'Somber-looking group': Retired judge describes miserable Trump allies in court
Donald Trump came to court with nearly two dozen allies as former attorney Michael Cohen took the stand in his hush money trial Monday.
Cohen testified that he paid off adult film star Stormy Daniels to ensure her silence ahead of the 2016 election — and retired Queens County Supreme Court Justice George Grasso told CNN that Trump and his allies did not look happy when they left for lunch.
"He comes across poised, cool, calm and collected, and I saw the Trump team," Grasso said.
"Trump came in with a huge entourage today, about 23 individuals including Sen. J.D. Vance, Sen. Tom Tuberville. When they left at the break at about 11 or 11:30, that was one somber-looking group. That was to my eye, was sitting right in the aisle seat.
"So I don't think they're all too pleased about what they're seeing so far. Obviously, a lot more to go on direct and then cross-examination, but my report as of right now, that's what I see and that's how I'm perceiving it."
Trump is under a gag order preventing him from commenting on Cohen, Daniels or other witnesses, as well as jurors, and Vance complained about order outside the courthouse during a break.
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“The thing that the president is prevented from saying, which is a disgrace, is that every single person involved in this prosecution is practically a Democratic political operative,” Vance said.
Vance also pointed out that Cohen was convicted of felony crimes, although he failed to say he broke those laws while working as Trump's attorney.
The senator then attacked New York Judge Juan Merchan's daughter — despite the order which prohibits Trump or anybody directing him from targeting potential witnesses, jurors, court staff or their families — including members of Merchan's family.
Tuberville told reporters outside the courthouse that prosecutors were disrespecting Trump by referring to him as Mr. Trump instead of President Trump.
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