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Opening Statements

2024/4/23
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Prosecuting Donald Trump

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Andrew Weissmann
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Mary McCord
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Mary McCord: 本期节目主要讨论了特朗普纽约刑事审判的开场陈述以及相关的证据问题。法官在开庭陈述前向陪审团做了开场指导,解释了证据的概念,包括证人证词、文件、录音等,并强调律师的提问和陈述不构成证据。法官还解释了"合理的怀疑"的概念,以及陪审团需要判断政府是否已证明被告有罪的责任。检方在开场陈述中重点关注了能够支持其论点的硬证据,例如录音、电话记录和商业记录,这些证据将被提交法庭。其中,迈克尔·科恩与特朗普的录音是关键证据,显示特朗普知晓并参与了支付封口费的计划。2016年10月26日,科恩与特朗普的两次电话沟通后创建了Essential Consulting LLC公司,用于支付封口费,电话记录可以佐证科恩的证词。检方还提到了艾伦·魏斯伯格的笔记,这将被作为共谋者的陈述被采纳为证据。虽然起诉书中没有共谋罪的指控,但检方将此案描述为一起共谋案,从2015年开始,特朗普、科恩和佩克共同策划了"捕获并扼杀"负面信息的计划。伪造商业记录罪之所以被定为重罪,是因为其目的是为了掩盖其他犯罪行为,其中包括州和联邦选举竞选违规行为。为了构成伪造商业记录的重罪,陪审团需要认定被告意图掩盖其他犯罪行为,而这些其他犯罪行为中包含共谋。 Andrew Weissmann: 辩方律师在开场陈述中的一些说法值得关注,例如攻击迈克尔·科恩的可信度,以及试图将特朗普与伪造商业记录的行为撇清关系。辩方律师的一些说法令人意外,例如否认42万美元是13万美元的报销款,以及声称特朗普对迈克尔·科恩的犯罪行为感到震惊。辩方律师声称特朗普对科恩的犯罪行为感到震惊的说法,如同电影《卡萨布兰卡》中克劳德·雷恩斯的角色一样,缺乏可信度。辩方律师认为试图影响选举本身没有问题,但通过支付封口费并伪造记录来影响选举是违法的。辩方律师在开场陈述中对斯托米·丹尼尔斯进行了不公平的指控,检方对此提出了反对意见,并被法官采纳。辩方律师试图在开场陈述中提及特朗普依赖律师建议的辩护,但这违反了法官的预审裁决,检方提出了反对意见,并被法官采纳。法官驳回了特朗普提出的1.75亿美元保释金申请,因为该保释金的抵押品并未完全脱离特朗普的控制。最高法院将就特朗普是否拥有绝对刑事豁免权进行听证,此案涉及特别检察官杰克·史密斯提出的与1月6日事件相关的案件。地方法院和巡回法院都驳回了特朗普的绝对刑事豁免权主张,认为任何人都不能凌驾于法律之上。

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The hosts discuss the pre-trial instructions given by the judge, emphasizing the importance of understanding what constitutes evidence and the role of the jury in a criminal trial.

Shownotes Transcript

This week, Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial began in earnest with opening statements and testimony from former AMI CEO, David Pecker. MSNBC legal analysts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord break down the essence of the openings from both sides and how the statements will illuminate aspects of the trial in the coming weeks. Plus, Judge Merchan admonished the defense in Tuesday morning’s gag order hearing, saying that they were ‘losing all credibility’, but reserving a decision on the issue. For now. And looking ahead, Andrew and Mary weigh in on the questions they hope to hear in Thursday’s oral arguments before the Supreme Court to decide whether Donald Trump’s presidential immunity claim holds water.

For further reading: here is the article Andrew wrote with his colleague Ryan Goodman in Just Security Questions the Supreme Court Should Ask at Thursday’s Oral Argument on Presidential Immunity)

And a sincere thanks to all our listeners for voting in the Webby Awards! Prosecuting Donald Trump won the 2024 Webby Awards) for both the Crime & Justice podcast category and was the Crime & Justice People's Voice winner.