Donald Trump’s hush money trial: Day one recap from inside the courtroom
Donald Trump’s hush money trial is now underway with prosecutors and the defense presenting opening arguments to a 12-person jury.
NEW YORK — The seventh day of Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial could bring a ruling over whether Trump will be held in criminal contempt for allegedly violating a gag order, as well as cross-examination of the prosecution’s first witness, David Pecker.
Judge Juan Merchan said Tuesday that he would rule later on whether Trump has violated Merchan’s gag order and should be fined or threatened with jail time. Wednesday was a day off in the trial.
The Tuesday testimony of Pecker, a former tabloid executive, centered on an alleged scheme involving Pecker, Trump, and former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to catch and then kill stories that could harm Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Keep up with USA TODAY’s live updates from inside and outside the Manhattan courtroom:
Trump re-entered the courtroom at 11:22 am ET, taking a look at reporters in the audience as he walked in between them to the defense table.
– Aysha Bagchi
Before the judge declared a short break in proceedings, Pecker said he told Michael Cohen he didn’t want to be reimbursed for money American Media Inc. put out to acquire the rights to Karen McDougal’s story. Pecker said he told Cohen that after having a conversation with a lawyer, although Pecker did not disclose the contents of that conversation.
“The boss is going to be very angry,” Cohen allegedly told Pecker. “I can’t believe it. I’m a lawyer. I’m your friend. I don’t understand why you’re so concerned,” Cohen added, according to Pecker.
– Aysha Bagchi
The court is taking a short break. Trump exited the courtroom at 11:14 am ET.
– Aysha Bagchi
Unlawful election interference? Pecker says McDougal hush money wasn’t reported
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked David Pecker whether the hush money to Karen McDougal was reported as a campaign finance contribution. Pecker said it wasn’t.
Although only the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels is specifically tied to the records falsification charges Trump faces, this testimony could still be important. A key part of the prosecutors’ story is that the payment to Daniels violated federal campaign finance laws. That makes it unlawful interference in the 2016 election, and makes Trump’s alleged records falsification a cover-up for that unlawful interference, they say.
For Trump to be convicted of a felony, prosecutors must show not only that he falsified business records, but also that he did so to commit or conceal another crime. The federal campaign finance tie-in is one theory prosecutors have advanced to prove Trump committed a felony.
– Aysha Bagchi
Pecker says he never planned to publish the McDougal story
David Pecker said he never planned to publish Karen McDougal’s story despite American Media Inc., which Pecker headed at the time, buying the rights to it. He said his main reason for buying McDougal’s story was to prevent it from influencing the 2016 presidential election.
– Aysha Bagchi
Pecker says he believed Trump knew about the McDougal hush money contract
Pecker testified that Michael Cohen knew about the hush money agreement to keep Karen McDougal quiet, and he believed Donald Trump also knew.
– Aysha Bagchi
Pecker explaining contract with Karen McDougal
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is walking David Pecker through a contract with Karen McDougal, who was paid $150,000 to stay quiet about an alleged affair with Donald Trump. Trump denies they had an affair. McDougal would get a monthly column in two different magazines, in addition to the $150,000, Pecker explained.
– Aysha Bagchi
Who is Stormy Daniels and what is her real name?
Stormy Daniels, born Stephanie Clifford, is an adult film star.
Daniels claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006, months after Melania Trump gave birth to Barron Trump. Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 to stay quiet about the alleged affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election
‘The boss will take care of it’
Pecker testified about a discussion with Michael Cohen about who would ultimately pay the $150,000 hush money to Karen McDougal to keep her story of an affair with Trump quiet ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Cohen allegedly told Pecker not to worry, “the boss will take care of it.” Pecker testified he understood that to mean he would be reimbursed either by the Trump Organization or Donald Trump.
– Aysha Bagchi
At open on April 25, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp shares rose to $37, up 3.73% from the previous close.
At close on Tuesday, Trump Media met the requirement to issue 36 million additional shares to Trump in an earnout bonus, worth $1.17 billion at the time.
‘Karen is a nice girl,’ Trump allegedly said about the woman who claims they had an affair
David Pecker is testifying about Karen McDougal’s story of having an affair with Trump, and his communications with Trump and Michael Cohen about it. McDougal has claimed they had an affair that overlapped with Melania Trump’s pregnancy. Trump denies the claim.
“I spoke to Michael. Karen is a nice girl,” Trump said to Pecker during a phone call, Pecker testified. Pecker said that comment made him believe Trump knew who McDougal was. Trump asked what Pecker thought he should do, according to Pecker. Pecker recommended Trump buy McDougal’s story and take it off the market.
Asked by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass why Pecker thought Trump should buy the story, Pecker testified he believed her story was true, and he thought it would have been very embarrassing for Trump personally as well as for Trump’s campaign.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecution argues that Trump has violated the gag order another four times
Judge Juan Merchan has not yet ruled on whether to hold Trump in criminal contempt for allegedly violating a gag order. But prosecutor Christopher Conroy said this morning, just before prosecution witness David Pecker re-took the stand, that Trump has again been violating the order.
Conroy pointed to multiple comments by Trump to the press, including calling potential key witness Michael Cohen a “convicted liar” who “did some pretty bad things, I guess.”
Conroy said just this morning Trump commented on Pecker as well. “David’s been very nice,” Trump said, according to Conroy. “This is a message to Pecker: Be nice,” Trump allegedly said. “It’s a message to others. I have a platform and I can talk about you,” and I can say things like this or the kind of things I said about Cohen, Trump allegedly added.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge Juan Merchan arrives in the courtroom
Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom at 9:35 am EST. As usual, after an attorney for each side introduced their legal team and Trump’s lawyer introduced him, Merchan said a general “Good morning” as well as a specific “Good morning, Mr. Trump.”
– Aysha Bagch
Trump arrives in the courtroom for Day 7 of the trial
Trump entered the courtroom at 9:29 am EST. We are still waiting for Judge Merchan.
– Aysha Bagchi
The prosecution team arrives in the courtroom
The prosecution team entered the courtroom at about 9:17 am ET. We’re still waiting for former President Trump and his trial team, as well as for Judge Juan Merchan.
– Aysha Bagchi
Could Supreme Court presidential immunity arguments impact Trump’s New York case?
Early this month, Judge Juan Merchan rejected an argument from Trump to delay the New York criminal trial until after the Supreme Court rules on the scope of presidential immunity in Trump’s federal election interference case. Merchan said Trump raised the immunity defense in his New York case too late.
If Trump is found guilty in the New York criminal trial, he could challenge Merchan’s immunity ruling on appeal, and potentially point to a Supreme Court immunity ruling as a basis for re-trying the New York case.
– Aysha Bagchi
Why isn’t Trump at Supreme Court arguments?
New York trial Judge Juan Merchan rejected a request from former President Donald Trump’s legal team last week to allow Trump to attend today’s Supreme Court arguments over whether he is immune from prosecution in his federal election interference case. The high court is reviewing whether a former president can be prosecuted for official presidential acts.
“Arguing before the Supreme Court is a big deal,” Merchan said. He added that he understood Trump’s desire to be at those arguments, but wouldn’t alter the criminal trial plans for them.
– Aysha Bagchi
How old is Donald Trump?
Donald Trump is 77 years old. He will turn 78 on June 14, 2024.
Trump was 70 years old when he was inaugurated into office in 2017.
Joe Biden is 81 years old, the first octogenarian president. Biden and Trump have been the two oldest people elected president in US history.
-Kinsey Crowley
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is prosecuting Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump allegedly covered up the purpose of checks to Michael Cohen in order to conceal unlawfully interfering in the 2016 presidential election through a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
Trump has pleaded not guilty. He also denies Daniels’ claim that the two of them had sex just months after Melania Trump gave birth to Barron Trump.
– Aysha Bagchi
At close on April 24, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp shares rose to $35.67, up 9.52% from the previous close.
