Trump hush-money trial news: Michael Cohen testimony resumes

Alex Woodward spoke with legal experts yesterday [we don’t let him have a day off] who agree that yes trump is likely violating the gag order against “making or directing” attacks by getting his allies to do them instead.

However, it’s highly unlikely that prosecutors or the judge would want to spend any more energy on gag order stuff this close to the end.

Unless the judge wants to make it his business…

Read his full report here:

Judge Juan Merchan is at the bench and proceedings begin with a sidebar with lawyers.

Reps Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz are seated in the first row behind the defense.

Gaetz is next to Eric Trump, who is in the middle of the row.

Trump entered hallway at 9:17 and spoke for three minutes.

Wearing a red tie and flanked by Todd Blanche.

“Outside, if you take a look, it looks like Fort Knox. So many police and they don’t allow people to come. You’re not allowed to have friendly protests, we’re not allowed to have anything here.”

“This was a crime that wasn’t going to be done but when I announced I was running, they wrote it up. They could have done it seven years ago, seven years ago, but they wanted to do it right smack in the middle of the election, very dishonest peoples have been dealing with.”

“And it’s a shame what they’re doing what they’re doing in terms of suppression. And election interference has never been anything like that. The good news is the polls are through the roof.

Did not answer questions:

Are you worried about a conviction?

How do you feel about the debate?

Alex Woodward notes that contrary to what the former president said about police not allowing people to come to protest, there is an entire park directly across the street from the front doors of the court expressly reserved for that purpose.

Donald Trump entered the hallway with a group including his legal team and supporters a few minutes ago. He is wearing a big red tie.

Those expected to be there to offer support and attack those he cannot because of his gag order are Lauren Boebert, Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good, Matt Gaetz, Michael Waltz and Andy Biggs.

“Trump is carrying a stack of papers. He has not responded to questions about whether he will testify, if he’s ready to debate, if he’s happy with his defense team. He spoke for about three minutes.”

Alex Woodward is reporting for The Independent from the court and will be sending updates throughout the day.

He says Trump is now seated alone at the defence table.

The president is beginning to ramp up his attacks on Trump, referring to him as “that loser” during a gala in DC this week and going on to slam his record on Covid-19 and public spending.

Here’s more Gustaf Kilander.

Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity wasted no time in attacking Biden over the very idea that he is ready to debate Trump, the latter also getting in pre-emptive strikes by suggesting the president will be using performance-enhancing stimulates (!) and by rebuking likely CNN moderator “Fake Jake” Tapper.

Frankly, they seem nervous that this might not go so well for their man as their previous bluster would imply.

Meanwhile, Lara Trump, perenially on this channel, is already suggesting the debates will be “rigged” before a word has been spoken by either candidate.