MSNBC host Katy Tur accused former President Trump's entourage of displaying a "mean girl quality" while attending the New York hush money trial, exhibiting a stoic demeanor and engaging in snickering and staring at opponents like George Conway and Michael Cohen.
MSNBC host Katy Tur has sharply criticized the behavior of former President Trump's entourage at his ongoing New York hush money trial, describing their presence as embodying a "mean girl quality." Tur observed that Trump's political allies, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and former advisor Boris Epshteyn, displayed a stoic and intimidating demeanor while attending the trial.
However, once seated, Tur noticed a change in their behavior. "They looked around the room," she said. "They noticed George Conway. They started to snicker. Everybody turned and they stared right at George Conway and then whispered among themselves."
Tur suggested that this behavior was not coincidental but rather a deliberate attempt by Trump to influence the witnesses or the jury. "You get the idea that Donald Trump bringing this crowd with him is not just a show of force for the cameras outside, but it's a show of force for the witness inside, potentially even the jury," she said.
Tur questioned whether Trump's entourage was attempting to intimidate Michael Cohen, a former Trump ally who has turned against him, by having him face not only Trump but also a group of his ardent supporters.
"The lawmakers who have yelled at him in Congress, the potential V.P. candidates, Donald Trump's own family, former colleagues of his, Boris Epshteyn there – trying to see if anyone can know him off his game," Tur said.
Trump's allies have been a regular presence at the courthouse in recent weeks, offering their support and criticizing the legal proceedings against him. Earlier this week, former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., accompanied Trump at his court appearance.
Johnson claimed that the judicial system was being "weaponized" against Trump. "The system is using all the tools at its disposal right now to punish one president and provide cover for another," he said.
Other prominent Trump allies who have appeared at the courthouse include Gov. Doug Burgum, R-N.D., Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla.
Despite the presence of Trump's entourage, the prosecution has continued to present its case, with Michael Cohen providing damaging testimony against his former boss. Cohen corroborated allegations that Trump directed him to make illegal hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels to suppress her story about an alleged affair with Trump, which he has denied.
Cohen also testified that Trump had him secretly record a phone conversation with Roger Stone, another longtime Trump associate, in the lead-up to the 2016 election. The prosecution contends that the recording contains evidence of Trump's prior knowledge of Russia's interference in the election.
The trial is ongoing, with both the prosecution and defense expected to present additional witnesses and evidence. The outcome of the trial will likely have significant implications for Trump's political future and the broader investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
