His head dropped to his chest several times, before jerking back upwards. Was it a sign that the 77-year-old defendant is as doddery as President Joe Biden, his 81-year-old rival? Or was SleepyDonald attempting the ultimate "baller" move by showing his disdain for the courtroom proceedings? He seemed surprisingly relaxed about making legal history.
Opponents of Trump are cock-ahoop that he is finally facing justice.
They claim he is being held to the same legal standards as any other private citizen. But does anybody suppose Trump would be in court today over alleged "hush money" payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels as long ago as 2016 if he were not running for re-election this year? Guilty or not, it seems very unlikely.
Those who are eagerly predicting Trump's downfall should beware: there is a fair to middling chance he will escape conviction. A legal victory would thrill his supporters and turbocharge his campaign to win over Republican and independent waverers. If the judgement goes against him, he could still win in the court of public opinion. Whatever happens, there is no chance he is going to jail.
It is far better for the Democrats to pound Trump on policy issues, rather than to place their faith in the vagaries of "lawfare". At the very moment that Biden has been rising in the polls, Trump is getting wall-to-wall coverage of his legal travails. According to a new AP/Norc poll, 35 percent of respondents think Trump did nothing illegal. A further 31 percent believe he behaved unethically but not illegally by paying off Daniels.
Trump insists he is the victim of a show trial, the first of four criminal cases against him. Outside the courtroom, he glowered, "It's a scam trial.
It's a political witch hunt." He added, "This is about election interference," because attending court will prevent him from being out on the campaign stump.
Esta historia es de la edición April 17, 2024 de Evening Standard.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 17, 2024 de Evening Standard.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
McKenna and Amorim playing a waiting game over Poch's future
RUBEN AMORIM and Kieran McKenna are both waiting in the wings in case Chelsea opt to make a managerial change this week.
My record breakers can get even better, Pep warns rivals
PEP GUARDIOLA has warned Arsenal that his record-breaking Manchester City side can improve again, even after claiming four consecutive Premier League titles.
Warren’s warning as Fury calls for rematch
TYSON FURY is prone to dramatic pronouncements in the immediate aftermath of his fights, twice calling time on his career before performing a U-turn.
Oil prices rise amid defensive moves after death of Iran president
LONDON'S FTSE 100 kept positive today, staying within reach of last week's record high, but there was a defensive feel to the leaderboard with traders keeping watch on news out of the Middle East.
O’Leary slams air traffic control in Europe as Ryanair profits soar
THE boss of Ryanair today took aim at Europe's beleaguered air traffic control system as profits at the budget airline soared to nearly €2 billion.
A breath of fresn air
Anew hotel in the Dolomites is putting wellbeing at the forefront, with sauna rituals, forest bathing and relaxing hikes with spellbinding views.
Between the Lines
Take the sleeper train to the Scottish Highlands to strike out on an adventure through some of the wildest, most remote terrain in Europe.
Thyroid disease: the crisis no one talks about
One in eight women will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime. Katie Strick opens up about her six-year rollercoaster
Why Find My Friends is the healthiest social media
WHEN it comes to curating his home screen, my dad has only two forms of social media he's bothered about Strava and Find My Friends reckon he's onto something
Angel wings and bras? Please, the world has moved on diamond-encrusted
IF you thought we'd evolved past being entertained by grown women wearing giant wings to flog cheap knickers, I'm sorry to report that we've not yet reached that level of human maturity.