Politics - News Analysis
Trump Just Did Something So Disrespectful That it Could Turn the Hush-Money Trial Jurors Against Him
An "unwise" move, they said.
Donald Trump is finally, actually, facing his first CRIMINAL trial, as opposed to civil ones, where he usually loses or settles out of court.
He is in a position to potentially face jail time in the current Manhattan case, which pits his word against those who say his “hush money” payments to Stormy Daniels amounted to election interference.
If found guilty, it would be irony of the highest order — his “Stop the Steal” campaign resulted in the largest attack on our Capitol since 1812. He pretended that others were committing election interference in 2020, but would be found guilty of committing it himself four years earlier.
But what he did today was just egregious.
Normally, when jurors (or potential jurors) are introduced to the court, the defendant rises. But as Renato Mariotti, former prosecutor and legal analyst, pointed out today, Trump refused.
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“In my over 20 years practicing criminal law, I have never observed a defendant refuse to stand and face the jury. Any competent lawyer would tell their client that his fate is in the jury’s hands and they will watch everything he does. Trump’s disrespect for the jury is unwise,” he said.
Indeed, we’re not hearing this from a DEFENSE attorney, we’re hearing this from a prosecutor. If the PROSECUTOR says that a defendant should probably stand up when the potential jury is announced, you know you done messed up, AY-AY-RON.
I mean, it’s not like it’s the first time Trump or his legal team has failed to adhere to normal court procedure. Heck, the judge in this case issued a preemptive gag order so he couldn’t outright threaten court staff or witnesses.
But you’d think after being nearly half a billion dollars between his fraud cause and — oh yeah, that one where he kept lying about the woman he raped — that at least Trump himself would have learned his lesson.
Instead, Trump doubles down. Independent reporters from unbiased sources confirmed that Trump did not stand.
His entire legal team stood when the jurors entered the courtroom. You’d think that, even if they didn’t counsel him to, and even if he hadn’t been involved in a million court cases in the past, he would AT LEAST follow their lead.
Then again, we’re talking about Trump here. And people were disgusted:
I’ve tried over 250 criminal jury trials over 29 years and I have never once not had a client stand up for jurors. That includes 6 charged with murder. Leave it to Trump to go out of his way to be a boorish, obnoxious asshole. https://t.co/lr4HGy9WLX
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 18, 2024
This is a BIG mistake by Trump. Even — actually, especially — former presidents should stand for the jury and show them respect. https://t.co/0thUTcqfZF
— David Oscar Markus (@domarkus) April 18, 2024
Let us not forget that he believes he alone is the leader therefore does not stand for anyone. He is an authoritarian. https://t.co/dAzCie81JK
— Jenn Budd (@BuddJenn) April 19, 2024
Unsurprising since his posts on social media have shown a distinct lack of respect for these everyday citizens who have come in to do their civic duty. Sure, some may be there for shady/prurient reasons, but all should get respect b/c know any to know which are bad apples. https://t.co/fec7xDMITg
— Clavdia Minor (@ClavdiaMinor) April 18, 2024
In my over 20 years practicing criminal law, I have never observed a defendant refuse to stand and face the jury.
Any competent lawyer would tell their client that his fate is in the jury’s hands and they will watch everything he does.
Trump’s disrespect for the jury is unwise. https://t.co/w8HLLHV8Tg
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) April 18, 2024
He cannot deal w/the fact that ordinary people will be judging him. He thinks no one should judge him. https://t.co/WYDqCu9vVY
— Rosalind (not indicted) Garcia (@GarciaRosalind) April 18, 2024
Just blatant lack of respect.
This attitude didn’t do Trump any favors in the second Carroll case but he obviously believes he’s above it all and the members of the jury are beneath him in every possible way. https://t.co/UWoKa8QifW
— Kris (@GardenGirlK8976) April 18, 2024
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