NEW: Trump lead lawyer Todd Blanche's defense opening statement jury appears to be that TRUMPwas unaware about the specifics of the hush money payments bc Trump left it all to his ex-lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen.
Trump had nothing to do with the 34 checks other than to sign them, Blanche says: Trump has nothing to do with generating the checks or the allegedly falsified entries on the Trump Org ledger.
Blanche adds there's nothing wrong with trying to influence the 2016 election. "It's called democracy". And that's the other thrust of Trump's defense: "Entering into a non-disclosure agreement is perfectly legal; companies do that all the time."
@hugolowell Oh, gee, he had/has no idea what’s going on in his own tiny company, but he should be trusted to know about an entire Nation?!? So, he knew nothing about the bills he signed while he was squatting in the WH? Hope the prosecution asks that question!
@hugolowell Legit. Rich, successful, smart business guys (lol...I know!) are always signing checks, contracts, etc. that underlings just decide to write on their own.
@hugolowell Darn that Michael. Just demanded 34 checks be written without disclosing who they went to or what it was for. Darn that Michael!
@hugolowell No way he didn’t know what he was signing (I might believe that now, but not then).