Katie Phang Profile picture
Mar 15 6 tweets 1 min read Read on X
BREAKING NEWS: Judge Scott McAfee has GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART the motion to disqualify Fulton County DA Fani Willis.

Bottom line: either Willis steps aside, along with her entire office OR Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade withdraws. A decision must be made, per McAfee.
The Court found that there was NO evidence of an actual conflict of interest. However, he did find that the "prosecution is encumbered by an appearance of impropriety." And "as long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist."
The Court "finds itself unable to place any stock" in the testimony of Terrence Bradley. McAfee also said Robin Yeartie's testimony "lacked context and detail." And he considered the Wade cellphone info but said it didn't say conclusively when the relationship started.
The Court also denied the motions to dismiss the indictment.
The Court ruled that there was "no material financial benefit" derived by Willis in hiring and engaging in a personal relationship with Wade.

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More from @KatiePhang

May 20
BLANCHE: Except for that one conversation with Allen Weisselberg, and then you supposedly go talk to Trump, did you have other conversations with Weisselberg about your role as Trump’s personal attorney?
COHEN: No sir
BLANCHE: The conversations with AW were about the retainer agreement and the fact that there would not be one?
COHEN: yes sir

BLANCHE: If you had a retainer agreement it would have been between you and your client?
COHEN: Correct, it could have been with the Trust.
BLANCHE: Your retainer agreement would have been between you and Pres Trump?
COHEN: yes sir
Read 13 tweets
May 20
Now, Blanche finally moves on to a substantive line of questioning:

BLANCHE: The retainer agreement you had with Mr. Weisselberg, [the two of you] brought the statement with writing from you and AW?
COHEN: yes sir

BLANCHE: The way the $35,000 was a month was developed, $130,000 plus $50,000 and AW said let’s gross that up plus a $60,000 bonus and that adds up to $420,000? But you were shorted $100,000 on bonus?
COHEN: that’s correct

BLANCHE: For many years you got $150,000 bonus and that year you got $50,000 so you were shorted $100,0000
COHEN: Correct
Re. the Redfinch payment:

BLANCHE: you only paid Redfinch owner $20,000?
COHEN: I knew the owner

BLANCHE: how did you pay Red Finch
COHEN: I went to TD bank and took out cash over a couple of days, I just didn’t want to take out $20,000

BLANCHE: What were the increments you took it out in?
COHEN: I don’t recall sir. He came to the office?

BLANCHE: You had what? A duffel bag of cash?
COHEN: A brown paper bag. He came to office and I gave him cash

BLANCHE: late 2015/early 2016?
COHEN: I think so
BLANCHE: you were square with him?
COHEN: he would’ve liked the additional $30,000

BLANCHE: That ended that dispute with him?
COHEN: between us, yes

BLANCHE: Well who else would it be?
COHEN: Between trump and Redfinch
BLANCHE: So you only gave [the Redfinch owner] $20,000 and you took $30,000??

BLANCHE: “you stole from the trump organization, right?”
COHEN: “yes sir”
Read 4 tweets
May 20
Michael Cohen is back on the witness stand:

BLANCHE:   How many times have you met with prosecutors? 
COHEN:  More than a dozen 
BLANCHE:    20 times? 
COHEN: it’s possible, maybe closer to 20 than 12. 
BLANCHE:   Were those meetings all more than an hour?
COHEN:  Yes sir
BLANCHE:  most recent time you met with them?
COHEN:  Approximately ten days ago
BLANCHE: Who is Dan Goldman?
COHEN:   A member of congress

BLANCHE: he’s met you to prep for Congressional testimony
COHEN:  Congressional testimony yes 
(house oversight)

BLANCHE:  How many times did you meet with him? 
COHEN: I believe twice
Blanche now peppering Cohen with several questions about how busy he was in and around October of 2016 and suggesting Cohen’s memory about his calls/texts/communications dealing with Trump are not accurate.
Read 5 tweets
May 16
Now that the jury has been excused for the day, Judge Merchan and the lawyers are addressing the scope of the testimony of the defense's expert witness:

Bradley Smith is a former commissioner of the FEC who intends to testify about FECA (Federal Election Campaign Act), specifically regarding campaign contributions.
The prosecution arguing:

COLANGELO: I think 95 percent of the proffered testimony [from the expert] that was just described flies directly in the face of your extremely clear order…which expressly says Mr. Smith may not testify about the application or interpretation of federal campaign finance laws.
COLANGELO: I think [Mr. Bove] just walked your Honor through a very long list of federal case law and SCOTUS and DC Circuit case law, interpreting these terms. That kind of testimony from an expert is why there is a prohibition on testimony from witnesses on legal matters.
Read 9 tweets
May 16
Now, Blanche asking Cohen questions about his legal services for Trump:

BLANCHE: And you never had a retainer agreement?
COHEN: No sir

BLANCHE: You didn't need one because you were employed by the Trump Org?
COHEN: that’s correct
BLANCHE: you testified multiple times that when you were his personal atty in 2017 you had no agreement?
COHEN: Correct

BLANCHE: The whole time you worked for the Trump Org you never had a retainer agreement?
COHEN: Never had a retainer agreement

BLANCHE: Never
COHEN: no sir

BLANCHE: You were a lawyer. And you were acting as a lawyer… the whole time you worked for the trump org.
COHEN: I did legal matters and non legal matters
BLANCHE: And your job was to report directly to Pres Trump?
COHEN: whatever Mr. Trump wanted me to do
Read 7 tweets
May 16
After a brief afternoon recess, Blanche now turns to the $130K payment to Stormy Daniels by way of Keith Davidson.
BLANCHE: You learned from Mr. Davidson along the way that another news org was interested in buying her story?
COHEN: after we had failed to transfer 130000 as per mr davidson’s cutoff date
BLANCHE: The news org was ABC correct?
COHEN: correct. And I believe it was also the Daily Beast.
BLANCHE: who was the reporter [from ABC]? Individual named John Santucci
COHEN: John Santucci, I spoke to Mr. Santucci about it and he contacted me and asked...me whether or not i was responsible, or i knew that they were responsible.
Read 8 tweets

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