UPDATE: According to media in the courtroom the New York City jury has found President Trump guilty on all 34 counts.
PREVIOUSLY – According to media in New York City, the jurors in the Trump trial have informed Judge Juan Merchan they have reached a verdict. According to most media reports the jurors requested an extra 30 minutes after their planned 4:30 p.m. court end time to fill out the jury verdict form. WE AWAIT THE NEWS
A few livestream links below:
Just like that, an empire is no more.
Consult with Admiral Yamamoto.
You all knew it was going to be this way – Joe Biden planned to speak to everyone after the verdict was in…This was planned a while ago. I bet the jurors were to be paid off for a guilty verdict as well. Just think if one of them wanted to say not guilty – the others would’ve made his/her life horrible as none of them would have gotten the golden ticket of moolah. A-holes.
They probably got a helpful home visit last night from the fib.
I expect the prosecution had a mole on the jury who was reporting any hold-out jurors.
Probably the one who put that one of his news sources was Truth Social. Judge would have stricken that juror if the juror were legit. Merchan and Bragg wouldn’t let anyone on that jury who really followed Truth Social.
Maybe not. Once read somewhere that if we don’t show character throughout our lives in the everyday small ways, we sure as hell won’t have it for the really bad times.
There are undoubtedly thousands who read here, who would have held the line. But then, we would not have been selected as a juror because every detail of our lives would have been scrutinized in advance. God and family and honor are sacred to you? Hard pass.
The President was convicted even before the opening statements were made. He was convicted once the jury panel was seated.
Actually he was convicted when the “charges” were brought… its engeron all over again.
That’s why you have 2 leftist lawyers on the jury.
You all do realize that they will move to disqualify him from the ballot essentially rendering any write in vote null?
The Constitution sets the requirements for president. I don’t think the states can add to that.
Can you be so sure after this verdict?
There are many things that are going against our Constitution while under the O’Bidumb regime — they don’t care! I hear the people singing!
Wanna know what civil war looks like?
Wishful thinking on anyone’s part
Its only wishful to those who sit
Each state that feels they have standing because their rights to a fair election were nullified due to unconstitutional use of federal law in a state court CAN AND WILL APPEAL
Am worried the RNC will try to strip him of his delegates at the convention.
Isn’t the RNC led by Trump’s daughter?
Daughter-in-law, Lara Trump is co-chair.
There will be those that try
The names of these jurors, if they are ever named, will forever be as sullied as the names of Benedict Arnold and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Americans will speak their names and spit.
There was lawyers, investment banker, software engineer, teacher on the jury. Fairly intelligent people one would assume. Yet, they didn’t see through the bias and the cheating.
Wonder how much they made and what was the judges take $$$ – RIGGED FOR SURE!
They are the ones that are biased. They are proud that their job was to convict.
The problem is that too many people in this country support this kind of thing because the media and every institution tells them that they should.
I prefer to refer to them only as the Judas Jury.
They will shortly be busy on CNN, MSN, GMA etc. spinning them as heroes.
They will be vilified by history.
They will be seen as useful idiots for the most overt obliteration of American law that we’ve seen.
I’ve been saying for a long time that what has happened to our judicial system is likely the biggest obstacle we face.
Without the blind justice system our founders tried to bequeath to us, everything falls apart. Everything.
Justice Alito’s wife flew the right flag, an Appeal to Heaven seems apt.
33,000 emails were deleted by Hillary because they were about Yoga and wedding plans.
51 of the finest US Intel members thought the Hunter Biden laptop story was Russian disinformation.
81,000,000 votes were received by the human Potato.
34 guilty counts for our favorite President for “something?, anything?, nothing?”.
Wow, can you believe the story about Hillary is the most truthful in the bunch?
The DOJ just jumped the shark today.
Let’s not forget the Hillary campaign paying for the Russia dossier and miscategorizing it as legal expenses.
Sounds like a felony to me….
A people without a country.
Living as I do in the belly of the Blue Beast, less than 50 miles from the stinking cesspool of Nueva York city, I always knew that there was no hope for our beloved President in that venue.
*As we know, the DemoRat Commies do not ever leave anything to chance when it comes to winning or losing.
There is NO merit, NO justice, No good faith. These people have all long ago made their deal with the Devil- you can see it in their ugly faces and demeanor.
Just look at the devils Engoron and Merchan. Their faces tell you everything you need to know.
There is no mercy to be had, no peace, no justice, no reason. They are the worst sociopaths ever to walk the face of the earth.
As for us, the MAGA people, the Treepers and patriots everywhere- the question now is what do WE do?
This country has never been closer to civil war than it is at this moment, thanks to the Satanic forces that have been unleashed by the devil worshiping scum that is running things.
We must regroup- spiritually, mentally and politically. We cannot allow ourselves to be goaded into hasty actions that will only hurt ourselves and our movement.
Let us pray and take comfort in our fellowship. We have never needed each other more than during these perilous times. Most of all, let us pray for our magnificent President, that he can weather yet another storm.
Soon our merciful God will reveal more of His will to us. As Sundance says, let us remain Steadfast.
God bless President Trump and all his loyal Patriots and supporters.
I know there are good people in New York, the recent Bronx rally proved that.
I am going to try and remember this, but it will be hard. God help us.
If you live in the belly then I reside in the bowels as I call Queens my home! I think I was the first to comment on this story and being the pessimist I am, called it that the jury would find Trump guilty on all charges. We are in a CIVIL WAR! We wanted PEACE the left never did!
Your prediction was accurate.
New York City
Civil war? Probably not (hopefully)….but definitely on the road to revolution.
Never. Ever. In the history of the world has a person or country ever voted themselves out of bondage.
The United States as a free country has fallen.
We are all slaves to the Techo-fascist socialists. Make no mistake. The Democrats in the DOJ, FBI, CIA, NSA and their friends in Big Tech, Big Ag, Big Pharma, Big Finance (too big to fail) and their friends at the Chamber of Commerce have transformed the United States of America into a one-party dictatorship run by liberal socialist.
Anyone speaking out against their tyranny is targeted silenced and destroyed. They created the “illusion” of democracy but have hand picked the POTUS since WWII. We just didn’t want to believe it.
Do you really think the intelligence community would leave the most important office in the World, up to chance to be selected by the great unwashed American people? Not on your life.
We are at best serfs. At worst slaves to be used at their whim. That’s why the technocrats were so quick to push a medical experiment on the world.
If MRNA worked they could reprogram DNA and be Gods. But if it didn’t work, they reduce the world’s population which is what the WEF has been pushing all along.
From their point of view, it was a win either way for big tech government.
History proves, there’s only one way this ends.
God Bless America.
I can vividly imagine similar conversations occurring in certain taphouses in the Philadelphia area a couple of hundred years ago.
Black voters right now
Import the Third World, become the Third World. That’s what we just saw. This won’t stop Trump. He’ll win the election if he’s not killed first. But it does mark the end of the fairest justice system in the world. Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.
https://x.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1796290488976228406
“Anyone who defends this verdict is a threat to you and your family”
The truest statement of all.
And the worst statement of all is when it’s your actual family that defends the verdict. If vaccine status didn’t kill family relationships, this verdict most certainly will.
“Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.” No doubt about that.
We see them now. Once seen it can’t be unseen.
The real sadness of this verdict, besides the legal problems, is about half of our country applauses the verdict, including Establishment Republicans. So, to me, we are being controlled by the Establishment and corrupt government institutions. It has been said it’s a big club and we aren’t in it.
why would I vote for another So Called Republicans who have been mostly silent about this corruption in our legal system or say a lot and do nothing. They are part of the problem. The Establishment and Communist in our government fight hard to destroy our country and, I fear, they have just won a major battle.
Twitter is full of celebrations. Don’t look. it will make you sick. We no longer have a country but a 3rd world shitehole. Act accordingly.
>Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.
My thoughts exactly. Precisely.
And the “covid” operation already taught me/us a lot about who our friends are and aren’t.
I can imagine most of us will be excused from jury duty in the future if ever we’re required to answer the question during voir dire, “What are your opinions of the American justice system?” I would just sit there, look at the judge, and say, “Are you kidding?”
I’m putting this under Sundances own words because I can’t believe how many Treepers are caving in !
We are the best educated and informed people on the web ,
thanks to Sundance and company and here we are curling up into balls and getting ready to hide ourselves .
Does PDJT have that option , can he cry and start to wither away ? !
I’m shocked and saddened by my fellow Treepers , get on the web and start giving them HELL !
Throw sand , laugh at the ignorance of these jurors , call the judge an A–hole !
Show them who you are ! Use all the wisdom you’ve gained here and throw it in their faces with two hands .
I have loved you all for many years , lets make the warriors , PDJT ,Sundance ,the writers of the Constitution etc
PROUD ! Like our true President says …never give in , never give up, MAGA !
THANK YOU!!
RIGHT THE HELL ON! #FJB
May God give everyone the strength to do what is right.
For now, I’m buying more stuff to stash away.
And I’m no longer willing to share any of it with gloating family members.
Amen Sundance.
Is he able to travel, hold rallies, fundraise, etc.?
Apparently. I think not even Merchan was stupid enough to revoke bail and send him to Rikers. Gag order might still be in place.
Thanks for answering
How can there still be a gag order still in place? If he’s been found guilty isn’t the trial over? I would think at this point Trump is free to say whatever he wants, as it’s in no danger of affecting the outcome of the case.
The trial is over but the case continues.
If the case continues on to an appellate court, who has the authority to issue a gag order?
Probably will, but the Establishment Republicans will probably use this as another reason to fight MAGA Republicans. And, if they do gain momentum because of this sham verdict, I’m out. What’s the point.
I know, cutting off my nose to spite my face, but if the Republicans don’t go all in supporting President ztrump after this, then what’s the point-DeSantis/Haley-NO WAY!
Trump has a long road to vindication: It will take years
February 2020: Harvey Weinstein found guilty of third-degree rape
June 2022: New York state appellate court concludes 2020 Harvey Weinstein trial was fair
April 2024: New York appeals court (highest court in New York State) overturns Harvey Weinstein rape conviction
Trump should file for an expedited hearing to the Appellate Division, with a stay of sentencing.
Trump can bypass the appellate court?
Would the appeals court have to hear it?
NY was weirdly-named court system. The next court up is the Supreme Court-Appellate Division. Then the highest court is the Court of Appeals.
He will get a quicker path
There were actual constitutional violations in this case and with the upcoming elections I believe this will be fast tracked to appellate court or higher and sentencing isn’t going to happen.
Or, he pays a fine and wears this as a badge of honor while cruising into the WH. They are corrupt not stupid, they are not going to put him in jail.
They won’t put him in jail? Keep living in denial. That’s what the sheeple said before they indicted him, before they investigated him, before…..
New York City is a disgrace to this country. 90% of the people living there are wastes of human life and deserve to live in Hell, they deserved everything that happened to them on 9-11. That city should have never been rebuilt, it should have been left the cesspool that it is. Now is the time to donate to Trump. Screw NYC and the Evil Democrats.
Its all on purpose. They have imported the workers to go straight to the job site of building America’s first 15 minute city.
Everybody’s unresolved GRIEF is suddenly front & center today – the uniparty c0mm1es love piling on the grief so they can kick you when you’re weakest.
They will milk this – and will you be further traumatized by that too??? They have you if you will.
ONLY IF YOU WILL;
only if you willfully abdicate your own personal power.
Yet another traumatizing event today… yes. Do something to *Neutralize trauma*- both past (accumulated/unresolved/triggered now) & presently imposed – cut the switch they flip inside you to turn it on!
{ https://emofree.com/english/eft-tapping-tutorial-en.html }
Note the PTSD section… unresolved trauma/PTSD is being used against us/US today & every day…
{ https://eftuniverse.com/research-studies/? }
>unresolved trauma/PTSD is being used against us/US today & every day…
This is extremely perceptive and deserves to be repeated.
However a quick fix via buying “tapping” products may or may not help some.
My “therapy” was to learn how the MSM and their mindrapists in academia/corporations work, so to recognize when they are trying to re-hurt me and mine with things we couldn’t help as children, young people, or adults innocent of evil. For that I found religion and myth much more valuable, as wise men among my ancestors pointed out these patterns of the Adversary willfully, gleefully destroying what is loving, good, and beautiful.
I don’t want my trauma neutralized. I want to command it and turn it back on them with the power of ten thousand suns, so they are unable to play their wicked games on me. Many people have taken this tack which is why these demons’ attacks have gotten so much more over-the-top and violent.
Never forget the etymology of the word “demon.”
demon (n.)
c. 1200, “an evil spirit, malignant supernatural being, an incubus, a devil,” from Latin daemon “spirit,” from Greek daimōn “deity, divine power; lesser god; guiding spirit, tutelary deity” (sometimes including souls of the dead); “one’s genius, lot, or fortune;” from PIE *dai-mon- “divider, provider” (of fortunes or destinies), from root *da- “to divide.”
*dā-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to divide.”
It forms words including: democracy/democrat, demography, demon, epidemic, pandemic, pandemonium, ordeal.
Our ancestors tried to warn us with their very language.
You’re entirely mistaken Ms. Watcher – **Tapping tutorials I’ve linked are absolutely FREE & DIY – not asking or suggesting anyone buy *anything*!**
Humans are weakened by walking around carrying negative/low-frequency charge/trauma within the nervous system/body & mind “. Fact of physics, not my opinion.
“…I don’t want my trauma neutralized. I want to command it and turn it back on them with the power of ten thousand suns, so they are unable to play their wicked games on me.”
which is a choice; probably fueled by the internal chemistry of anger, which seems ‘energizing’ but in the long run is only weakening. Cortisol is running high this afternoon; targets’ buttons have been pushed remotely –
you & everyone can clearly see that, but… can you comprehend it?
How has that decision to retain trauma been working for you… effectively giving you your desired results to functionally disempower the demons running amok so far? Fruitful?… or self-sabotaging?
Why haven’t YOU stopped them before now if that’s your reason for retaining ‘your trauma’???
“The most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed”
~ Steve Biko
It’s why they’ve worked so long & hard to learn how best to use it against us… usurpers are usurpers BECAUSE they know they’ve got control of your brain chemicals/thoughts/words/deeds – your personal power – when they confine you to fear &/or anger …. one of, if not The ,heaviest lowest-frequency emotions a Human can be stuck inside of and underneath is anger; grief is lower/heavier.
Anger feels slightly more ‘powerful’ & less vulnerable – it’s a surface emotion that obscures, masks, & distracts attention from True deeper feelings of grief, fear, etc.
Best for you possibly to remain willfully trapped there, flailing & railing – yet most likely, not for most.
The usurpers can’t do any sh1tty thing to me they haven’t already done – I had to learn how to make myself impervious to their mindfvck3ry…
I recommend self-empowerment; becoming – making one’s self – impervious.
We each must get out of our own way – beyond heavy emotional turmoil – to find the most efficient way to be effective & successful moving forward; for some- probably many – learning something powerfully useful to neutralize and eliminate internal obstacles (such as unresolvd trauma, grief, fear, pain, etc.) AND strengthen & fortify one’s own personal core-constitutional coherence would be pervasively & dynamically clarifying & empowering… so we can more effectively defend our US Constitution.
As Above, So Below.
You are right about the demonic nature of the warring faction.
There is a Spiritual solution to every Human problem. Clear your mortal, Earthly decks within so as not to be tripped up by your own flotsam & jetsam & detritus.
How do those jurists sleep at night??? Perhaps with multiple cocktails followed by their rx drugs for insomnia, anxiety and depression. A-holes. And there were 2 lawyers on the jury.
I am so incensed, as I know all of you are. Now we have to deal with the Obiden campaign spouting that PDJT is a convicted felon. It boils my blood.
You are assuming they are good people…they are not. They probably think and were told they would be famous. Might not be the kind of fame they want. Remember that GJ juror in Ga. What a lost person.
They were all bought off by the deep state.
I respectfully disagree. Their minds were made up before voir dire. And that’s why they were selected as jurors.
Are you kidding? These jurists will be honored, celebrated, high-fived and will be riding a high for a long time.
They live in a giant leftist-liberal bubble. They have zero concept of how their actions are affecting our (historically) free and fair system of government and justice.
“All glory is fleeting”.
Pretty surely, inverted/ satanic ‘glory’ is the most fleeting of all.
Once their names are released we can deep dive their political/activist histories.
It’s all bullshit.
Pardon my plain language.
No problem.
They didn’t have to do this. I was already going to vote for DJT.
As steamed up as I am , Baloney dear , you made me giggle !
Thank you !
Cold Anger. Sundance please repost this essay for people newer to this community. The left has no idea the sleeping giant they have awakened with folks on the fence.
Sentence to be given July 11th. Just before convention he will get jail or house arrest.
I think that’s the plan.
So tape an acceptance speech before the convention.
But keeping Trump off the campaign trail after 7/11 will be the goal.
The Trump campaign website portal for donations is running slow. Folks must be burning up the donation hot line.
It was down for a bit.
NYC travesty.
President Trump and the truth about this case have not changed as a result of this “fake”verdict.
We the People have not changed.
The legitimacy of the entire DOJ has changed today and not for the better.
I hope Merchan, Bragg, James, and the lot of them live long lives with public appearances full of public insults, and lack of privacy anywhere they go. I hope their hatred of Trump and lack of impartiality was worth never being able to enjoy going out in public and sobbing miserably at home about their petty little ruined lives.
these peoples faces should be never forgotten
dont let me within earshot
GIve ’em the Maxine Waters treatment if they are ever found in restaurants.
Sorry to say but these oligarchs will never have to face any repercussions from their evildoing, at least not in this world.
Haven’t you noticed that every single one of these scumbags including the celebrities, pedophiles, politicians, judges, etc. has to travel with a substantial bodyguard at all times? Not to mention limos, SUVs, even motorcades.
Even when a reporter gets near to one of the disgusting squad members, they can’t get in a question because they get elbowed away by the muscle/ bodyguard.
No way will they get too close to US.
I hope they all die horribly painful, slow deaths.
Since they live in a crime ridden city, I hope they come in contact with some of the criminals they released on bail
TRUMP DONATION SITE CRASHED FOR A BIT…
It’s back up, let’s show President Trump some love ❤️.
URL to Trump donation site? The official one, goes to Trump and only Trump. NO RINOs or GOPe.
Ivan Raiklin has made a lot of noise calling himself The Secretary of Retribution – Now is his chance, I expect he will be quiet as a mouse.
So one politician in Ohio is raising money by stating she hates Trump more than you do. Great campaign slogan.
Internet is too clogged to send support to President DJT.
That’s GREAT news !
Remind people to keep trying !
I can’t get through to donate. Anybody else having an issue?
Whats next: write-ins, ballot disqualifications, a mess. There will be no majority candidate for president. This gets sent to the House for the next President selection. Reflect back on all the RINO noise and retirements. Vacate the chair nonsense. Keep all eyes on the House. Expect a half dozen RINO golden parachute immediate retirements.
Trumps donation site crashed per Fox News, I hope this is the largest fundraiser ever for President Trump.
Just tried donating and it has definitely crashed.
It’s working now just sent more money to Felonius Trump . the GOAT President.
We love you, President Trump! Thank you doesn’t begin to convey our gratitude for all the arrows you take for us. Please give your family a hug from me and mine.
Article I, Section 9, Clause 3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
They wouldn’t be so insanely obvious with there banana Republic antics, if they weren’t terrified of us.
They one this battle.
The sure as hell won’t win the war.
Try to remember folks.. The only real Winner in the end of it all today is President Trump and MAGA
He and our movement only becomes stronger from these persecutions..
WE WILL ENDURE AND PERSEVERE BECAUSE WE MUST.
GOD IS ON OUR SIDE.
-evil will lose in the end if we stand strong and together in faith and action.
How so? There is a good possibility President Trump will be jailed by mid July. Then what?
Then what? Biden declares Marshall law, no elections, CBDC launch, and war with Russia.
Then What? WAR inside America.
President Trump will appeal all the way to SCOTUS if need be and win.
at the same time MAGA just grew 10 fold and crashed winred with donations.
So…the gag order has got to be lifted following the verdict, right? I don’t think Trump should’ve ever obeyed it, dared Juanito Flaco to put him in jail earlier for unconstitutionally restricting his speech. Now with the verdict what more is there to lose? Use the moment to shine the hot spotlight on those Trump has obediently not spoken about.
He is the leader of a movement. It’s about more than him. And mass civil disobedience is our only way out of this. He must lead that civil disobedience effort. By asserting his First Amendment rights he consented to suspend by obeying the unconstitutional gag order in the first place.
The trial was one stage of the case. The case continues. The case started with the filing of an indictment, and will end with sentencing, and any ruling on post-trial motions. Merchan will deny all Trump’s post-trial motions, of course.
Just donated to DJT. WinRed is crashing.
Waiting on a visit from FIB.
Let them come for me !
Let them drag me away to never be heard from again if
it might help save this great country .
If not here , where ?
Does anyone know of another country with a citizen like our PDJT ?
He was created here in this country and no other for a reason .
Give me liberty or give me death !
Can’t believe I’m living in a time where I can say those words and mean them .
God Bless America !
Techno from The Reactionary <[email protected]>
“Justice belonged to those who could enforce their will.”
The jury has reached a verdict: Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.
The trial – The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump – lasted just over a month, part of a nearly ten year Democratic effort to convict Trump. The dirty work of Crossfire Hurricane and the Mueller investigation failed, the Fulton County prosecution is stayed pending appeal, and Special Counsel Jack Smith won’t get his cases to trial before the November 2024 election. But they always had New York – the State has made Trump and his company and his family a political target – and District Attorney Alvin Bragg came through with the early indictment.
The target might have been Trump, but the real goal was to influence the 2024 election, no matter the shaky facts and dubious legal theories of the case. Democracy must be saved even through unlawful and unethical means. The enemies of society must be hunted, the obstacles to progress must be destroyed.
As the years-long Trump investigation and prosecution continued, and as New Yorkers continue to deal with rampant crime and theft and felony assaults – which they often don’t even report due to “the revolving-door criminal injustice system” – Trump was pursued with rare intensity. The bodega shopkeepers, facing a shoplifting and armed robbery epidemic which empties their shelves and puts their lives at risk, are besides themselves. As are normal citizens whose safety is at risk daily. If only their interests were political. If only the perpetrator were the Republican presidential frontrunner and not a career criminal then perhaps they would see justice.
In trial, venue matters. It’s strategic, it’s the selection of a favorable judge and jury. Monsanto is sued in San Francisco and the jury pours them out for $289 million. Cook County (Illinois) is notorious for high jury verdicts. So too is Philadelphia and Lansing, Michigan. Corporate defendants tremble in fear at being sued in working class cities along the Gulf coast. Texas brings suit against the Biden Administration in the Southern District of Texas – Galveston Division because the one federal district judge there (a Trump appointee) will not hesitate to stop unlawful acts or policies. Hawaii brought suit in Honolulu against the Trump Administration and obtained a temporary restraining order against Trump’s travel ban from an Obama-appointed judge. He was reversed by the Supreme Court, but that process took over a year.
Bragg brought his case in a Democratic stronghold which voted overwhelmingly for Biden in 2020 (87% Biden to 12% Trump). Bring this case upstate and you might get a different result. The jurors walked into the courthouse with biases against President Trump (so powerful were these prejudices that some prospective jurors lied to try to get selected), and their own political preferences were certainly considered when reaching their verdict. It’s human nature. And they followed those biases all the way through to the verdict, ignoring Michael Cohen’s perjury – his outright lies in court – and buying the story from the State that a non-disclosure agreement is a criminal act.
In the show trials, at least the judges tried to hide their bias.
It was too much to ask that Trump at least get a fair shake from Judge Juan Merchan, a Democrat and donor in 2020 to Joe Biden and various progressive political causes. They were small donations, but donations nonetheless. Judge Merchan’s daughter continues to work and benefit financially from her work with Trump’s political rivals. Her firm, Authentic Campaigns, Inc., has raked in millions from Democrats since the indictment. Her clients are fundraising off her father’s actions.
Judge Merchan denied there was a conflict or an appearance of a conflict, and remained on the case. His pretrial rulings did Trump no favors. This bias continued throughout the trial. He consistently twisted the law in the State’s favor. He severely limited the testimony of Trump’s expert on complicated federal election laws, which caused Trump’s attorneys to drop him as a witness. He allowed the State to disobey his order limiting the specifics on Trump’s alleged hotel room encounter with Stormy Daniels.
He improperly constrained the testimony of Trump witness Robert Costello, who was called to rebut Michael Cohen’s testimony and prove Cohen’s lies. He threatened the defense with striking Costello’s testimony when Costello, through no fault of the defense, gave him some attitude on the stand. He denied legally sound objections from the defense and freely granted questionable objections from the State. And during closing, Merchan allowed the State to argue facts not admitted into evidence and gave the State wide latitude in explaining the law to the jury, while denying the defense the same.
But Judge Merchan didn’t stop there. To convict Trump, the jury must have found that he falsified or caused business records to be entered falsely, and that he did so with the intent to deceive and the intent to commit or conceal the violation of New York Election Law § 17-152 (prohibiting the unlawful influence of an election). Judge Merchan instructed the jury that in determining whether Trump conspired to promote or prevent the election by unlawful means, they could consider: (1) violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA); (2) the falsification of other business records; or (3) violation of tax laws.
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About those tax laws. As explained above, one of the “unlawful means” to influence the 2016 election had to do with the violation of New York State, New York City, or federal tax laws. There’s one small problem with this theory: the violation of the tax laws is said to occur in 2017, well after the 2016 election. That couldn’t possibly be a “means” to influence the election. (The “falsification of other business records” theory runs into the same problem.)
You can read all 55 pages of the jury instructions here. They’re complex (even for lawyers), as Trump was charged with violating the false business records law by attempting to violate the election law, which he tried to violate by attempting to violate three other laws. It’s like Inception, but incoherent and in a New York courthouse: a law within a law within three laws.
As an aside, these instructions weren’t given to the jury. This issue has caused some debate on both sides – but really hasn’t been adequately explained. After many on the right voiced concerns about this, Trump critics responded that Judge Merchan was outright prohibited from giving copies of the instructions to the jury. While New York law generally prohibits giving a written copy of the instructions to the jury, a defendant may consent to giving the jury the instructions. People v. Muhammad, 34 NY 3d 1152 (2020) (“Here, the record supports the Appellate Division’s finding that defense counsel impliedly consented to the submission of written copies of the court’s entire final instructions to the jury.”) We saw nothing to suggest that Judge Merchan asked the defense whether they consented to copies being distributed.
Continuing on, Judge Merchan instructed the jury that they need not be unanimous as to which “other crime” Trump sought to commit. In theory, the jury could have been split in any number of different ways about the three different “other crimes” alleged by the State: 4 jurors could believe Trump attempted to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act, 4 jurors could believe Trump attempted to violate tax laws, and 4 jurors could believe Trump attempted to falsify other business records. And that would be sufficient for a conviction.
This was perhaps Judge Merchan’s most egregious ruling during this whole debacle. The Sixth Amendment requires juror unanimity under Ramos v. Louisiana (applying the Sixth Amendment to the States), but that case doesn’t address whether the jury must be unanimous in agreeing on the “other crimes” referenced in the applicable New York statute. Unfortunately, New York law isn’t directly on point on this issue, though caselaw and general constitutional principles suggest that unanimity should be required:
“this Court has indicated that the Constitution itself limits a State’s power to define crimes in ways that would permit juries to convict while disagreeing about means, at least where that definition risks serious unfairness and lacks support in history or tradition.” Richardson v. United States, 526 US 813, 320 (1999).
But instead of erring on the side of Trump’s constitutional rights, and consistent with this antagonism towards Trump, Judge Merchan decided unanimity wasn’t required. If there’s any good news, it’s that this is a solid basis for Trump’s eventual appeal.
What comes next? A sentencing hearing to be briefed by both sides.
We’re guessing that prosecutors will probably request incarceration. They will guarantee Trump’s safety to Judge Merchan. They’ll promise that Trump will be housed in the most secure facility, with room for Secret Service protection, and segregated from the general population. Perhaps they’ll tell Judge Merchan that Trump will have his own wing or floor.
They’ll point to Trump’s lack of remorse, the “seriousness” of the charges, how Trump attacked our democracy (apparently the weakest institution on the planet, should they be believed), and to Trump’s social media attacks against the judge and the prosecutors and the witnesses.
And they’ll make those arguments before a judge who agrees. Given Judge Merchan’s behavior throughout this matter, there’s nothing to suggest he won’t sentence Trump to prison. The length of that term could be months or years. At a maximum it would likely be four years, if Merchan decides the counts should run concurrently.
But Judge Merchan has a ton of discretion; Trump could also be sentenced to probation or receive a conditional discharge, should he conclude that “neither the public interest nor the ends of justice would be served by a sentence of imprisonment and that probation supervision is not appropriate.”
Trump’s team will appeal, of course. And even if he is sentenced to prison, there’s a very good chance that Trump will be free and out on bail pending that appeal.
In any event, it’s a sad day for this country. But it’s not over. November still looms for the Democrats – Biden’s numbers are dismal – and this could very well bolster Trump’s campaign. Judge Merchan knows all this… will it influence Trump’s sentence? Quite possibly.
Thank you Freedom, for bringing this essay here to us… much appreciated.
Anyone want a slightly flown unAmerican flag? Won’t be flying outside my house for the foreseeable future. Think I’ll just hang an old burlap sack instead.
If you gave it to me I’d just burn it, so, no thanks.
Go for it! Make a Democrat ecstatic !!!
Hang your flag upside down.
Just put out a Trump flag.
Listen, somebody said something about showing their trophy, parading the honest man in an orange jumpsuit. This has played out many times before. Eventually reality took hold because it must. What I find remarkable is the “Orange” man in an orange jumpsuit will be getting votes from every black, brown and white person who ever wore one themselves. They really suck at consequences. They’re just good at constant deflection. They’re the cool kids doncha know?
I’m looking forward to this, it will be better than your wildest dreams. The reality hammer is dropping soon only because they are asking for it. Afterwards, don’t be nice. They will use it to their advantage. They always do.
So there’s another talking point for Trump: If you want to move America out of third-world status, vote Trump 2024. You can already see what this country is reduced to.
Welcome to the Star Chamber.
Founding Fathers are turning in their graves.
Been warning about this. Nobody wanted to hear it.
Judicial Watch Statement on the Trump Verdict
https://www.judicialwatch.org/trump-verdict/
Try to get on Trump’s website to make a donation. The site is either under attack or being flooded by people like my wife and I who want to donate. I pray it’s the latter!
I was thinking of making a donation of $1.34 everyday for the next month .
Maybe by tomorrow we’ll know what the actual crime(s) is/are.
So many vectors of appeal, but they are all in “NY state”(?).
Trump’s Donation Site crashes after being overrun
Soon as its back up I’m giving 10 dollars for everyone of those fraudulent charges
Good for you LordPanther ! !
Great for our true president PDJT !
WHAT WEBSITE TO DONATE FOR TRUMP I WILL NOT USE WINRED
WinRed is only the payment processor. The money does not go to the Republican Party.
This has been asked and answered on this site many times.
The person who asked the question could be new here.
Went to donate server is down. God Bless Our President!!!
Where is the best place to donate?
https://www.donaldjtrump.com
Thank you!!
thank you
Website up, I just contributed $100.00.
Terrific !