Donald Trump strode up to Justice Juan Merchan in court Tuesday afternoon, snipped the crooked judge’s cheap-looking blue-and-gold foulard silk print tie in half with a pair of scissors, and sneered, “That’s what I think of your corrupt justice. Oh, and I will be at Barron’s graduation.” Then the entire courtroom erupted in cheers.
That didn’t really happen, but in the make-believe world of Donald Trump fundraising emails, it just may have. A Trump campaign email sent after Monday’s court session claimed the former president had “stormed out” of the Manhattan courtroom where he faces criminal charges for covering up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels right before the November 2016 election.
Sleepy Don did not storm out Monday. He walked out, whined to the cameras about how his trial is an assault on our failing country, and left.
On Tuesday, however, Trump began acting up during the jury selection process. From the New York Times:
Justice Merchan is now scolding [Trump lead attorney Todd] Blanche because Trump was muttering.
“I won’t tolerate that,” Merchan says, raising his voice. “I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom.”
He asks Blanche to speak to Trump, and Blanche quietly responds, "Yes, your honor." He then gives Trump the requested talking-to, and Trump looks furious.
And:
Trump smirks as Joshua Steinglass, the prosecutor, argues that [a prospective juror’s] Facebook posts [showing video of a crowd celebrating Trump’s 2020 election loss] don’t prove bias.
Merchan ruled against a defense motion to dismiss the potential juror for cause. “Trump squints up at Justice Merchan incredulously as the judge reads the relevant case law,” the Times reports. Trump cannot believe someone has the audacity to apply the law to his case! What about immunity? This is so unfair.
Meanwhile, despite concerns that the Trump team would drag out jury selection to infinity, six of the 12 required jurors were chosen by mid-afternoon Tuesday. Counting six alternates, we’re one-third of the way there. [Update: Court ran longer than 5 p.m. today and a seventh juror was added, so now we’re 38.9% of the way there.]
Do we have to worry about MAGA plants on the jury whose sole goal is to engage in jury nullification? Yes, but I’ll say this: MAGA nuts don’t bother trying to hide it — honestly, they can’t stop themselves! — so their social media accounts typically are full of Trump worship, Biden-hating, and dumb-ass conspiracy theories. There’s a lot to clean up.
I’m more worried about the propensity of too many humans to become slack-jawed in the presence of celebrity, even the modern version of celebrity that has been diluted by reality television “stars” and online influencers. And, of course, Trump views the entire trial as a performance. So while the court will be treated to the now-usual scowling and muttering, watch for Trump to “turn on the charm” (such as it is) once a jury is selected and he has a crowd to work. Also, don’t be surprised if jurors come in one morning to find Trump Steaks on each of their chairs.
Those are just some of the possibilities in this, the first criminal trial of a former president, a production presented by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and starring Donald “Sleepy Don” Trump.
Court is closed on Wednesday. Jury selection resumes on Thursday. The thing Donald Trump always feared and never thought would happen is happening. Let’s hope justice is served.
(From Project Orange: Saving Democracy From the Trump-MAGA Cult)