CNN Panel: ‘Highly Improper’ for Todd Blanche to Tell Jury Trump Could Go to Prison Because of Them, ‘Overplayed Their Hand’

EXCERPT:

COATES: “You cannot connect on Michael Cohen's word. That got an objection. It should have -- ‘You cannot send somebody to prison. You cannot connect somebody based upon the words of Michael Cohen.’ Now, Alyse, Todd Blanche is a former prosecutor. He knows full well the inappropriateness of that comment because it's not the job of the jurors to decide a sentence. What did you make of that moment?”
ADAMSON: “Yeah, that was highly improper. And having that objection sustained was obviously correct by Judge Merchan. Pattern jury instructions have wording to the effect of what you just said, which it is not for the jury to consider punishment, that is for the court. Todd Blanche knows that. This was not a slip of the tongue. He knew what he was doing. Yes, Judge Merchan gave a curative instruction to the jury, but it's like a tube of toothpaste. Once it has been, it's out of the tube, you can't put it back in. And the jury heard it. And yes, he was a former federal prosecutor, and he knows that. So, he knew what effect it would have on the jury. And now, they're going to think, oh geez, well, I might have been convinced, but he could go to prison for this. And maybe they don't even realize how influenced they have become, but it's definitely a possibility. So, you know, he knew what he was doing and it's unfortunate for the prosecution, really.”