The State of New York versus Donald J. Trump is about to become the latest ‘Trial of the Century’ as the former president faces multiple felony counts after a protracted jury selection process.
A full 12-member jury panel and six alternates have been selected, after some courtroom drama, for the trial which due to its complexity, is expected to last four to six weeks or more.
Former President Donald Trump mug shot Source: August 24, 2023. Fulton County Sheriff’s Office/Handout
The case has been inaccurately termed a ‘hush money case,’ because it involved alleged money paid to adult film actress Story Daniel to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. In reality, it involves money paid by former Trump attorney Michael Cohen to Daniels, which was then allegedly concealed as legitimate business expenses in violation of state financial regulations, resulting in 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of a scheme to bury stories that could damage his 2016 campaign for president. Trump has denied any affair or illegal bookkeeping activities.
Both Cohen and Daniels are expected to testify for the prosecution.
In a bizarre sidebar, a man set himself on fire in a park outside the courtroom before court adjourned Friday. He was taken away on a stretcher, and later died from his severe injuries. He allegedly scattered anti-government conspiracy pamphlets before the self-immolation.
With opening arguments starting, prosecutors under New York D.A. Alvin Bragg and Trump’s attorney team will outline to the jury their take on the trial’s goals, importance, and potential impact. Testimony should be eye-opening, especially to those who’ve remained deliberately ignorant of Trump’s illegal activities.
Trump, continuing a defiant attitude in the courtroom, (despite appearing to nap in his chair a few times) faces possible penalties from the presiding judge over his alleged repeated violations of a gag order on commenting on and disparaging court personnel, jurors, and witnesses. He continues falsely claiming the charges are a political witch-hunt. He has said he wants to testify at his trial, but some observers question whether he actually will take the witness stand, which would subject him to cross-examination by the prosecution.
Cameras are not allowed in the courtroom, but the unprecedented trial of the former president will be a top news story throughout the proceedings, and deservedly so.
In what will be a volatile campaign season, it is but the first trial for the ex-president, who faces dozens of even more serious charges relating to an organized scheme to overturn the 2020 election result, and fomenting an attack on the U.S. Capitol, illegally hoarding classified documents and more.
Fasten your seat belts.
Elsewhere, international tensions are still high after Israel answered a massive aerial attack by Iran earlier this month with a limited retaliatory attack on Iranian military facilities. Neither side wants hostilities to expand to a regional all-out war, but what happens in the future worries many world leaders.
The Israeli war in Gaza continues unabated with hopes for a hostage release and possible cease-fire fading while Palestinian residents face imminent famine despite increased food aid. A true gut-wrenching humanitarian crisis.
The turbulent political stage in Washington continues to look like a brand of theater of the absurd. Far-right MAGA Republicans have been threatening to try to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, with increased vigor now that he has seen a funding package that includes desperately-needed military aid for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion brought to the floor and passed, with help from Democrats. President Biden will sign the bill once it clears the Senate, where a compromise measure to include aid funding for Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel and U.S. border security agreed to months ago was scuttled by Republicans at the urging of Trump. Not exactly governing at its finest.
On the side of fairness, I also note that some news organizations were quick to point out some exaggerations and false claims by Biden recently as he made a campaign stop in Pennsylvania and highlighted some of the administration’s many accomplishments.
Inaccuracies were pointed out in his statements about senior drug pricing reductions, how many war zone visits he’s made, his income level past and present, the number of corporations earning billions in profits without paying any taxes, how he changed the minimum corporate tax rate, how much he lowered the federal deficit and others. But none were cited as outright lies as many news outlets have labeled many statements by Trump. But, of course, facts are important, Joe.
Finally, a very somber date in Colorado was marked recently – the 25th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton.
On April 20, 1999, two heavily armed students killed 12 students and a teacher before ending their own lives.
It was the first in the modern era of school mass shootings. I was a reporter working out of state at the time, but later covered some of the aftermath and sad memorials for the victims of the senseless slaughter. I remember seeing people weeping at the Columbine memorial that had been dedicated by Bill and Hillary Clinton when he was president. Very moving, to say the least.
How many more times have mass shootings brought unimaginable tragedy to families and communities and shock to this nation? Only very few modest firearm control measures have become law since, and a lot more remains to be done. Some analysts say we’ve become desensitized to such horrors that now occur with such frequency as to seem surreal.
I hope that is never true; that we could become that dehumanized toward such senseless, brutal tragedy. When will enough be enough?
Next time, more commentary on what authors are writing about – and clearly warning us about. And, of course, the Trump trial.
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