This morning, many of us are emerging from the late coverage last night after the conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felonies. I was in the courtroom for the verdict, which hit like a thunderclap (particularly after a strange snafu with the judge). The question that everyone is asking: what happens next?
The scene in the court was a madhouse. Judge Juan Merchan told the court that the jury had not reached a verdict and would be dismissed for the day. Many reporters in the overflow courtroom were leaving when Merchan suddenly said that there was a verdict. People came running back into the courtroom. That was followed by 34 guilty verdicts.
I am obviously saddened by the verdict, but not surprised. Until the very end, I was hopeful that there would be a hung jury, a result that could restore some integrity to the New York criminal justice system. However, I previously noted that the jury instructions made conviction much more likely. I referred to the deliberations as a legal “canned hunt” due to instructions that made conviction a near certainty.
You could feel the weight of history in the courtroom, though we still have to see what history was made. For some, it was the conviction of the first president of a felony. For others, it was the key moment where the weaponization of the criminal system became clear and inescapable. It was both, obviously. Yet, the trial fulfilled narratives on both sides.
I ran outside to join the coverage. (One humorous moment was an officer screaming at reporters piling out of the courtroom to “walk not run.” It did not work.) It looked like the final judgment with everyone panicking to find an exit.
The scene outside the courtroom was surreal. The Trump supporters were outraged. The anti-Trump protesters were ecstatic, dancing and celebrating in the street.
While I have written a book about what I have called “the age of rage,” I am always shocked by such scenes. There is a dehumanizing element of these moments as people celebrate not just the first conviction of a president but a person. Rage is addictive and contagious. That was vividly evident outside the courtroom.
So what happens next?
Obviously, appeals will be taken. As I said last night, we must keep the faith. Indeed, moments like this require us to take a leap of faith in a nation that remains committed to the rule of law. Manhattan is neither the entirety of the country nor the legal system. I believe that these convictions will be overturned, but it will take time. Judge Merchan committed, in my view, layers of reversible error. Eventually, this case may reach the United States Supreme Court.
It has been suggested that an appeal could be taken directly to the Supreme Court. I find that doubtful after the Supreme Court rejected an expedited process for Special Counsel Jack Smith in his federal prosecutions. It will work first through the New York appellate system.
As for the criminal process, Trump will have to meet with a probation officer for an interview. That officer will make recommendations to the court.
There is a possibility of a jail sentence for felonies that come with up to four years for each offense. Any jail sentences would almost certainly run concurrently. However, any jail sentence would be ridiculous in Manhattan for an elderly first-offender in a non-violent offense.
Consistent with his past commentary, MSNBC legal analyst and former Mueller aide Andrew Weissmann predicted that Merchan will give Trump jail time. He is not alone as legal analysts seemed to get caught up in a thrill-kill conviction.
It is much more likely that Merchan will impose a sentence without a jail sentence, though with fines. The most appropriate, in my view, would be a conditional discharge that requires Trump not to commit a new crime or face potential imprisonment.
Merchan could also tailor a sentence to require home confinement or even weekend jailing. Those options would raise serious conflicts with his campaigning and obviously, if elected, serving as president. Even the probation process will be awkward since a convicted defendant ordinarily has to get approval for any travel outside of the state from his probation officer.
Sentences can also include community service, counseling and other requirements.
After his ruling in this trial, it is impossible to rule anything out. However, any jail sentence would add even more outrage to an abuse of the criminal law system.
Leftist’s are training “the Karens” who will not shut up and cooperate with authorities when pulled over for a variety of violations. They believe they are in charge as they cry and scream and resist everything police tell them to do, feign abuse, physical and sexual, endanger their children driving intoxicated and never accept they did anything wrong. We are going to run out of Americans willing to be subjected to these little animals, mostly females.
Now Trump Blames His Lawyers
Donald Trump claimed during a news conference on Friday that he wanted to testify in his hush money trial but said that his lawyer suggested it wouldn’t be worth the risk.
“I would have testified. I wanted to testify,” he said. “The theory is you never testify because as soon as you testify, anybody, if it were George Washington — don’t testify because they’ll get you on something that you said slightly wrong and then they sue you for perjury. But I didn’t care about that. I wanted to.”
“My lawyer said, ‘What do you need to go through it? All you wanted to do is testify simply on this case,’” he added.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2024/05/31/trump-guilty-verdict/
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Here Trump portrays himself as the brave defendant who was willing to risk conviction by testifying. Unfortunately he was stymied by his overly cautious lawyers who went on to lose the case anyway. In other words, Trump didn’t lose the case, his lawyers did.
^^ Paid DNC troll. Ignore. ^^
How about we start convicting all of them for a change, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander and we all know that they have a lot of secrets in their closets also. I hope they are happy that they are causing the demise of this country.
Clinton aplolgized for the Holocaust admitting he didn’t do enough. Name something he did.
Trump can order the military to take control of New York’s police department from prison when he is reelected.
Dr Turley, thank you for your honest reviews and commentary on this unfortunate situation. My wife told me of your comments to Judge Janine regarding congress needing to write new laws to fix this. I’m no scholar but, we got here by writing new laws, we have given immunity to certain officials within the government for their actions, these are the vary folks the constitution was designed to limit and restraint. We need to repeal most all of those laws and rules and regulations and statutes starting with Judges, and prosecutors and the list goes on and on. Then strip pharmaceutical’s of their immunity. Forgive me for my alternative view. I’m certain you know more then I do. I vote we repeal these so called protections and send congress home to talk to their neighbors, and constituent not their friends at there cocktail party’s.
One thing I do not understand is if a person is “charged” for something (and apparently we don’t really know what it is), then don’t they have a right to an expert witness in the area that they are “supposedly” charged; but maybe the area that Trump was “supposedly” charged was only our impression and that is why no “expert” witness in the a specific area (campaign finance) was needed? or maybe the “expert” witness in campaign finance would really have shown the holes. I am not a lawyer and I have not recently stayed in a Holiday Inn. The jurors were allowed to choose one of 3 buckets but did not have to be all unanimous of one bucket. So I figure, 4 apples, 4 oranges and 4 pears = fruit salad. If it had been 4 apples, 4 oranges and 4 potatoes, it would have been 3 sides. I’m nowhere near a lawyer. If the lawyers can’t understand this, then the USA is in big trouble. I’m sure I make as much sense as the cases that have gone through New York lately. Create law, find a victim, indict; create an indictment, no victim, indict; and serve up fruit and make a fruit salad, indict.
He was charged with falsifying business records. Why don’t you know this by now?
No he wasnt. Seems you are the ignorant one here.
He was charged with falsifying business records in furtherance of or to conceal another crime.
According to Alvin Bragg he was convicted of
“Falsifying business records in the first degree, to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election”
Why dont you know this by now?
Douchebag
Read EllieHonig NY mag – he makes the case for the case being overturned on appeal
Well, waiting for the system to work seems dubious at this point. Flaws are inherent in any system, and Obama highlighted this years ago and no one made efforts to correct those flaws. Corruption always exists and is proved once again with this latest expose’. Any peaceful force of correction is clearly warranted. Much can be done with Nonviolent force.
It will be overturned. It’s just a question of time. It’s a repeat of Impeachment I&II: impeached/convicted by a Democrat House/Judge & jury, then acquitted/overturned.
This is a gross perversion of justice, worthy of Soviet show trials.
Shame on Judge Marchan, DA Bragg, and the Manhattan district.
The Blob and their Democratic party Sanhedrin demanded that Donald Trump should be crucified and exchange they got Joe B
idenarrabas. They aren’t finished. They have to come after the rest of us now, or their evil empire will be over. FIGHT LIKE HELL!Last night Todd Blanche said he was still under the gag order. Trump said it today. Can any of the legal whizzes here explain why the gag order didn’t expire with the jury’s service? Wasn’t it done to prevent influencing the jury? How long can Merchan enforce it?
Case is not completed until Sentencing.
But the jury has no role in sentencing, so what’s the need for the gag order? Protecting the delicate feelings of judge and prosecutor is not weighty enough to override First Amendment rights.
Case is not completed until appeals are exhausted.
Alvin Bragg, Matthew Colangelo and all co-conspirators must now be indicted for egregious abuse of power, usurpation of power, malicious prosecution et al. and suffer the loss of their law licenses.
And be sued civilly under 42 U.S. Code § 1985 – Conspiracy to interfere with civil rights
I suppose the Democrats could add insult to Trump’s injury by convincing New York’s Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul to pardon Trump. If that happened, do you think Trump would try to decline the pardon? What, if anything, would happen to his right to appeal if he isn’t permitted to decline the pardon?
Interesting question, Trump is guaranteed to prevail on appeal, but does waiting for the exoneration help?
You would think reversal at some level of appellate court is “guaranteed”, but can we really count on anything?
Dershowitz thinks the higher courts are too chicken to get involved. He may be right. Turning their backs on the George Floyd defendants and the election fraud cases made me wonder what good are they.
It’s going to SCOTUS even if NY “courts” punt. He wins there.
No you can’t count on anything, because you are living in a bizarre alternate reality.
Hochul won’t do that in a million years. She’s just as much a partisan hack as Bragg and Merchan.
The admiration for The Donald is like jubilation over the exploits of Buch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch.
How are they similar? Butch robbed banks, Trump was convicted of bad record keeping.
Trump is worse.
He robs his supporters.
He threatens then for refusal to donate and takes the case with force if they don’t??
You would be the worst cop or lawyer in the world.
You still don’t get it, it’s not about Trump. Biden and his Democrats rob every taxpaying American citizen, 36T in debt. There aren’t enough pine trees on the planet to print that as $100 bills.
The big question not being addressed is how can WE THE PEOPLE enforce our guarantee against government overreach – the Constitution. Juan Merchan and many others have outright violated the Constitution. Who will hold them to account? Don’t count on the Supreme Court, a bunch of government appointees who have themselves violated the Constitution wholesale, the Obamacare decision being a clear case in point. That’s the fox guarding the henhouse. If the Supremes cannot be convinced to enforce our Constitution, then the responsibility devolves to our sheriffs and our military, all of whom have taken the oath to support and defend our Constitution. The most peaceful means will be for every oath-keeping sheriff to put out an arrest warrant for the arrest of any Constitution-violating government employee who wanders into his or her jurisdiction. This would be the first step. Now is the time for all good citizens to come to the aid of our Constitution!
Trump has taught his supporters to hate the rule of law.
That’s why you falsely argue that “Juan Merchan and many others have outright violated the Constitution” while suggesting that sheriffs arrest unindicted people. You don’t even understand any more what is and is not constitutional. You only know that Trump was held to account and he complains about it.
No, leftists (you) have destroyed rule of law, which, ironically, was the only thing protecting you clowns.
Guess you’ll have to hide in your basements again.
Juan Merchan’s instructions to the jury were unconstitutional. His refusal to allow testimony by the person who originated the law allegedly being violated constitutes violation of due process and is therefore unconstitutional. The fact that the defendant was never informed of the exact violations of which he was being accused was unconstitutional. Learn something!
This same nullification of the Constitution and abject corruption occurred under “Crazy Abe” Lincoln, and America still hasn’t recovered from that communist debacle. Lincoln illicitly and unconstitutionally seized all power, declared martial law, suspended habeas corpus, smashed printing presses, threw opponents in prison, invaded a sovereign foreign nation, started an undeclared war, fixed the ’64 election, failed to enforce extant immigration law against clear violators, etc., etc., etc.
Aaah, the frothings of the Peanut Gallery of 1865! Now we’re getting to the true nut of the Trump support. Unfortunately you don’t have to “declare war” on a party or parties who commit treason. You put them down, and Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, and many others did a magnificent job doing just that. It’s a great shame they they couldn’t permanently eliminate the nonsense of States’ Rights with their struggles at that time
OK, Anonymous–just HOW did Judge Merchan “violate the Constitution”? Be specific.
Please see my reply to the other ignoramus.
The defendant was never allowed to mount a defense against an unnamed crime.
Fever dreams
Would you prefer civil war?
Another option, much more peaceful, is http://www.unitedfreestates.com.
The likelihood that what is happening is allowed to pass is as great as the likelihood that the colonies would not have revolted in 1776.
Put your ear to the ground.
Alvin Bragg wasn’t up to the task so Obama flew Matthew Colangelo in as public assistance from the DOJ in support of juridical affirmative action to prosecute Real President Donald J. Trump in “fake” DA Al Bragg’s stead.
Dang, Al!
Jonathan: Before sentencing DJT has to meet with his probation officer. Now I would like to be a fly on the wall for that one! Will DJT be contrite to get some leniency from the probation officer in his report to Judge Merchan and DA Bragg’s office? Don’t count on it. If DJT were really smart he could tell the probation officer: ” I’m sorry for what I did. I’m a first time offender and I didn’t kill anyone. Give me a break in your report”. But DJT won’t say that. It’s not in his DNA. So he will loudly claim the trial was “rigged” and Judge Merchan is “corrupt”. That approach won’t get any high marks from the probation officer who will probably respond: “Excuse me, Mr. Trump, but you already have 10 contempt of court citations on your record. Do you expect me to ignore those?”
If DJT continues to lie and attack the judge and the witnesses the probation officer will include all that in his report: “This criminal defendant shows no remorse or contrition”. That’s why I think Bragg will ask for some jail time for this convicted felon!
What’s kind of ironic is that as a “convicted felon”, DJT may lose the franchise. He can’t vote for himself in November. And he knows in this election every vote counts. Under Florida law a convicted felon can vote–but only after completing their sentence. Irony of ironies!
Here is Dennis, Turley’s actual hired Troll. He is sent here (its Darren) midday, just like Gigi, to say stupid shit, just to try to illicit a reaction and drive up the post count.
I’ll bite because my post will get removed anyway.
He has nothing worthwhile to say, just supermarket tabloid garbage like the post above. Not even original, since Georgie Porgie already cut and pasted that DNC email garbage.
Trump doesnt have to say a goddam thing to that probation officer, and he shouldnt care what the sentence is, since it will be stayed and then the conviction overturned.
Merchan has known for 6 months what the sentence will be, and Dennis pretending otherwise just shows his stupidity.
Lets not forget, Dennis also predicted Trump would be incarcerated prior to sentencing.
Mark my words, Darren will be here shortly to “clean up”.
You are so oblivious!
You miss so much in your charges of conspiracies: Darren is Dennis, and Gigi; hired trolls by Turley; clean up coming soon!
To be sure, Darren is not the sharpest implement in the drawer, but at least he’s in the drawer – unlike you.
Your bombasts of adolescent denigration is telling – of a weak mind with much vitrol.
I don’t think you understand “Dennis”: many of you leftist criminals are going to prison (or worse) for a long, long time now that you’ve destroyed rule of law.
Dennis: thanks. I agree with you. Since DJT can never be wrong, he will cut off his nose to spite his face–he will deeply resent the kind of questions the probation officer must ask when conducting the presentence investigation. I don’t know how they do it in New York, but due to his age they may need to dig into his physical health. Maybe they’ll have a doctor not on the Trump payroll examine him, given his age and obesity, so we might really find out how much he actually weighs.. I find it hard to believe that he doesn’t have cholesteral and blood pressure issues given his age, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, all of which are relevant to the matter of incarceration. His mental health will also be an issue, along with the other pending criminal charges. He will continue to claim that the trial was “rigged”, that the judge was “corrupt”, that he didn’t do anything wrong, Cohen and Daniels are liars, he’s a victim….waaa….waaa…waaaa. A smart person in his shoes would show contrition-which would be insincere, of course, given this morning’s grievance tirade. I agree that Bragg should ask for at least some jail time–anyone else behaving like him would get it, too–not just for the white-collar crimes, but the utter contempt for the court system and multiple violations of the gag order.
See Pecker vs Wood, as in Peckerwood!
Hopefully, you will be so kind when a rogue DA and a carefully selected conflicted judge with the help of the DOJ gets you convicted in a biased jurisdiction under unexplained charges and sentences you to jail. I’m sure you will enjoy it. And don’t count this out as a possibility. THE SLEEPING DRAGON IS AWAKENING.
Gigi is going to have a hard time figuring out how she got thrown in prison.
Dennis there are other places on the internet to recite your nightly dreams.
This blog, attempts to stay with facts, not wish casting
A trial with 34 counts was far too convoluted for any fair and politically impartial jury to unanimously decide in little more than a single day of deliberations. That it was so is indicative of how much the trial was masterminded and controlled by members of a highly partisan corps who were blind, passionate, and unreasonable in their effort to achieve a political victory. It did not matter to the jurors that they were never apprised of any crime(s) the non-disclosure agreement was intended to conceal. Because they too proved themselves to be merely unquestioning political partisans also in quest of expediency it came as no surprise their conclusion would be based entirely upon the prosecution’s opening and closing statements.
In the beginning the jurors were told by lead prosecutor Matthew Colangelo that the private information Stormy Daniels was paid to conceal was relevant to voters in choosing between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. In his words, “This was a planned, coordinated, long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election” and “It was election fraud, pure and simple.” And during his summation, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass called the nondisclosure agreement with Daniels “a subversion of democracy.” He said it was an “effort to hoodwink the American voter.” He told “a sweeping story about a fraud on the American people,” as The New York Times put it. “He argued that the American people in 2016 had the right to determine whether they cared that Trump had slept with a porn star or not, and that the conspiracy prevented them from doing so.” The twelve jurors obviously felt they have such an intrusive right even though there was nothing criminal about keeping the affair quiet.
In the final analysis what we have witnessed is an implausible trial verdict meticulously engineered for a prepossessed and unwitting jury by a judge and prosecutors who knew all along would surely be appealed and obviously overturned once the process begins. Appeal was never the concern. Political gain is all that matters.
“… Stormy Daniels was paid to conceal was relevant to voters in choosing between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. In his words, “This was a planned, coordinated, long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election” and “It was election fraud, pure and simple.” And during his summation, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass called the nondisclosure agreement with Daniels “a subversion of democracy.” He said it was an “effort to hoodwink the American voter.” He told “a sweeping story about a fraud on the American people,” as The New York Times put it. …”
What about the numerous Flight Bill Clinton was taking to Jeffrey Epstein’s island to have colitis with under-age girls? was this also not a “nondisclosure”, “a subversion of democracy”, “a sweeping story about a fraud on the American people”. A the while sweet innocent Hillary was running for the Presidency.
Who are you fooling – Trump may have been caught with his pants down, but William Jefferson Clinton was getting away with child molestation at the behest of his Wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Election 2016 was “a subversion of democracy” on both sides.
Whoa! Read my full comment again. It was not meant to “fool” anyone, but to show how an impatient jury was led to a quick and wrongful verdict.
“What about the numerous flights Bill Clinton was taking to Jeffrey Epstein’s Island to have colitis with underage girls?”
Anonymous, you dope, it’s “coitus”. Not “colitis”. Colitis is an inflammatory colon condition. Or is this your attempt at sick humor?
—Also Anon
Typo and auto correct, I’m do my best
It’s “coitus” as Sheldon Cooper would say it.
But my/your missive may be correct as well.
Where is/are the disclosures of William Jefferson Clinton’s N.D.A.s of the Jeffrey Epstein’s Island-Girls, Where is/are the Secret Service Flight Records and Agent assignments during this periods (Clinton didn’t fly completely unaccompanied). What does Ghislaine Maxwell know about William Jefferson Clinton’s wild oats. What work did Mr. Pecker do for the Clinton(s) Overtly and Inadvertently … There is another side to the 2016 Election and it’s time to hear it.
Biden pontificates about the ‘rule of law’ and makes ever so clear, the level of contempt he and his administration have for the intelligence of the electorate. Bidens’ failed leadership as well as that of the leaders of the FBI and Department of Justice and many of their minions, reflect a level of moral and ethical turpitude so profound that they have succeeded in making excrement of themselves.
Without irony Turley says Democrats ‘dehumanize’ Trump. And yet MAGA has been dehumanizing Hillary and Biden and Obama and Pelosi and – well every Democrat. And they do it DAILY. So excuse me if I don’t shed a tear for a convicted felon who just happens to be a Republican.
Obviously, you are not about to shed a tear for the usurpation of our Constitution. You will soon be without the protection of the guarantees of the Constitution against government overreach. Hopefully, you will fully enjoy being bullied right and left. Or perhaps you will be sorry that you didn’t support and defend that document when you had a chance? Ignorance brings its just rewards.
TRUMP 20-24!!!
Thank you sammy metamucil. You’re so clever.
Independents
More likey 15%
Less likely 11%
No difference 74%
To vote for Trump, if convicted.
The electoral count stands at 304. Wanna go for 320?