Former President Donald Trump will not be allowed to deliver his own closing argument in his civil fraud trial in New York on Thursday, the judge overseeing the case said.
Judge Arthur Engoron told Trump’s attorneys that the former president must submit to certain restrictions if he wished to address the court, which Trump’s team did not agree to. The judge said that Trump would have to limit his statement in court to “what is permissible in a counsel’s closing argument, that is, commentary on the relevant, material facts that are in evidence, and application of the relevant law to those facts.”
An email thread added to the case’s docket Wednesday showed negotiations between Engoron and Trump’s attorneys. After extending his deadline for a response, Engoron wrote Wednesday afternoon that Trump would not be allowed to speak.
“Not having heard from you by the third extended deadline (noon today), I assume that Mr. Trump will not agree to the reasonable, lawful limits I have imposed as a precondition to giving a closing statement above and beyond those given by his attorneys, and that, therefore, he will not be speaking in court tomorrow,” the judge wrote.
“Not having heard from you by the third extended deadline…”
What’s this “third extended deadline” bullshit? Every time I turn around, this asshole is being given yet another chance. Even if the state wants to be sure to dot every i and cross every t, a deadline is a deadline. He needs to put on his big boy Depends and fucking deal with it.
The likely answer is to really really make sure that the court is following the book (or even stretching the book) so it can’t be appealed.
It’s fucking infuriating though. If only we were all so lucky, or if the systems was good enough that the layman’s journey was the same, without extra performative bullshit.
Jesus. Look at seven-head behind his right shoulder.
He must have absolutely ravaged that pussy on the way out.
What the fuck is wrong with you?
“Can I say something?”
“Only if it is relevant and true.”
“Never mind.”
The judge said that Trump would have to limit his statement in court to “what is permissible in a counsel’s closing argument, that is, commentary on the relevant, material facts that are in evidence, and application of the relevant law to those facts.”
Translation: You have to only say things that are true and relevant to the court case.
Trump was like, “hmmmmmm can’t promise that.”
Incorrect headline.
He would have been able to speak, but decided not to when he realized there would be rules and he couldn’t bring in irrelevant facts and outright lies.
