Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump's claim that he wasn't targeting his law clerk "not credible."
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron on Thursday released a written order detailing why he determined Donald Trump's Wednesday sworn testimony denying that he attacked a court clerk "rings hollow and untrue" after he fined the former president $10,000 for his second violation of a partial gag order meant to protect courtroom staff.
The former president had claimed on the witness stand that he had been referring to his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen as the "partisan" sitting "alongside" Engoron when he spoke to reporters outside the courtroom on Wednesday. But the judge was unconvinced, deeming that excuse "not credible."
"Witnesses do not sit 'alongside' the judge, they sit in the witness box, separated from the judge by a low wooden barrier," Engoron wrote in the order, obtained by The Messenger. "Further, Donald Trump's past public statements demonstrate him referring to Michael Cohen directly by his name, or by a derogatory name, but in all circumstances, he is unambiguous in making it known he is referring to Michael Cohen."
He added: "Using imprecise language as an excuse to create plausible ambiguity about whether defendant violated this Court's unequivocal gag order is not a defense; the subject of Donald Trump's public statement to the press was unmistakably clear."
Honestly. If I had the disposable income... I'd buy Trump Tower, and branding rights to "trump"... and then, like turn the tower into a homeless shelter.
Apparently, Trump's naming rights are tied up in the Trump Org that's likely to be disbanded and sold off thanks to this case. So his own name could be sold to someone else to use. I'm really hoping some progressive group buys it just to open "Trump LGBTQ Safe Spaces." Though, at the same time, I don't think his name would make many feel "safe." So maybe "Trump Waste Removal Company"? Their slogan could be "We Know How To Deal With Massive Amounts of Garbage."
I mean, I'd prefer "The Barack Hussain Obama Center for Children Who Can’t Read Good and Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too" but I'll take anything at this point.
He added: “Using imprecise language as an excuse to create plausible ambiguity about whether defendant violated this Court’s unequivocal gag order is not a defense; the subject of Donald Trump’s public statement to the press was unmistakably clear.”
Damn I really wanna see a lot more of this kinda scrutiny on the weasel word bullshit.
"Using imprecise language as an excuse to create plausible ambiguity about whether defendant violated this Court’s unequivocal gag order is not a defense; the subject of Donald Trump’s public statement to the press was unmistakably clear."
“Using imprecise language as an excuse to create plausible ambiguity about whether defendant violated this Court’s unequivocal gag order is not a defense; the subject of Donald Trump’s public statement to the press was unmistakably clear.”
Its also a harken back to what Cohen said. That he doesn't say things explicitly. He asks like a mob boss asks.
Trump is very good at one thing: riling up the MAGA faithful. And this is pretty much the entire GOP base now. So if you go against him, he'll just post that you're a RINO on Truth Social or denigrate you at a rally. Then, MAGA will push to get you primaried by someone Trump approves of.
The GOP locked themselves into the room with MAGA and made them the GOP's base. Now, they find that they can't do anything Trump opposes because he controls MAGA. Even if he sends a crowd of MAGA to kill them, they need to reply with "thank you, sir, for almost getting us killed. We deserved that."
For real, they love to fall in line behind a “strong man,” but trump literally does nothing but cry. It’s like his whole schtick. I don’t get it at all?!
Every time he gets fined he pulls millions in donations. Throw his ass in the can. Keep him there until his legal troubles are sorted. He's facing 90 something felonies. (think I've seen 91 and/or 94 different charges referred to.)
He should still be able to make most of his court appearances from MDC Brooklyn. They've dealt with high profile inmates plenty of times. Stop letting him play the legal system like a fiddle for personal gain.
I honestly think the next time he runs afoul of the gag order he'll get a few days for contempt. Whether they'll be immediately suspended pending appeal I don't know, but it's one of the things a judge can do to enforce order immediately and without a lot of oversight. There's case after case of some perp mouthing off to the judge and immediately earning a few weeks in jail and Trump has had $15k worth of warnings now. The next offense should be a hotel stay.
You joke, but he's literally following in the guys footsteps. The beer hall putsch was 10 years before he became chancellor.
The guy who's on the loose here in Maine's Twitter likes were full of drumpf Jr, tucker and elmo musk.
Domestic terrorism is the real price we're paying. My kids can't go to our usual group Halloween thing this year because it may be the unlucky gathering he attacks next. Shits real for some of us.
I imagine it's more like him sitting on a toilet, furiously typing away on his phone. He'd be fat-fingering his phone if not for the fact that he has such small hands.
A TS/SCI background investigation would cover it. One would think the commander in chief should be able to hold a security clearance. Then there's Ivanka and Jared with China and the Saudis. But hunter biden did what?
I would settle for candidates being able to pass a security clearance check. It is what our founders intended when they demanded that presidents not be foreign born.
Totally worth it. Usually not too difficult to add on and it's one of those things you'll wonder how you lived without. Makes a great Christmas gift - treat yourself.
Scumbags like Trump thrive in the gaps and ambiguities that normal decency shouldn't have to fill.
They break down standards of decency that shouldn't have to be codified.
Authoritarians and people who need authority will do anything they can get away with - but we can't write laws for every single little scheme anyone could ever come to up with.
We need guiding principles and a respect for the spirit of the law.
Trump tried to play innocent but it doesn't count in the courtroom.