🚨 Trump's jury intimidation BACKFIRES on him at trial

The Legal Breakdown with BTC & Glenn Kirschner
18 Apr 202418:44

TLDRIn the ongoing trial of Donald Trump, his attempts at jury intimidation have backfired, leading to a juror being excused due to identity concerns. Trump's use of social media to label the jury as liberal activists has resulted in seven contempt allegations against him. Judge Maran is expected to rule on these allegations, potentially leading to fines and jail time. The prosecutors are seeking to hold Trump in criminal contempt, and the judge may impose sanctions up to $1,000 per violation and up to 30 days in jail for each violation of the court order. The defense has been denied the typical courtesy of advance notice of prosecution witnesses, as the court does not trust Trump to not endanger them. The jury selection process has been swift, with 12 jurors and six alternates selected, and opening statements are anticipated to begin soon. The trial's integrity is being protected by the judge, who has restricted public information about the jurors, and the process has been expedited to prevent further interference from Trump and his followers.

Takeaways

  • 🚨 Donald Trump's alleged jury intimidation is backfiring, causing a juror to be excused due to identity leak concerns after Trump's accusations of the jury being liberal activists.
  • ⚖️ Judge Maran is expected to rule on whether Trump's actions constitute a violation of the gag order and if so, whether they warrant criminal contempt charges.
  • 📝 There are seven contempt allegations against Trump for violating the Court's gag order, with the possibility of sanctions including fines and jail time.
  • 🛡 The prosecutors are seeking to hold Trump in criminal contempt, which could lead to sanctions such as a maximum fine of $1,000 per violation and up to 30 days in jail for each violation.
  • 🗣️ Trump's defense attorney, Todd Blanch, has stated that Trump will not tweet about the witnesses, but Judge Maran did not accept this assurance and refused to order the prosecution to reveal the first three witnesses.
  • 📉 The gag order violation seems to be impacting the trial process, as the prosecution is not providing the defense with the usual courtesy of advance notice of witness order due to concerns over witness safety.
  • 🚫 Judge Maran has taken steps to protect juror identities by removing certain information from the record to prevent juror intimidation.
  • 🔍 The jury selection process was swift, with 12 jurors seated in less than three days, and six alternates expected to be selected.
  • 🏛 The trial is anticipated to progress quickly, with the possibility of a verdict within four weeks.
  • 🤔 The number of alternate jurors is higher than usual for a trial of this nature, with six alternates selected to account for potential turnover.
  • 💼 Jurors who serve for extended periods, such as six months, are often government employees or individuals not facing financial hardship for their absence, ensuring their availability without causing undue burden.

Q & A

  • What is the main issue being discussed in the video?

    -The main issue discussed in the video is Donald Trump's alleged jury intimidation and its backfire at his trial.

  • What was the reaction of one of the jurors to the situation?

    -One of the jurors was worried about her identity being leaked and decided to bail because of the accusations made by Trump about the jury being liberal activists.

  • What is the significance of the number seven in the context of the video?

    -Seven refers to the number of contempt allegations that the prosecutors have offered to Judge Maran against Donald Trump for violating the court's gag order multiple times.

  • What is the potential consequence for Trump if Judge Maran holds him in criminal contempt?

    -If held in criminal contempt, Trump could face sanctions up to $1,000 per violation and possibly up to 30 days in jail for each violation of a court order.

  • Why is the show cause hearing for the contempt charges scheduled for a week later instead of immediately?

    -The delay is due to New York state law, which requires the defendant to be given notice of a contempt charge and an opportunity to defend themselves.

  • How does the situation with the jury and Trump's behavior compare to other high-profile cases?

    -The situation is compared to cases against violent RICO organizations, where the jurors were also anonymous due to the danger posed to them.

  • What is the usual process for revealing the order of witnesses in a trial?

    -Typically, as a courtesy, the prosecution会给 the defense a notice of the order in which they will call their witnesses to the stand for the next trial day.

  • How did the prosecution respond to Trump's alleged violations of the gag order?

    -The prosecution refused to reveal the first three witnesses they plan to call, as Trump had been tweeting about them and the judge supported their decision.

  • What measures have been taken to protect the jurors' identities?

    -Judge Maran scrubbed information about the jurors' workplaces from the record and has been restrictive about the amount of information the public gets to know about the jurors.

  • How many jurors and alternates have been selected and what is the projection for the trial's duration?

    -12 jurors and 6 alternates have been selected, with a projection that the trial may last about four weeks.

  • What is the usual number of alternates in a jury trial and why were six chosen in this case?

    -Usually, there are 2 alternates in a standard jury trial, but six were chosen in this case to account for potential turnover in a high-profile trial like this.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Jury Intimidation and Contempt Allegations Against Trump

The video discusses the legal implications of Donald Trump's alleged jury intimidation and contempt of court. It highlights that a jury member was excused due to concerns over identity leaks after Trump accused the jury of being liberal activists. The prosecutors have presented seven contempt allegations against Trump for violating the court's gag order. The decision on whether to hold Trump in criminal contempt lies with Judge Maran. The video suggests that if found guilty, Trump could face a fine of up to $1,000 per violation and potential jail time. The discussion also touches on the procedural aspects of New York state law regarding contempt charges and the judge's adherence to providing notice and an opportunity to defend.

05:02

📰 Impact of Trump's Violations on Jury and Witness Safety

This paragraph delves into the consequences of Trump's actions on the trial process. It mentions how the prosecution refused to disclose the first three witnesses due to Trump's history of tweeting about them, which could endanger them. The video explains the usual protocol of providing the defense with a list of upcoming witnesses but notes that, in this case, the prosecution is justified in withholding this information to protect witnesses from potential harassment. The discussion also highlights the unusual step taken by Judge Maran to protect jurors' identities by removing certain information from the record and replacing an intimidated juror to ensure a fair trial proceeds without fear of outside influence.

10:02

🏛️ The Unprecedented Nature of Trump's Trial and Jury Selection

The video outlines the unique aspects of the jury selection process in Trump's trial, comparing it to the rare use of anonymous juries in extremely dangerous cases. It emphasizes the swiftness of the jury selection, with 12 jurors seated in less than three days, and the ongoing selection of six alternate jurors. The speaker predicts a quicker trial process than initially thought, possibly concluding within four weeks, and notes the judge's efforts to restrict public information about jurors to protect their identities. The discussion also addresses the potential for additional juror intimidation and the judge's limited power to control the actions of media and Trump's supporters.

15:05

💼 Jury Service and Its Impact on Personal Lives

This paragraph explores the logistics of serving on a jury for an extended period, such as six months. It explains that potential jurors are informed of the commitment during the selection process and that government employees, the retired, or those not on a regular wage are typically chosen to avoid financial hardship. The video addresses how jurors are compensated and how their absence from work is managed, ensuring that serving on a jury does not impose undue financial stress. It also invites viewers to subscribe for continuous coverage of the trial as it unfolds.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Jury Intimidation

Jury intimidation refers to the act of influencing or attempting to influence a jury, which is considered unethical and illegal. In the context of the video, it is suggested that Donald Trump's actions on social media have had the unintended effect of intimidating a jury member, leading to her withdrawal from the trial.

💡Gag Order

A gag order is a legal restraint on public communication issued by a court or tribunal to prevent the press or the public from making public comment on a case. The video discusses how Donald Trump has allegedly violated this order multiple times, which is a point of contention in the trial.

💡Contempt Allegations

Contempt allegations are formal accusations that someone has disobeyed a court order or behaved disrespectfully towards the court. The script mentions that there are seven contempt allegations against Trump, which are a result of his alleged violations of the court's gag order.

💡Criminal Contempt

Criminal contempt is a legal concept where a person is accused of willfully violating a court order or disrupting court proceedings. The video suggests that Trump may become the first former president to be held in criminal contempt, which is a significant development in the trial.

💡Sanctions

In a legal context, sanctions are penalties or punishments imposed for disobeying rules or orders. The video discusses potential sanctions for Trump's contempt of court, which could include fines and even jail time.

💡Anonymous Jury

An anonymous jury is a jury whose identities are kept secret from the public and the parties involved in a trial. The video mentions that the jury in Trump's trial is anonymous, which is a measure taken to protect them from potential intimidation or harassment.

💡Jury Selection

Jury selection is the process of choosing suitable jurors for a trial. The video highlights an unorthodox approach to jury selection in Trump's trial, where jurors were allowed to opt out if they felt they could not be fair, leading to a swift selection process.

💡Alternate Jurors

Alternate jurors are additional jurors who sit with the regular jury during a trial but only take part in the deliberations if one of the primary jurors becomes unable to continue. The video discusses the number of alternate jurors in Trump's trial, noting that six alternates were selected, which is more than usual.

💡Character Assassination

Character assassination is the act of damaging a person's reputation through false or exaggerated accusations. The video suggests that if Trump's defense team had the names of the first three witnesses, there would likely be a character assassination campaign against them in right-wing media.

💡RICO Conspiracy Organization

A RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) conspiracy organization is a group that engages in a pattern of criminal activity. The video compares the perceived danger posed by Trump in the trial to that of a violent RICO organization, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

💡Due Administration of Justice

The due administration of justice refers to the proper and fair enforcement of the law without any interference. The video discusses concerns about Trump's attempts to interfere with this process, highlighting the importance of maintaining the integrity of the trial.

Highlights

Donald Trump's jury intimidation is backfiring at his trial.

A jury member was excused due to concerns about identity leakage after Trump's accusations.

Trump is accused of violating the Court's gag order seven times, leading to potential criminal contempt charges.

Judge Maran will decide on the allegations of jury intimidation by Trump.

The prosecution is seeking to hold Trump in criminal contempt, a first for a former U.S. president.

Sanctions for contempt of court could include fines up to $1,000 per violation and potential jail time.

Judge Maran may warn Trump that further violations could result in jail time.

Trump's violations are stacking up additional contempt charges exponentially.

New York state law requires notice and an opportunity to defend oneself in non-judicial contempt cases.

The prosecution refused to disclose the first three witnesses due to Trump's tweets, fearing their safety.

Trump's defense team will have to prepare for trial without knowing the prosecution's witness order.

The unusual jury selection process allowed jurors to opt-out if they felt they couldn't be fair, leading to swift selection.

The trial could progress quickly, possibly concluding within four weeks.

Six alternate jurors are selected, which is more than usual, to accommodate potential turnover.

Jurors for long trials are often government employees or individuals not facing financial hardship for extended absence.

The judge has taken steps to further protect juror identities by restricting public information about them.

The integrity of the trial may be at risk from Trump's supporters continuing to spread information that could endanger the proceedings.