The crazier he gets, the more his idiot worshippers will think he is speaking in secret code only they can understand.

The NY Times - 2020 Election Case - Judges Seem Skeptical of Trump’s Claim of Immunity

breaking

Three federal appeals court judges expressed deep skepticism on Tuesday about former President Donald J. Trump’s central defense to an indictment accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election: that he is immune to the charges because they arose from actions he took as president. *

 

All of the judges on the three-member panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - composed of two Democratic appointees and one Republican appointee - peppered a lawyer for Mr. Trump with tough questions about arguments he raised to support the immunity claims.

 

While the three judges also pressed a lawyer representing the special counsel, Jack Smith, their queries to him were not quite as aggressive. The panel adjourned the hearing after about an hour and 15 minutes and reserved judgment for another day.

 

The case is expected to eventually reach the Supreme Court. ...

 

So they should be skeptical! His claims of immunity were bs from the get-go!

A related story:

https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/the-danger-of-trumps-bogus-summary >> I didn't even know he put out a report of "election fraud", but I (fortunately) don't hang off his every word like the MAGA faithful do.

Jack Smith speaks during an appeals hearing on Trump's claim of immunity in the federal case, January 9, 2024.

The NY Times - Takeaways From the Appeals Court Hearing on Trump’s Immunity Claim

09 Jan 2024

A three-judge panel * of the federal appeals court in Washington heard arguments on Tuesday in a momentous case over former President Donald J. Trump’s claim that he is immune from criminal charges for the efforts he took to overturn the 2020 election.

 

Here are some takeaways:  [headings only]

 

• All three judges signaled skepticism with Trump’s position.
  
  
• A lawyer for Trump took a sweeping position on a hypothetical assassination.
  
  
• A prosecutor argued that absolute immunity would be ‘frightening.’
  
  
• Trump tried to engage in political theater. [see below]
  
  

Trump showed up in person at the appeals court hearing, even though he was not obliged to be there. But if he was hoping to turn the appearance to his political advantage, the effort fell a little flat.

He was ushered into the federal courthouse through a heavily guarded back entrance and did not address the dozens of reporters covering the proceedings.

And during the hearing itself, he was silent, doing little more than exchanging notes with his lawyers and staring at the judges who will decide his fate.

Afterwards, Trump was driven a few blocks away to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where he denounced his prosecution on the election interference charges. 

EDIT:  *  To add to Trump's macho discomfort, all three judges are female, and one of them is Black.  🙂

I suppose at least he didn't sit there with him arms folded, obviously sulking that things aren't going his way (yet again). Kinda like this:

Angela lays down the law. Sehr gut 👍

kingdragonfly:

 

Former President Trump’s legal team suggested Tuesday that even a president directing SEAL Team Six to kill a political opponent would be an action barred from prosecution given a former executive’s broad immunity to criminal prosecution.

Huh, so Biden does have a course of action to solve this whole problem.

(This is tongue in cheek. The mere thought that anyone could even consider this is abhorrent. Unsurprising Trump did though).

They are arguing over what the law of the land says not what is morally right or wrong.

If the law of the land doesn't cover the issue of a President ordering the assassination of an opponent then they can go right ahead and do it. Whether that would harm their chances of being re-elected - well this is America we are talking about.

There is no need to go to such unpalatable extremes. A little nudge from a higher power ought to be enough: Dear god, please give Trump intense persistent flatulence. Please give Trump intense persistent flatulence. Please give Trump intense persistent flatulence...

Independent: ‘It’s not good. The best way to describe it... take armpits, ketchup, a butt and makeup and put that all in a blender and bottle that as a cologne,’ Adam Kinzinger said

Sideface:

 

Jack Smith speaks during an appeals hearing on Trump's claim of immunity in the federal case, January 9, 2024.

 

1) Jack Smith has shaved off his beard.

2) Going by the hand-waving on the bench, all three judges appear to be speaking at once. Perhaps about the missing beard.

3) The court recorder is wearing a mask to avoid being recognized as Rudolph Giuliani. 

4) Eight men, including Trump, appear to be fascinated by something out of picture at top right. Jesus perhaps. 

5) The guy behind Trump who's chewing his beard, has caught a whiff of the Don's BO and is wondering how to request a seating change.

6) The two bald guys to his right have been exposed to it for longer and their faces have now lost all color.

I was really wondering about Jack Smith's shapeshift, which goes way beyond just the missing beard! Thanks for pointing it out.