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Donald Trump returned to court for the latest instalment of his New York hush money trial this morning, where the jury heard further testimony from a former tabloid mogul who detailed the “catch-and-kill” scheme at the heart of the case.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified about his agreement with his “mentor” Mr Trump and ex-attorney Michael Cohen to suppress stories about the defendant’s alleged affairs.
After Mr Pecker’s cross-examination by defence lawyer Emil Bove, throughout redirect questioning by the prosecution, the witness doubled down on his testimony that he purchased and silenced the story of Playboy mannequin Karen McDougal’s affair with Mr Trump to affect the 2016 election.
Justice Juan Merchan is but to rule on whether or not Mr Trump ought to be held in contempt and fined $10,000 for allegedly violating a trial gag order by posting about witnesses and jurors on Truth Social.
In different authorized information, Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments regarding Mr Trump’s “presidential immunity” defence in opposition to prosecution in federal circumstances, and the previous president had his latest efforts to overturn the E Jean Carroll defamation verdict in opposition to him dismissed.
Alex Woodward is offering stay updates from the courthouse in Manhattan.
‘Let’s do it tonight’ Trump fumes as Biden says he’ll debate him
Mr Trump couldn’t let that go and — very similar to when he says he’ll testify in his trials — accused the president of not likely which means it.
While Mr Biden has the precise presidential debates in thoughts that historically come within the fall, the previous president started suggesting evenings subsequent week, and even tonight on the courthouse — unsure these optics would work in Mr Trump’s favour….
Here’s what he wrote on Truth Social:
Crooked Joe Biden simply introduced that he’s keen to debate! Everyone is aware of he doesn’t actually imply it, however in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an old expression utilized by Fighters. I recommend Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, or Wednesday Evening at my Rally in Michigan, a State that he’s within the means of destroying together with his E.V. Mandate. In the choice, he’s in New York City in the present day, though in all probability doesn’t comprehend it, and so am I, caught in one of many many Court circumstances that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT – A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT! It’s the one manner he thinks he can win. In truth, let’s do the Debate on the Courthouse tonight – on National Television, I’ll wait round!
There isn’t any proof that President Joe Biden has in any manner orchestrated any of the civil or felony indictments in opposition to Mr Trump. The federal circumstances have been handed off to Special Counsel Jack Smith by the Department of Justice to keep away from any doable affect by the administration. The state and native circumstances are past the remit of the federal authorities. All 4 felony circumstances have been offered to grand juries of US residents who beneficial that costs be introduced.
Oliver O’Connell26 April 2024 18:53
In footage: This morning in courtroom
Oliver O’Connell26 April 2024 18:30
Redirect questioning of Pecker in a single picture
Oliver O’Connell26 April 2024 18:20
Court breaks for lunch
The jury has been excused for lunch.
Steinglass has half an hour to go on redirect. Bove needs to re-cross Pecker.
Todd Blanche additionally asks for the identify of the following witness.
The choose will come again to that after lunch.
Alex Woodward26 April 2024 18:04
Steinglass: “Had you published a story about a Playboy model having a yearlong sexual affair while he was married … would that have sold magazines? … That would be like, National Enquirer gold. … At the time you entered into that agreement, you had zero intention of publishing that story. … You killed the story because it helped candidate Donald Trump.”
Steinglass: “Had you published a story about a Playboy model having a yearlong sexual affair while he was married … would that have sold magazines? … That would be like, National Enquirer gold. … At the time you entered into that agreement, you had zero intention of publishing that story. … You killed the story because it helped candidate Donald Trump.”
Alex Woodward26 April 2024 18:01
Steinglass hammers home the principle level the prosecution is attempting to make and mentions prior AMI plans to suppress protection in different tales.
“In this case, did you suppress stories to help a presidential candidate?”
Steinglass additionally factors out that Pecker and AMI didn’t make comparable preparations with different political candidates to put in writing sure tales, which Pecker admits was carried out in coordination with the marketing campaign.
Pecker, revisiting the Trump Tower assembly: “It was my understanding, I would use the company sources … for any information that would be coming out on Mr Trump or the campaign, related to — specifically — women, who would be selling their stories, similar to what I experienced with Schwarzenegger … My understanding is those stories would come up, I would speak to Michael Cohen, I would tell him that these stories are going to be for sale, and someone else would buy them if we don’t. … That was my understanding of that meeting.”
Steinglass hammers home the principle level the prosecution is attempting to make and mentions prior AMI plans to suppress protection in different tales.
“In this case, did you suppress stories to help a presidential candidate?”
Steinglass additionally factors out that Pecker and AMI didn’t make comparable preparations with different political candidates to put in writing sure tales, which Pecker admits was carried out in coordination with the marketing campaign.
Pecker, revisiting the Trump Tower assembly: “It was my understanding, I would use the company sources … for any information that would be coming out on Mr Trump or the campaign, related to — specifically — women, who would be selling their stories, similar to what I experienced with Schwarzenegger … My understanding is those stories would come up, I would speak to Michael Cohen, I would tell him that these stories are going to be for sale, and someone else would buy them if we don’t. … That was my understanding of that meeting.”
Alex Woodward26 April 2024 17:58
Pecker admits that the August 5 2016 contract doesn’t point out Trump reimbursing him, Cohen, the plan to reassign life rights to Trump, nor the association at Trump Tower.
“Does the contract even mention the word campaign?” Steinglass asks. (No, it doesn’t.)
Pecker admits that the August 5 2016 contract doesn’t point out Trump reimbursing him, Cohen, the plan to reassign life rights to Trump, nor the association at Trump Tower.
“Does the contract even mention the word campaign?” Steinglass asks. (No, it doesn’t.)
Alex Woodward26 April 2024 17:36
Pecker confirms that the “true purpose” of the McDougal contract with to amass the life rights of her story, and that the opposite elements of the settlement – columns, cowl appearances, weblog posts, ghostwriters, and so on. – gave the deal “plausible deniability”.
Pecker: “It was included in the contract basically as a disguise of what the actual purpose of it … The actual purpose of it was to acquire the lifetime rights … It would be published by American Media. It would not be published by any media source.”
Pecker confirms that the “true purpose” of the McDougal contract with to amass the life rights of her story, and that the opposite elements of the settlement – columns, cowl appearances, weblog posts, ghostwriters, and so on. – gave the deal “plausible deniability”.
Pecker: “It was included in the contract basically as a disguise of what the actual purpose of it … The actual purpose of it was to acquire the lifetime rights … It would be published by American Media. It would not be published by any media source.”
Alex Woodward26 April 2024 17:30
Redirect questioning of Pecker begins
Bove asks about Pecker’s testimony that Cohen was attempting to get access to bins with supplies about Trump, out of concern that he would go away AMI. Bove suggests it’s due to his “job application” with Time.
Pecker clarifies that in 2016, AMI was “looking to acquire all of Time.” He wasn’t making use of for a job there.
Pecker additionally confirms that the contents of these bins was nugatory.
Bove wraps up, with a reminder within the type of a query about Pecker’s obligation to the reality, and that jurors would be the choose of that.
Pecker: “I’ve been truthful to the best of my recollection.”
Redirect from prosecutor Joshua Steinglass.
Alex Woodward26 April 2024 17:27
Biden ‘happy’ to debate Trump
President Joe Biden on Friday mentioned he’ll take part in televised debates together with his seemingly opponent, former president Donald Trump, earlier than the 5 November presidential election.
Mr Biden mentioned he’d debate Mr Trump throughout an hour-long, wide-ranging interview with Sirius-XM radio host Howard Stern after Stern requested him whether or not he’d accomplish that.
Oliver O’Connell26 April 2024 17:20
