. Jean Carroll defamation case.

Merchan wasn’t having it.

"Thank you, Mr. Blanche,” Merchan said as he cut off the discussion on the trial date. “Mr. Blanche, please have a seat.”

21 min ago
Trump attorneys try to discredit Michael Cohen and suggest perjury investigation
From CNN's Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell and Jeremy Herb

Defense attorneys for Donald Trump also brought up Michael Cohen’s testimony in a separate case, suggesting the Manhattan district attorney should be investigating him for perjury.

Cohen — Trump's former lawyer and a key part of this hush money probe — testified as part of the separate civil fraud case brought by the New York attorney general. (A verdict on that case is expected Friday.)

Defense attorney Todd Blanche, citing Cohen's testimony in the civil fraud case, said that Cohen committed perjury "across the street" two months ago.

During the civil fraud trial, Cohen went back on his claims that Trump told him directly to fraudulently inflate his property values, saying that Trump made clear what he wanted even if he hadn't said it outright.

"How can we possibly go to trial when there’s a witness that committed perjury two months ago?" Blanche said.

District Attorney’s office attorney Matthew Colangelo didn't address the claim of an investigation but said the defense will have an opportunity to cross examine Cohen to address those issues which the prosecutor said is the most appropriate way to address that concern.

[Reality Check]

It is Trump's opinion that Cohen committed perjury in the Carrol case. He clarified his testimony that he inferred what Trump wanted the records to say. Habba was never able to impeach that testimony. It will be interesting to see if Judge Engoron touches on that in his decision tomorrow.

[Volkonski]

'Stop interrupting me': Judge loses patience with Trump lawyer who tries to move back 'hush-money' trial because ex-president is too busy

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-j ... -da-2024-2

"This should not happen in this country," Blanche groused near the end of the hearing, saying that Trump should be on the presidential campaign trail instead of sitting in a Manhattan courtroom for two months.

"What's your legal argument?" Merchan asked with an impatient tone. "Do you have a legal argument?"

"That is my legal argument," Blanche retorted.

"That is not a legal argument. I'll see you March 25," Merchan snapped, before standing up and gliding to his chambers.

[W. Kevin Vicklund]

I was reading the final exchange out loud to Dr. Vicklund, and she said "That's not a legal argument!" just before I read the judge's final response.

[raison de arizona]

Do I hear sanctions? Already?
https://x.com/KlasfeldReports/status/17 ... 28916?s=20

Trump's prosecutor Christopher Conroy complained about not receiving defense exhibits as discovery some six weeks before trial.

The judge fires a shot across the bow:

“There could be sanctions for failure to comply,” he warns the defense.
@just_security

[chancery]

Here's Justice Merchan's decision denying Trump's omnibus motion to dismiss.

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/ ... 240215.pdf

I haven't read the decision yet.

I did notice, with a twinge of nostalgia, that it was printed on ruled pleading paper, which I haven't used or even seen for a long time. Not only that, it appears, from the number of double-spaced lines of text (32), that the judge is using legal-sized (14") paper, which is truly old-fashioned.

When I started practice, most lawyers had switched to letter-sized (8.5/11") paper for federal court filings, at least in SDNY, and pretty soon that size was required. However, in New York State courts legal-sized paper was still the norm, and remained so for a while. It was also the norm in Missouri courts, state and federal, as well as in Michigan, where I spent some time working on cases.

Legal sized paper was actually a pain in the neck to use and to file. I started having my personal sets of papers reduced to 8.5 x 11 so I could fit them in binders.

Legal-sized paper used to be known as "Foolscap Folio" or just "Foolscap," from the custom of using a jester's cap and bells as a watermark.* Legal pads were sometimes referred to in stationary catalogs as "Canary Foolscap," which I have always found charming.

_______
* The original Foolscap paper used for centuries in Great Britain and on the continent was actually about 13.5", but in the United States Foolscap was eventually standardized at 14".

[realist]

Here's Justice Merchan's decision denying Trump's omnibus motion to dismiss.

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/ ... 240215.pdf

I haven't read the decision yet.

I did notice, with a twinge of nostalgia, that it was printed on ruled pleading paper, which I haven't used or even seen for a long time. Not only that, it appears, from the number of double-spaced lines of text (32), that the judge is using legal-sized (14") paper, which is truly old-fashioned.

When I started practice, most lawyers had switched to letter-sized (8.5/11") paper for federal court filings, at least in SDNY, and pretty soon that size was required. However, in New York State courts legal-sized paper was still the norm, and remained so for a while. It was also the norm in Missouri courts, state and federal, as well as in Michigan, where I spent some time working on cases.

Legal sized paper was actually a pain in the neck to use and to file. I started having my personal sets of papers reduced to 8.5 x 11 so I could fit them in binders.

Legal-sized paper used to be known as "Foolscap Folio" or just "Foolscap," from the custom of using a jester's cap and bells as a watermark.* Legal pads were sometimes referred to in stationary catalogs as "Canary Foolscap," which I have always found charming.

_______
* The original Foolscap paper used for centuries in Great Britain and on the continent was actually about 13.5", but in the United States Foolscap was eventually standardized at 14".

I am this old.

When I first began reporting, I worked briefly in state and federal courts before moving on to freelancing. At the time our state court transcripts were on legal-size paper. What a pain to deal with, and especially because at the time carbon copies (yanno, with real carbon paper) were in use and it was for some reason much more difficult to correct typing erros on the legal than letter size.

I remember how relieved I was when our state courts began accepting "Xerox" copies and not being so anal because the wording of the rule stated "carbon copies."

[chancery]

[sterngard friegen]

I started off using 14 inch papyrus and then turned to yellow foolscap paper. California eventually converted to 11 inch paper and it was a hard thing for us to do.

I am actually so old that I remember having a deposition reporter who did not use a steno machine. His CSR number was in low double digits. His shorthand was flawless.

[chancery]

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

I am not old enough to have used papyrus, but carbon copies and "legal" sized paper were de rigueur when I first started in 1983. "Letter" sized paper was for letters! Thank dog that changed. "Legal" could only be used for real estate matters. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. I liked it because I am at heart a minimalist. The smaller something is that I have to carry, the better I like it. Of course, I am small and petite (4' 11", 99 pounds) so that may have something to do with my preferences.

[realist]

I started off using 14 inch papyrus and then turned to yellow foolscap paper. California eventually converted to 11 inch paper and it was a hard thing for us to do.

I am actually so old that I remember having a deposition reporter who did not use a steno machine. His CSR number was in low double digits. His shorthand was flawless.

I knew several reporter who used Gregg or Pitman shorthand. They were amazing.

One thing you never wanted to do, if you wanted to keep your fingers, was pick up one of their pens and write with it. They always had several (pens, not ballpoints or pencils) on their desk and they had the nibs trained just as they wanted them and did not want them messed with.

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

I loved having court reporters who used shorthand. It was much easier getting info needed. They were great use in trials too in the days before daily transcripts.

[AndyinPA]

Off Topic

I loved shorthand. I still use it on an occasional basis. The writing comes almost automatically; unfortunately, the reading does not. But, for some reason, I was a natural at it. I passed a shorthand test at 400 WPM. It was the only 400 WPM minute test she ever gave, and it was only one minute.

[SuzieC]

I skimmed the decision. My impression is that Justice Merchan dealt thoroughly and professionally with Trump's strategy of throwing everything against the wall to see if anything sticks. But I haz a question: why wasn't David Pecker indicted? Or did I miss it? It appears to me that he committed the same crimes as Cohen and Trump, i.e. participating in a conspiracy to falsify business documents. I do seem to recall that he flipped, but was that before or after indictment?

[realist]

I loved having court reporters who used shorthand. It was much easier getting info needed. They were great use in trials too in the days before daily transcripts.

I used shorthand, just not with a pen, with a Stenograph machine.

I can't imagine why a pen reporter (if that's what you're saying) could give you any more information than an machine writer could. They're both taking down the same thing, just different methods.

[p0rtia]

I skimmed the decision. My impression is that Justice Merchan dealt thoroughly and professionally with Trump's strategy of throwing everything against the wall to see if anything sticks. But I haz a question: why wasn't David Pecker indicted? Or did I miss it? It appears to me that he committed the same crimes as Cohen and Trump, i.e. participating in a conspiracy to falsify business documents. I do seem to recall that he flipped, but was that before or after indictment?

Cohen covers this in his book and in every discussion on this topic. Answer: he was set up by fuckhead and fuckhead sycophants, and the others weren't. Period. Not only fuckhead and Pecker, but Weisselburg (sp) and I think either Eric or Little Don.

Cohen has tried legally to point this out through various law suits and FOIA requests and by trying to get allies in Congress to bring it up--no luck. It's hard to fight corruption. Life in the autocracy.

[SuzieC]

OK. Well, I do believe Karma will get there in the end.