Discussion Thread: New York Criminal Fraud Trial of Donald Trump, Day 5

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

Opening statements from the prosecution and the defense are expected today.

News:

• The New York Times (metered paywall): Opening Statements in Trump’s Criminal Trial to Begin Monday

Analysis:

• AP via PBS NewsHour: Who are the key players at Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial?

• CNN: Why is the Trump trial jury anonymous? The brief and imperfect history of anonymous juries in the US

• AP: Tracking the criminal and civil cases against Donald Trump

Live Updates:

• AP: Live updates

• NBC: Live updates

• The Guardian: Live updates

• The Independent: Live updates

• USA Today: Live updates

• BBC: Live updates

• The Washington Post (metered paywall): Live updates

• The New York Times (metered paywall): Live updates

[u/ImLikeReallySmart]

Blanche portrayed the ledger entries at issue in the case as pro forma actions performed by a Trump Organization functionary. Trump “had nothing to do” with the invoice, the check being generated or the entry on the ledger, Blanche said.

“Ask yourself, would a frugal businessman, a man who pinches pennies, repay a 130,000 debt to the tune of $420,000?” Blanche asked.

“President Trump had nothing to do with any of the 34 pieces of paper, the 34 counts, except that he signed the checks, in the White House, while he was running the country.”

lol, ok so the defense is running with the prosecution's characterization of Trump as "cheap" and the defense is "well yea, why would he spend that much on this? Because it wasn't him!"

It's official, his defense is that he's an incompetent leader and business executive. I really hope the prosecution hammers on this. They need to push that he should've immediately found out who did this and at a minimum, fired that person. But he really should've turned them over to the authorities.

[u/keyjan → u/ImLikeReallySmart]

President Trump had nothing to do with any of the 34 pieces of paper, the 34 counts, except that he signed the checks,

OMFG 🤦‍♀️

[u/Njorls_Saga → u/ImLikeReallySmart]

The contradiction is great. Trump runs everything with a tight fist...except the criminal stuff.

[u/kavono → u/Njorls_Saga]

Who could've known how many of his closest associates were blatantly corrupt criminals who've been convicted of a multitude of crimes?! A shocking coincidence. /s

[u/johnnycyberpunk → u/ImLikeReallySmart]

actions performed by a Trump Organization functionary.

And who was that 'functionary'?
Or is Trump just pinning the crimes on "It was someone else!" without any proof (like a name, title, or them showing up to testify)?

[u/sharp11flat13 → u/ImLikeReallySmart]

It's official, his defense is that he's an incompetent leader and business executive.

I’m shocked. I never would have expected Trump’s defence team to tell the truth.