Judge threatens Trump with jail time for gag order violations
Donald Trump is being held in prison contempt of court docket for a tenth time, and was threatened with jail time, for gag order violations.
NEW YORK — Porn star Stormy Daniels withstood hours of questioning by the protection on the thirteenth day of Donald Trump’s hush money trial as legal professionals for the previous president accused her of attempting to blackmail Trump forward of the 2016 election together with her story of a tawdry sexual encounter. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business information to cowl up a hush money cope with Daniels.
Daniels’ testimony started together with her telling prosecutors of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump, together with particulars akin to the fact TV star’s silky pajamas and the gold tweezers she noticed in his lodge suite toilet. Daniels testified concerning the coronary heart of the case towards Trump: a $130,000 cost she obtained to stay silent earlier than the 2016 election.
Just earlier than Trump’s group started cross-examining Daniels, the decide denied their request for a mistrial. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche argued Daniels stated issues that had been solely meant to embarrass Trump and “to inflame this jury,” and it was “unattainable to return again from” it.
Judge Juan Merchan agreed a few of her testimony went too far, however he did not suppose it reached the purpose of a mistrial.
Keep up with USA TODAY’s reside updates from inside and outdoors the Manhattan courtroom:
Trump calls Stormy Daniels’ testimony ‘revealing’
Former President Donald Trump didn’t point out porn actress Stormy Daniels exterior the courtroom, however he stated the day of her testimony in his New York hush money trial was “revealing.”
“This was a very big day, a very revealing day,” Trump stated. “As you can see, their case is falling apart.”
Trump didn’t element what he thought went unsuitable for the prosecution, however he urged tv viewers to hearken to lecturers he stated have referred to as the case a “disgrace.”
Daniels testified about having intercourse with Trump in 2006, whereas he was married, after which receiving $130,000 from Trump’s former private lawyer, Michael Cohen, to not speak about it in 2016 earlier than the presidential election.
More: Freezing temps and colourful characters: Trump’s hush money trial from the within
Trump is charged with falsifying business information to reimburse Cohen. But he is denied having intercourse with Daniels, and stated he didn’t know concerning the cost.
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles requested Daniels whether or not she extorted Trump and whether or not she’d spent years making money off her claims.
Daniels denied blackmailing Trump, however she acknowledged looking for money for her story. She additionally stated she hopes to keep away from paying Trump tons of of hundreds of {dollars} in court-ordered authorized charges after dropping a defamation swimsuit towards him. Daniels stated she wished to see Trump held accountable.
–Bart Jansen
Tuesday testimony ends with Daniels nonetheless on the witness stand
Judge Juan Merchan introduced an finish to the day’s proceedings simply earlier than the conventional 4:30 p.m. EDT finish time. Stormy Daniels was nonetheless being cross-examined by Trump lawyer Susan Necheles. Wednesday is an off day within the trial, in order that cross-examination is predicted to renew on Thursday.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Judge Juan Merchan threatens Donald Trump with jail time if he retains violating gag order
Daniels denies desirous to blackmail Trump in 2016
Daniels described wanting her story of a sexual encounter with Trump to be informed in 2016.
“I did not care for the way a lot, I simply wished the story on the market,” Daniels stated. Daniels added that was why she held a press convention the place she gave the press her account totally free.
Necheles requested Daniels to verify she wished to extort Trump. “False,” Daniels stated with emotion.
“Well, that is what you probably did, proper?” Necheles requested. “False,” Daniels stated once more, placing emphasis on the phrase.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Would cameras within the courtroom change Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial?
Daniels says she did not authorize her lawyer to disclaim Trump encounter to gossip web site
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles recommended that Daniels had approved her former lawyer Keith Davidson to disclaim that she and Trump had a sexual encounter to “thedirty.com” in 2011, when the now-defunct gossip web site had posted about it.
Daniels stated she by no means spoke to web site, that she completely wished the publish eliminated, and Davidson merely informed the positioning to take the story down.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: ‘What have we accomplished?’ Stormy Daniels’ lawyer thought hush money aided Trump in 2016 election
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles requested Stormy Daniels a couple of dialog Daniels had with Gloria Allred, a famed lawyer for a lot of sexual assault victims. Necheles recommended Daniels did not inform Allred about having had intercourse with Trump. Daniels at one level stated on the stand that she had informed Allred, however later she recommended she did not as a result of she felt pressured to accuse Trump of forcing her.
“She wished me to accuse him of compelled – principally rape,” Daniels stated. “She wished to pressure me into saying issues that weren’t true,” Daniels added. For that motive, Daniels overlooked the intercourse, she testified.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles is suggesting to the jury by her line of questioning that Daniels’ story of intercourse with Trump is about money.
“You’ve been making money by claiming to have had intercourse with President Trump for greater than a decade, proper?” Necheles requested Daniels.
Daniels responded that she’s been making money by telling the story of what occurred to her.
Necheles shot again with a query once more on the story making Daniels lots of money.
“It has additionally cost me lots of money,” Daniels replied.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles continued cross-examining Daniels about her failure to pay Trump authorized charges {that a} California court docket decided Daniels owed. Necheles indicated Daniels did not fill out checking account info on a kind associated to the difficulty. “Do you might have financial institution accounts?” Necheles requested. “Yes,” Daniels responded. “I did not fill out this type.”
“I hope I haven’t got to pay him it doesn’t matter what occurs,” Daniels added.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles raised her voice in an offended tone as she requested Daniels about not desirous to take any money out of her personal pocket to pay Trump the authorized charges a California court docket ordered Daniels to pay. Those charges had been described in earlier testimony. Trump has sued in Florida to gather them, Daniels stated earlier.
The decide sustained an objection from the prosecution when Necheles raised her voice, and Necheles requested once more in a calmer tone.
– Aysha Bagchi
“Am I appropriate that you simply hate President Trump?” Trump lawyer Susan Necheles requested Daniels early into the cross-examination. “Yes” was Daniels’ easy reply.
Necheles additionally requested Daniels to verify she desires Trump to go to jail. “If he’s discovered responsible, completely,” Daniels stated.
– Aysha Bagchi
Donald Trump’s protection lawyer Susan Necheles has begun cross-examining Daniels.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger confirmed Stormy Daniels a Truth Social publish by Trump that was dated March 15, 2023 and referred to Daniels as “horse face” and “sleaze bag,” whereas additionally denying he has seen or spoken to her since they met on a golf course. Hoffinger famous that meant he was successfully denying all of Daniels’ story about what occurred between them after that golf course assembly. Daniels agreed.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels testified that she went on Michael Cohen’s podcast “as a result of I wished him to apologize to me.” She stated he did apologize, and he or she ended up becoming a member of him on the podcast a second time.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels stated her former lawyer, Michael Avenatti, filed a defamation case towards Trump on her behalf. She stated she did not need Avenatti to do this as a result of it appeared “dangerous” and “not value it.”
Avenatti launched a sketch later of the person Daniels described earlier at present having encountered in 2011 in a car parking zone. Trump tweeted that sketch was a con job, Daniels testified. The defamation declare solely needed to do with that tweet about whether or not the sketch was a con job, Daniels stated. She confirmed in response to a query from Hoffinger that the defamation declare did not need to do with whether or not or not she was paid earlier than the election, or whether or not she had a sexual encounter with Trump, or whether or not she had another interactions with Trump.
Asked by Hoffinger if the court docket in that case made any findings about Daniels’ credibility, Daniels responded: “There had been none.”
That court docket referred to as Trump’s “con job” assertion rhetorical hyperbole, or one thing suggesting it was simply an exaggeration, Daniels confirmed to Hoffinger. The court docket awarded Trump authorized charges that Daniels stated she nonetheless hasn’t paid each due to the cost and since she did not suppose it was honest. Trump has now sued Daniels for these authorized charges, however Daniels stated nothing in Trump’s New York prison case will have an effect on the authorized charges lawsuit.
– Aysha Bagchi
Stormy Daniels testified that she has been free of the non-disclosure settlement that fashioned a part of the $130,000 hush money deal that was closed forward of the 2016 election. She confirmed to prosecutor Susan Hoffinger {that a} California court docket awarded her authorized charges primarily based on discovering she was free from the non-disclosure settlement.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger and Stormy Daniels are shifting by a collection of occasions shortly. Daniels described hiring Michael Avenatti, who’s now in jail on varied crimes together with embezzlement, as a lawyer. She ultimately sought to inform her personal story, she stated.
– Aysha Bagchi
Stormy Daniels has resumed her testimony. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger confirmed a photograph of a Jan. 12, 2018 Wall Street Journal article describing the hush money deal designed to maintain her quiet concerning the alleged affair forward of the 2016 election. Hoffinger requested Daniels how the story affected her life. “Chaos,” Daniels replied.
“Suddenly I used to be entrance and foremost in every single place,” Daniels added. The article “blew my cowl,” for lack of one other means of claiming it, she stated. Daniels talked about that she and her daughter had been ostracized from issues of their life. Judge Merchan sustained an objection to that final line of testimony.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge Merchan stated after the lunch break that he’s prepared to supply a “limiting instruction” to the jurors in some unspecified time in the future, if Trump’s protection group desires it. A limiting instruction is usually an instruction to solely think about proof for sure functions, and never for others. For occasion, a decide may inform jurors to not think about testimony {that a} man shouted “Fire!” in a crowded theater in terms of assessing whether or not there was a hearth, however to as a substitute simply think about how the exclamation affected individuals within the viewers.
Merchan was asking about giving an instruction on Daniels’ story {that a} man got here as much as her and threatened her in a car parking zone in 2011. The incident was after Daniels gave an interview about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump to In Touch Weekly journal, though the interview wasn’t revealed till 2018. She stated the person “threatened” her to not maintaining telling her story concerning the encounter with Trump.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump’s hush money trial is occurring on the New York County Supreme Court in New York state, in accordance with a media advisory. The location is 100 Centre St., Criminal Term, Part 59, Room 1530.
The proceedings usually begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT, and the trial usually contains an off day on Wednesdays.
– Sudiksha Kochi
Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump lawyer Todd Blanche’s request for a mistrial. Merchan stated as a “threshold” matter, a few of the issues Daniels testified to most likely would have been “higher left unsaid,” however he does suppose there have been “guardrails in place.” He famous he had instructed the prosecution that there have been sure particulars that they didn’t have to get into.
Merchan added that he was “not dismissing” what Blanche was saying, and repeated some issues would have been higher left unsaid. But, Merchan stated, he would not suppose we’re on the level of a mistrial, noting that, the place there have been objections, they had been typically sustained.
“I can even notice,” Merchan added, “I used to be stunned” there weren’t extra objections. He famous he at one level raised a problem himself to curtail Daniels’ testimony.
“The court docket has accomplished the whole lot that I can probably do to guard either side and to make sure equity,” Merchan stated. Whether these are new tales or not, the treatment is to cross-examine Daniels on that, he added.
Before Merchan denied the request, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger stated a mistrial wasn’t referred to as for. Hoffinger disputed a few of Blanche’s claims about what was new in Daniels’ testimony, specifically her description that Trump did not put on a condom.
– Aysha Bagchi
After the lunch break, Todd Blanche stated “there ought to be a mistrial” primarily based on Stormy Daniels’ testimony.
He stated her story was “means completely different” from the story she was “peddling” in 2016 – the knowledge she was “supposedly” saved from the voters.
Blanche additionally raised considerations about facets of Daniels’ testimony that he stated raised points about consent with the alleged sexual encounter, together with that she blacked out and that Trump did not put on a condom after testimony from her employer that condoms had been required at her office.
Aside from “pure embarrassment,” the one objective of the testimony given “is to inflame this jury to not have a look at the proof that issues,” Blanche stated. He famous Judge Merchan sustained objections from the protection, however stated the jury nonetheless heard it. He stated that simply over lunch, everybody’s reporting “that she’s suggesting consent.”
He added that she stated she solely had water on the night of the alleged sexual encounter however she would not keep in mind something.
This is the type of testimony that makes it “unattainable to return again from,” Blanche stated.
Daniels testified earlier to an influence imbalance between her and Trump when she allegedly got here out of toilet and noticed him poised on a mattress in his underwear, however she additionally stated she did not really feel bodily threatened. She stated she laughed nervously and at first tried to make a joke and step round to go away.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger recommended she was at a great place in her questions for Daniels to take a break, and Judge Juan Merchan introduced the lunch break. Proceedings will start up once more at 2 p.m. EDT.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels described the hush money deal that’s on the coronary heart of this case: the $130,000 Michael Cohen in the end paid to maintain her quiet forward of the 2016 election about her alleged affair with Trump. She stated she understood Michael Cohen to be representing Trump. She stated she did not negotiate the greenback determine and cared some however not a lot concerning the money. She stated her monetary outlook on the time was “the most effective” it had ever been. She stated she was directing 10 films a 12 months at the moment and now not lived in costly California.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels offers In Touch interview on encounter and receives risk: testimony
Daniels described giving an interview to In Touch Weekly journal in 2011, which was ultimately revealed in 2018. Daniels mentioned her alleged sexual encounter with Trump within the interview. Daniels testified that, later in 2011, she was in a car parking zone together with her toddler daughter on the best way to a exercise class when she was approached by a person who threatened her to not proceed to inform her story about her encounter with Trump.
Daniels stated she did not inform police on the time as a result of the person informed her to not say something and he or she was scared. She stated she additionally did not inform her boyfriend on the time as a result of he was combating different issues, and likewise she hadn’t informed him beforehand about intercourse with Trump, so to inform him then when his world was already “exploding” would not have been good.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels stated Trump later informed her he hadn’t been capable of get her on one in every of his “The Apprentice” model reveals. He referenced how one other grownup movie actress was going to be on the present. Daniels stated that girl made a visitor look when her husband was on the present. Trump thought Daniels can be mad, Daniels testified, seeming to be referring to the opposite actress who had an look. But Daniels testified she did not care.
Daniels stated that was the final time she talked to Trump. She stated she generally acquired calls from a blocked New York quantity, however did not take them.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels described assembly Trump later at a bungalow. He saved attempting to make sexual advances, however she informed him she was on her interval. They had some dialogue about “The Apprentice,” however lots much less of it than she thought there can be, she stated. There was no actual update about getting her on the present. She stayed between one. and two hours, she stated.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels described assembly former Playboy mannequin Karen McDougal at an occasion that Trump was at, though Daniels did not know who McDougal was on the time. McDougal additionally obtained a hush money cost earlier than the 2016 election to remain quiet about an alleged affair with Trump.
– Aysha Bagchi
Stormy Daniels stated she later met Trump at a nightclub, after his bodyguard Keith reached out asking if she can be prepared to fulfill Trump. Daniels stated when she arrived he was sitting at a sales space. He wasn’t ingesting however there was a bar, and he was along with his good friend: former NFL Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Trump later gave Daniels the telephone variety of somebody named “Rhona,” saying Daniels may get in contact with Trump once more by Rhona. That seems to be a reference to Rhona Graff, Trump’s former government assistant, who has already testified within the trial. Graff described making a contact info entry on Daniels for Trump, and seeing Daniels in a reception space for an appointment at one time.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels testified that, after she and Trump had intercourse and he or she was going to go away his lodge suite, he stated they’re “implausible collectively” and that she ought to be on his present.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels stated she laughed nervously when she got here out of the lavatory and noticed Trump on the mattress in his underwear. She stated she at first tried to make a joke and step round to go away.
She stated she did not really feel bodily threatened by him, though she knew there was a bodyguard proper exterior. She stated there was an influence imbalance however she wasn’t threatened. She made a reference to their sexual position once they allegedly had intercourse and the protection raised an objection to that testimony, which the decide sustained.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger requested whether or not Trump wore a condom and Daniels stated no. Hoffinger requested if Daniels stated something about it – showing to confer with not sporting a condom – and Daniels replied: “I did not say something in any respect.”
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels described at one level asking to make use of the restroom. She and Trump had been ingesting water, and he or she had consumed lots of water, she stated. He informed her to undergo the lounge and bed room and assist herself to the ability.
Daniels stated she checked out toiletry objects within the toilet and seen Old Spice and manicure objects that appeared to made from gold, akin to gold tweezers.
When she got here out of the lavatory, Trump was on the mattress posing in underwear, as if ready for her, she described. She stated she thought in her head, “Oh my God,” and requested herself what she had misinterpret.
– Aysha Bagchi
After asking Trump lawyer Todd Blanche if he had spoken along with his consumer, Judge Merchan informed prosecutor Susan Hoffinger that we do not want a lot element from Daniels. He referenced an outline of detailing the ground, issues like that. He instructed Hoffinger to maneuver extra shortly when Daniels comes again to the witness stand. He then requested for Daniels to be introduced again in.
– Aysha Bagchi
After a brief morning break, Judge Merchan stated to Trump lawyer Todd Blanche: “Did you communicate to your consumer?” Blanche replied that he had. It’s unclear what that was about, and whether or not Merchan had complained about some side of Trump’s habits simply earlier than the break.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels stated Trump raised an concept that she ought to go on his present, The Apprentice. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger requested if it was The Celebrity Apprentice and Daniels stated she would not know, she assumes so, however it was some model of The Apprentice.
Trump stated to Daniels that she reminded him of his daughter, who is wise and exquisite, Daniels described. He talked to her about public relations issues along with his present, saying Daniels would actually shake issues up. He stated she may go on the present and show she’s not a dumb bimbo, that she’s greater than individuals suppose, in accordance with her testimony.
She stated she informed him she was by no means going to be on his present, that even he did not have that a lot energy.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels stated at one level in his lodge suite she began complaining to Trump that he was being impolite. She informed him somebody ought to spank him, and he gave her a glance as if he was daring her to do it. She took an merchandise from him, instructed him to show round, and swatted his behind with it, she testified. They then continued to speak “and he was way more well mannered.” They talked about his golf course in Scotland and about touring, she stated.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels described seeing a photograph of Melania Trump when she was speaking with Donald Trump in his lodge suite. She stated to Trump: “She’s very stunning – What about your spouse?” Trump informed Daniels to not fear about that, that he and Melania Trump did not sleep in the identical room, in accordance with Daniels’ testimony.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels described Trump telling her a couple of contest during which the loser must shave their head. “You wouldn’t have the pinnacle designed to be with out hair,” she says she responded. He agreed, in accordance with her testimony. He stated all that stuff was pre-determined within the script, he knew the result upfront, and that would not occur to him.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels described Trump asking her if she had ever had a foul check, referring to a check for a sexually-transmitted illness. She informed Trump “nope,” she possessed each check she had ever accomplished for the final “X” quantity of years (Daniels used the letter “X” in her testimony), and by no means had a foul check, by no means examined constructive “for something.”
Daniels additionally described from the witness stand having labored at an organization that required condoms throughout work. She stated that was a motive she labored there.
Outside of court docket, Daniels has beforehand described having intercourse with Trump on the night she is continuous to explain contained in the courtroom. In out-of-court statements, she has stated the pair did not use safety.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels described speaking with Trump about get-to-know-you issues. She stated he requested if she had a boyfriend and he or she stated no, she did not on the time.
She additionally stated he requested questions she would not usually obtain when individuals ask about her work within the grownup movie business, together with whether or not there was a union, whether or not there was testing for sexually-transmitted ailments, and the way she acquired paid.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels stated when she arrived at Trump’s lodge suite, she stated good day and he got here out sporting silk or satin pajamas. She made a joke by asking if Hugh Hefner, the founding father of Playboy journal, knew Trump was sporting Hefner’s pajamas. She informed Trump to go change and he obliged politely, she stated. He placed on a gown shirt and gown pants.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels described assembly Trump at his lodge, which was completely different from hers, for dinner. She went as much as his lodge suite, which was “very good.” The suite was 3 times the scale of her residence, she testified.
– Aysha Bagchi
A Trump bodyguard named Keith approached Daniels on the July, 2006 golf event, saying Trump want to know if she want to have dinner with him, Daniels testified. She in the end gave the bodyguard her telephone quantity, she stated. Daniels described receiving recommendation that day about going to the dinner, which may open up skilled alternatives.
– Aysha Bagchi
Jurors had been proven a photograph of Stormy Daniels and Trump collectively. Trump was sporting a yellow polo shirt with what Daniels described as a golf brand. He was sporting a pink cap.
– Aysha Bagchi
In a question-and-answer that is typical in courtrooms between a lawyer and a witness, Daniels was requested whether or not she sees Trump within the courtroom and might establish him. She pointed at Trump at his protection desk as she described him sporting a navy blue swimsuit jacket.
– Aysha Bagchi
After describing varied facets of her life, together with exploring working for workplace as a Republican at one level, Daniels has begun testifying about how she met Trump.
Daniels described working at a celeb golf event in Lake Tahoe in July of 2006 whereas she was below contract as an grownup movie director, author, and actress. Daniels was 27 years old, she stated. She did not know Trump’s age, however she knew he was most likely as old or older than her father.
– Aysha Bagchi
Adult movie star Stormy Daniels has begun testifying. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is asking Daniels introductory questions. Daniels described rising up in Louisiana with a single mother after Daniels’ mother and father cut up up when she was 4 years old.
– Aysha Bagchi
The prosecution and protection completed questioning publishing government Sally Franklin. Lawyers at the moment are talking with the decide at his bench. Trump lawyer Susan Necheles indicated earlier that porn star Stormy Daniels is predicted to be the second witness at present.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold ended her preliminary questioning of Franklin. Trump protection lawyer Todd Blanche had temporary cross-examination for Franklin that centered on how Trump used a ghostwriter for books. A ghostwriter is somebody employed to put in writing a chunk that’s credited at the least partially to a different person.
Mangold then requested Franklin additional questions designed to undermine the suggestion that Trump wasn’t very concerned in writing the books Franklin has been studying from at present. Trump described in a single excerpt working carefully with a ghostwriter, whom he stated “has heard the whole lot.” He additionally acknowledged many individuals who labored on the writer in an acknowledgments part.
– Aysha Bagchi
“I all the time signal my checks,” Trump stated in a guide excerpt that was learn aloud by Sally Franklin. Trump defined that signing his checks is how he is aware of the place his money goes. He stated there’s human and now pc error in every single place.
– Aysha Bagchi
Publisher Sally Franklin learn aloud a portion of a guide during which Trump stated {a magazine} ran an experiment as soon as to see who was an inexpensive wealthy person by sending a examine for 50 cents to quite a few rich individuals. The Trump Organization deposited it, Trump stated. He added that the journal could name the organization low cost, however he referred to as it watching the underside line.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump stated in a guide that he as soon as informed Jeffrey McConney, the previous monetary controller on the Trump Organization, that McConney was doing a “awful job” managing Trump’s money. That’s in accordance with a portion of the guide learn aloud by Sally Franklin within the courtroom.
Even although varied funds have to be made, “all the time query invoices” and by no means settle for a contractor’s first bid, Trump stated he informed McConney, in accordance with the guide excerpt. McConney acquired the message and has been with Trump for a very long time and is doing a terrific job, Trump added.
McConney testified yesterday that he’s now retired from the Trump Organization.
– Aysha Bagchi
Sally Franklin learn aloud a portion of a Trump guide that suggested the reader to ensure to ask to see all of the invoices when working with a decorator. Trump added, in accordance with the testimony, that decorators are typically sincere, however you ought to be checking regardless.
– Aysha Bagchi
Sally Franklin learn aloud a portion of a Trump guide during which Trump described having stated for a lot of years that if somebody screws you, screw them again. Like it says within the Bible, “a watch for a watch,” Trump added, in accordance with what Franklin learn.
– Aysha Bagchi
The prosecution referred to as Sally Franklin, who’s a senior vp and government managing editor in publishing at Penguin Random House. She is studying parts of books by Trump, prompted by questions from prosecutor Rebecca Mangold.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge will permit Stormy Daniels to testify about alleged intercourse
Judge Merchan stated he was glad concerning the representations prosecutor Susan Hoffinger made concerning the limits on what sort of testimony prosecutors will search from Stormy Daniels about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
Hoffinger then repeated to the decide that the specified particulars concerning the intercourse act will probably be “very temporary.”
“That’s high-quality,” Merchan stated. He added he agrees Daniels has credibility points, and so it is necessary for the prosecution to determine her credibility by eliciting sure issues across the alleged encounter. For that motive, he’ll permit the testimony.
– Aysha Bagchi
Stormy Daniels testimony on sexual encounter necessary for credibility: Prosecutor
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger defended the significance of asking porn star Stormy Daniels for some description of her alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump. Hoffinger agreed that actually salacious particulars weren’t essential, however she stated the overall particulars, together with the intercourse act, are important to the story and “crucial” to the prosecution by way of establishing Daniels’ credibility.
Hoffinger particularly described desirous to elicit testimony about how Daniels ended up allegedly having intercourse with Trump, together with their alleged dialog in a lodge room. The full dialog, Hoffinger stated, “could be very, crucial.” In phrases of the particular sexual act, the specified testimony can be “very basic,” with no description of genitalia or something of that nature, Hoffinger stated.
Hoffinger added it is necessary to elicit how Daniels and Trump had intercourse and the way Daniels felt about it.
Trump protection lawyer Susan Necheles repeated her objection, saying there’s simply “no want’ for these sorts of particulars. Necheles stated there’s an actual query of Daniels’ credibility. Necheles added this case is about books and information and the events should not be moving into how Daniels felt concerning the alleged encounter.
– Aysha Bagchi
Who has already testified in Trump’s prison trial?
The prosecution wrapped questioning with its eleventh witness on Monday afternoon. Here is a glance again at who has already taken the stand:
- David Pecker, former CEO and president of AMI, the dad or mum firm of tabloid National Enquirer
- Rhona Graff, Trump’s former government assistant
- Gary Farro, Michael Cohen’s former banker
- Robert Browning, an government director at C-SPAN
- Phillip Thompson who works for a deposition firm
- Keith Davidson, a lawyer who represented former Playboy mannequin Karen McDougal and porn star Stormy Daniels
- Douglas Daus a pc forensic analyst for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
- Georgia Longstreet, a paralegal with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s workplace
- Hope Hicks, a former Trump aide who was the marketing campaign press secretary in 2016
- Jeffrey McConney, the previous controller on the Trump Organization
- Deborah Tarasoff, an accounts payable supervisor on the Trump Organization
Judge arrives in courtroom
Judge Juan Merchan simply arrived at 9:28 a.m. EDT for the thirteenth day of this trial. As he does usually, he stated a basic “Good morning” to the legal professionals and a particular “Good morning, Mr. Trump” to Donald Trump.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump contends reimbursement to Cohen was ‘legal expense’
Former President Donald Trump didn’t point out porn actress Stormy Daniels as he entered the courtroom Tuesday, however once more defended his funds to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, as authorized bills.
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business information for allegedly attempting to cover his reimbursement to Cohen for a $130,000 to Daniels to stay quiet earlier than the 2016 election. But Trump contends he was paying Cohen a authorized charge fairly than paying hush money to Daniels, to stop her from claiming they as soon as had intercourse whereas was married.
“We didn’t put it down as construction costs,” Trump stated. “The legal expense that we paid was put down as legal expense. There’s nothing else you could say. You don’t have to put down anything, I guess.”
During his three-minute hallway assertion to reporters, Trump requested his lawyer, Todd Blanche, whether or not that was the proper factor to do. Blanche nodded.
–Bart Jansen
Trump group arrives in courtroom
Trump and his legal professionals entered the courtroom at about 9:24 a.m. EDT. Eric Trump is right here at present, as he was yesterday. Alina Habba, who represented Trump in his two recent civil fraud and E. Jean Carroll trials and is a giant character defending Trump in media appearances, can be right here at present.
– Aysha Bagchi
Stormy Daniels to testify about cost at coronary heart of Trump trial
After all of the dreary testimony about ledgers and bookkeeping, Stormy Daniels is predicted to testify Tuesday concerning the coronary heart of Donald Trump’s hush money trial: a $130,000 cost to her to stay silent earlier than the 2016 election.
Daniels, whose actual title is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had intercourse with Trump in 2006 and that his former private lawyer, Michael Cohen, organized the cost to stop her from spreading disparaging details about Trump within the closing days of the marketing campaign.
Prosecutors contend the cost represented an illegal marketing campaign violation, as an in-kind contribution to affect the election.
But Trump denies that they had intercourse and argues he was unaware of the cost by arguing his reimbursements to Cohen had been for a authorized retainer. Trump has additionally insulted Daniels’ look, calling her “Horseface” in a tweet.
–Bart Jansen
Who is Stormy Daniels and what’s her actual title?
Stormy Daniels, born Stephanie Clifford, is an grownup movie star.
Daniels says she had an affair with Trump in 2006, months after Melania Trump gave delivery to Barron Trump. Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 to remain quiet concerning the alleged affair forward of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump’s legal professionals tried to dam Daniels from being referred to as to the witness stand, however New York Judge Juan Merchan dominated that Daniels can testify as a result of her allegations are “inextricably intertwined” with the prison allegations.
–Kinsey Crowley, Bart Jansen
Prosecutors arrive within the courtroom
The prosecution arrived within the courtroom at about 9:13 a.m. EDT. We are nonetheless ready on the Trump group, the decide, and the jury.
– Aysha Bagchi
Why Stormy Daniels’ testimony may get below Trump’s pores and skin
Porn star Stormy Daniels’ story is each salacious and embarrassing for the previous president. Daniels alleges she and Trump had intercourse in 2006, at a time when Trump was dangling the potential for having her on one in every of his “The Apprentice” model reveals. Their alleged encounter, which Trump denies, would have occurred inside months of Melania Trump giving delivery to Barron Trump.
That’s not simply an embarrassing story to be heard world wide. It may be embarrassing when Trump is considering his household.
Former high Trump aide Hope Hicks testified final week that, after The Wall Street Journal reported on a hush money deal involving former Playboy mannequin Karen McDougal, Trump wished to make sure newspapers weren’t delivered to his and Melania Trump’s residence the day the article ran.
– Aysha Bagchi
What have we heard about Stormy Daniels to this point in trial?
Multiple witnesses have testified to facets of the alleged $130,000 cost to Stormy Daniels lower than two weeks earlier than the 2016 presidential election to maintain her quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Daniels’ former lawyer, Keith Davidson, stated he believed Daniels was going to go public after the Trump group initially did not pay the agreed-upon settlement.
Whether the Daniels and Trump really had intercourse – which Trump denies – is irrelevant within the prosecution’s case. Prosecutors allege Trump falsified business information tied to the hush money Daniels was paid with the intention to conceal or commit one other crime. Having an affair is not against the law.
Still, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche made a giant level of denying Daniels’ allegation in his opening assertion within the trial. He informed jurors that paying Daniels to not unfold “false – false – claims” about Trump is not against the law, repeating and emphasizing “false.”
Earlier within the trial, Trump’s former government assistant Rhona Graff testified to seeing Daniels within the reception space of a Trump building for an appointment. Graff additionally stated she created a contact info entry on Daniels for Trump, and recalled some dialogue about probably casting Daniels on one in every of “The Apprentice” model reveals.
– Aysha Bagchi
Stormy Daniels prone to testify Tuesday: experiences
Porn star Stormy Daniels, whose actual title is Stephanie Clifford, is prone to take the witness stand Tuesday, a number of shops reported.
Clark Brewster, a lawyer for Daniels, informed the Associated Press she is “possible” to be referred to as to testify. The New York Times reported shortly after 8:30 a.m. she has arrived on the courthouse.
Trump complained on Truth Social Tuesday morning, saying he was lately informed who at present’s witness is and it gave “no time for legal professionals to organize.” The publish has since been deleted.
Why did Merchan subject a gag order?
Judge Juan Merchan gagged Trump primarily based on what the decide described as a historical past of “inflammatory” statements about individuals tied to Trump’s authorized instances.
In one publish prosecutors famous of their request for a gag order, Trump shared photograph to his hundreds of thousands of Truth Social followers during which he was holding a baseball bat to the again of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s head.
Merchan wrote that Trump’s previous statements made individuals tied to his instances fearful and elevated safety wants.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecutors launched testimony on checks to Michael Cohen in 2017 that had been allegedly falsified with the intention to conceal a reimbursement for an illegal hush money cost forward of the 2016 election. The checks kind a portion of the 34 counts Trump faces of falsifying business information.
While the checks had been really largely reimbursing hush money, they had been labeled as month-to-month funds for authorized bills totaling $420,000 throughout 2017, in accordance with prosecutors. A lawyer for Trump denied that declare at the beginning of the trial.
Many of the checks had been lower from Donald Trump’s private checking account and due to this fact required his signature, in accordance with Deborah Tarasoff, who’s the Trump Organization’s accounts payable supervisor. She testified yesterday that she acknowledged Trump’s signature on these checks.
– Aysha Bagchi
Why was Michael Cohen paid $420,000?
The collection of checks Cohen obtained in 2017 – which had been labeled as authorized expense funds – totaled $420,000. Why was Cohen paid that quantity? According to Cohen’s Feb. 2019 testimony to Congress, the $420,000 included:
- A $180,000 reimbursement for the $130,000 hush money he paid to to Stormy Daniels and for $50,000 he claimed he was owed for campaign-related “tech companies”;
- Another $180,000 primarily based on the concept that he would pay 50% taxes on the reimbursement money, and will nonetheless be left with the complete $180,000; and
- A $60,000 bonus.
Trump’s protection group appears poised to inform a distinct story. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche stated throughout opening statements {that a} collection of funds from Trump to Cohen weren’t payback for Cohen paying porn star Stormy Daniels to maintain quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Trump denies Daniels’ declare.
– Aysha Bagchi
