Donald Trump wanted to pull a big stunt in his New York civil trial. Reports came out that on the last day - during the closing arguments - Trump planned to give part of the closing himself. A platform where he could rail and rant about the Judge - to his face - about how awful the process was. How it was all election interference. How they just HATE YOUR FAVORITE PRESIDENT, TRUMP! Alas, it is not to be.
The Daily Beast is now reporting that it will not happen. The Judge was fine with approving it, but there were some serious conditions that Trump would have to abide by. In an email to Trump's lawyers, Judge Engoron said:
"Closing arguments are for an advocate to comment on the evidence presented, on the relevant law, and on how the latter applies to the former to justify the result sought. Such arguments may not be used to testify, to introduce new evidence, to make a campaign speech, or to comment on irrelevant matters." Additionally, Trump could not insult or impugn the judge, his staff, the attorney general, her lawyers or the court system.
And that is where Trump and his lawyers balked.
If Trump refused to abide by these, he faced being found in contempt and facing fines of $50,000 or more!
Trump's lawyer, Christopher Kise, wrote an email back in a super whiny tone, saying: “That is very unfair, your Honor. You are not allowing President Trump, who has been wrongfully demeaned and belittled by an out of control, politically motivated Attorney General, to speak about the things that must be spoken about.”
Judge Engoron was not having it, writing back: “I won’t debate this yet again. Take it or leave it. Now or never. You have until noon, seven minutes from now. I WILL NOT GRANT ANY FURTHER EXTENSIONS.”
Kise didn't respond, so Judge Engoron wrote a follow up: "Not having heard from you by the third extended deadline (noon today), I assume that Mr. Trump will not agree to the reasonable, lawful limits I have imposed as a precondition to giving a closing statement above and beyond those given by his attorneys, and that, therefore, he will not be speaking in court tomorrow."
Case closed. But, I fully expect a lengthy, and very whiny, statement on the courthouse steps.
