A sad reflection on the character of the former president
From Heather Cox Richardson on Friday April 19 writing about the first few days of the criminal trial against the former president.
It is a courtesy for the two sides at a trial to share with each other the names of their next witnesses so the other team can prepare for them. Today the prosecution declined to provide the names of their first three witnesses to the defense lawyers out of concern that Trump would broadcast them on social media. “Mr. Trump has been tweeting about the witnesses. We’re not telling them who the witnesses are,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said.
Merchan (presiding judge, Juan Merchan) said he “can’t blame them.” Trump’s defense attorney Todd Blanche offered to “commit to the court and the [prosecution] that President Trump will not [post] about any witness” on social media. “I don’t think you can make that representation,” Merchan said, in a recognition that Trump cannot be trusted, even by his own lawyers.
The former president makes a mockery of our justice system every chance he gets. It is a strong statement when the judge feels the former president cannot be trusted to follow his lawyers’ commitments regarding the use of social media.
More mockery and disrespect
From Joyce Vance on Friday
…We learned a fascinating tidbit about Trump’s willingness to listen to the lawyers today. A pool reporter in the courtroom noted that “when the defense is introduced to the potential jurors seated in the audience, Trump does not stand up like his legal team does to turn and face them.”
My friend and former Chicago federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti, now a criminal defense lawyer, pointed out that this is the most basic thing defense lawyers instruct their clients to do—they tell them to rise along with everyone else in the courtroom to show respect for the people who will decide their fate. I have never seen a defendant fail to stand up every time the jury entered or left the courtroom.
Trump continues to believe he is above the law. He continues to flout the Judge’s gag order—we’ll discuss that next Tuesday when the Judge holds a hearing on the growing list of Trump’s violations. And here, even in the small things like standing for the jury, he is incapable of feigning respect. In his mind, it’s Donald Trump versus the rule of law, and the former president seems to think he’s going to win. If he does, America truly loses.
Speaker Johnson
Speaker Mike Johnson looked his MAGA extremists in the eye and told them to do something that is physically impossible. Johnson along with moderate Republicans and the majority of Democrats in the House were able to get it done this weekend and pass the long overdue aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza humanitarian relief. The bills received strong bi-partisan support and has been forwarded to the senate for approval and then onto Biden for final approval.
The passage brought some interesting quotes from members of the House of Representatives. Here are just a few.
“The House is a rough and rowdy place, but Mike Johnson is going to be just fine. We’re at a point where we’re just trying to govern, and that’s what Mike Johnson has done: governing in an honorable way. The way you take care of a bully is to bloody their nose. That’s where we’re at.” Representative Tony Gonzales, Republican of Texas, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“I disagree with Speaker Johnson on many issues, and I’ve been very critical of him,” “But he did the right thing here and he deserves to keep his job.” Representative Ro Khanna, the progressive Democrat whose district encompasses parts of Silicon Valley in California, credited Mr. Johnson for the passage of the aid bill. Mr. Khanna said on ABC’s “The Week.”
“When the motion to vacate is threatened every week in Congress, that is being abused and I think we need to fix that. They have a gun to the speaker’s head every day, so I think that’s something that we’ll be looking at.” Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas and the chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee.
“Marjorie Taylor Greene is not a serious person. Would only embolden China, it would only embolden Russia, it would only embolden Iran.” Representative Jared Moskowitz, Democrat of Florida, who has repeatedly said he would step in to save Mr. Johnson’s job.
The above are my Quotes of the Day
A lifetime ban
On Wednesday, the National Basketball Association confirmed the untoward had occurred, issuing a lifetime ban to Jontay Porter, a seldom-used backup forward for the Toronto Raptors. The league said Mr. Porter wagered money on his own team to lose, pretended to be hurt for betting purposes and shared confidential information with gamblers.
“There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of N.B.A. competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport,” Adam Silver, the league’s commissioner, said in announcing Porter’s punishment.
Adam Silver gets my Orchid of the Day for taking quick and decisive action. Jontay Porter gets my Onion of the Day.
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Quote of the Day: See above quotesunder Speaker Johnson
Orchid of the Day: Adam Silver, NBA commission. See above story A lifetime ban.
Onion of the Day: Jontay Porter. See above story A lifetime ban.
Question of the Day: At what point does the former president’s mockery of law start cutting into votes?
Video of the Day: RIP Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers. One of the greatest guitar players of all time.
Guitar Greats – Jessica – Dickey Betts – 11/12/1984 – Capitol Theatre (youtube.com)