Donald Trump’s Court Appearance: Mine Closing and Arms Crossed in the United States

Scowling, his shoulders slightly hunched, he barely opened his mouth during the hearing. Crossing and uncrossing his arms, the billionaire in a dark suit and red tie listened in silence to the judge and the prosecutor, contenting himself for a moment with whispering a few words in the ear of his lawyer Todd Blanche.

Far from the Oval Office which he occupied for four years, far from the gilding of his multiple residences, he pleaded through his representative not guilty of 37 counts of indictment in the case of confidential documents.

This is one of the many files that surround him and cast a shadow over his candidacy for the presidency of 2024. He is accused of having put the security of the United States in danger by keeping in particular military plans or information on nuclear weapons at his home in Florida.

In the room, Judge Jonathan Goodman inquires: does the prosecution want the former president to hand over his passport to the authorities? “No, Your Honor,” responds prosecutor David Harbach. Should he be prevented from leaving the country? “No, your Honor,” said the latter again.

It is the magistrate himself who wishes to impose “a special condition”. He wants, explains Jonathan Goodman, that the accused Trump have “no contact with witnesses and victims, except through lawyers”. Nor should he talk about the current case with his co-defendant, Waltine Nauta, one of his relatives, present in the room on Tuesday alongside the former president.

«USA, USA»

Todd Blanche, one of Donald Trump’s advisers, stands up to negotiate in a tone of respect, at times almost pleading. This requirement “is not appropriate”, he argues, because among the witnesses are people whom Mr. Trump associates with on a daily basis. “One of the key witnesses is one of the president’s lawyers,” he said. “With all due respect, it’s not working.”

Flanked by Todd Blanche and his other lawyer, Christopher Kise, Donald Trump follows the debates with frowning eyebrows. Reconciling, the prosecutor then proposed that his services draw up a list, “non-exhaustive” he wishes to specify, of witnesses, “to take these concerns into account”.

But Todd Blanche returns to the charge, judging the rule too restrictive. Without really convincing the judge, who finally decides that the prosecution will draw up this list and that it will enumerate the people with whom Donald Trump cannot have contact “on the facts of the case, except through lawyers”. And if the defense judges that the document is “excessive (…), illogical or problematic”, “you can file an appeal with me”, reassures the magistrate.

The documents to be signed are brought to Donald Trump, who takes a look at them before his lawyer reviews them. Then he initials them.

Once examined the case of Waltine Nauta, the judge concludes, a little less than an hour after the beginning of this moment which opened with a surreal proclamation: “the United States against Donald J. Trump”, the official title of this court file. “My involvement in this case ends… at this precise moment”, launches the magistrate with a touch of humor, as if relieved not to go further in this historic and potentially explosive file.

Journalists rush outside to send the latest information to their newsrooms, no cameras having been allowed inside. They are greeted by a few hundred Trumpists who braved the scorching heat to defend “their president”, shouting “USA, USA”.

(AFP)Show comments