Former President Donald Trump is reportedly very displeased that the attorney representing him in his hush-money trial isn't being belligerent enough in court.
The New York Times reports that attorney Todd Blanche has in recent days become "the focus" of Trump's "episodic wrath" over the hush-money trial, in which he stands accused of falsifying business records to cover up payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
In particular, the Times reports that Trump has been venting in phone calls that Blanche is being "insufficiently aggressive" in his handling of the case.
"He has griped that Mr. Blanche, a former federal prosecutor and veteran litigator, has not been following his instructions closely," reports that Times. "Mr. Trump wants him to attack witnesses, attack what the former president sees as a hostile jury pool, and attack the judge, Juan M. Merchan."
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While attacking the pool of jurors who have the power to send him to prison might not seem like the wisest idea, the Times notes that "Mr. Trump views himself as own best legal strategist."
While Trump has complained about Blanche being unwilling to lob attacks at jurors and Judge Merchan, he has also questioned friends about why Blanche is charging him so much money, which the Times notes is relevant because Trump "sometimes refuses to pay" the lawyers who represent him in court.
Trump's hush-money trial resumes on Tuesday morning.
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