Trump’s attacks 'finally have real consequences' as judge penalizes him beyond a fine
Donald Trump is used to getting away with rule violations, even in a court setting, but those days are over, according to a former prosecutor.
Trump spent Thursday in court for jury selection in the former president's upcoming trial for allegations that he broke the law when he purportedly made hush money payments to hide an affair with an adult film star ahead of the 2016 election, and then covered it up by disguising the payment in his financial records.
At the end of the day in court, there was a situation in which the judge sided with prosecutors on an issue involving divulging the information of upcoming witnesses.
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Specifically, New York Judge Juan Merchan said that he would not order the prosecutors to disclose a witness list to the defense team in light of Trump's recent attacks on figures connected to his hush-money case.
"We're not telling him who the witnesses are," a prosecutor said, according to reports.
"I can't fault them for that," Merchan replied, noting he would not order the prosecution to turn over a witness list.
Legal analyst and former prosecutor Renato Mariotti seemed to think this was a pivotal moment for Trump and his case. He quoted MSNBC, which reported that "Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked who the DA's Office plans to call as their first three witnesses. Joshua Steinglass from office refused on the basis that Trump has been tweeting about them. Judge Merchan said he doesn't blame the DA's office. Blanche said Trump won't tweet about the witnesses — to which Merchan said Blanche can't promise that. Merchan refused to order the DA's office to name its first three witnesses."
"Trump's attacks on witnesses finally have real consequences. Typically, the prosecution *does* reveal the witnesses it will call the next day," Mariotti wrote Thursday. "Judge Merchan exercising discretion to penalize behavior that endangers witnesses will be a far more effective tool than a $1,000 fine."
