The Judge Blasts Donald

Day 2 surprises and insights

Photo Credit: Getty, Michael M. Santiago.

Amid the media frenzy and Donald’s theatrics both inside and outside of the courtroom, I worry that we’re losing sight of the gravity of the crimes for which he’s being charged. It doesn’t help, of course, that the case is being billed as a “hush money” case when there are more important things at stake. It’s crucial to make every effort not to let the spectacle overshadow the seriousness of the proceedings.

At the same time, we all deserve to revel in a little schadenfreude.

Growing up in the Trump family, I had a front-row seat to Donald’s actions and their consequences to other people. Yet it’s only now, in a drab New York City courtroom, that it feels like he’s the one facing the consequences.

The prospect of Donald being forced to sit in a courtroom for eight weeks brings me a sense of relief. It’s good to know, in this one instance anyway, that he’s being treated like any other criminal defendant. This moment has been a long time coming. Here’s hoping there will be much more like this.

1. Unraveling the threads

Courtroom theatrics and the media frenzy aside (there are literally alerts every morning letting us know when the motorcade leaves for and arrives at the courthouse), we should not lose sight of the gravity of the allegations against Donald.

Ron Filipowski offered a compelling perspective:

“If Stormy Daniels had come out and told what happened two weeks before the election on the heels of Access Hollywood instead of getting paid off by Trump the outcome may have been different. That’s why this is an election interference trial.”

The alleged payoff to Stormy Daniels was not just a personal matter (paying Stormy Daniels to keep their tryst secret from Melania would not have been illegal). Instead, the transaction was a way to conceal information from Americans and potentially influenced the outcome of the 2016 election.

This case is not about Donald’s personal conduct; it’s about his attempt to undermine the democratic process.

2. Justice Merchan warns Donald not to intimidate jurors

Yesterday, after defense counsel Todd Blanche questioned a potential juror about her social media posts, Donald gestured and said something in her direction. Judge Merchan issued a stern warning to Donald for his audible remarks:

“Intimidation of any jurors in this courtroom will not be tolerated. I want this to be absolutely clear,” Merchan declared.

After the woman left the room, Merchan addressed Donald’s lawyer: “While the juror was at a distance of 12 feet from your client, your client was audibly muttering something … I won’t tolerate that.”

It is good to know that, from the outset, the judge has been quick to stomp out Donald’s disruptions.

Also keep in mind that being in this situation, even after only two days, it is nearly intolerable for Donald to sit there quietly. As he continues to hear disparaging comments, as he continues to submit to somebody else’s authority, the pressure will build. In some ways, I think this experience might be worse for him than jail.

Here’s to eight more weeks … at least. 

3. Rachel Maddow makes Donald the butt of her joke

During her coverage, Monday night, Rachel Maddow she said, “The wheels of justice grind slowly. I did not think they would grind so slowly that they would rock the defendant apparently to sleep.” Maddow reminds us that even in the midst of serious events, there’s room for a little levity.

“I know it’s not the most important legal thing, but we are in the middle of a campaign and the age issue is the main thing the Trump campaign wants to use against his opponent — the whole “Sleepy Joe” thing,” she added. 

“This is the most historic thing that Donald Trump has ever done. No [one has left the Oval office and become] a criminal defendant, and on day one, the headlines coming out of it are that he appeared to doze off. I mean it’s insane … it’s also a reminder that however scary and somber and important this is, we are dealing with someone who is fundamentally buffoonish,” Maddow concluded.

Honorable mention to Chris Hayes who told his colleague, "If you call your opponent ‘Sleepy Joe,’ you have one job.” You know, to not fall asleep in public.

4. The diplomacy of drowsiness

I was recently reminded of a headline from the 2022 Beijing Olympics and thought it might provide some context for Donald’s apparent fatigue. During the grand opening ceremony, a moment that was meant to be a celebration of global unity, Vladimir Putin seemed to doze off.

This happened just as athletes from Ukraine were marching into the stadium and the camera panned to Putin who was slumped over in his chair. 

The moment was laden with irony, given the tense relations between Ukraine and Russia. Putin had already built a significant military presence at their shared border, and the threat of invasion was looming. 

Putin’s poorly-timed nap could be interpreted in several ways, but the most obvious interpretation is that Ukraine and its athletes are so beneath his notice that Putin doesn’t feel the need to be conscious in their presence. I see a parallel to Donald’s current situation that could land him in trouble with the judge and the jury once the trial gets underway.

Donald may be tired, he may be medicated, but regardless, what message does it send everybody else in the courtroom that he can’t be bothered to keep his eyes open? How will the engaged and attentive jury feel as they are forced to sit there entirely because of him while he doses off?

He is absolutely aware of the seriousness of these proceedings, so one can only infer that he has such contempt for them, and the rest of the participants, that he'd rather sleep through it all.

The jury will only see how tired, pitiful, and arrogant he really is — and none of that is going to help him.