Top legal scholars and critics expressed utter disgust and disbelief over the bias and injustice they say unfolded in the courtroom in the business records trial of former President Donald Trump in Manhattan.
WATCH — CNN’s Tapper: Defense Scored “Stunning” Revelation Michael Cohen Stole Money from Trump Organization:The judge actually threatened to strike all of Costello’s testimony if he raised his eyebrows again. That of course would have been unconstitutional because it would have denied the defendant his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses and to raise a defense. It would have punished the defendant for something a witness was accused of doing.
Jarrett argued that Merchan allowed Cohen and another witness, porn actress Stormy Daniels, “unfettered latitude to trash Trump in court.” Jarrett also slammed Merchan’s restrictions on the defense team’s other planned witness, Brad Smith, a former Federal Elections Commission commissioner and campaign finance law expert. Merchan’s restrictions were so excessive that the defense decided they could not use him, SmithJarrett said Merchan’s decision to restrict Smith empowered Cohen to “misinterpret federal campaign laws over which he has no knowledge or expertise.
Hannity noted that “the only real crime detailed during the case involve not Donald Trump, but Michael Cohen, their star witness stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization.”