The muted frenzy in the courtroom when Donald Trump was convicted of felonies in New York
Just before 4:15 Thursday afternoon, Donald Trump’s voice could be heard, muffled, from beyond the thick doors of Manhattan Criminal Court’s room 1530.
“I want to campaign,” Trump said to the TV cameras positioned in the hallway.
He and his entourage entered the courtroom and took their places at the defense table and in two rows of gallery benches behind.
witness Michael Cohen could have conveyed in a one-and-a-half-minute phone call. Could Cohen have told Trump’s bodyguard about a teenager who had been prank calling him, and then updated Trump on negotiations to buy an adult film star’s silence about an alleged sexual encounter?
The defense said, no way. A prosecutor went so far as to demonstrate during closing arguments a hypothetical phone call where that information is conveyed in under a minute.
It’s 5:08 p.m. The jurors had entered, walked past Trump, the judge, Bragg and others, crossing the court and sitting in their assigned seats. The foreperson had addressed the judge, and done a 34-count call and repeat.
All in just three minutes.
They had convicted Donald John Trump. The 45th President of the United States was now a felon.
His body remained motionless, but the corners of his lips sank.
Blanche asked for the jurors to be polled. Each confirmed they agreed with the verdict.
Merchan thanked the jurors, recounting that the trial began with jury selection on April 15.
“That’s a long time. That’s a long time you were away from your jobs, your families, your other responsibilities. But, not only that, you were engaged in a very stressful and difficult task,” Merchan said.
“I want you to know that I really admire your dedication and your hard work. I observed you. As I said before, I observed you during the course of the trial, and I could see how involved you were, how engaged you were, how invested you were in this process. And you gave this matter the attention it deserved,” Merchan said. “I want to thank you for that.”
Lawyers on the prosecutors’ side of the room nodded in agreement. Trump seemed still to barely move.
All rose again as the jurors were excused. Again, none looked at Trump, and Trump looked at none.
Blanche immediately asked Merchan to set aside the verdict and enter a judgment of acquittal. The motion was denied.
The judge set a sentencing hearing for July 11. He then left.
Trump and his entourage stood to leave, his lips a parabola meeting the sides of his chin. He took a few steps, gently grasped his son’s hand for a moment. He turned and slowly walked toward the room’s back doors.
The trial was over. The prosecutors were packing their briefcases and bags.
From within the courtroom, the muffled but familiar voice of a perennial presidential candidate could be heard, back on the campaign trail, decrying his treatment.
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Source: cbsnews.com