Not sure that this made it into the MSM, but Trump displayed blatant disrespect for the entire court proceedings yesterday. And no, he didn’t do it on the court house steps or using Truth Social. No video or link yet, but Joyce Vance stated on MSNBC that Trump refused to stand when the jury entered and left the court room. Next, Trump fell asleep again, and it appears that Trump started to fart and stink the place up. Finally, Trump tried to leave before the judge was finished, and Trump was ordered to sit back down like a dog. We all knew this was going to be a white water river ride of childish petulance from Trump, and I think it will only get worse.
According to Joyce Vance, it is a sign of respect for all in the court room to stand when the jury is being seated and when they leave. A good lawyer will instruct his/her client to show respect to the jury, and the defendent will stand. Well, not this defendent. Trump stubbornly refused to stand for the jury. Vance says that the jury will notice this and take the disrespect into their jury deliberations.
It can be argued that a disrespectful defendent is still presumed innocent, but juries are made up of human beings. And being disrespecful to the jury will not endear Trump to those twelve jurors. It will color the deliberations.
And while I sympathize with anyone who has sleep issues (I have depression and insomnia and take meds for it), Trump’s falling asleep appears to have a secondary nasty effect on the court proceedings. He is passing gas because his anal sphincter muscle is relaxed while he sleeps in court. And it is a putrid smell.
But the icing on the shit cake of Trump’s court room antics was his attempt to leave before the judge was finished for the day.
New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan was wrapping up a contentious hour of debate with lawyers on both sides Friday afternoon, when he clarified that a contempt hearing—where he might punish Trump for repeatedly ignoring a gag order and continuing to publicly speak threateningly about witnesses and jurors—would commence Tuesday morning.
And like a kid who anticipates the sound of the school bell signaling the end of the day...
But just as the judge neared the end of his sentence, Trump abruptly stood up—apparently thinking the day was over. Immediately, Merchan turned his face to the former president and said in a firm voice: “Sir, can you please have a seat.”
His long, black robes dangled from beneath his right hand as he waved it down, like a man addressing his dog. It wasn’t a question. And while the judge maintains a stoic demeanor at all times, the tone was decidedly sharper than even the one he’d taken when expressing disappointment in Trump’s lawyers minutes earlier.
Without hesitation, Trump went and plopped straight back down into his maroon leather chair at the defense table—and remained for another minute, fuming as the judge gathered his paperwork and strolled toward his chambers
The article goes on to indicate that Trump went into fury mode with his body language as he finally left the court room, ONLY after the judge had left the room first.
What does all this disrespect mean for the court proceedings? It’s the eternal question all of us have asked since we have watched Trump get special treatment from the courts. I predict that Trump will only be fined and warned on Tuesday during that hearing over his attacks on the court witnesses and jury members.
Do I think Trump needs thirty days in jail? YES! But the courts are loathe to do this because Trump “is a former president.”
Unfortunately for Judge Merchan, Trump will continue to attack witnesses, jury members, and others. Trump will also gesticulate and glare at the witnesses and jury, and he will mumble loudly enough to his lawyers. Will Trump say something outloud for all to hear? I wouldn’t discount it. Merchan will then have to make a decision on what do to with a defendent who has no respect for the law or the courts and has failed to heed warnings from the court.