Donald Trump’s hush money trial: Day one recap from inside courtroom
Donald Trump’s hush money trial is now underway with prosecutors and the protection presenting opening arguments to a 12-person jury.
NEW YORK — Former high Trump aide Hope Hicks has been known as to testify on the eleventh day of Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial, after jurors heard a bracing audio recording yesterday of Trump and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, discussing a hush money deal.
“So, what will we bought to pay for this? 150?” Trump requested on the recording. That was a reference to the $150,000 {that a} tabloid firm finally paid to maintain former Playboy mannequin Karen McDougal’s story of a romantic affair with Trump quiet forward of the 2016 election, in response to prosecutors.
The prosecution and protection might discover extra materials they wish to introduce on Friday taken from Michael Cohen’s cellphone.
Judge Juan Merchan may additionally difficulty a ruling on whether or not Trump has violated a gag order on 4 occassions. On Tuesday, Merchan decided Trump violated the order 9 different occasions. Merchan appeared significantly skeptical at a listening to Thursday of the Trump authorized group’s protection of Trump’s feedback abou t the jury, which he stated is probably going overwhelmingly stuffed with Democrats.
Keep up with USA TODAY’s dwell updates from inside and outdoors the Manhattan courtroom:
Hope Hicks describes Trump as ‘multitasker’ and ‘arduous employee’
Hicks stated Trump is an excellent multitasker and arduous employee. She stated he is all the time doing a number of issues without delay and would typically come to conferences with data to advance his pursuits. If it is a political assembly, he would possibly wish to present ballot numbers, she stated. If it is an actual property assembly, he would possibly include examples of optimistic press in regards to the worth of a property.
– Aysha Bagchi
Hope Hicks final communicated with Trump in 2022
Hope Hicks has been describing her background, together with working with Ivanka Trump and later with the Trump Organization, earlier than helping the 2016 Trump marketing campaign.
The final time she was in communication with Donald Trump was “someday” in the summertime or fall of 2022, she stated.
– Aysha Bagchi
Former White House communications director and 2016 Trump marketing campaign press secretary Hope Hicks has been known as to the witness stand.
– Aysha Bagchi
The prosecution confirmed jurors an Oct. 8, 2016 Twitter put up by Trump that included a video of him responding to the Oct. 7, 2016 launch of the Access Hollywood tape. Trump stated within the video that he has stated and performed issues he regrets, however his phrases on the tape do not mirror who he’s.
“I stated it, “I used to be flawed,” and “I apologize,” Trump stated within the video. “I pledge to be a greater man tomorrow, and can by no means, ever, allow you to down.”Trump began speaking about American jobs within the video and the security of the nation. He attacked Hillary and Bill Clinton, and drew a distinction between phrases and actions.
– Aysha Bagchi
The jurors simply returned from a brief break. Before they returned, Judge Merchan dominated that a number of Twitter posts by Trump, in addition to a Truth Social put up, will probably be permitted to be proven to the jury. The posts have not been displayed in courtroom but.
– Aysha Bagchi
Paralegal Georgia Longstreet from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s workplace has begun testifying. She is discussing her familiarity with Trump’s social media posts on Twitter, which is now known as “X,” in addition to on his Truth Social media platform.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Who is Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg? Prosecutor has battled Donald Trump in courtroom earlier than
On re-direct questioning, prosecutor Christopher Conroy bought laptop forensic analyst Douglas Daus to substantiate he hadn’t discovered any proof of tampering when it got here to proof the prosecution admitted yesterday that was extracted from Michael Cohen’s cellphone.
Re-direct questioning of a prosecution witness is an opportunity for the prosecution to rehabilitate the witness on any points for which they suppose the protection might need struck blows throughout cross-examination.
Conroy handed Daus off to the Trump group once more as a witness, and Trump lawyer Emil Bove then bought Daus to substantiate that Bove’s earlier cross-examination wasn’t about really observing proof tampering, however as an alternative about gaps that created dangers of such tampering.Questioning of Daus has now concluded.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Freezing temps and colourful characters: Trump’s hush money trial from the within
After asking forensic laptop analyst Douglas Daus a sequence of questions on technical points that would come up from Michael Cohen’s dealing with of his cellphone − the supply of secretly-recorded audio of Donald Trump discussing a payoff to former Playboy mannequin Karen McDougal −Trump lawyer Emil Bove ended his cross-examination by concentrating on Cohen’s trustworthiness.
“In some ways,” Bove requested, we’re simply going to must “take Michael Cohen’s phrase for it?” Daus stated that is true.
Prosecutor Chistopher Conroy is now asking Daus some further questions.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Who is Karen McDougal? What to know in regards to the potential witness in Trump’s hush money trial
Trump once more has his eyes closed for an prolonged interval on this trial. I simply counted to 40, with a “Mississippi” in between every quantity, earlier than Trump opened his eyes.
Yesterday, the previous president claimed on social media he would not go to sleep at his trial, however as an alternative merely closes his “lovely blue eyes” typically as he listens “intensely.”
It’s true Trump typically has his eyes closed when he would not look like asleep. But I additionally noticed him on April 19, throughout jury choice, clearly look like falling asleep. He repeatedly dropped his head down earlier than lifting it again up and, at one level, he had his mouth agape whereas his eyes had been closed.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Emil Bove is questioning laptop forensic analyst Douglas Daus in regards to the dealing with of the audio recording we heard yesterday during which Michael Cohen and Trump seemed to be discussing a hush money deal. Daus confirmed to Bove that information media reported on the contents of the recording in 2018. Daus additionally confirmed that, as a result of Cohen and his authorized group despatched it to the media, they should have dealt with the audio file.
– Aysha Bagchi
Computer forensic analyst Douglas Daus re-took the witness stand at 9:47 a.m. EDT, and the jury has been known as in.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche argued {that a} New York appeals courtroom’s determination to toss out the New York rape conviction in opposition to Oscar-winning film producer Harvey Weinstein ought to trigger Judge Merchan to re-think a few of his pre-trial rulings in regards to the proof that may be launched in Trump’s present trial. Merchan, for instance, has allowed in testimony of Trump’s notorious feedback on the Hollywood Access tape about kissing ladies with out ready and groping their genitals, though Merchan is not permitting the tape to truly be performed in courtroom.
However, Merchan stated the New York courtroom of appeals did not announce new authorized requirements – it merely utilized present authorized requirements to the info in Weinstein’s case. Merchan used the present authorized requirements when ruling on proof in Trump’s case, so there is not any trigger for altering his rulings, he stated.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge Juan Merchan opened proceedings this morning by addressing the Trump group to clear up any “misunderstanding” about whether or not the gag order impacts Trump’s proper to testify. This was seemingly a response to Trump’s feedback within the courthouse hallway after proceedings yesterday, when he stated: “I’m not allowed to testify; I’m below a gag order … I assume, proper?”
“I wish to stress, Mr. Trump, that you’ve an absolute proper to testify,” Merchan stated this morning. “That is a constitutional proper” and a “elementary proper that can not be infringed upon.”Merchan advised Trump he additionally has the fitting to not testify, but when he chooses to testify, the gag order would not restrict or decrease what he can say from the witness stand. As the order signifies, it solely applies to “extrajudicial statements” – that means statements made outdoors of courtroom, Merchan famous.Merchan suggested Trump to inform his lawyer if had has any lingering questions.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump talks jobs report earlier than attacking the trial
Trial? What trial?
Trump devoted the beginning of his pre-trial deal with to Friday’s disappointing jobs report, claiming “our economic system is unhealthy” and blaming President Joe Biden.
Trump then turned to his day by day diatribe in opposition to the authorized continuing, saying “there isn’t a crime” and once more blaming Biden, in addition to the choose and New York prosecutors.
The offended former president additionally expressed a little bit of optimism, saying “we’re profitable this trial.”
−David Jackson
Former President Donald Trump and his protection group entered the courtroom at 9:25 a.m. EDT. Trump is sporting a blue tie right this moment. Photographers have simply entered for his or her typical small window of time to take pictures contained in the courtroom. We are nonetheless ready on Judge Merchan.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecution group arrives in courtroom
The prosecution group entered the courtroom at 9:13 a.m. EDT. We are nonetheless ready for the protection and the choose.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump arrives on the courthouse
Former President Donald Trump arrived on the Manhattan felony courthouse at about 9:00 a.m. EDT. We are nonetheless ready for his group and the prosecution to reach within the courtroom.
– Aysha Bagchi
Famous faces within the courtroom
The predominant courtroom is not massive, however we have nonetheless seen some well-known media faces throughout this trial. Anderson Cooper is right here for CNN right this moment. I additionally noticed CNN anchor Erin Burnett earlier within the trial.
MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell was right here yesterday and is right here once more right this moment. MSNBC has been utilizing its spot in the primary courtroom for a handful of hosts. Rachel Maddow was right here throughout opening statements, and Joy Reid attended the next day.
About 65 seats are reserved in the primary courtroom for reporters, with American information retailers every getting one seat and overseas information retailers sharing a handful of further reserved seats. Other reporters are in a position to watch the proceedings dwell by way of a video stream in an overflow room down the hallway.
A small handful of members of the general public are in the primary courtroom every day, and extra get spots within the overflow room.
– Aysha Bagchi
Who are Donald Trump’s attorneys?
Trump’s protection group is led by Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles.
Blanche was a federal prosecutor for 9 years within the Southern District of New York, which incorporates Manhattan. As a outstanding white-collar protection lawyer he has defended Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn and Trump’s former marketing campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.
Necheles is ranked among the many high felony protection attorneys in New York by the authorized ranking and head-hunting agency Chambers and Partners. She was additionally a former counsel to Venero Mangano, the previous Genovese crime household underboss often known as Benny Eggs.
–Josh Meyer
The testimony of Keith Davidson, the lawyer for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels in every of their hush money offers tied to Trump, wrapped up yesterday. Jurors noticed a textual content from Davidson to the National Enquirer’s editor on 2016 Election Night: “What have we performed?”
Davidson characterised the message as humorous, but additionally stated it mirrored his perception that his actions when it got here to the hush money offers – certainly one of which was made instantly with the National Enquirer’s mother or father firm – assisted the Trump marketing campaign.
We additionally heard an audio recording that prosecutors say reveals Trump himself was concerned within the McDougal hush money deal. “So, what will we bought to pay for this? 150?” Trump requested Michael Cohen. That, in response to the prosecution, was a reference to the $150,000 hush money that finally was paid in McDougal’s deal.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump may theoretically face a pair a long time in jail if convicted on all 34 felony counts. However, a number of authorized specialists advised USA TODAY a extra lifelike sentence, assuming that worst-outcome for Trump on the 34 counts, ranges from merely probation to as much as 4 years in jail.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business information. Prosecutors say he falsified information to cowl up unlawfully interfering within the 2016 election by way of a $130,000 hush money fee to porn star Stormy Daniels. Daniels has alleged she had intercourse with Trump in 2006, a declare he denies.
– Aysha Bagchi
