‘Now we have a witness’: The DOJ has the foundation for ‘additional, very serious charges’ against Trump

Appearing on MSNBC on Saturday afternoon, a former assistant U. S. attorney who helped prosecute Jan. 6 insurrectionists claimed that the DOJ got a boost from being able to speak with a close Donald Trump aide heard on tape looking at and discussing confidential documents with the former president after he left office.

Speaking with host Michael Steele, attorney Alyse Adamson claimed the audio recording of Trump and aide Susie Wiles talking and laughing about the documents is helpful, but her testimony under oath likely will lead to more serious charges against the former president.

“How much damage could she cause Trump in his defense?” host Steele asked.

“I think it’s very interesting,” she replied. “I think it means it is ongoing and again, other charges are imminent.”

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“It’s very damaging,” she added. “We heard former president Trump say that he was not really showing classified documents, it was just bravado. These were just random papers he had. But now we have a witness who is likely going to say, ‘no, that was a map.'”

“We have someone who was present that can refute Donald Trump’s claims and so, I think, that is very important because all we have right now is an audio recording,” she elaborated. “And so, yes, he is making statements that are important for his knowledge and intent that he was hanging on to classified documents, which is important for the ultimate charges in this matter. But you have a witness say, ‘yes, I actually saw classified documents’ that can lay the foundation for those additional, very serious, charges.”

Watch below or at the link.


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Judge fact-checks Trump to his face after rant over gag order



MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — Donald Trump's judge launched into Friday's hearing by fact-checking the former president's claim that a gag order was stopping him from taking the stand in his own defense.

Trump had made the complaints in front of TV cameras as he left the courtroom after proceedings closed in his hush money trial Thursday.

"I'm not allowed to testify because of the unconstitutional gag order," he said. "We're appealing the gag order and let's see what happens."

Trump was fined $9,000 earlier this week for violating the order, which forbids him from talking about potential witnesses, jurors, court staff or their families in the case, which has hit him with 34 charges of falsifying business records involving payments to adult movie actress Stormy Daniels to cover up a sexual relationship she allegedly had with him before the 2106 election.

Judge Juan Merchan started Friday's hearing by talking directly to Trump — and putting him right.

"There may be a misunderstanding how it impacts Trump's right to testify," the judge said. "I want to say the Mr. Trump, you have an absolute right to testify. The order restricting extrajudicial statements does not restrict you from testifying in any way. As the name of the order indicates, it only applies to extrajudicial statements."

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Trump has said he intends to take the stand in his own defense in the trial, though several experts have suggested that may not be wise.

The former president began the day in court smiling as he whispered to his lawyers, but he turned on a scowl when the cameras showed up before proceedings started.