The 12 jurors in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial are set to begin deliberating Wednesday whether to convict the former president of a criminal offense.
After Tuesday’s marathon day of closing arguments, Trump took to Truth Social to post a series of all-caps rants on the eve of a day that could end with him becoming a convicted felon.
“CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT I, AS A DEFENDANT, AM NOT ALLOWED TO REBUT OR CORRECT THE MANY LIES TOLD DURUNG THE 5 HOUR FILIBUSTER JUST PUT ON BY THE SOROS BACKED D.A.’s OFFICE IN THE MANHATTAN COURT,” Trump wrote in one post, referencing the prosecution’s lengthy presentation of closing arguments on Tuesday.
“THE GREATEST CASE I’VE EVER SEEN FOR RELIANCE ON COUNSEL, AND JUDGE MERCHAN WILL NOT, FOR WHATEVER REASON, LET ME USE THAT AS A DEFENSE IN THIS RIGGED TRIAL. ANOTHER TERM, ADVICE OF COUNSEL DEFENSE!,” he added in another post.
Trump’s attorneys were not actually barred from using the argument and made a point in March to inform the judge that they would not pursue “advice of counsel” as their defense strategy.
Trump also took indirect aim at Michael Cohen, his former attorney and fixer who has become a central witness in the case against the former president. “I DIDN’T HAVE A FIXER, I HAD A LAWYER WHO, AT THAT TIME, WAS FULLY ACCREDITED AND ACCEPTED WITHIN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, BUT THE JUDGE IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO USE THE RELIANCE ON COUNSEL DEFENSE,” Trump griped, reiterating his long-standing claim that Cohen himself had been responsible for the $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels and the subsequent alleged falsification of business records in an attempt to cover up the scheme.
“I MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE COUNTRY NOT ALLOWED TO DO SO AND, THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS A VERY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND RESTRICTIVE GAG ORDER. NOT FAIR — FREEDOM!” Trump added. The former president has been barred from publicly attacking witnesses, jurors, court staff, and other parties involved in his trial via a limited gag order implemented by Judge Juan Merchan. It hasn’t really provided any deterrence to Trump’s public ranting about the case, though.
Throughout closing arguments, Trump managed to shoot off a few brief summaries regarding his thoughts on the prosecution’s presentation: “BORING!” and “FILIBUSTER!” he wrote during breaks from the trial.
The former president addressed an appearance by Robert De Niro outside of the courthouse as well. The legendary actor was tapped on Tuesday by the Biden-Harris campaign to provide counter-messaging to the constant stream of Trump allies who have used the trial as a gathering point to broadcast Trump’s messaging, and sparred with pro-Trump protesters during his appearance.
“I never knew how small, both mentally and physically, Wacko Former Actor Robert De Niro was. Today, De Niro, who suffers from an incurable case of TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, commonly known in the medical community as TDS, was met, outside the Courthouse, with a force far greater than the Radical Left – MAGA,” Trump wrote late on Tuesday.
Ahead of his arrival in court on Wednesday, Trump posted in all-caps yet again, calling the trial a “KANGAROO COURT” and a “BIDEN PUSHED WITCH HUNT.” While Trump likes to keep his phone within arm’s reach and his backers within shouting distance, as of Wednesday the case against him will be exclusively in the hands of the jury.
