Jury selection was underway Monday morning in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s legal case against Trump related to “hush payments” made to porn star Stormy Daniels. Last April, Trump was hit with 34 counts of falsifying business records and conspiracy.
Alvin Bragg still hasn’t named the underlying crime after he twisted the law and somehow elevated misdemeanor charges that were beyond the statute of limitations – to felonies.
There is a solution. The judge overseeing the case is a far-left operative whose daughter has made a lucrative career helping Democrats “get Trump.”
After refusing to recuse himself, Judge Juan Merchan on Monday threatened to put President Trump in prison if he doesn’t show up for his trial.
Merchan read Trump his right to be in court during the trial.
The judge told Trump that an arrest warrant would be issued if he failed to show up for trial without good reason.
President Trump asked the judge if he could skip the trial Wednesday for his son Barron’s graduation.
Judge Merchan said the decision “really depends on the timeliness and where we are in the process.”
NBC News reported:
Judge warns Trump he could end up in prison for missing court
Merchan is talking about Trump’s right to be present in court, known as Parker admonitions.
Merchan is speaking directly to the former president for the first time all day, sternly warning him that if he fails to appear at trial without cause an arrest warrant will be issued.
New York courts provide a script for these which is below:
You have the right to be present in court at any proceedings, including, in particular, a hearing and a trial. You understand?
However, by your conduct, you may give up, give up, give up or lose your right to be present.
Add if the defendant is in prison:
If you knowingly refuse to attend court when required, or in any way deliberately hinder or interfere with an attempt to get you to court, then any proceedings in your case, including the hearing, the trial and, if you are convicted, the sentencing, may and will continue in your absence. You understand?
Add if the accused is at liberty:
If you deliberately fail to appear in court when required, any proceedings in your case, including the hearing, trial and, if you are convicted, sentencing, can and will continue in your absence. An arrest warrant will be issued and you will be subject to separate court proceedings and a separate bail punishment no matter what happens in this case. You understand?
Prosecutors on Monday sought to hold President Trump in contempt for “violating” Judge Merchan’s gag order in the Stormy Daniels “silence” trial.
Alvin Bragg’s office is now asking the court to impose sanctions and threatening Trump with prison time.
According to MSNBC: The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is asking the court to impose a $1,000 fine for each of the previous 3 posts, to order him to remove them, and to warn him that further violations will result in prison time. The DA notes that a post from 9:12 a.m. today, potentially made inside the courthouse, also violates the ordinance.
Judge Merchan said he will hear arguments on Alvin Bragg’s request to hold Trump in criminal contempt for violating the gag order on April 24 at 2:15 am.
NEW: Judge Juan Merchan will hear arguments on the Manhattan district attorney’s request to hold Trump in criminal contempt for violating the gag order on . . . April 24th at 2.15pm. This means that any sanctions against Trump for at least *these* violations will not happen for more than a week. 1/
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) April 15, 2024