Trump On Trial – Will He Testify In This Salacious Courtroom Drama? (He Says He Will)

Analysis and Comment10 Comments

When I worked for Donald Trump in the 1990s our meetings were often on the fly starting from his office in Trump Towers. I went in and discussion was like this:

“Come on, let’s go. I’ll show you a building I just bought. Prior to the Empire State Building it was the tallest.”

Off we went into the limo on Fifth Avenue in this case heading south on Manhattan island.

I’d fill Trump up on the comings and goings of casino expansion in Connecticut. I was his eyes, ears and mouthpiece. It was during his marriage to Marla Maples. As a client-consultant relationship no complaint here. He’d needle me about my monthly fee but the work was amicable, he was accessible and he kept me on board for a while beyond the casino stuff. He’d talk to me about running for president, but it was really more about building the brand and overcoming boredom.

So, we enter the tower and it was classic Trump. “Look at this place. I’ll show you around.”

Into the elevator we go. Door closes, Trump pokes a floor destination. One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three. We are still. He tries again. Nothing. He looks at me.

“Don’t get nervous, it’s an old building.” Finally, movement. Phew!

This is certainly nervous time for Trump. On Monday opening arguments commence in the first ever criminal trial for a former president in what will certainly become a salacious, circus reality show for the next six weeks or so.

Many call this the hush money trial. The lead state prosecutor in the case Alvin Bragg describes it an election interference matter. Either way it comes down to Trump accused of falsifying business records to buy the sexual silence of porn star Stormy Daniels, executed by Trump attorney Michael Cohen one of many who ended up in the joint being in Trump’s orbit.

Cohen and Daniels will be key witnesses as well as catch-and-kill tabloid publisher David Pecker who buried bruising personal stories about Trump including for The National Enquirer. The government may call Pecker first because he has far less baggage than Cohen and Daniels and he can lay the ground work about conversations he had with Trump.

Former Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks will also be an essential, baggage-free witness for her conversational role with her boss when news of the story broke and how they responded.

The government will spend plenty of time trying to immunize Cohen and Daniels from defense attacks via corroboration from others witnesses. When Cohen is called the government will avail all his baggage up front as the Trump fixer who did federal prison time over this case.

Trump was not charged federally because the Justice Department’s policy eschews charges against a sitting president.

The 12 jurors, all from Manhattan, don’t have to like Cohen and Daniels, they simply need to believe them for conviction. Witness corroboration helps them get there.

The jury must be unanimous in its verdict to convict. Just one hold out will spare Trump conviction and possible involuntary vacation.

The looming question: will Trump testify on his behalf or sit it out?

Many booming egos on trial feel they can seduce a jury. Most times they fail. Trump is wired to give answers he wants to give no matter the questions asked. Deflection is his friend. Except on the stand the judge will force him to answer the questions directly without projecting out to others. Trump will do fine on direct with favorable, softball questions from his lawyer; grueling cross examination is another story. The judge will not allow him to fence with the government prosecutor.

Some say he should take the stand (Trump says he will) if he has nothing to hide. His wife Melania has even suggested so as well. Still, this comes with a lot of trap doors if he testifies.

It’s not a question about what someone has to hide, it’s all about what the defendant can lose. His rights and liberty. He could be vulnerable for providing false statements that could lead to other charges and perhaps an enhanced prison sentence. Testifying also opens a Pandora’s box of icky stuff. The government is allowed to bring up other bad acts.

Is Trump nervous?

Strap in, this trial is gonna be a zoo.

 

 

 

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  3. I have never been, paid or unpaid, “the eyes, ears, and mouthpiece” for the man. Merely a closer observer for the past decade, so I offer my thoughts to this public stew:

    Contemplation after reflection April 15, 2024
    A Bible reference to Jesus Christ that was part of a recent reading: from the King James Version, “He that saith, ‘I know him’ and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Does this line from scripture ask each of us to reflect upon personal faith beliefs in contrast to our own activities and behavior? To what extent do we practice or support hypocrisy? Is it rather a call to understand that holding a Bible upraised, as a symbol of faith or as an offer to sell the Holy book for personal profit, coupled with the current number of civil and criminal charges facing Donald R. Trump, addresses this moment? Does a combination of faith beliefs and politics require separation, to serve American democracy today?
    Failure to call attention to the hypocrisy on display in our current Presidential election is a critical flaw in governance and politics. None of us are perfect as humans, which is why reflection, including acknowledgement of words and actions, humility, honesty, and remorse must be part of a personal process. As we personally reflect on democratic leadership flowing from the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and Amendments, as well as more current legislation, have we ever faced a greater contrast between words and actions, between symbolic pictures and autocratic threats? Where does justice get practiced if not under a widely practiced and respected rule of law?
    When the mouth of a ‘would-be earthly king’ disturbs communication norms such that his ‘lies’ get counted in the tens of thousands over a period when he was elected and served, and then lost, are we lost as he doubles down on lies, conspiracy narratives, that provide reasons for people to fear things that are not true, or well understood? Such a competitor for continuing leadership is declared a “liar” within our reduced understanding of the meaning of the word. And as scripture continues to inform us “the truth is not in him,” so why do we listen? Is it our collective shame in not coming to understand the grievous failure to know that race is an artificial construct and that the equality and dignity of all human beings deserves support and respect, rather than ignorance or denigration? Honestly? Time will tell.

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  4. John, perhaps you have never been, paid or unpaid, “the eyes, ears, and mouthpiece” for the man. Merely a closer observer for the past decade, so I offer my thoughts to this public stew:” Butt, I too have never been, paid or unpaid, to be the eyes, ears, and mouthpiece for the man and merely a closer observer who offers his thoughts to this public stew, not to be confused with clam chowder stew. Though, I have paid a price for the offering to this public stew, yum. 🙃

    Haven’t we all in some ways though?

    John to be fair in your observance. While the Christian’s Holy Book, the Bible reference to Jesus Christ was part of a recent reading: from the King James Version, “He that saith, ‘I know him’ and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” What is your past observation of the Quran’s reference to Muhammed in Islam?

    “There are three categories of people against whom I shall myself be a plaintiff on the Day of Judgement. Of these three, one is he who enslaves a free man, then sells him and eats this money” Per se.

    I don’t know if the scriptures in these or other Holy Books ask each of us to reflect upon personal faith beliefs in contrast to our own activities and behavior or to what extent do we practice or support hypocrisy, but there are some outdated shit and grotesquery of human NATURE in these Holy books. Wouldn’t you say/observe?

    Perhaps holding a Bible upraised, as a symbol of faith or as an offer to sell the Holy book for personal profit, may seem tacky, in NATURE. it doesn’t conform to one of the three categories Muhammed referenced in the Quran.

    I don’t feel it’s a requirement for the separation, vie, church and state or to serve American democracy today. Surely you don’t find fault in the type/form of capitalism in the name of personal gain in today’s American democracy?

    However, I agree that the failure to be fair and call attention to hypocrisy is a critical flaw in all aspects, not just governance and politics. Without it, justice is practiced half-heartedly, concerning the creation of human laws that govern. Though it is human NATURE to do so. Wouldn’t you say?

    It’s not our collective shame in not coming to understand this critical flaw, though we tend to dismiss humans’ NATURE as our earthly creatures.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW1u6INNN0c

    Perhaps an artificial construct is needed for Human NATURE to achieve the equality and dignity of other human beings, deserving of support and respect, Perhaps there is a part of the human experience/exitance that strives for such heavenly goals.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs9Lwu8HbOs

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  5. P.S. Speaking of scripture that continues to inform. JC references the Holy Bible. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

    Slow down there sparky. #matureaudience/StomyD If you are into blonds or redheads. 🤣

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW4zMWDk8Tk

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  9. Will it surprise any reader of OIB if he fails to testify, after saying that he will testify while leaving the courtroom recently? Time will tell.

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