By Philip Hackney, James E. & Betty M. Phillips Professor of Law, Louisiana State University . Members of the tea party movement seen rallying outside the Capitol in 2013. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Conservatives have been seething since 2013 over what they say was an unfair and imbalanced effort by the IRS to scrutinize right-leaning organizations more closely than other groups seeking nonprofit status.
Former President Donald Trump's most recent excuse about why hell has yet to break loose outside his criminal hush money trial was shredded Monday night by the New York Times reporter covering the case.
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman spoke with Anderson Cooper on CNN Monday night about the small number of of MAGA supporters who are holding court outside the Manhattan courtroom where Trump stands accused of falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star.
"He has been hoping for something of a circus around his trial, but the reality is that only two to three dozen supporters over the last week have shown up," said Haberman, who has been covering the trial in person. "He looked very unhappy."
Cooper noted Trump has not been accompanied by family or friends, and must rely on the sole support of his legal team as District Attorney Alvin Bragg's prosecution forges forward.
"It has been striking that there's no family because I know that there was some discussion at some point in those couple of weeks about who would be with him in court," Haberman said. "He is by himself.
Their protests caught the eye of Trump, who connected the uptown events to the security outside his downtown Manhattan courthouse.
"The area surrounding the Courthouse, in Downtown Manhattan, is closed up like a drum, with New York City’s Finest (Police) all over the place," Trump posted on TruthSocial. "Why not send some to Columbia to protect Jewish Students, and others...Republicans want the right to protest in front of the Courthouse, like everyone else!"
Haberman swiftly shut down Trump's suggestion that enhanced security linked to the Ivy League was to blame for the meager turnout outside his trial.
"Trump started trying to suggest on Truth Social that that's why the number has been so small, is that they're all being blocked" Haberman said. "But that's not it, it's that people are not showing up."
Former President Donald Trump's attorney Chris Kise claimed Monday his client really just wants the evidence in his Mar-a-Lago case to be "open" — despite the fact that much of that evidence is classified information.
Kise appeared on Fox News to attack special counsel Jack Smith over his handling of the federal classified documents case unfolding in Florida's federal court.
"I think what we've learned fundamentally, is that the special counsel wants to keep everything secret, and that President Trump wants everything open," said Kise. "This is probably one of the most consequential trials to come before the American people, and the American people deserve to know everything that's going on, they deserve to know every aspect of the case, and we have fought and will continue to fight to make that happen."
Smith has clashed with both Trump's defense team and Judge Aileen Cannon over how much material to turn over to the defense and in what context.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges linked to violation of the Espionage Act by storing classified documents in a Mar-a-Lago bathroom, ballroom and shower, among other places.
Commenters on social media slammed Kise for his remarks.
"It’s a classified documents case," replied @MGsquared. "That makes no sense."
"Make you wonder if they understand what the word classified means," added @TheRealCoinmon.
"He wants to keep everything open about as much as he wanted to release his tax returns," quipped Andrew McCormack.
Melania Trump's former aide is trying not to laugh about the former First Lady's decision to hawk "ugly" $245 Mother's Day necklaces, she said Monday night.
Stephanie Grisham made this declaration on CNN Monday when asked if she knew what Melania Trump might be raising money for with the necklace purportedly designed by the former First Lady.
"Nothing on the website suggests that the money raised is going to charity or anything like that," asked Erin Burnett. "Do you have any sense what she could be selling the jewelry for? Is this just money for herself? ...To raise money for the legal defense?"
"I tried not to laugh at the thought that she would be raising money for his defense," Grisham replied. "That's not going to be it."
Grisham argued Melania's timing — which coincides with the first week of Trump's criminal hush money trial on charges he falsified business records to pay for a porn star's silence — was not optimal.
"Had I been advising her, I would have said a couple of things," Grisham said. "Number one, this is the first day of your husband's criminal trial and you're going to hawk some jewelry? Probably not a very good look."
Then Grisham doubled back to the point raised by Burnett.
"And then yeah, I would have at least said, 'Hey, are we going to give this to some kind of an, an initiative for children?" Grisham said. Another inspiration might have been the recent passing of Melania's mother, Grisham argued.
"Whether it's Alzheimer's or cancer, for some proceeds to go to," Grisham said. "But instead it just says, 'Here you go, buy this for $245."
The necklace, called “Her Love & Gratitude,” became available for purchase on the former first lady’s website and boasts a flower pendant, adjustable chain and an NFT described as a "limited-edition digital collectible."
The necklace can be customizable by engraving names, initials or significant dates.
“Being a mother is one of the most important roles in life," Melania states in the bauble buildup. "For this Mother’s Day, I have designed the ‘Her Love & Gratitude’ necklace to express immense gratitude and honor all mothers."
Grisham also countered Burnett's argument that Melania finds Trump's hush money trial "disgusting."
"She would say something," Grisham said. "Melania Trump absolutely does what she wants to do and if she felt this was a disgrace, she would say something."