Beyond its historical significance, those of us who covered the Trump trial expected the first day to be relatively uneventful, with administrative details and rules of conduct for jury selection. But it turned out that this morning was also marked by Donald Trump’s first bursts of accountability.
In preparation for trial, Judge Juan Merchan addressed Parker’s so-called warnings about courtroom behavior directly to the defendant, reminding him that he could be jailed if he disrupted the courtroom. procedure.
Trump, who earlier appeared sleepy, muttered “yes” when asked if he understood that and other elements of the warning, which Merchan was giving him a second time – now orally – just to ensure it flowed. In.
Then the former president had to sit and listen to a discussion about the admissibility of his years of witness intimidation, his arguably illegal social media posts and his efforts to use the National Enquirer to destroy his rivals. The jury heard none of this, but Trump and everyone else in the courtroom heard it.
All morning, the Trump camp won only once: when Merchan ruled that during the testimony of Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model, no mention could be made to the jury of the fact that the woman Trump was pregnant and then with a newborn (Barron Trump) at home when McDougal says they were having a long-term affair.
At one point, Todd Blanche, Trump’s lead lawyer, saw his client, slumped over, staring straight ahead, dejected. He reached out and patted Trump on the back.
Merchan said he would hold an April 23 hearing on the prosecution’s motion that Trump be held in contempt of court and possibly jailed for three posts on Truth Social attacking Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, which appeared to be a clear violation of Merchan’s silence order restraining Trump. to try to intimidate witnesses.
Merchan indicated he would reject Trump’s main argument that he was simply responding in kind.
At the same time, Merchan also worried about the logistics of meeting Trump’s desire to be heavily involved in jury selection. Part of this process can take place in conference, outside of the courtroom, if a potential juror wishes to speak to Merchan and the attorneys privately. The unspoken worry hanging over the courtroom: Would a potential juror feel intimidated if Trump, exercising his right, was there too?
Merchan is fixing this problem. It reminds me of the old Ice Blue Secret deodorant commercial. Merchan, bespectacled and snow-haired, is “cool, calm and collected” and will do a wonderful job in this ordeal.
