Did Eric Trump break court rules? Trump's son fires off tweet about Michael Cohen from trial

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: UK Independent

51 minutes ago


Donald Trump’s middle son Eric Trump could be in trouble after tweeting from Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday as he sat to observe the first day of Michael Cohen’s testimony at his father’s hush money trial. “I have never seen anything more rehearsed,” the former president’s son posted on X at 10.51am local time, presumably referring to Cohen’s performance on the witness stand, during which the former attorney calmly laid out how he paid the $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in October 2016 at his boss’s behest and sought to be reimbursed.

Eric Trump was sitting directly behind the defendant at the time of the tweet, flanked by Mr Trump’s legal spokesperson Alina Habba on his right and two Secret Service agents to his left. The court does not allow the use of mobile phones within its walls when proceedings are active and Judge Juan Merchan has already admonished a member of the press for taking a photograph on their phone inside court, even before that day’s session was underway.

Court officers have since clarified that mobiles are banned in the courtroom, even among journalists, although credentialed press members are permitted to use their laptops when reporting, and lawyers for the prosecution and defence on the front bench are exempt from the rule.

It is not yet clear whether Judge Merchan will choose to address the tweet, which NBC News reporter Daniel Arkin first noticed, but he has already fined Mr Trump himself $10,000 for violating the gag order placed on him to protect the integrity of the proceedings and prevent the intimidation of witnesses and staff.

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/eric-trump-trial-tweet-michael-cohen-b2544863.html

---

I was wondering about that. Last month I got called for jury duty and ended up on a trial that lasted a couple days, and the first thing they did when the jury selection was done and they explained the process of going in and out of the courtroom from the jury room, they came in with a basket and took our phones, making clear they were prohibited in the courtroom.

[Traildogbob]

1. No

They are a great family. They Have NEVER done ANYTHING wrong. Gummy said so, on Fox so it has to be factual.

[lastlib]

11. And rules are for the little people.

"Not us high & mighty whitey."

Sez Dumberer and his daddy.

[AllyCat]

2. Rules don't apply to the rich and Republican.

They get to do whatever they want. Rules and laws are for the little people.

[republianmushroom]

6. Sure seems that way.

39 months and counting (includes foot dragging)

[Irish_Dem]

27. Rules and the law are just for suckers and losers.

Not the rich and entitled.

[Novara]

3. For all we know he's taking photos of the jurors.

This needs to be addressed.

[Think. Again.]

5. Good point.

[70sEraVet]

14. You're right!

He should have to turn his phone over to authorities, to have it searched!

[PatSeg]

16. Whoa, I hadn't thought of that

[Irish_Dem]

29. Good chance he is doing exactly that.

[Think. Again.]

4. Just remove and ban him from the courtroom ...

Standard procedure for the court bailiffs.

[SoFlaBro]

7. He's another MAGA dumb ass motherfucker just like his rapist, pedophile Orange Daddy.

[Srkdqltr]

8. Of Course he did.

[Blue Owl]

9. Gums needs a good chewing out

[Irish_Dem]

30. Maybe the judge will give him a stern look.

[myohmy2]

40. no...

...he deserves a firm slap on the wrist...

...

[Silent Type]

10. I think reporters in the courtroom are posting impressions. I doubt trump's one supporter will be sanctioned.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. The reporters are basically doing "live blogging" with their *laptops*

but they are NOT posting on social media from their cell phones from inside the courtroom.

[CaptainTruth]

17. And all the live blogging, regardless of device, is done outside the courtroom, right?

[BumRushDaShow]

19. The OP article mentions the Court's instructions

Court officers have since clarified that mobiles are banned in the courtroom, even among journalists, although credentialed press members are permitted to use their laptops when reporting, and lawyers for the prosecution and defence on the front bench are exempt from the rule.

IOW, he's NOT a "reporter", is NOT using a laptop vs a mobile phone, NOR is he a member of the prosecution or defense teams.

[CaptainTruth]

42. Thanks for pointing that out. I guess the court must verify that those laptops have all their connectivity...

...functionality turned off, or by saying "mobile" they mean specifically "cell phone" & not other mobile devices?

I mean, my laptop (like many others) is a "mobile." I can connect to the internet, post to social media, & send/receive "cell phone" text messages on my laptop, just as I do on my cell phone & desktop computers. The output is functionally identical.

Given that reality, it seems like the distinction between a "mobile" (if that's meant to mean a "cell phone&quot & a "laptop" is a distinction without much difference, other than screen size & the presence/absence of a physical keyboard.

And if the court says "mobiles are banned in the courtroom, even among journalists," & their laptop has full "mobile" capability, are they able to real-time blog by having a colleague outside the courtroom with a cell phone configured as a hotspot & they connect their laptop to that hotspot? But even in that case the laptop is functioning as a "mobile," it's just connecting to a nearby hotspot.

Anywho, I'm probably overthinking this, it's just strikes me that the court's focus on "mobiles" (& not "cell phones" specifically) hasn't kept up with modern technology, & my geek/engineering brain wonders about that. 🤔

[BumRushDaShow]

44. The guidance indicated that the laptops by credentialed press

and by the prosecution/defense, are permitted within the courtroom.

I expect "mobile" (an older term) and "cell" are being used interchangeably for phones (although I suppose that could also apply to tablets including those that have a cell plan). But another part of the issue with mobile/cell phones vs laptops, is that the former also tends to come with exterior-facing camera functionality for stills and video recording (where the laptop camera is normally facing the user only) and a violation of use of a camera "in the wrong location" at the courthouse last week, actually caused the judge to trigger a ban on all "still (photographic) images" in the courtroom -

Judge Merchan Blocks Photos of Donald Trump


Published May 09, 2024 at 10:34 AM EDT | Updated May 13, 2024 at 8:54 PM EDT


Judge Juan Merchan ruled on Thursday that photographers are no longer allowed to take pictures inside the courtroom during former President Donald Trump's New York City hush money trial.

Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records related to an alleged hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleged the payment was meant to prevent her from speaking publicly about her claims of having an affair with the former president.

The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee has denied having an affair with Daniels and pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges. He maintains his innocence and has accused Bragg and other prosecutors of targeting him for political purposes, criticizing the trial as a form of election interference.

On Thursday, Merchan, who is overseeing the trial, changed how photographers are allowed to cover the trial, according to a pool report. A court officer told pool photographers in the hallway outside the courtroom that Judge Merchan will no longer allow photography inside the courtroom for the rest of the trial at about 8:43 a.m. on Thursday.

(snip)

https://www.newsweek.com/judge-merchan-blocks-courtroom-photos-trump-1898835

[onenote]

45. Is the ban on cellphones reflected in a publicly available order?

The rules of the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, site that cellphones must be turned off, not that they aren't permitted in the courtroom.

I have no doubt Eric violated that rule by having his cell phone on. But where that happens - and it does happen, including phones ringing during a trial -- no one is ever sent to jail for it. They may be escorted from the courtroom if it is discovered while court is in session.

[BumRushDaShow]

47. I don't think anyone claimed someone would be "sent to jail" for a cell phone

This was the original order at the start of the trial (from here - https://ww2.nycourts.gov/people-v-donald-j-trump-criminal-37026) - https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/AV24_10a.pdf (PDF)

(snip)

Rules:
• Press with approved credentials can use laptops inside Room 1530 and Room 1523
• No cell phone use, no video, no photographs, no audio recording (STRICTLY ENFORCED);
journalists may pack lunch-but no glass containers allowed and no eating in Rooms 1523 and
1530 (STRICTLY ENFORCED)
• Cell phones can be used in Room 1523 ONLY for texting and/or as a hot spot
• Entire 15th Floor will be closed for lunch
• First Floor Press Room and all other floors will remain open throughout–as always

(snip)

The still photography allowance was recently rescinded due to a photographer taking and publishing photos from the "wrong" location.

[Irish_Dem]

31. A legit reporter doing his job is different.

Eric is not a reporter and is making disparaging remarks while sitting in the court room.

[Torchlight]

12. He's confusing 'disciplined, stolid, and professional' with 'rehearsed'

An easy mistake to make if one is unfamiliar with the former.

[jimfields33]

28. Interesting.

[MOMFUDSKI]

15. Judge is looking mighty

weak here.

[onenote]

21. Has the prosecution brought it to his attention?

He’s not omniscient.

[Irish_Dem]

32. I think the judge wants this trial to be over.

He is going at full speed and not going to be sidetracked.

[PSPS]

39. He is weak. He's a scared, cowering little coward, just like the rest of our so-called "system of justice."

[onenote]

41. No he's not. You're just uniformed about how the legal process actually works.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse for attacking the judge.

[Tanuki]

18. .....

Link to tweet

[dlk]

20. Trump has worked the refs for so long, the rules have changed

Eric will get a pass, just like his father. Who else could be held in contempt of court TEN times and not see the inside of a jail cell? So far, any reasonable accountability for Trump or his family is a joke.

[StarryNite]

22. Trump allies taking advantage of cellphones while press is limited

WTAF? Apparently it's okay for them. Where is the protection for the jurors?

Trump allies taking advantage of cellphones while press is limited


Lisa Rubin and Kyla Guilfoil
Trump's nonlegal staff and allies are taking advantage of the fact that they are allowed to use cellphones in the courthouse and courtroom — even where members of the press are not allowed to use theirs.

During this morning's hallway press conference, a member of Trump's team raised a smartphone with a lavender case, turned it sideways and appeared to take video of the assembled crowd.

This is the latest example of how Trump team members are deploying cellphones to their advantage inside the courthouse.

[link:https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-hush-money-trial-day-17-michael-cohen-live-updates-rcna151899|

[intrepidity]

23. I was just about to post that same quote

I don't know where they got that info or whether it is true. Time will tell.

[StarryNite]

24. If true it's total bullshit that they are allowed.

If it's not true and it's not allowed then it's total bullshit that they are turning a blind eye to it.

[intrepidity]

35. Yep. Either way, judge must respond imho. nt

[SunSeeker]

25. WTF The jurors are in danger. The judge and bailiff should not allow this!

[onenote]

46. UPDATE: Cellphone use, but not possession, is barred in courtroom, but not in other parts of courthouse.

Last edited Wed May 15, 2024, 07:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Those rules don't say anything about not allowing cellphones to be used in the courthouse and I doubt that is the case. Even the example given involved a cell phone being used outside the courtroom.

See: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/courts/1jd/criminal/generalinfo.shtml

Update: There is a specific order for this trial (thanks BumRushDaShow).That order makes it clear that cellphones may not be used in the courtroom but also indicates cellphones can be used elsewhere in the courthouse, including the overflow room.

https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/AV24_10a.pdf

[tavernier]

26. I know this sounds crazy

But could this end with a mistrial if jury members were photographed and sent out?

[Irish_Dem]

34. I this is a good question.

And given the Trump's skullduggery it is possible.

[Silent Type]

36. If he took photos of jurors, suspect the judge would go after that Gary Busey looking POS.

[tavernier]

37. He is texting to social media

So he certainly has the ability. I can’t believe someone hasn’t thought of that… including the jury.

[AZ8theist]

33. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

"I've never seen anything more rehearsed" What a MORAN!!
Hey Eric, ever watch your own appearances on Reich Wing media??
Also, it may seem "rehearsed" to you because Cohen has been repeating the SAME TESTIMONY for YEARS!!
In front of Congress and in court. UNDER OATH.
What have you accomplished in your pathetic life??

[PSPS]

38. OMG! I anticipate another WARNING from our cowering impotent "justice system"!!!111!!1!1!1!1Z

[BadgerKid]

43. The time stamp itself doesn't prove it was he who tweeted.

In any case, he shouldn’t have had a cell phone.