Just a few thoughts on the delay today in the Manhattan DA case. The one concrete meaningful snippet we seem to have is that the delay was ordered up by Bragg and just communicated to the grand jury. That suggests that it's not occasion to buy any kind of hesitancy or curiosity
From the grand jury. That in turn suggests that there's no strong evidence that a true bill is less likely than it was. So what was the DAs office reasoning?Fundamentally, we can't tell, but I think we shouldn't discount the possibility that Bragg just felt he needed another day
To assess a decision that could only be made when the grand jury is in session. (Also, of course, all kinds of even more pedestrian possibilities, like somebody was sick.) It could be to shore up the evidence in the grand jury, but it strikes me equally likely that it's connected
to the trial. Perhaps there's a witness that Bragg's team really wants to lock in on a certain point. (a wild possibility here would be to call Allen Weisselberg, who remember Cohen testifies is ordered along with him to do the financial details of the hush money payout.).
Or they want to make a solid record of having informed the grand jury of certain evidence for a defense that they anticipate Trump's making down the line. Or as I say, something even more pedestrian. I think the main point however is that it is less likely that Bragg is
having fundamental doubts or second guesses about seeking the indictment. We are very very far down the line and there have been so many concrete signs. To decide now not to bring the case would be like throwing into reverse a train going 200 miles an hour.
@harrylitman @harrylitman Can you explain why Bragg is bringing this Stormy Daniels hush money case now but last year seemed so reluctant to proceed with a prosecution into years of serious tax & financial crimes? This hush $ case seems trivial and politically risky. nytimes.com/2022/02/23/nyr….
@harrylitman Or he didn't want Trump surrendering on a Friday with a big rally scheduled for the next day in Waco. He could simply prefer to have Trump reporting on a Tuesday or such?
@harrylitman How could the appellate decision and Jack Smith's 6 AM compliance possibly be connected? Could it?
@harrylitman I think we don't know. And guessing, inferring, and surmising are pointless. We don't know. The possibilities are multiple, and choosing the seer du jour is where we still are. And where we've been for years with Whosis.
@harrylitman He decided not to proceed before he could do it again
@harrylitman That’s very helpful. Thanks. See you on @DeadlineWH.
@harrylitman Good insight and thanks for your continued lessons. I really love it when both you and Andrew Weissman do a podcast. Very educational and helpful.
@harrylitman The only reason anything seems delayed is because Trump forced a Tuesday expectation by typing with his tiny little hands on his fake social platform in order to score free publicity ahead of the real news. And boy howdy, score he did.
@harrylitman Well..train derailments have become quite frequent...so I count nothing out. NOTHING!