Merchan Tells Todd Blanche In So Many Words He’s Not In Control

The Trump hush money trial continues apace. After some amount of court room drama the twelve reasonable people sought were finally empaneled. At least in theory, that is the case. Tensions began to mount as Donald Trump had to sit there and listen to people openly criticize him. He’s not used to hearing what the real world thinks of him. This is a man who is used to applause and a standing ovation when he walks to his dinner table at night. That must be an interesting phenomenon. The closest I’ve ever gotten is my cats being grateful in the morning that I’m not dead and can actually rise from the bed and open a can.

Todd Blanche approached the bench Thursday after the jury was chosen and asked for a witness list. That’s when this exchange happened.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass noted that Trump made social media posts about several potential witnesses, which prosecutors say violated the judge’s gag order.

“What if I commit to the court that President Trump will not” post Truth posts about witnesses, Blanche says,” Tyler McBrien of Lawfare tweeted.

“I don’t think you can make that representation,” Merchan replies.

That is telling the defense lawyer in plain English that he has no control over his client. Good. No sense to do a replay of the Trump Organization fraud trial. And that’s no disrespect to Justice Arthur Engoron. He didn’t know how out of control Trump would be until the case got underway. Pretty much the same can be said about Judge Lewis Kaplan in the E. Jean Carroll case. But Juan Merchan has watched what has come before him and isn’t about to let his court become the zoo that Trump will turn it into.

“We’re not telling him who the witnesses are,” Steinglass said, according to reports.

“I can’t fault them for that,” Merchan replied, noting he would not order the prosecution to  turn over a witness list.

Trump is putting his own legal time at a disadvantage here. If this was any kind of a civilized situation and Trump could be depended upon to behave like any kind of a normal client, then some professional courtesies could be extended. The prosecution would likely turn over a list of witnesses. As it is, since the Child in Chief is the defendant, the defense is going to have to be prepared for whatever witnesses in whatever order. This is the only way the prosecution has of protecting them from being attacked — and after they appear on the stand, they will doubtless be attacked anyhow.

Todd Blanche has a bigger work load now, but hey, when you go to work for Donald Trump you’re going to earn every dime. One way or another, you’re going to find out that however much money you received, that there’s some obstacle that will arise that will end up diminishing your profit.

I hope it was worth becoming a Florida Republican for. And maybe it is. Maybe Blanche will do the tell-all book of tell-all books and make many millions. That could be his plan and it is one that could work out in his favor. Be sure to charge plenty for the movie rights.

Meanwhile, the Child In Chief has been busy posting away on social media. Poor Donald. He’s got to sit there in court and he’s only allowed to look after Vladimir’s best interests when he’s on a break or at the end of the day. No fair.

That’s all Donald can do. That and hype his next rally. Hoo, boy, Vlad won’t be happy with this. He’s only got Donald and Marge playing ball, and that idiot Tom Massie is so so on board. What to do, what to do?