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Robert Costello reviews an email string between his partner Jeff Citron and Michael Cohen. He is cc'ed on the chain.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asks him if he was hoping to represent Cohen.
Costello responds, "I wasn't hoping anything, it wasn't my email."
Costello says it arose from his partner's longtime relationship with Cohen.
"I didn't know Michael Cohen from a hole in the wall," Costello says
Hoffinger asks, "So you weren't hoping to represent Michael Cohen?"
"No, I wasn't."
Costello says he met with Cohen "because Jeff Citron made an arrangement with Michael Cohen, and he asked me to come along" because Citron was primarily a real estate lawyer, Costello says.
Hoffinger asks if it was a "high-profile" case for him?
"Probably, yes," Costello responds.

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aggiehawg said:

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Because courts have rules on what can be allowed in as evidence, whereas congressional hearings are made so the members on the committee can have their made-for-tv moments.

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Are you really defending what is happening with Merchan and Costello here?

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Foreverconservative said:

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Prosecutor Hoffinger: To the grand jury you called him a drama queen?
Costello: I said I didn't know.
Hoffinger: You don't like drama queens?
Costello: I don't know.
Hoffinger: He went with another lawyer.
Justice Merchan: Please approach
[sidebar - its 4:35 pm]

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Foreverconservative said:

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Prosecutor Hoffinger: To the grand jury you called him a drama queen?
Costello: I said I didn't know.
Hoffinger: You don't like drama queens?
Costello: I don't know.
Hoffinger: He went with another lawyer.
Justice Merchan: Please approach
[sidebar - its 4:35 pm]

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Quote:

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Defense: Re-direct will be short.

Justice Merchan: So you'll rest early tomorrow.

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aggiehawg said:

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Nothing funny about this anymore.

Normally when a lawyer forgets to get something in with a foundational witness it is too bad so sad. Deal with it.

Merchan's career as a judge should be over after this. The state board on Judicial Conduct will have to open an investigation.

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HTownAg98 said:

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Reality Check said:

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What does it say about the efforts of the judge to hide the truth when everyone who cares about this case heard every word Costello was able to say under oath last week before the U.S. House committee but gets cut off every time he is asked or attempts to answer a question?

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Because courts have rules on what can be allowed in as evidence, whereas congressional hearings are made so the members on the committee can have their made-for-tv moments.

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Quote:

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Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo is now up for the prosecution and arguing that several documents corroborate Michael Cohen's testimony, namely the records brought in through Jeffrey McConney "memorialize" the reimbursement plan.
Colangelo says "at minimum a reasonable juror could conclude the invoices, the ledger entries, the signed checks with check stubs all contain false information."
The prosecutor now says that there is also an "overwhelming record of concealment" that supports an intent to defraud on Trump's part.

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Judge Juan Merchan says he will reserve his decision on the defense's arguments for a dismissal of the charges.
"Thank you both," he tells the attorneys.
"As I said I'm going to reserve my decision. I'll see you tomorrow at 9:30," Merchan says as he leaves the bench.

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aggiehawg said:

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Quote:

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Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo is now up for the prosecution and arguing that several documents corroborate Michael Cohen's testimony, namely the records brought in through Jeffrey McConney "memorialize" the reimbursement plan.
Colangelo says "at minimum a reasonable juror could conclude the invoices, the ledger entries, the signed checks with check stubs all contain false information."
The prosecutor now says that there is also an "overwhelming record of concealment" that supports an intent to defraud on Trump's part.

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Quote:

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Judge Juan Merchan says he will reserve his decision on the defense's arguments for a dismissal of the charges.
"Thank you both," he tells the attorneys.
"As I said I'm going to reserve my decision. I'll see you tomorrow at 9:30," Merchan says as he leaves the bench.

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aezmvp said:

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Can you imagine him getting a judgeship after Biden got back into the White House? I think that would be good reason for actual violence.

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9:30??

Man, I need judges' hours.

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aggiehawg said:

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9:30??

Man, I need judges' hours.

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Not necessarily. This isn't his only case. I'd wager his real hours are likely between 7:30 AM and 6:30, maybe 7 PM everyday.

And he is supposed to be working on the his version of the jury instructions. So he's not sitting back in his office with his feet on his desk drinking a ingle malt and popping bon bons into his mouth.

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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As hawg pointed out earlier, the bailiffs typically got their finger on the pulse of the jury and knows the sentiment of the jury which they promptly relay to the judge.

So it's fair to say if you the defense, to see a judge acting with this much confidence and animosity it ain't a good sign.

That along with the time pressure now being put on the defense tells us more than anything it's a done deal, imho.

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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As hawg pointed out earlier, the bailiffs typically got their finger on the pulse of the jury and knows the sentiment of the jury which they promptly relay to the judge.

So it's fair to say if you the defense, to see a judge acting with this much confidence and animosity it ain't a good sign.

That along with the time pressure now being put on the defense tells us more than anything it's a done deal, imho.

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Tramp96 said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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As hawg pointed out earlier, the bailiffs typically got their finger on the pulse of the jury and knows the sentiment of the jury which they promptly relay to the judge.

So it's fair to say if you the defense, to see a judge acting with this much confidence and animosity it ain't a good sign.

That along with the time pressure now being put on the defense tells us more than anything it's a done deal, imho.

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But if the judge felt like the case was not being viewed favorably by the jury, wouldn't that explain his actions today and him telling them to "keep an open mind"? Doesn't seem like he would do something that blatant if the indications were the jury was looking favorably towards a conviction, especially with how over-the-top he was in trying to suppress the defense's witnesses.

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Tony Franklins Other Shoe said:

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So why did the prosecution not cure the whole Cohen stealing from the Trump corporation while they were pointing out his upcoming lies in the first round of questioning? Surely they had it put together. Just laziness? Stupidity?

Any theories?

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aggiehawg said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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As hawg pointed out earlier, the bailiffs typically got their finger on the pulse of the jury and knows the sentiment of the jury which they promptly relay to the judge.

So it's fair to say if you the defense, to see a judge acting with this much confidence and animosity it ain't a good sign.

That along with the time pressure now being put on the defense tells us more than anything it's a done deal, imho.

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Don't really disagree with that, yet Merchan took the motion for dismiss or directed verdict under advisment instead of just denying it outright immediately. That was curious to me. If Merchan belives it is all over with the jury for a conviction, why hold out on making that decision?

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Even if you are the most rabid of brain dead liberals, how could ANYONE watch this trial and conclude that this judge was a neutral? Shouldn't his conduct scare the left too, considering the right could just as easily behave this way if they ever assume power?

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aggiehawg said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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As hawg pointed out earlier, the bailiffs typically got their finger on the pulse of the jury and knows the sentiment of the jury which they promptly relay to the judge.

So it's fair to say if you the defense, to see a judge acting with this much confidence and animosity it ain't a good sign.

That along with the time pressure now being put on the defense tells us more than anything it's a done deal, imho.

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Don't really disagree with that, yet Merchan took the motion for dismiss or directed verdict under advisment instead of just denying it outright immediately. That was curious to me. If Merchan belives it is all over with the jury for a conviction, why hold out on making that decision?

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aggiehawg said:

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Rockdoc said:

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I hope the appeals courts and Supreme Court are paying attention to this, and yeah I know that's not supposed to happen.

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I would hope the supervising judge over Merchan is paying attention to this and uhmm...has a word with him to knock it off. he's making a mockery of the Manhattan courts.

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