Manhattan jurors will hear more witness testimony from a veteran tabloid publisher, and Trump faces a looming decision over whether he violated a gag order imposed by the judge.

Prosecutors said Thursday that Donald Trump again violated a gag order in his hush money trial, as the criminal case resumed on the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court weighed whether he should be immune from prosecution for actions taken during his time as president.

Judge Juan M. Merchan was already considering whether to hold Trump in contempt and fine him for what prosecutors say were 10 different violations of the order that barred the GOP leader from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected to the case. Then the prosecution ticked off fresh instances of suspected breaches.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy pointed to additional remarks that Trump made about key prosecution witness Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, when talking to reporters outside the courtroom and in other interviews. He also noted a comment Trump made about the jury being composed of “95 percent Democrats,” among other things.

  • theprogressivist
    15•7 months ago

    “If a president sells nuclear secrets to a foreign adversary, was that immune?” Kagan asked.

    Sauer responded that if it is “structured as an official act,” the president could not be prosecuted unless he is first impeached and removed from office by Congress.

    “How about if the president orders the military to stage a coup?” Kagan asked Sauer.

    “That may well be an official act,” Sauer responded, meaning no prosecution without impeachment and removal first. Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked Sauer if a president could get immunity if he ordered “someone to assassinate” a political rival. Roberts raised an example of a president appointing an ambassador in exchange for a bribe.

    “Somebody says, 'I’ll give you a million dollars if I’m made the ambassador to whatever,” Roberts said.

    Sauer responded that bribery is not an official act but rather private conduct that would not be protected. Roberts responded, “Accepting a bribe isn’t an official act, but appointing an ambassador is certainly within the official responsibilities of the president.”

    Jesus fucking Christ.

    • @zaph@sh.itjust.works
      14•7 months ago

      the president could not be prosecuted unless he is first impeached and removed from office by Congress

      How convenient for Republicans who said “don’t bother with impeachment, just try him as a criminal in 2 weeks”