Justice Juan Merchan slams former president for his ā€˜audibleā€™ remarks and gestures towards potential juror

TheĀ ManhattanĀ judge presiding overĀ Donald Trumpā€™sĀ hush money trialĀ slammed the former president for ā€œaudiblyā€ commenting about a juror and ā€œgesticulatingā€ towards her.

ā€œI wonā€™t tolerate it. I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom,ā€ said an incensedĀ New YorkĀ JusticeĀ Juan Merchan. ā€œI want to make that crystal clear.ā€

The former presidentā€™s legal team, afterĀ questioning a first-round of potential jurors who could deliver a verdict against him, asked to speak with one potential juror who appeared to post a video on social media showing New Yorkers celebrating. Defence attorney Todd Blanche said it appeared to be anti-Trump.

  • CaptainSpaceman@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Manhattan prosecutors have separately asked Judge Merchan to fine the former president $1,000 each for a series of social media posts that they argued violate a protective order that bans Mr Trump from publicly attacking witnesses and other parties in the case.

    A fine? Thatā€™ll stop him for sure this time, right?

    • xePBMg9@lemmynsfw.com
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      3 months ago

      If the fine would be based the offenderā€™s means or calculated as x daily income, he might feel it. Give him a 60 day-fine for a social media post. Or just take a percentage of his assets when he breaks the rules.

      Itā€™s just a little fantasy of mine. America doesnā€™t seem to have consequences for the ruling/owner class, baring some extreme circumstances.

      • Passerby6497@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Specifically t, do it based on reported net worth. Oh, youā€™re a billionaire? Cool, hereā€™s a .5% fine for every comment you make. Thatā€™s 5mill/billion net worth/comment. For those doing the math, thatā€™s 18.5m/comment based on his reported worth.

        Heā€™ll owe Leticia James less in a week.