As Trump’s interminable election interference (AKA “hush money”) case finally wraps up and goes to the jury this morning, I never thought I would say this, but I’m not sure the verdict will really matter.
Trump’s supporters will never accept a conviction as valid. Trump’s detractors are not likely to accept an acquittal as valid. A mixed verdict would be like a tie in sports, and a hung jury would satisfy no one.
While the legal issue revolves around the falsification of business records to conceal hush money payments to a porn star to prevent that from affecting the 2016 election — which almost certainly happened — the jury will have to sort through a mind-numbing amount of detail to make its determination.
Either way, given what a polarizing figure Trump is, they’re damned if they do convict, damned if they don’t.
As with everything Trump, this legal controversy is just one more way that his actions are wrecking our country and undermining our criminal justice system.
HEADLINES:
Judge Cannon rejects request for gag order against Donald Trump in classified docs case (CNN)
Key witness lied on stand, Trump lawyer tells jurors during closing arguments in hush money trial (AP)
Prosecutors in hush money trial allege ‘subversion of democracy’ (WP)
Israeli tanks hit evacuation zone west of Rafah (Reuters)
Eyewitnesses describe horrific scenes after Israeli strike on Rafah camp (WP)
Facing Global Outrage, Netanyahu Calls Civilian Deaths in Rafah Strike ‘Tragic Accident’ (NYT)
US pier constructed off Gaza has broken apart (CNN)
From the baby boom to the baby bust (Financial Times)
Pat McAfee and the Threat to Sports Journalism (Atlantic)
Bill Walton, brilliant on the court, became basketball’s bard (WP)
How film stars faded - and pop stars took over (BBC)
Papua New Guinea Landslide Has Buried 2,000 People, Officials Say (NYT)
Behind the Curtain: AI's ominous scarcity crisis (Axios)
Electricity grids creak as AI demands soar (BBC)
AI will transform sports betting. It will also increase the risks. (WP)
FDA Recalls 50 Million Pounds Of Ground Meat Just To See What That Much Ground Meat Would Look Like In One Room (The Onion)
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