Did Eric Trump break court rules? Trump's son fires off tweet about Michael Cohen from trial
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.
= new reply since forum marked as read
...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"
& 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. 🤔
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)
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.
"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??
