Quote:
Judge Juan Merchan rules that Trump attorney Emil Bove can question Robert Costello "as to two prior inconsistent statements. "
In addition, he says, "I will give you some latitude to explore the pressure campaign so you can elicit some inconsistencies and offer some rebuttal."
Merchan adds:
"I'm not going to allow this to become a trial within a trial as to whether there was, in fact, a pressure campaign and how it affected (Michael) Cohen. It's not the purpose of this trial and I don't want it to become that."
The jury is back in the courtroom.
Limiting Costello's testimony is pure BS.Quote:
Robert Costello was just sworn in.
He did not look at Trump's table when he walked to the witness stand.
Quote:
Robert Costello says he met Michael Cohen at the Regency Hotel on April 17, 2018.
Costello says he was accompanied by Jeffrey Citron, one of his partners, at the meeting.
Costello says Cohen was "absolutely manic" throughout the two-hour meeting
Costello is too savvy a lawyer not to get in what he wants to get in.Quote:
Robert Costello, a one-time adviser to Michael Cohen, shakes his head as if he is exasperated when Judge Juan Merchan sustains an objection from the prosecution about one of his answers.
LOL. Called it.Quote:
Costello: Michael said he did it on his own
Quote:
Donald Trump's attorney Emil Bove asks what Michael Cohen said about Trump's family at the meeting at the Regency Hotel on April 17, 2018.
Judge Juan Merchan sustains an objection from prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, one of several he's already sustained.
Merchan tells the lawyers to approach the bench.
"Ridiculous," Costello says on the mic while attorneys are at a sidebar with the judge.
Quote:
Roberto Costello testified, "Michael Cohen said numerous times that President Trump knew nothing about those payments. That he did this on his own. He repeated that numerous times."
"Was Rudy Giuliani discussed at this meeting?" Trump attorney Emil Bove asked.
Merchan then overruled an objection from Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger.
Costello said his name came up "very briefly."
What a POS.Foreverconservative said:
Re-cross.
Trump's lawyer Blanche: You lost your law license - is that President Trump's fault?
Cohen: In part.
Blanche: But wasn't part of it your false statements to a bank, and tax evasion - in NY any felony costs you your license, right?
Cohen: Correct.
Quote:
The jury is seeing an email brought up earlier during Michael Cohen's testimony.
Robert Costello testifies that Cohen asked him to reach out to Rudy Giuliani on his behalf about the issue.
"He told me I was authorized to tell Giuliani that my firm was quote 'on the team.' That's the phrase he used, but that he wasn't going to announce it publicly," Costello says.
Casual Cynic said:
So it just comes down to whether the jury can believe Cohen talked about both subjects in 96 seconds?
Not to derail here but after the Chauvin case, several of those corrupt prosecutors were elevated to the bench as a reward for their service, including an outside civil trial attorney.Tramp96 said:
I am amazed at how truly corrupt our judicial system can be...I have been living a sheltered life.
I never dreamt that a defendant would not be allowed to put up a defense. This is unreal.
That only matters if we have a fair and impartial jury. I'm not convinced we do.BlackLab said:
A fair and impartial jury can see when a judge is tipping their hand on the scales and giving preference to one side.
Too bad this jury is most likely not fair and impartial.BlackLab said:
A fair and impartial jury can see when a judge is tipping their hand on the scales and giving preference to one side.
Aren't there two lawyers on the jury? How can ANY remotely competent lawyer not see what is going on here?AggieUSMC said:That only matters if we have a fair and impartial jury. I'm not convinced we do.BlackLab said:
A fair and impartial jury can see when a judge is tipping their hand on the scales and giving preference to one side.
There is polling that says many a vote would change if he is convicted.FireAg said:
How does a guilty verdict actually help the D's at this point?
Let's Go Brandon and every corporate legacy news outlet (sans Fox and Newsmax) will be using the title "Convicted Felon Donald Trump" whenever they reference him.FireAg said:
How does a guilty verdict actually help the D's at this point?
FireAg said:
How does a guilty verdict actually help the D's at this point?
Quote:
There is a burst of yelling by security officers in the courtroom and they're telling the media to leave after the judge said, "Clear the courtroom."
Court security just said, "Nobody can come back in."
Shortly afterward, the media was allowed to return to their seats in the courtroom.
Quote:
Judge Juan Merchan has said to get the jury.
Most of Trump's entourage got to stay in the room while the press was taken out.
aggiehawg said:
I think Costello is prepared to take a sanction fine or even go to jail for contempt over this.
Remember: Costello was repeatedly cut off during his testimony at the grand jury, again which was overseen by Merchan.
