Jury proven clips from Donald Trump’s 2016 marketing campaign in hush money trial
Prosecutors confirmed the jury proof, launched by the Manhattan Criminal Court, in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, together with remarks made by the previous president at a 2016 marketing campaign rally.
NEW YORK — The twelfth day of Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial started with the decide threatening the previous president with jail time.
Judge Juan Merchan opened proceedings by telling Trump that the $1,000 fines for gag order violations evidently aren’t deterring the previous president. “Going ahead,” Merchan mentioned, he must take into account jail time for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
It was a dramatic begin to a brand new week of a trial that capped final week with emotional testimony from Trump’s former shut confidante, Hope Hicks. Hicks described her preliminary recommendation to the 2016 Trump marketing campaign — “Deny, deny, deny” – when a reporter first reached out for remark in regards to the notorious Access Hollywood tape, through which Trump boasted that he kissed girls with out ready and grabbed their genitals.
Keep up with USA TODAY’s stay updates from inside and outdoors the Manhattan courtroom:
Formal doc reveals Cohen $130,000 paid to Stormy Daniels’ lawyer
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo has been asking McConney a few doc labeled “ACCOUNT ACTIVITY.” A line on the doc signifies Cohen wired Stormy Daniels’ lawyer $130,000, and there are some handwritten notes that McConney says had been associated to repaying Michael Cohen.
– Aysha Bagchi
Former Trump govt describes studying Michael Cohen wanted to be reimbursed
Jeffrey McConney, former controller on the Trump Organization, mentioned he discovered sooner or later that Cohen wanted to be reimbursed via a dialog with Allen Weisselberg, the corporate’s former chief monetary officer.
Prosecutors have alleged Cohen was reimbursed via a collection of funds for wiring $130,000 as hush money to Stormy Daniels’ lawyer in late October of 2016, lower than two weeks earlier than the 2016 presidential election.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Would cameras within the courtroom change Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial?
More: Who’s who within the Trump hush money trial? Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels could possibly be key witnesses
McConney testimony strikes into Michael Cohen
McConney’s testimony is shifting into his historical past with Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen. He mentioned he knew Cohen from the Trump Organization. Asked what Cohen’s position was, McConney responded that Cohen would say he was a lawyer. It was an odd expression that drew chuckles within the courtroom.
Many individuals have mentioned damaging issues about Cohen at this trial to this point. Former Trump aide Hope Hicks mentioned on Friday that Cohen typically referred to as himself “Mr. Fix-it,” however Hicks used to say Cohen solely mounted one thing as a result of he first broke it.
– Aysha Bagchi
McConney testifying on Trump approval for invoices
Jeffrey McConney, the Trump Organization’s former monetary controller, is testifying about getting Trump’s approval for sure invoices. The function of the questions is not but clear, however it could possibly be groundwork for the prosecution’s allegation that Trump was sending checks to Michael Cohen to reimburse him for a $130,000 hush money cost to porn star Stormy Daniels, and was falsely labeling these checks as authorized expense funds.
During opening statements within the trial, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche denied the checks had been reimbursements to Cohen for the hush money.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: ‘What have we executed?’ Stormy Daniels’ lawyer thought hush money helped Trump get elected
Trump held in prison contempt for tenth gag order violation
In warning Trump this morning that he will likely be jailed for future gag order violations if it is each “crucial and acceptable,” Judge Merchan held Trump in prison contempt a tenth time. That ruling from this morning could be seen on the Manhattan prison court docket’s web site.
Merchan is holding Trump in prison contempt for the tenth time primarily based on his feedback in regards to the jury throughout a cellphone interview with a TV program referred to as, “Just The News, No Noise.”
According to a transcript the prosecution equipped to the court docket, Trump mentioned in the course of the name:
“But this decide, uh, mentioned that I can not get away from the trial. You know he is speeding the trial like loopy. Nobody’s ever seen a factor go like this. That jury was picked so quick — 95% Democrats. The space’s principally all Democrat. You consider it as a — only a purely Democrat space. It’s a really unfair state of affairs that I can inform you.”
Merchan mentioned he could not discover past an affordable doubt that Trump violated the gag order on three different events alleged by prosecutors. The decide mentioned two of these alleged violations might represent protected political speech, whereas a 3rd might not have constituted a veiled menace in opposition to a witness.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump Organization is paying for McConney’s lawyer
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo is asking McConney introductory questions. McConney simply mentioned he left the Trump Organization in February of 2023. However, he’s represented by a lawyer whom the Trump Organization is paying for as he’s testifying now, he mentioned. McConney has not had any conversations with Donald Trump himself since retiring, he mentioned.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Who is Judge Juan Merchan? What to know as Donald Trump’s hush money trial continues
Donald Trump spent Sunday on the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida
Trump was among the many listing of celebrities who attended the third annual Formula One Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday.
Surrounded by safety, he was seen being escorted via the stadium tunnels and at one level, stopped to wave on the media.
−Sudiksha Kochi and Safid Deen
Jeffrey McConney is subsequent prosecution witness
The prosecution has simply referred to as Jeffrey McConney to the witness stand. McConney is the previous controller for the Trump Organization.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump will likely be jailed for future gag order violations ‘if crucial and acceptable,’ decide tells him
Judge Merchan opened proceedings by telling Trump that the $1,000 fines for gag order violations evidently aren’t deterring the previous president. Therefore, “going ahead,” Merchan mentioned he must take into account a jail sanction.
Merchan famous Trump is a former president and mentioned, “There are many the reason why incarceration is actually a final resort.” Merchan particularly mentioned he worries, if he jails Trump, about court docket officers and the Secret Service, in addition to in regards to the “broader implications.” Merchan mentioned the “magnitude” of such a call “will not be misplaced” on him, however Trump’s violations threaten to intrude with the truthful administration of justice.
As a lot as he would not wish to impose a “jail sanction,” he needs Trump to know he “will if crucial and acceptable,” Merchan informed Trump instantly.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Freezing temps and colourful characters: Trump’s hush money trial from the within
Before getting into the courtroom Monday, former President Donald Trump famous tales that mentioned Columbia University canceled its commencement ceremony due to protests in opposition to Israel on the campus.
Trump quoted information articles saying marketing campaign donors to President Joe Biden had been additionally funding the protesters.
“Are you listening Israel?” Trump requested. “I hope you’re listening Israel. Hope you’re getting smart.”
–Bart Jansen
Trump ignores query about whether or not he’ll testify
Former President Donald Trump blasted the decide once more Monday earlier than getting into the courtroom, however ignored a reporter’s query about whether or not he would testify at his hush money trial.
Trump was additionally requested whether or not his former private lawyer, Michael Cohen, was a liar, considered one of his frequent descriptions. But Trump mentioned he couldn’t talk about Cohen due to Judge Juan Merchan’s gag order in opposition to commenting on potential witnesses.
“As you know, they’ve taken away my constitutional rights, so I’m not allowed to answer that question,” Trump mentioned.
Reporters in Miami over the weekend requested Trump in regards to the trial, however he mentioned he couldn’t reply them both.
“I have to say I’ve got a gag order,” Trump mentioned. “I can’t speak about it. Never happened before, ever.”
–Bart Jansen
Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom at 9:27 a.m. EDT for Day 12 of Donald Trump’s prison trial. As normal, Merchan mentioned “Good morning” usually to the prosecution and protection groups, and a particular “Good morning, Mr. Trump” to the previous president.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump’s $9,000 gag order fines paid
We are nonetheless ready for Judge Juan Merchan to rule on prosecutors’ allegations that Trump has violated the gag order on this case 4 further instances. That ruling may come right this moment.
However, Merchan has already dominated Trump violated the order 9 instances, and on Friday a court docket spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY that the $9,000 in fines for these violations have been paid.
Merchan held Trump in prison contempt as a part of the sooner gag order ruling, and warned the previous president that future violations may imply jail time.
– Aysha Bagchi
What does Trump’s trial schedule appear like?
Trump’s hush money trial is predicted to final six to eight weeks, in keeping with a media advisory from New York’s Unified Court System. The courtroom usually opens at 9:30 a.m. japanese time, and the court docket takes off on Wednesday’s.
Judge Juan Merchan dominated Tuesday that court docket will break on May 17 so Trump can attend his son Barron Trump’s highschool commencement, and on May 24 attributable to a juror scheduling battle.
— Sudiksha Kochi
When does the Trump trial resume?
The court docket is predicted to reconvene Monday morning at 9:30 a.m., the place testimony in Trump’s hush money trial will resume.
Though a witness will take the stand Monday, it’s not clear who that person will likely be.
Last week, former Trump spokesperson Hope Hicks obtained emotional on the stand as Trump lawyer Emily Bove started asking her questions on cross-examination.
Previous witnesses within the trial embody Former National Enquirer boss David Pecker and Keith Davidson, a lawyer who beforehand represented porn star Stormy Daniels and mannequin Karen McDougal.
S
udiksha Kochi
Trump Media auditor fined $12 million for ‘massive fraud’: SEC
The accountants for Donald Trump’s media firm Truth Social had been charged with “massive fraud” and fined tens of millions of {dollars}, however Trump’s firm wasn’t charged with wrongdoing, the Securities and Exchange Commission mentioned.
BF Borgers and its proprietor, Benjamin Borgers, had been charged with fraud that affected 1,500 SEC filings, together with these of Trump Media, the SEC mentioned. The firm agreed to pay a $12 million civil penalty and Borgers agreed to pay $2 million, and each agreed to cease auditing.
Borgers didn’t correctly put together or keep audit documentation, fabricated audit planning conferences and typically handed off earlier audits for present ones, the SEC mentioned.
“Trump Media looks forward to working with new auditing partners,” the corporate introduced in an announcement.
–Bart Jansen
Hicks’ emotional breakdown Friday occurred quickly after Trump lawyer Emil Bove started to ask her introductory questions. It wasn’t clear what triggered her feelings. It may have been going through questioning by the lawyer for her former boss, who could possibly be imprisoned if convicted. It may even have been that one thing within the prosecution’s earlier questions and her responses was sinking in.
Just earlier than Bove began his cross-examination, Hicks mentioned in response to a prosecutor’s query that Trump has requested her how a post-2016 election story about Michael Cohen’s cost to Stormy Daniels “was enjoying.”
“I feel Mr. Trump’s opinion was it was higher to be coping with it now, and that it could have been unhealthy to have that story come out earlier than the election,” Hicks mentioned.
That is important testimony for the prosecution, which is arguing that Trump dedicated felonies when he allegedly falsified business information as a result of the aim of the falsification was to cowl up violating marketing campaign finance legal guidelines via the $130,000 hush money cost. Trump might argue the cost wasn’t in regards to the election in any respect, however was as an alternative designed to protect his household from an embarrassing story.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business information. Prosecutors allege he was masking up unlawfully interfering within the 2016 presidential election via a $130,000 hush money cost from his then-lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, to porn star Stormy Daniels. Daniels says the 2 had intercourse shortly after Melania Trump gave start to Barron Trump, a declare the previous president denies.
– Aysha Bagchi
