Key players in Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial
Key players in former President Donald Trump’s criminal charges in New York over hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
NEW YORK — The tenth day of Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial is set to start with a hearing over whether the former president has again been violating a gag order, and then to have more testimony on porn star Stormy Daniels’ hush money deal.
Judge Juan Merchan already held Trump in criminal contempt Tuesday after concluding Trump committed nine violations. Thursday’s 9:30 am EST hearing will center on four more alleged violations, including Trump’s comment in the midst of testimony by former tabloid executive David Pecker: “He’s been very nice. I mean, he’s been — David’s been very nice. A nice guy .”
Keith Davidson, the former lawyer for both Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal in their hush money deals, is set to re-take the witness stand at about 10 am EST.
Keep up with USA TODAY’s live updates from inside and outside the Manhattan courtroom:
Judge Merchan arrives for the gag order hearing
Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom at 9:29 am EST for this morning’s hearing on whether Trump has violated a gag order an additional four times. The judge already held Trump in criminal contempt earlier this week after finding Trump violated the gag order nine times. Trump was fined $9,000 – the maximum $1,000 fine per violation – and warned future violations could mean jail time.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump gives a mini-campaign speech before the latest court session
Trump began his latest day in court with a brief campaign speech, attacking Democrats for inflation and campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war, as well as the hush money trial itself.
“They have no case,” Trump told reporters before entering the courtroom.
The trial resumed after a full day of campaigning by Trump, who held rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan.
“It was quite a day yesterday,” Trump said.
-David Jackson
Prosecution enters courtroom
The prosecution team entered the courtroom at 9:21 am EST, just after a group of photographers took photos of Trump at his defense table for about a minute. We are still waiting for the judge.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump arrives for Day 10 of trial
Former President Donald Trump entered the courtroom at 9:18 am EST, with his line of lawyers following behind him. Lawyer Susan Necheles came in with a big grin.
– Aysha Bagchi
Keith Davidson represented Daniels and McDougal in their deals to stay quiet about alleged affairs with Trump. He began testifying Tuesday, before an off day in the trial on Wednesday, about the hush money deals he negotiated for the two women ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Davidson was asked about text messages he sent during the negotiations that made it clear he believed the hush money was aimed at boosting Trump’s campaign. “Throw in an ambassadorship for me. I’m thinking Isle of Man,” he texted a tabloid editor while negotiating McDougal’s deal. Davidson said on the stand it was a joke, but also that he believed the deal would help Trump’s candidacy.
– Aysha Bagchi
The gag order prohibits Trump from publicly commenting on witness participation in the case, or on jurors. He is also barred from making public comments about court and prosecution staff, their family members, or the family members of the judge and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, if the comments are meant to significantly interfere with work in the case.– Aysha Bagchi
In imposing a gag order on the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Merchan noted a history of Trump making “inflammatory” statements that created fear in people tied to his legal cases and heightened security needs.
The judge pointed to 16 exhibits submitted by Bragg’s office, including election worker Ruby Freeman describing death threats and harassment she faced after Trump accused her and her daughter – also an election worker – of tampering with the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
Trump ally Rudy Giuliani is appealing a $148 million jury verdict against him for intentionally inflicting emotional distress on the mother-daughter pair and defaming them through his own attacks on their election work.– Aysha Bagchi
Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up unlawful interference in the 2016 election through a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors say Trump falsified the purpose of checks to his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, to conceal that he was reimbursing Cohen for paying the hush money and thereby violating federal campaign finance laws. He is facing 34 felony counts. – Aysha Bagchi
The 34 felony counts could theoretically send Trump to prison for decades, but several legal experts told USA TODAY a realistic sentence – if Trump were convicted on all counts – ranges from just probation to up to four years in prison.
– Aysha Bagchi
