Justice Juan Merchan slams former president for his ‘audible’ remarks and gestures towards potential juror

The Manhattan judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush money trial slammed the former president for “audibly” commenting about a juror and “gesticulating” towards her.

“I won’t tolerate it. I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom,” said an incensed New York Justice Juan Merchan. “I want to make that crystal clear.”

The former president’s legal team, after 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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    7 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? That’ll stop him for sure this time, right?

    • xePBMg9@lemmynsfw.com
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      7 months ago

      If the fine would be based the offender’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.

      It’s just a little fantasy of mine. America doesn’t seem to have consequences for the ruling/owner class, baring some extreme circumstances.

      • Passerby6497@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Specifically t, do it based on reported net worth. Oh, you’re a billionaire? Cool, here’s a .5% fine for every comment you make. That’s 5mill/billion net worth/comment. For those doing the math, that’s 18.5m/comment based on his reported worth.

        He’ll owe Leticia James less in a week.