Senator Mitt Romney believes that Joe Biden should have pardoned Donald Trump, after the Justice Department brought election-interference charges and pressured New York prosecutors to drop the case over alleged hush money payments, to make him the “big guy” and the former president the “little guy”.
That didn’t happen and so Mr Trump’s criminal hush money trial continues on Thursday at the court in Judge Juan Merchan’s Manhattan courtroom with the continued cross-examination of the defendant’s former “fixer” Michael Cohen.
On Tuesday he was challenged about his evolving attitudes toward his ex-boss and the idea that he profited from attacking the former president in the media.
Cohen has remained calm and steadfast during his testimony, walking the jury through the strategy of delaying making the $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Mr Trump.
Meanwhile, Mr Biden and the former president have set the dates for two debates ahead of November’s election after the president challenged his rival in a video on Wednesday, declaring: “Make my day, pal.”
The debates are scheduled for June 27 on CNN and 10 September on ABC.
Alex Woodward and Kelly Rissman are covering the trial from Manhattan Criminal Court.
Biden ramps up election attacks on ‘that loser’ Trump
About six minutes into his remarks, Mr Biden referred to Mr Trump as “that loser”.
Oliver O’Connell16 May 2024 06:15
Oliver O’Connell16 May 2024 04:15
Stormy Daniels wore bulletproof vest to court
Clark Brewster, Ms Daniels’ attorney, told CNN that testifying in the historic trial had taken its toll on her, revealing that she cried herself to sleep the night before taking the stand.
“She wore a bulletproof vest every day until she got to the courthouse,” he said.
Katie Hawkinson has the story…
Oliver O’Connell16 May 2024 03:15
Recap: Key takeaways from Michael Cohen’s second day of testimony at Trump trial
Cohen appeared composed as the prosecution directly addressed his credibility, asking him about pleading guilty in 2018 to lying to Congress, lying on behalf of his former boss, and most crucially, a series of checks and invoices that contained “false” descriptions that outline the fraud at the center of the case.
Jurors saw the $35,000-per-month payments, which were signed by Mr Trump and labeled as routine legal fees to his then-attorney Michael Cohen.
But those payments were actually Mr Trump’s “reimbursement” for Cohen’s $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, according to Cohen.
In the afternoon, Mr Trump’s attorneys attacked Cohen’s shifting opinions for his former boss, from his “obsession” to his desire to see him convicted.
Here are the key takeaways from Mr Trump’s 17th day in Manhattan criminal court:
Kelly Rissman & Alex Woodward16 May 2024 02:15
Cohen says he used to be ‘knee deep in cult’ of Trump
Michael Cohen used to be one of Donald Trump’s closest legal advisers and a senior counsel within his Trump Organization empire.
Alex Woodward and Kelly Rissman report:
Oliver O’Connell16 May 2024 01:15
Watch: Pelosi says she ‘would never recommend going on stage with Donald Trump’
Oliver O’Connell16 May 2024 00:45
‘Everything’s going to be OK’: Cohen reveals last message from Trump before being abandoned
That last communication between the two men was a canary in the coal mine for the demise of their relationship, paving the way for the one-time loyal “fixer” to become one of the former president’s harshest critics.
Kelly Rissman and Alex Woodward report:
Oliver O’Connell16 May 2024 00:15
Sleepy Don strikes again
Cohen is expected to be the final witness for the prosecution…
Oliver O’Connell15 May 2024 23:15
Majority of Americans worry AI will be used to influence 2024 election
John Bowden reports from Washington, DC:
More than seven in ten Americans are concerned about how artificial intelligence (AI) will be used to influence the 2024 election via social media, according to a new poll.
A survey conducted by North Carolina’s Elon University and headed by the school’s Imagining the Digital Future center found that 78 per cent of Americans are at least somewhat if not very concerned that AI will be used to manipulate or distort voters’ perceptions of the candidates ahead of voting in November.
Oliver O’Connell15 May 2024 22:45
Full story: Mitt Romney says Biden should have pardoned Trump as he rips ‘embarrassing’ Republicans flocking to trial
Senator Mitt Romney said Joe Biden should have pardoned Donald Trump after the Justice Department brought election-interference charges and pressured New York prosecutors to drop the case over alleged hush-money payments.
“He should have fought like crazy to keep this prosecution from going forward,” Mr Romney said, referring to Mr Biden, during an interview on MSNBC’sThe 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle. “It was a win-win for Donald Trump.”
Mr Romney said pardoning Mr Trump would have put Mr Biden in a position of power over the former president.
Oliver O’Connell15 May 2024 22:30
