Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Kaleredar]

I was stunned. He barely got 50% of the vote. I guess MAGA is weakening.

I don’t doubt there’s a large percentage of republicans who don’t want Trump to be the nominee. That was the case in 2016 and it’s the case now.


What matters is if they’re still willing to vote for him anyway, knowing full well, even moreso than in 2016, that he’s a foul-mouthed, senile, odious lying failure.

[Captain N]

What matters is if they’re still willing to vote for him anyway, knowing full well, even moreso than in 2016, that he’s a foul-mouthed, senile, odious lying failure.

They'll do anything to keep on owning the libs. That's basically all they've been doing for the last eight years anyways -- promoting awful people to do awful shit just to make rational people angry.

[Breccia]

Boris Epshteyn tried to take part in the Carroll trial.

"Tried?"

Longtime Donald Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn tried to speak out in the defamation trial brought by author E. Jean Carroll on Tuesday. He was denied.

Politico legal reporter Eric Orden captured the moment on social media, quoting Judge Lewis Kaplan as he asked Epshteyn, "Are you a member of the bar of this court?"

Epshteyn replied, "I'm a member of the New York State Bar."

"Alright, then please have a seat," said the judge.

"Why would he even try?"

Trump just lost three lawyers, including the lead in that case. At this point, he's desperate.

[Edge-]

Boris Epshteyn tried to take part in the Carroll trial.

"Tried?"



"Why would he even try?"

Trump just lost three lawyers, including the lead in that case. At this point, he's desperate.

Isn't that guy basically Donald's "legal id"?

[Breccia]

Getting the CNN point I burned back.

ABC News cancels Republican debate after Haley opted out unless Trump participates

Too little too late, Haley, the idea was solid but the execution was flawed.

Yes, Haley dropped out of the debate on the grounds of "the only person who should be here is not". That would leave DeSantis putting on a one-man show. Now, I think ABC should give him that time. If Trump is going to be a crying pussy coward, that shouldn't be the other candidates' problem. They should get the free unopposed air time the crying pussy coward hands them.

I do like the FOX News headline trying to make fun of ABC News but instead pointing out that Trump is a crying pussy coward.

"You know, it's not really polite to call someone that."

Well, I'd say it to his face. But he's run away. Like a crying, pussy coward.

[Redwyrm]

Getting the CNN point I burned back.

ABC News cancels Republican debate after Haley opted out unless Trump participates

Too little too late, Haley, the idea was solid but the execution was flawed.

Yes, Haley dropped out of the debate on the grounds of "the only person who should be here is not". That would leave DeSantis putting on a one-man show. Now, I think ABC should give him that time. If Trump is going to be a crying pussy coward, that shouldn't be the other candidates' problem. They should get the free unopposed air time the crying pussy coward hands them.

I do like the FOX News headline trying to make fun of ABC News but instead pointing out that Trump is a crying pussy coward.

"You know, it's not really polite to call someone that."

Well, I'd say it to his face. But he's run away. Like a crying, pussy coward.

unfortunately unlike normal candidates, not doing a debate isn't hurting Trump's rating. It's actually the opposite

[Breccia]

In an unPresidented move, one of the Georgia RICO defendants, Trevian Kutti, also loses their lawyer.

And it's a shitshow worthy of this thread's true name.

So this lawyer, Greenberg, told the judge he first stepped in "as a friend" and is willing to advise, but wants his name taken off the case. (See also: Dershowitz being sanctioned) Greenberg told the judge that Kutti didn't get the support from individuals she was expecting, and he could not commit to a four-month trial.

Translation: Trump isn't paying him, and Kutti can't pay him.

So far, so on-brand. The judge then turned to Kutti, to explain that Greenberg would be allowed to withdraw because Kutti hadn't responded to his requests in ten days, only to find Kutti wasn't in the courtroom despite being ordered to do so, and was instead on a Zoom call. With this issue added to the list, the judge granted Greenberg's request, also let her other lawyer leave, so now she has nobody.

And!

The judge, sensing bullshit on the way, told Kutti to her virtual face that this departure of her lawyers would not slow her trial. The judge listed her options, including finding new lawyers (and, one assumes, paying them), getting a public defender, or defending herself. If she chose not to do any of these, and started missing deadlines like Giuliani or Trump, that's her problem, not the prosecution's or the court's.

Well, I'm sure such a high-profile person who worked with such very fine people on both sides like Trump and Kanye will have no problem finding a new lawyer. Let's see what kind of kind, charitable things she's been doing recently that would endear her to new representation.

(checks news)

Threatening a witness on Instagram.

...so, I have a prediction. Um, Kutti's not going to get a good lawyer and will plead out. Remember, this is the Georgia RICO case. Her pleading out will have real consequences.

Trump should have paid her, like he paid his other whores.

[Gelannerai]

Trump should have paid her, like he paid his other whores.

Citation needed.

[Flarelaine]

Citation needed.

I believe Cohen got a citation about that one.

[Gelannerai]

I believe Cohen got a citation about that one.

Ok yeah that’s one. I refuse to believe he paid others without evidence.

[Edge-]

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/17/judg...ion-trial.html

A New York federal judge snapped at a lawyer for former President Donald Trump on Wednesday after she reiterated her call for a postponement of his sex assault defamation trial so that he could attend his mother-in-law’s funeral.

“I said sit down!” Judge Lewis Kaplan told Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba.

Habba replied, “I don’t like to be spoken [to] like that ... I will not speak to you like that.”

Kaplan shot back, “It is denied. Sit down.”

I don't think tone policing a judge who is hearing your case, which happens to be a functional repeat because of the prior case lost because your client can't keep his mouth shut, is a winning strategy or a way to get on the judge's good graces.

You get what you pay for. Or in Donald's case, don't pay for.

[Breccia]

Ok yeah that’s one. I refuse to believe he paid others without evidence.

You have a good point, sir. That said, I'm willing to believe Trump did, in fact, pay his whores after Ivana's divorce. He actually took a beating in that one and probably didn't want to lose more money in his second/third divorces when the prostitutes he had sex with came forward, possibly with videos.

which happens to be a functional repeat

I had to click your link (oh, the horror /s) to see if this was the same story I linked earlier.

And not only is it new, but, you left out one or two bits.

Trump grumbled, “Nasty guy,” referring to Kaplan.

Trump slammed the defense table angrily at one point, and made comments that were audible in the Manhattan federal courtroom when Carroll answered questions from the witness stand.

"Didn't Trump say he needed to be in Florida today?"

Yes. Yes, he did.

"Isn't calling the judge a 'nasty guy' a good way to get slapped with contempt?"

For everyone who is not, Trump, yes. But this happened instead:

After a recess in the proceedings, Kaplan admonished Trump.

“Before we bring in the jury I’m just going to ask Mr. Trump to take special care to keep his voice down so the jury does not overhear it,” the judge said.

So, place your bets. Will Trump attend this/any trial tomorrow, the day he said he needed for his mother-in-law's funeral? He isn't required to be in the courtroom. I'm fairly sure he's only here to build up some animosity from the judge, so he can pretend to be the trodden-on underdog, go outside and lie to the cameras, lie on his social media platform, despite Orange Privilege being applied here.

[Endus]

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/17/judg...ion-trial.html



I don't think tone policing a judge who is hearing your case, which happens to be a functional repeat because of the prior case lost because your client can't keep his mouth shut, is a winning strategy or a way to get on the judge's good graces.

You get what you pay for. Or in Donald's case, don't pay for.

If the judge told you to sit down and shut the fuck up, and you did not in fact sit down and shut the fuck up, you're lucky he's just snapping at you, rather than slapping you with contempt charges and letting you rethink your bullshit overnight in a cell.

[DarkTZeratul]

If the judge told you to sit down and shut the fuck up, and you did not in fact sit down and shut the fuck up, you're lucky he's just snapping at you, rather than slapping you with contempt charges and letting you rethink your bullshit overnight in a cell.

She's a lawyer. They usually get sanctioned rather than jailed for that sort of thing.

[Endus]

She's a lawyer. They usually get sanctioned rather than jailed for that sort of thing.

But it's on the list. Whinging about tone of voice is the weakest fuckin' complaint. If Habba's never been talked to that way in her life, she's been very sheltered and spoiled.

[Breccia]

We have updates on Trump in court. And...

If the judge told you to sit down and shut the fuck up, and you did not in fact sit down and shut the fuck up, you're lucky he's just snapping at you, rather than slapping you with contempt charges and letting you rethink your bullshit overnight in a cell.

...yeah...about that.

“Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which what has been reported to me consists of. And if he disregards court orders, Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial,” U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said Wednesday.

“I understand you’re probably eager for me to do that,” the judge continued.

“I would love it,” Trump replied, according to several outlets.

“I know you would,” Kaplan said back. “You just can’t control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.”

“You can’t either,” Trump muttered.

Yep, leaning towards "I was right". Trump is trying to get ejected.

Before anyone says anything: yes, anyone else that isn't Trump would be ejected or held in contempt for this. The depths of the irony, Trump complaining about being treated unfairly while not suffering any consequences for his actions, are nearly bottomless.

Trump never needed to be there. He's trying to make it look like he wants to be there, and isn't allowed for unfair reasons. I think the judge is trying to lower this outcome, but Trump lies all the time about everything, and his rabid fanbase believes everything he says. Just throw him out, put the video of his behavior on the news, and be done with it.

[DarkTZeratul]

But it's on the list. Whinging about tone of voice is the weakest fuckin' complaint. If Habba's never been talked to that way in her life, she's been very sheltered and spoiled.

Oh, it's very clearly an "oh woe is me" bullshit tactic to elicit sympathy from the public rather than a remotely honest complaint. It's not even the first time she's complained about this judge getting snippy over her nonsense.

[Drutt]

Oh, it's very clearly an "oh woe is me" bullshit tactic to elicit sympathy from the public rather than a remotely honest complaint. It's not even the first time she's complained about this judge getting snippy over her nonsense.

Yep, 100%. It's all a performance, carefully sculpted to facilitate and harvest maximum grift from the general public.

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

Ok yeah that’s one. I refuse to believe he paid others without evidence.

Well, the difference between whores and lawyers (other than that a whore stops fucking you after you are dead) is that you don't have to pay hush money to your lawyers.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh, it's very clearly an "oh woe is me" bullshit tactic to elicit sympathy from the public rather than a remotely honest complaint. It's not even the first time she's complained about this judge getting snippy over her nonsense.

The sad thing is that there are idiots out there who actually believe that Trump is being "forced" to miss his MIL funeral because he "has" to be in court. These are idiots that can vote.

[Breccia]

Trump, in his effort to prove to the judge he needed a full week to get to Florida to attend his mother-in-law's funeral, was in three states in three days. Yesterday he was in NH and said:

Isn’t it amazing? They don’t investigate the people that cheated in the election. They investigate the people that understand they cheated and go after them. But they don’t investigate the people who cheated.

We have to have fair and free elections.

This is where I typically say "as a reminder" but let's be honest, nobody here needs one.

- - - Updated - - -

You should refresh your memory about how it is you get a document into evidence.

Habba is not having a good day. While cross-examining Carroll, she tried to influence the jury by magically creating evidence out of thin air. Instead, the judge had to yell at her for it.

Habba also claimed, that because Carroll deleted many threatening messages she got from Trump supporters, there should be a mistrial. Worth noting: Carroll stopped deleting them in 2023 due to the lawsuits, which were presented as evidence, correctly. Big surprise, the judge summarily rejected the motion.

Habba also also said she had 30 minutes of cross-examination left that would need to happen tomorrow, coincidentally that's the day Trump has asking for off, so he can complain he can't be here when stuff is happening. At this point, Habba could be telling the truth but has been called out for acting improperly so many times it doesn't matter.

Habba also also also asked Carroll if she thought anyone would believe her. Carroll said she didn't care who believed her or not, the accusations were true. When Habba pressed further, Carroll's lawyers pointed out this was a damages trial only, and the truth of Trump's behavior was already established. That objection was sustained.

And the other guy, Madaio, admit it we all saw this coming, made an official motion for the judge to recuse themself on the grounds of "general hostility". Yes, after Trump attacked him in court. Obviously, that was denied with a single word.

"Did anything useful happen today?"

Yes, Carroll described Trump's behavior immediately after the last lawsuit, and also, Trump stormed out of the room before the jurors did. Carroll was still seated in the witness box.

I'm not going to say "worst day in court ever" but this was pretty abysmal for Team Trump. Every motion failed, and the jury -- whose only remaining goal is to determine how much Trump owes for his behavior -- saw nothing but bad behavior from Trump.

I keep saying "I could do better". More recently, I've been saying "no, really, I could do better". We already know what the deal is, Trump is objectively guilty and trying to make this into a big show, "you can't fire me I quit" style. But someone famous for not paying people and losing lawyers is about to lose more of money and more lawyers. I mean, at this point, why not fire Habba? She's done everything wrong.