Judge casts doubt on January 6 defense strategy of calling Trump to the stand

Judge casts doubt on January 6 defense strategy of calling Trump to the stand

(CNN)A federal judge appeared unconvinced on Wednesday that Donald Trump should be allowed to testify at a trial of a US Capitol riot defendant who is arguing the former President could be a helpful witness.

Judge Reggie Walton said that having Trump and his allies testify would not necessarily help Dustin Thompson's defense, which plans to argue that Trump and others goaded his supporters to storm the Capitol. Thompson is accused of entering the Capitol and stealing a coat rack.

"I just (didn't) see what more you get having them come into court to testify," Walton said during the hearing, pointing out the defense could play videos of what Trump and others said at a rally that preceded the attack.

A Justice Department prosecutor agreed with Walton during the hearing.​

... https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/26/politics/january-6-judge-unconvinced-donald-trump-testify/index.html


I'm sharing this story because it raises an interesting question, namely whether Trump and/or his associates, such as Giuliani, should be called to testify at these trials. I wonder what you all think about it, especially those of you who are right-leaning. Does Trump bear responsibility, in your view? Are certain defense teams right to try and shift blame to Trump and others? Do you think Trump or others sould testify?

I think Trump testifying at these trials would be a spectacle to behold, and I suspect that this is part of why the judge and the prosecutor in this particular case oppose the idea. It risks turning the trial into a circus with Trump ranting about alleged electoral fraud and distracting from the matter at hand.

 

I say yes because it is an obvious witch hunt that will do nothing to help them in 2022, 24, but it will inadvertently lay the third world precedence ground work to go after certain House members and Biden Admin officials and DoJ. When the Durham report is out, and the sovereignty of elected officials has been forever pierced, it will be a legal turkey shoot in 2022.

 

Trump announced he will be the next POTUS today.

Opponents beware.

 

It sounds like the judge has some logical common sense to me.

Might as well plead the devil made me do it.

 

He did not say anything that advocated imminent lawless action, let alone diminish the personal responsibility of those rioting.

These people are pathetic. I have my concerns around the right to a speedy trial, but other than that they can **** right off.

 

It is not democrats who want this it is the MAGA defendant

 

Apropos of nothing

 

The Judge already answered your question. "No."

It's only two letters, easy to follow.

Newly Elected Virginia AG Continues Cleaning House, Fires University Lawyer Serving As Lead J6 Investigator.

Clearly this employee has outside interests, let Pelosi pay him.

Good Start.

Now this guy can work undistracted on J6 for as long as they can keep the dog and pony show rolling.

 

The only way to treat an access is to open it up so the pus can flow.

The VA AG is doing the same in a non medical context.

Let's shine some sunshine in that pus pocket.

 

A great sentiment. Does it also apply to all the things dirty donny bonespurs is hiding?

 

So, if that's the case why did these judges publicly raise the prospect towards the incitement act? Could they themselves know that this theater is for show("for stealing a coat rack", seriously?) When you have charges like "stealing a coat rack", you know damn well that the charges are political in nature(doesn't of course change the 'wrongdoing'), but it's about public reputation and the public reputation of the US Judicial system takes a nose dive when we prosecute out of pettiness.

The US should never entertain a kangaroo court.

 

Stealing is stealing

 

I agree with the judge. I don’t see how anything trump said could be a defense. Unless he spoke with trump personally and trump promised him a pardon.

 

The guys attorneys must be liberal Democrats. Because they're the only one pushing this ridiculous notion that somehow Trump is responsible for the rioters actions that day.

And the guy himself seems to be no real supporter of the president either, he's willing to throw him under the bus to try to save his own sorry hide. Trump did not tell him to go steal a coat rack he made that decision all by himself he should put on his big boy britches and own it.

If anyone who is trying to say that Trump is responsible for the rioters actions that day wishes to be logically consistent, and they must also blame leading Democrats for the summer of riots we had.

 

Even mentioning the possibility of Trump appearing is Luducrous.
Complete foolishness. Ain't gonna happen, etc...

 

Yes, stealing is stealing but we have a criminal code in the US called 'petty theft'. This would qualify ROFL. That this is brought before a federal court shows you that politics is in play at our judiciary system, and that's not how it should be working but that's how it is working.

 

Petty theft MAY apply to sweeties from a shop but an antique from a public building?

 

To me, petty is small, insignificant, etc. And I don't know a coat rack would qualify unless its the richest coat rack ever

 

BB, where on Earth did you get that crazy idea!?!?!?!

Did you miss your Monthly Orange Jesus Newsletter again? Everything in this world and any other galaxy **ALL** belong to Dear Leader Orange Stain. He's merely taking back things (ie. ballots, our DOJ, our USPS, etc.) that he so graciously loaned to us. Further, he is infallible so if you or anybody else think he has to abide by the laws, rules and regulations we, mere mortals, have to live by in civilized society, think again.

 

A large number of furnishings in places like the Capitol ARE antiques sometimes if is because they are part of the history (Andrew Jackson used to hang his horse spurs up on that coat rack) or simply because the budget does not allow things to be replaced on a whim but unless America is cheaper than they have been telling the rest of us odds are that is a valuable piece of furniture - after all is is on public display as part of the “braggadocio” that goes with all governmental public displays

 

What is rubbing me up the wrong way is how many have come on here blaming this on “The Dems” when it is a high probability that the defendant is or rather was a Trump supporter, and even the court prosecutor agrees that having Trump testify will not get them anywhere.

You would think that, given the desire to see the “Libs being owned” the right would be salivating at a free platform for Trump to speak and prove his innocence

 

I find it doubtful that he will get called to testify because the Defendant isn't somebody with a lot or power or money (I'm assuming. I haven't been keeping up with that) and, unfortunately, that matters in cases of the laws.

1. Further, Trump's attorneys aren't going to advise him to testify so it's not like he's going to help the guy's case any.

2. Dominion has much deeper pockets that whoever this rioter is and they are suing Powell, Giuliani and Lindell, but Trump wasn't served papers. My guess is they don't want to have to lock and load to protect against the Orange Jesus gang that are threatening people all over.

3. And, given the likelihood of a short incarceration, the guy would have to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life.

He'd be much better off to have his attorney try something else. Trump is not an asset to him here.

Mod edit/ Members Request

 

They blame everything on everybody who is not one of them. They claim that Trump was such a solid POTUS but then want to blame the fallout of the Capitol riot on Pelosi. It's pure dysfunction. Don't try to make it make sense. It won't.

I have two theories on this one:

1. For reasons I don't understand, they are totally cool with him turning his back on the rioters. So, they don't want to risk him getting caught up in any of it.

2. They, like him, don't believe the law, rules, regulations, etiquette, etc. apply to him. That's why they keep claiming these are Witch Hunts when he has a lost many, many cases in court (and one of them even claimed that he just settled to get it over with. OK.).

Their behavior and statements tell us what kind of people they really are.

 

I don't know if anybody mentioned this as I haven't read the whole thread. Why are they constantly threatening people? If he's right and has nothing to hide, why all the subterfuge?



https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/24/newt-gingrich-capitol-attack-committee-jail

 

I have a theory on your second point. I think they believe that because the law does not seem to apply to Trump it must not also apply to his supporters. This is why you are seeing people defend theft, physical attacks on police and of course verbal abuse. This is why you have seen such a rise in verbal abuse of state officials to the point that a special taskforce has been instigated to deal with it. America HAS to send a loud clear and very strict message that the law applies to ALL equally. On that thread about Australia kicking Djokovic out of the country for lying on his visa there was more than one poster shocked at the thought that we would not give “special privilege” to a “Tennis Star” they were sincerely gobsmacked when we Aussies kept saying “Law is the Law and it applies to everyone”