Drawing The Final Hours At The Trump Trial

The people rest

The people rest.

The defense rests.

The first criminal trial of a former president has come close to a conclusion today. The attorneys for both sides will present their closing arguments next week and then the judge will charge the jury. They will then deliberate.

I decided to go down this morning, even thought I knew it might be only for a few hours. Yesterday, the judge had asked both sides how much time they needed to finish questioning Robert Costello and they indicated not much time. But I thought, you never know. The defense could potentially change its mind and bring someone else, or who knows, even Trump might decide to testify. It was unlikely, but a possibility.

So this morning while on line, I drew this woman who is there every day. She gathers the trash that has accumlated in the night from the line-sitters.

The policeman who is charged with keeping us in line, so to speak, walked by numerous times. His gate is urgent. There was a person sitting cross-legged on the ground slumped over. He actually asked the onlooker (also a line sitter, I think), this question:

I spotted this man an hour later. A study in sophisticated simplicity.

And these ladies in front of me had a wonderful time talking for the three hours. When the line started moving, all but one of them left. Not sure why.

As usual, we finally were let into the building and got into the spill-over room. I drew this police officer, who was the one who always shouted instructions to the room. Such as, “Members of the public, no electronics!” (press is allowed electronics, as you can see) “ There is no eating or drinking on this floor— if you want to eat or drink or use your phone, go to another floor!” “If you leave the room, don’t forget your hall pass!” Our hall pass card today was yellow.

Spillover room was actually a courtoom. Monitors were behind the cop in this drawing.

If one leaves at the breaks, there is a mad dash to the bathrooms through a dark and dingy hall that has about 10 police officers standing around. I drew it a few weeks ago; its where you see Trump speaking when he does after trial.

As the clock hits around 9:30, the monitors come alive with a view of the courtroom down the hall, the one where Trump, the lawyers, clerks, the jury, attorneys, guests and “important” press are. I scan the room to see who’s there. Judge Merchan asks the lawyers if anything needs to be discussed before he brings in the jury, they say no. Then, as he does every morning, Judge Merchan says this in his gentle, soft, friendly voice:

It’s a welcoming tone. He seems to have great care for the jurors and for how his courtroom is run.

I notice that Don Trump, Jr. is sitting directly behind his father. Like a dutiful son, he sits with a straight back and strong glare.

The witness Robert Costello is brought in. Attorney Hoffinger for the prosecution continues her questioning in a fast and no-nonsense tone. She is letting us know that she will take no guff from Costello, and she doesn’t. She is trying to show that Costello hated Michael Cohen and was afraid he would flip (which he eventually did), that he was afraid Cohen was “playing” he and Rudy Giuliani and Trump. Costello answered her questions, but not without an attitude at times. Here, she reads from a letter he wrote about Cohen.

To me, from the emails she showed us, it was clear that Trump, Giuliani and Costello were trying to “control” Cohen, in the mob sense of the word. They were unable to, as we now know.

During Costello’s appearance this morning, I saw Trump sit in a way he never has before, with his arm casually on the back of his chair. What did it mean? I have no idea. But listening to lawyers on CNN, I am guessing that Costello’s appearance as a witness was Trump’s idea—no lawyer would have brought him to the stand at the last minute as they did. It did not work out for the defense, I found Costello to be unbelievable, and I imagine the jury did as well. But who knows?

Court adjourned at around 10:20 this morning. The lawyers and Merchan were to reconvene at 2:15 to hash out jury instructions. Knowing it would be all legalese, I decided not to return.

Once back in my apartment, I did a drawing from memory because I wanted to show something I thought interesting. There were courtroom artists —I think two— who were in the actual courtroom drawing the proceedings in pastel on very large pieces of heavy duty paper (they take up two seats to do the drawings). I’ve seen them in action, their hands get totally covered in colored pastel! At breaks, one of them would come into the bathroom and photograph parts of their drawings to send to news outlets. I assume that later they scan the entire drawing on large scanners in their studios. But since cameras of any kind are not allowed during the court proceeding, these artists have to shoot their drawings in the bathroom.

I drew this trial for two reasons. One, its historic. Secondly, I am worried. Trump will turn our country into a fascist state if he wins, I really do believe that. Yesterday, he posted a video about how he would establish a “unified reich,” if elected. I don’t need to tell you that the use of the word “reich” is toxic and is loaded with terrifying meaning. I feel an urgency here: we have to stop him. It’s not just the one man, either, his followers are violent. The far right GOP have started to control our judicial system and legislative branch. If he is elected, I am sure he will change the laws so that he doesn’t need to go through another election. I do not believe I am just repeating a liberal line about the sky falling.

By drawing this trial, it made me feel that I did something—albeit very small— to bring attention to this need to stop him. I may be delusional that my efforts make a difference; however, I do believe every little bit of opposition helps. It could add up.

I am not sure what I will do next in this fight. But I will see you tomorrow. Thank you very much again for your support and community.