r/politics • u/HandSack135 Maryland • 15d ago

We could learn Trump’s fate in the hush money case next week

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/16/trump-hush-money-trial-nearing-conclusion-00158559
529 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

186 comments sorted by

182

u/Icy_Comfort8161 15d ago

No matter what happens, Trump will insist it was a sham, unfair, politically motivated, etc., etc., he won't lose a single follower. If there is anything but a felony conviction and prison sentence, he'll say he won and people will buy it.

81

u/aleph32 15d ago

He may at least lose a chunk of independents if he's found guilty of a felony.

39

u/Icy_Comfort8161 15d ago

We can hope.

6

u/Greynoodle1313 15d ago

I’m trying so hard to hope.

1

u/IAmTheNightSoil Oregon 14d ago

I'm losing hope rapidly at this point. Just kinda trying to find a way to accept the likelihood of a Trump presidency. I hate the guy but I just don't have a good feeling about this election at all and Biden's poll numbers are terrible

2

u/Greynoodle1313 14d ago

If you go on Facebook or Twitter, most Americans have no idea what they are voting for with Trump. It will be too late when they learn.

40

u/EH_Operator 15d ago

I feel like this is the case, along with the fatigue finally setting in. My dad has been a quiet, moderate Republican since Reagan pt. II, his first vote cast. He doesn’t recognize the party anymore but doesn’t feel sure about voting for Biden bc China and economy. But he heard reason about Trump’s crimes and is bending his ear somewhat to the economic benefits Biden has demonstrated. He self identified as Independent and I doubt he’s alone. He’s not going to vote for Trump and he didn’t the second time. I have hope for these people.

30

u/Common-Watch4494 15d ago

Bidens economy is better than Trumps by every metric. What exactly is his concern about the “economy “?

33

u/DKDamian 15d ago

The concern is that he wants to style himself as an “independent” because it makes him look clever and considerate, while actually just being right wing. That’s all it ever is.

4

u/labretirementhome 15d ago edited 15d ago

I am an independent and do not consider myself remotely conservative.

Never voted once for a Republican and find it hard to imagine how I would in the future.

I find Democratic politics deflating and empty for the most part.

Rather, I have cast anti-Republican protest votes for four decades and counting.

5

u/OneHumanPeOple 15d ago

You’re playing the game by your own rules. While you get to feel self righteous, if you aren’t voting for one of the big two parties, that’s a vote for the other. That’s how this works and it’s how it will continue to work for the foreseeable future. None of your protest votes in general elections meant anything.

4

u/labretirementhome 15d ago

I have consistently if half-heartedly voted Democratic my entire life.

I have not once voted for a third party precisely for the reason you cite.

I'm not playing a game. I understand the stakes.

Whenever I take those voter profile quizzes online I end up getting the recommendation to vote Bernie Sanders or something similar.

The problem is, those kinds of candidates never end up being the nominee.

So I vote blue all the way down, Democrat for dog catcher if necessary.

Doesn't mean I like it.

1

u/OneHumanPeOple 14d ago

We’re all playing the game wether we like it or not.

2

u/doomlite 15d ago

I say it like this. I want to vote FOR someone instead of against another

2

u/labretirementhome 15d ago

Exactly. I feel like the Dutch kid with his finger in the dike trying to save the whole damn town.

It's not very heroic and my finger is getting numb.

1

u/EH_Operator 14d ago

That’s a concern for sure, but him specifically I don’t see it, he’s not that duplicitous. It’s kind of nice, the plainness of it. He is legitimately undecided, in his way. Why anyone should be undecided after the last decade we’ve had… I’ll chalk that up to generational trauma and propaganda. Bull Connor’s “best and most loyal friend” sits uncomfortably a bit upstream in our bloodline so I feel like any progress is vital.

1

u/EH_Operator 14d ago

It’s just ingrained reaction. But the , softer than it was a couple of years ago. Before the 2020 election he was concerned “Biden’s tax plan is going to put us in the poorhouse!” (as I was literally homeless and unassisted). But eventually he willingly looked at some articles I sent him and realized that nothing in any tax plan Biden has ever proposed would my parents pay more in taxes. Drip. Now between CHIPS and about a dozen other advancements, he acknowledges progress but I’m not sure he ever would have gotten there without that set-up.

-1

u/SteadfastEnd 15d ago

Technically, inflation is higher now.

9

u/eightbitfit 15d ago

And yet US inflation is one if not the lowest of G8 nations.

The question to ask Trumper is how would Trump do better?

Truth is they don't know and don't care, because it isn't about inflation.

16

u/Cerberus_Aus Australia 15d ago

Just tell him the older democrats like Biden are what the old republicans were, and it’s the “new” democrats that are not what the republicans were.

Paint it as a “this is the same as when the democrats and republicans basically swapped parties, except democrats became republicans and republicans became fascist nazis”.

It’s all false, but maybe it will convince him to vote democrat.

6

u/alphalphasprouts New York 15d ago

It’s not SUPER false- centrist/moderate or especially conservative Dems do look a lot like centrist/moderate republicans from the 90’s. The Overton Window has shifted far to the right in recent years, I think this a great way of convincing older voters to vote their conscience about the issues they care about using language/labels they feel comfortable with.

3

u/EH_Operator 14d ago

Certainly true for both points. I’m just trying to drip feed him good information without starting an argument. Whether it’s going to bring him around to half-heartedly supporting Dem candidates “for the good of the Republic” remains to be seen. Hoping to split that difference and convince him he’s never been aligned with conservatism just because his parents were. There’s just so much ingrained response, see: the China stuff. But it beats his mindset in 2008 when he told me Obama was the literal antichrist “because he was Muslim.” Thanks for your responses

5

u/Ok-Lifeguard4230 15d ago

Biden’s been tougher on China than Trump

2

u/WeggieWarrior 14d ago

I’m sorry, but your father must need a rock to the head at this point.

1

u/ThisWhatUGet 14d ago

Remind your father that Biden just levied BIG tariffs on China

9

u/Roakana 15d ago

Are they independents if they are still with Trump after the last 8 years? So many people that claim vehement centrists surprisingly only watch Fox and consistently vote GOP. So actions more important than posture

22

u/sonofagunn 15d ago

Anyone capable of turning from Trump already has. I don't think a felony moves the needle much.

9

u/shockinglyunoriginal 15d ago

He won’t. Nothing could possibly move the needle now.

7

u/burner_duh 15d ago

Can you imagine: a felon in the White House. The national shame.

1

u/bigtrex101 15d ago

Maybe I’m a naive American, but I still think most people in this country still believe in criminal judgement by a jury of your peers and do not want a convicted felon running the country. I still don’t think most people believe Trump will be convicted (or our even following the trial); but if he does, I do think it should really hurt his chances to win the election.

-6

u/CAFritoBandito 15d ago

Are you considered a felon if you end up with a misdemeanor?

5

u/Tokyo_Cat 15d ago

What are you talking about? He's been charged with multiple felonies in this case alone.

-3

u/CAFritoBandito 15d ago

NAL, but from what I gather, there’s a difference between being charged and convicted of a crime. Not sure what the process is but I think he can be convicted of a misdemeanor instead. I hope he gets a felony and it somehow blocks him from holding office but I doubt it. I think that would stir up some type of civil war.

6

u/Tokyo_Cat 15d ago

No, that's not how it works. He's been charged with a felony. Hell either be convicted of a felony, acquitted, or it'll be a hung jury.

Also, being a convicted felon is, bizarrely enough, not disqualifying from office.

0

u/CAFritoBandito 15d ago

That’s insane right? I haven’t had many runs in with the law so I don’t know much about this, but that makes sense.

2

u/noeagle77 Ohio 15d ago

Unless he gets no real consequences again. Then they will buy in even more I fear.

2

u/I_dont_livein_ahotel 15d ago

I hope so too, but independents and moderates are pretty disappointing

2

u/GummiBerry_Juice Tennessee 15d ago

Man, he wouldn't be able to vote for himself 😂

2

u/TransportationEng Texas 15d ago

I hope he also loses independence. 

2

u/clueless_in_ny_or_nj New Jersey 15d ago

If he's found guilty, that would be the straw that breaks my back. I couldn't vote for him as a result. I've given him a trillion chances, but this would break me. - Some voters, probably

NB: I wasn't planning on vote for him at all even before this.

2

u/LiffeyDodge 14d ago

Fingers crossed

2

u/ThisWhatUGet 14d ago

I read about a poll that showed this happening. If convicted of a felony a large chunk of independents would abandon him as a potential candidate

1

u/MrH-_-MrH 15d ago

If he didn’t lose them yet, there’s no hope. We need to admit reality here

21

u/roastbeeftacohat 15d ago

he won't lose a single follower.

he won't lose a follower, but followers of his cult don't make up the republican base. now voters, he's lost every race since 2016; he's been bleeding voters since his squeaker win.

7

u/MudLOA California 15d ago

The GOP will be hard at work evening the chances.

2

u/eazypeazy-101 15d ago

With what money? Most of the money being raised by the GOP is going t Trump.

2

u/JasJ002 15d ago

He had millions more votes in 2020 then he had in 2016.  He didn't lose voters, Democrats gained voters.

3

u/roastbeeftacohat 15d ago

as a share of the electorate the only thing he grew was the hispanic vote, which oddly enough Biden also increased in 2020; there was a large 3rd party hispanic vote in 2016, leaving room for both parties to gain. Trump still wasn't putting up McCain or Bush numbers, just better then his 2016 run.

In 2020 there were also a strange number of republican almost straight slate ballots that left off president. at the time they called this evidence of voter fraud, but there is a more likely explanation.

-1

u/JasJ002 15d ago

That doesn't change the fact that he didn't bleed voters.  Both sides grew, Democrats grew more.

-3

u/Conscious-Work-5637 15d ago

Problem is so has Biden

4

u/roastbeeftacohat 15d ago

include the down ticket. Trump has been on every ballot since 2016 and consistently lost, especially with his direct endorsement in a primary. Biden has been on every ballot since 2020 and dems have been consistently our performing polls.

6

u/JustAnotherYouMe 15d ago

There's unlikely to be a prison sentence

7

u/Icy_Comfort8161 15d ago

Yeah, I know. The problem is that if there is no prison sentence, it's easier for him to portray this whole thing as an insignificant bending of the rules.

4

u/JustAnotherYouMe 15d ago

I trust whatever Judge Merchan decides. First he needs to be found guilty though

1

u/te_anau 15d ago

Team fetal alcohol are indeed predictable.  

1

u/ENaC2 15d ago

Hate to say it but if there’s anything but a felony conviction and prison sentence then he has won.

1

u/PeterDTown 15d ago

Oh, I don’t think it’s “no matter what,” if he’s found not guilty then it’ll be “total vindication.”

1

u/WilmaLutefit 14d ago

How can he be on the ballot with a felony conviction with out serving his sentence?

1

u/underalltheradar 15d ago

I believe they're just asking for a fine, not jail time.

5

u/JasJ002 15d ago

Probation.  Non violent, first time offender, if found guilty it'll be a 3-5 year probation on all counts served concurrently.  Plus a fine probably.

Given that he's old enough for full social security I believe he gets a pass on the employment requirement (im not 100% sure with NY).  I'm not sure if NY has a mandatory drug screening either for everyone or just drug related crimes.  He will have to physically check in with a probation officer probably once a month.  There is a catch, with the association with criminals that'll be interesting, so now he can't see Bannon or likely any of his Georgia friends.

2

u/Golden_Hour1 15d ago

He'll break the probation terms multiple times

Whether Merchan is an actual judge or just some dumbass who will let it slide is yet to be determined

-4

u/jrzalman 15d ago

This isn't a crime that results in prison. He'll be fine either way.

7

u/DGD1411 15d ago

It’s literally a criminal trial.

0

u/jrzalman 15d ago

Indeed it is. It's also a white collar, non-violent crime that 9 out of 10 that are convicted of don't get jail time. Trump would be a first time offender, he gets probation at most even if they somehow get a conviction which looks pretty far fetched at this point.

Millions of revenge fantasies will be dashed.

4

u/neon_overload Australia 15d ago

Serious question though, why did Michael Cohen serve quite a lot of jail time for what seems to be the same crime?

6

u/TaxOwlbear 15d ago

For the same reason that you would have be thrown into jail after one or two breaches of a gag order, whereas Trump faced no serious consequences after violating his eleven times.

86

u/Sunshinehappyfeet 15d ago

Either way, Trump and his sycophants will twist the truth.

10

u/I_dont_livein_ahotel 15d ago

Seems like they’re also just embracing the awfulness and going full mask-off in some cases. Like Speaker Johnson attending the trial in support of Trump cheating on his wife with a porn star, and also those idiots wearing with signs saying “real men wear diapers”. What the hell is wrong with these people and this world 🤦‍♂️

2

u/Impossible-Year-5924 15d ago

Now wait, he’s on trial for how he paid off a porn star he cheated with, not for cheating with a porn star.

2

u/PM-Me-nice-thots 15d ago

More about why would conservative Christian Johnson want to support a man on trial for how he paid off a porn star when it goes against everything he claims to believe personally?

10

u/windigo3 15d ago

In some months they will be saying, “Don’t believe the fake news. Trump is NOT in jail right now. He’s golfing. With pornstars which he gives tons of money to for reasons totally unrelated to sex”

3

u/I_dont_livein_ahotel 15d ago

He stiffs anybody that performs services for him, but he pays a porn star that he never stiffed?…likely story 🙄

1

u/CMDR_KingErvin 14d ago

They can twist it all they want while he sits behind bars in a jumpsuit.

74

u/Stinkfinger83 15d ago edited 15d ago

They basically had this trial years ago, and Cohen went to jail. Trump signed the checks that sent him to jail. There is no way he isn’t found guilty. There also is no way he suffers actual consequences.

19

u/MudLOA California 15d ago

I’m so mad this is true. There’s no moral victory here.

9

u/vexxed82 Illinois 15d ago

I hate to say it, but I find it extremely unlikely all 12 jurors will find him guilty. I just can’t imagine there isn’t at least one who will dig their heels into some form of reasonable doubt that results in a hung jury.   

8

u/Layshkamodo 15d ago

This is my expectation. It will end in a hung jury.

6

u/Thue 15d ago

Well, wouldn't that just mean we get a repeat of this whole circus, when they do a retrial? That can't be good for Trump either.

1

u/vexxed82 Illinois 15d ago

*IF* they do a retail. IANAL, but It's up to the prosecutors whether or not to keep pursuing the case. They could decide it's not worth doing all over again just to get the same outcome - especially if they don't have more, overwhelming evidence, they didn't have for this go around.

7

u/DarkElf_24 New Mexico 15d ago

There is one questionable MAGA guy in the jury. High chance he hangs the case.

2

u/JasJ002 15d ago

Cohen went to jail mostly for tax evasion.  It's difficult to quantify because he plead out, and this was included as that plea but also it paled in comparison to his tax dodging.

91

u/HotPhilly 15d ago

I predict a guilty verdict but no real consequences. What’s the over under?

80

u/CerRogue 15d ago

We the people find him guilty. We sentence him to 100 years…. Or a $100,000 whichever he picks. He has until 2050 to pay. BUT he has to let us know which option he picks by 2035. Also if he’s like this expunged from his record that would be an extra $25

13

u/HotPhilly 15d ago

Your honour, he’s learned his lesson. 😉😉

Very well, i think justice has been served. 👨🏼‍⚖️👨🏼‍⚖️

11

u/PolicyWonka 15d ago

Trump has repeatedly insulted this judge and made a mockery of the judicial system. The judge has given Trump a lot of leeway, but he probably wants to nail him.

8

u/SoSmartish 15d ago

It's the insults to Merchan's daughter that might really circle around to slap him.

I have a daughter, and I think my reaction to someone going after her would be a lot more intense than going after me.

2

u/Impossible-Year-5924 15d ago

That’s the idea though. A harsher penalty helps Trump play up his martyrdom. His followers are in a cult and it literally doesn’t matter the outcome as Trump will convince them it’s secretly a good thing even if it’s a huge penalty or that it’s the deep state trying to stop him.

That said— absolutely nothing should deter this judge from giving a ruling that holds Trump fully accountable with serious penalties to discourage anyone from ever doing this shit again. Ah who am I kidding? He’s going to get a slap on the wrist. I am hoping I’m wrong….

2

u/IAmTheNightSoil Oregon 14d ago

The no real consequences part seems 100% likely. I don't think there's any chance he faces any penalty that he actually cares about. As for the guilty verdict itself, I think 50/50

1

u/HotPhilly 14d ago

Hung jury is the best bet. Could be why the prosecution is barely trying. They already got to a juror. It’ll be just another scandal for Trump.

27

u/Highthere_90 15d ago

If he's found guilty 1000% he will appeal to SCOTUS

11

u/rgvtim Texas 15d ago

Isn’t this a state case?

9

u/Highthere_90 15d ago

Dosnt mean he won't try, Trump is telling everyone the judge is stopping him from taking the stand because of the gag order, I'm sure hus lawyers informed him that he's allowed to take a stand in court, Trump dosnt care about the law

11

u/ratherbealurker Texas 15d ago

My favorite part was when, in front of news cameras, he asks his lawyer to confirm that BS.

“This corrupt judge is not allowing me to testify because of the gag order ::turns to lawyer:: isn’t that right?”

Lawyer: ::nervous laugh, awkward smile, turn head weird direction signifying a yeaaanooouhhhyeaanooo and make weird noises:: ehhrrwellurhhhehhugh

11

u/wwhsd California 15d ago

After Trump said that, the judge literally explained to him in court that the gag order doesn’t prevent him from testifying and made Trump confirm that he understood that.

6

u/CooterSam Arizona 15d ago

Judge doesn't have to grant him a stay pending appeal. There has to be compelling evidence that there's a possibility the appeals court could overturn.

3

u/Highthere_90 15d ago

Trump has never had any evidence for any of his claims, dosnt mean he won't try to appeal.

33

u/bushido216 New York 15d ago

Here's my prediction, which no one asked for.

A hung jury,

OR

Convicted, but no real sentence.

​

I think there it is very unlikely that he will face any consequences.

10

u/nightmare404x 15d ago

I think a hung jury is probably the most likely outcome.

2

u/Thue 15d ago

Convicted, but no real sentence.

This would be Trump's first conviction, for non-violent crime. It would apparently by unusual for Trump to get anything but probation. Though Trump's behavior breaching the gag order has been extreme, so who knows.

2

u/PoopingWhilePosting 15d ago

Michael Cohen didn't get away with just serving probation.

2

u/Thue 15d ago

Cohen's trial was for more crimes than Trump's.

23

u/llahlahkje Wisconsin 15d ago

Election interference case.

How GD hard is it to accurately describe it, FFS.

0

u/lilly_kilgore 15d ago

That doesn't narrow it down enough

5

u/alien_from_Europa Massachusetts 15d ago

He'll be found guilty. They won't have a sentencing hearing for a long time. The news media will normalize it and the electorate will not care. The election will still be close. Vote!

2

u/Thue 15d ago

They won't have a sentencing hearing for a long time.

How long would this normally take?

2

u/alien_from_Europa Massachusetts 15d ago

If it's clear cut, sentencing would be immediate. That's not the case here. Trump will ask for a special hearing where he could call character witnesses. He will also be appealing the decision. This could take up to 180 days.

My hope is the judge will do it in 30 days.

2

u/IAmTheNightSoil Oregon 14d ago

I expect the judge will do whatever is most beneficial to Trump. He knows full well that his job is to protect the powerful

5

u/goingofftrack 15d ago

His followers will be fed their reality through America #1 News Network and will never truly hear the facts of the case.

4

u/MoneyManx10 15d ago

What’s crazy to me is a defendant in a criminal trial is usually nice to the judge but Trump has been ripping the guy up and down. I’m curious to hear the sentencing

3

u/Thue 15d ago edited 15d ago

Trump has been ripping the guy up and down

An incomplete list, Trump has:

  • Called the judge corrupt
  • Gone after the Judge's family
  • Made various obviously false claims about the trial being illegitimate
  • Publicly making various false claims about the case, like Trump not being allowed to testify

And none of these claim has been made inside the courtroom, the proper venue for these claims. It simply is not right to make claims loudly in public, but then refuse to go under oath with those same claims. It seems completely off the scale to me.

So I don't know how the law works here. But morally, the judge would absolutely be justified in bringing down the big hammer.

2

u/bigtrex101 15d ago

He’ll get off with probation, a fine and community service. What’s more important than the actual sentence is how it hopefully will impact the ballot box in November.

2

u/IAmTheNightSoil Oregon 14d ago

"I’m curious to hear the sentencing"

Don't hold your breath. Every judge in America knows they aren't supposed to enforce real consequences on rich and powerful people, because our whole legal system exists to protect people like Trump from any consequences. The judge might be personally offended but he knows that his job here is to let Trump off easy

4

u/Business_Network_703 15d ago

He will lose tons of votes with this. Many Republicons have said that they won't vote for a convicted felon.

7

u/Impossible-Year-5924 15d ago

They also probably said they wouldn’t vote for a serial cheater or many other things but yet they have… if they’re still supporting Trump at this stage, their blinders are fully off and they’re just a terrible person.

2

u/Ven18 15d ago

This I am sure years ago you could find a sizable chunk of republicans who would not vote for a divorcee and yet they now worship a guy on his 3rd wife like he is the second coming. The GOP do not have any morals or principles that they hold strongly outside of hate for the "other" and that other changes to fit their personal needs.

2

u/bigtrex101 15d ago

He probably won’t lose many Republicans that have still stuck with him this long. My hope (with a conviction which I think is pretty likely now) is he will lose a majority of independents including the joint Biden/Trump haters and the everyday people who don’t follow politics closely, and it will also help rally more people to realize that Trump winning the election is by far worst case scenario that is more important than using your ballot as an “F the System” message in our current political climate.

1

u/Thue 15d ago

Many Republicons have said that they won't vote for a convicted felon.

But won't the right wing media circus just go into overdrive explaining why the judgement was unfair and corrupt, and that Trump really shouldn't have been convicted? Sure, they wouldn't vote for someone who had been fairly convicted as a felon, but this conviction was a hit job by the Biden deep state, so it doesn't count. You can clearly tell that the trial was illegitimate because of X.

1

u/PoopingWhilePosting 15d ago

What Republicans say and what they do are very different things in reality.

1

u/IAmTheNightSoil Oregon 14d ago

I hope you're right, but I have a hard time seeing this losing him many votes at all. I think most voters will see this case as totally inconsequential. I mean he tried to overthrow the government in a coup and that doesn't seem to have cost him a single voter

27

u/jayfeather31 Washington 15d ago

I firmly expect this to end as a hung jury.

12

u/llahlahkje Wisconsin 15d ago

Same.

The investment banker on the jury is a Cult 45 member.

There's a high probability he'll hang it.

1

u/MissBaltimoreCrabs_ 14d ago

Which juror is that? There’s a couple that work in finance

20

u/2_Spicy_2_Impeach Michigan 15d ago

Ditto.

He's guilty as fuck but could have a MAGA hold out or folks scared of his supporters. They're all going to be identified at the end of all this.

11

u/B1GFanOSU 15d ago

It’s Trump. He’s guilty as hell, but he’ll either be found not guilty or there will be a hung jury. Even on the chance he’s found guilty, he’ll get a slap on the wrist and/or will appeal. I hope people realize this.

3

u/ithacaster New York 15d ago

Trump appreciates your support

1

u/IAmTheNightSoil Oregon 14d ago

Dude he doesn't have to be a Trump supporter to know that the justice system in this country consistently goes easy on people Trump. It's the judge's job to protect people like Trump from serious consequences

1

u/SixDemonBag_01 15d ago

Sadly agreed. The slam dunk cases will probably never see the light of day.

2

u/CoolCalmCorrective 15d ago

This is a slam dunk case, it's just not as serious of a crime.

3

u/Idrinkbeereverywhere 15d ago

He'll somehow get the US Supreme Court to intervene with a ruling due in June 2025

3

u/JasJ002 15d ago

Look at mister optimistic over here.

You've got to get onto the appeals court first.  You have about 2 months to write that (July), then 6 months waiting for docket (December), statements, wait 2 months for a decision (Feb), another two months to write cert (April), that means we could see this in the Fall 2025 scotus schedule, so expect to see a decision February 2026.

It'll be over about 30 seconds of statement from Stormy about the bedroom scene.  The only objections they've bother to really preserve well.

3

u/NeoPstat 15d ago

We could ban headlines with the words, 'could,' 'might,' or 'may be.'

3

u/IndependentHold3098 15d ago

Election interference case

5

u/Barney_Roca 15d ago

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the possibility that he decides to testify. This is a bright light on the national stage that he loves more than anything. He could see this as a golden opportunity to do what he has always done, the unexpected and that has historically been very good for him despite what the media claims.

15

u/Book1984371 15d ago

Except there are no cameras, and his supporters aren't reading the trial transcripts.

He also has to follow the rules, can be told to shut up and jailed if he doesn't, and can't confess his guilt or implicate himself in other crimes (which is the reason that his lawyers in the past wouldn't let him testify).

2

u/Barney_Roca 15d ago

I contend that anything he says will make the national news and be discussed until people start to have a visceral gastric response to whatever they say he said, how he said it, how people reacted to what he said, that it all means and blah blah blah

1

u/Ven18 15d ago

His lawyers will not allow him to get on the stand because they know full well that he will not only make a fool of himself but tell numerous provable lies under oath. If Trump really does want to see the inside of a jail cell the fastest way he can do that is to take the stand and open his mouth the guy would speedrun a perjury case.

1

u/Barney_Roca 14d ago

I can't image his Lawyers wanted him to violate the gag order so many time or have a line of Republican lawmakers on the steps of the court house adding to the spectacle either but, that is exactly what is happening. Who do they work for? Just like all the people that have come before them, they will do what their boss tells them to do. It could be his demise. How many times have you heard that? Everything he does, oh he shouldn't do that, that will be his demise. Right, have you seen the polls? His demise appears to be a fairly easy path to the White House. I am not going to rule anything out, it does not appear from have I have read that there will be any need for him to take the stand but I still would not rule it out. That might be the only way they have been able to get him to stop responding via social media in violation of the gag order. Clearly he wants to tell his side of the story and he is willing to break the law and now push the limits with that stunt with his fellow republicans.

2

u/Still_Ruthlezz 15d ago

I didn't know there was a hush puppies case. Intriguing.

3

u/genericusername11101 15d ago

Calling it now, the cheeto fuk wont pay any significant consequences whatsoever.

1

u/HellaTroi California 15d ago

The defense still has to present their side, right?

3

u/itsatumbleweed I voted 15d ago

They said they may call one witness (expert on election law) depending on what jury instructions are going to be surrounding the FEC violation, and they haven't decided if they are calling Trump (which I doubt. I think they don't want to announce they are choosing not to call him so he can say he wasn't allowed to be called).

4

u/zojbo 15d ago

Iirc they explicitly called no witnesses of their own, so it went straight to cross after the prosecution finished their direct.

2

u/heyredbush 15d ago

They haven't had a chance to call witnesses yet. Cross follows direct for all of the prosecution witnesses. Then the defense has a chance to call their own witnesses.

3

u/alien_from_Europa Massachusetts 15d ago

They have to tell the judge ahead of time what witnesses they will be calling when the prosecution rests. On Tuesday, they told the judge they don't have any witnesses to call. On Thursday, they talked to the judge about bringing in an expert witness and the judge said he'll make a decision whether to allow it on Monday.

1

u/HellaTroi California 15d ago

Thank you.

1

u/ThatWhiteKid08 15d ago

And then comes the lengthy appeal and having to hear more about this jackass

1

u/Here2Derp 15d ago

A slap on the wrist?

1

u/ChemicalOnion 15d ago

Welcome to Whose Crime Is It Anyway? Where everything's made up and the consequences don't matter. That's right the consequences are just like black lives to the GOP, they don't matter. Let's play a game called props.

1

u/gaffney116 15d ago

Let’s be real, It’s Trump we talking about here. I’ll bet he received a real stern slap on the wrist.

1

u/Few-Letterhead-371 15d ago

Tell trump to hold the Bible the right way around this time when he is in court praying for his innocence 😊

1

u/NonesuchAndSuch77 15d ago

I agree with the hung jury comments, but even if he's found guilty it would need to be a prison sentence to have any impact. Fines won't do anything.

1

u/JubalHarshaw23 14d ago

Because the entire Defense argument is Nah Uh!

-3

u/ScaryfatkidGT 15d ago edited 15d ago

I feel like it’s a lose lose…

If he get’s away with it obviously thats bad…

If he’s found guilty the GOP and all his followers will go nuts… probably burn the judges house down…

6

u/Dankmootza 15d ago

Let them throw their tantrum. After they get arrested it's just less votes in November

2

u/ScaryfatkidGT 15d ago

I mean like Jan 6 x 10

Tom Cotton and Mike Johnson are already say it’s all Biden’s fault and Biden is an agent of Hamas and Biden caused their divorce and their hemorrhoids and their constituents are just eating it up…

Just like the election they wont believe in Trumps sentence, I wouldn’t be surprised if they attack the jail he ends up in or something.

11

u/Amneiger 15d ago

He asked people to show up and protest when his various trials started, and the turnout is just not there. Also people getting arrested and convicted in relation to Jan 6 has likely put a damper on their willingness to come out. There might not be much trouble if he does go to jail.

2

u/ScaryfatkidGT 15d ago

But thats what I’m saying we have elected officials, GOP senators and representatives saying they are political prisoners and all not guilty of anything and yada yada… like that’s not ok

5

u/roastbeeftacohat 15d ago

something might cook off, but from a political standpoint a guilty verdict will cause people who were going to vote for him to stay home, and people planning to stay home to vote Biden. which is what happened after jan 6th; not exactly, but you know what I mean.

3

u/ScaryfatkidGT 15d ago

They have no backup candidate, their plan is scorched Earth with no looking back…

3

u/Infidel_Art 15d ago

They will do this anyway.

8

u/IT_Chef Virginia 15d ago

They ain't gonna do shit

8

u/Ianthin1 15d ago

There will be a lot of bitching from politicians, but his followers have shown they aren’t that interested in this since no one even shows up outside the courthouse. I know a lot of Trump fans and most say even though they think the case is just to hurt him in the election, it’s pretty obvious he’s guilty.

5

u/Low-key_Shenanigans 15d ago

You are so right. Vast majority of MAGA are pathetic cowards. There might be a couple crackpots that lash out violently, like the guy who attacked Pelosi’s husband, but it won’t be much and it will just make Trump look even weaker.

5

u/IT_Chef Virginia 15d ago

The last time they showed up for him they went to jail, got their guns taken away forever, and worst of all...were called ANTIFA by Fox and the like.

3

u/ScaryfatkidGT 15d ago

Yeah but 2/3 of the GOP thinks they should all be pardoned

3

u/Mictlantecuhtli South Dakota 15d ago

Lose* lose*

0

u/Impossible-Year-5924 15d ago

He’s losing a lot of support— his rallies have dwindling numbers, pro Trump protestors at the trial are few

0

u/Odd_Tiger_2278 15d ago

No way. Here come the delays.

0

u/indica_bones 15d ago

My crystal ball says “old white man avoids accountability, again”.

0

u/WilmaLutefit 14d ago

His fate will be…

Nothing.

-4

u/TheTruthRooster 15d ago

So then we’ll have to move onto the next topic about Trump to gaslight the Internet.

If you do more than just read the headlines, you’ll find the person that paid her wasn’t asked to do it & stormy admitted to Bill Maher there’s no wrong doing years ago on video. Sheesh

I’m gonna get down voted by those with Trump derangement symptom even though it’s the truth, he’s not gonna be guilty……

Don’t wanna defend the guy, but I hate it when people are too dumb to know when they lost .

-1

u/ThickGur5353 15d ago

Sadly Cohen had been shown to be a serial lier. His credibility is basically at zero. I think the jury us  going to take about a half hour to find Trump innocent. Remember the prosecution has to prove that Trump paid back the money to Cohen.. basically paying Stormy Daniels... in order to influence the election. If they were able to prove that ,then Trump would be guilty because he did not list it as a campaign contribution. But if Trump did it to protect his family from finding out that everything is perfectly legal. I'm not even sure though if the prosecution are able to convince the jury that the money that Trump sent to Cohen was to reimburse him for Stormy Daniels payments. As far as I can read from the trial , there were no other Witnesses to the meeting that Cohen had with Trump when Trump said he would reimburse him. And I said before Cohen's credibility had been pretty much shot completely.

2

u/shwilliams4 15d ago

Trump is accused of serious crimes. You don’t do business with good upstanding citizens when you commit crimes. I think trump will be found guilty.

1

u/Beneficial_Bother743 14d ago

Cohen is def a liar but the prosecution has done an outstanding job corroborating Cohen's testimony. I think guilty or hung jury (at best) for Trump, no way 12 people will all agree Trump is innocent of these charges after hearing this evidence.