Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York, where he faces criminal charges similar to the 2016 secret payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. This is the first time in history that a former U. S. president has been tried on criminal charges.
Last April, Trump pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment accusing him of falsifying business records to conceal the reimbursement of a secret payment his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, had made to Daniels to improve his electoral chances in the 2016 presidential election. election.
READ MORE: Here’s what you want to know about this landmark case.
Moments after his felon trial was postponed, Donald Trump left the courtroom and told reporters that the bills he had sent to his former lawyer Michael Cohen were rightly characterized as legal fees.
“In fact, no one has said what it’s intended to be called,” Trump told reporters. “If the attorney files a bill or bill and you pay the bill . . . It’s a very small line. . . It’s not like you can tell the story of a lifetime. “
“They treated it like legal fees. That’s what I charged for,” Trump said.
The former president also tried to portray Cohen as an unreliable witness, saying he was “not in many ways” as a lawyer.
Then Trump’s motorcade left the courthouse.
-Mike Pappano
David Pecker left the witness stand after his first testimony. He is expected to return to the witness stand at 11 a. m. ET.
During his brief testimony, Pecker reported that former National Enquirer content manager Dylan Howard, an alleged participant in the catch-and-kill program alleged through prosecutors, would not testify due to a medical condition.
Pecker gave the impression of greeting Trump and his lawyers as he left the courtroom.
Then the day ended.
Trump left the courtroom flanked by Secret Service agents and personnel, as well as the Trump Organization’s general counsel, Alan Garten.
Judge Merchan is scheduled to hold a contempt hearing on Trump’s alleged violations of the limited gag order in the case in the morning at 9:30 a. m. m. , Eastern time.
David Pecker, who once called Donald Trump “my friend,” flashed a big smile as he took to the ground as the trial’s first witness, denying the gravity of the moment.
Pecker laughed loudly into the handset, shaking the room as prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked him about his phone numbers that he had trouble remembering.
Pecker, 72, editor of the National Enquirer, but prosecutors said he “acted as an accomplice to the conspiracy” by helping to buy and bury damaging stories about Trump, adding a doorman’s false claim that Trump fathered a child in love and a Playboy model. . Accusation of a sex date with Trump, who has denied both allegations.
Trump, who once said Pecker would make a “brilliant” selection as editor of Time magazine, listened as he leaned forward in his chair, arms folded across the table and a look of discontent on his face.
Pecker testified that he had the final say on whether to publish or publish a story involving a prominent person.
“I had the final say on the celebrity look of the magazine,” Pecker said. “We used checkbook journalism. We pay for the items. “
Pecker testifies pursuant to a subpoena. He secured a non-prosecution agreement with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors called David Pecker, a former employee of American Media Inc. , as the first witness.
The district attorney alleges that Pecker, who oversaw the National Enquirer, engaged in a conspiracy with Trump and Trump’s then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to influence the 2016 election by suppressing negative stories about Trump.
Judge Juan Merchan ruled that if Trump were to speak, prosecutors could simply question him about a number of previous legal issues; However, the ruling limited the scope of the cases and the degree to which prosecutors can question him about the facts of those cases.
The resolution is a combo bag for Trump, who had tried to absolutely block questions about past issues if he spoke out.
Judge Merchan ruled that Trump could be questioned through the U. S. Attorney’s Office on six determinations from four previous proceedings, adding aspects of his New York civil fraud case and gag order violations, as well as the two verdicts in the E cases. Jean Carroll and the E. Jean Carroll Case. Trump Foundation Affair in 2018.
First, prosecutors had asked to question Trump about six other proceedings with thirteen determinations in all.
Merchán said his ruling had “significantly reduced” the opportunity for prosecutors to talk about the facts underlying those cases.
“The court warns the defendant that Sandoval’s resolution is a shield and a sword,” Merchan said.