How Trump is using courtroom machinations to his political advantage
Retrieved on:
Friday, April 19, 2024
Bakken: It seems like an ordinary trial, but it is an extraordinary trial underneath if we really look at some of the details.
Key Points:
- Bakken: It seems like an ordinary trial, but it is an extraordinary trial underneath if we really look at some of the details.
- The first thing that struck me was on Day 1, when Judge Juan Merchan questioned 96 jurors.
- Fifty of them said they could not be fair to Trump.
- That does not bode well for a defendant in a jurisdiction where Democrats outnumber Republicans 9 to 1.
- Bakken: Merchan has told Trump he may not be able to attend his child’s high school graduation, scheduled for May 17.
- I think the judge will let Trump attend the high school graduation, because otherwise he might seem to treat Trump a little bit differently than other defendants.
- Trump has said the requirement to be in the courtroom every day is harming his ability to campaign.
- … If Donald Trump is convicted then all of these principles are convicted and destroyed with him.” This sets up a catch-22.
- Since much of the country is paying attention to that media space, that’s a really consequential campaign strategy.
- Bakken: The New York district attorney decided to prosecute Trump in this case.
- It seems unquestionable that Trump filed or made false business documents.
- Donald Trump would not be in trouble for filing this paperwork if he hadn’t done it to allegedly illegally influence an election.
- They could be the moderators, the good-faith, middle-minded people who can help bridge the gap between the political combatants.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.