The second week of testimony in former President Trump’s New York trial began on Tuesday. The testimony was more eventful than expected, covering everything from gag orders to new details about Trump’s alleged extramarital affair.
The former president faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. If he is convicted, he could face prison time, but it is unusual for a first-time offender to be jailed.
The story behind the case centers on a $130,000 payment made by Trump’s then-lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen to porn actress Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign. are doing.
The money was intended to buy the silence of Daniels, who she said had a sexual relationship with Trump a decade ago.
Mr. Trump has denied any wrongdoing regarding sex or payments with Mr. Daniels.
Key takeaways from Tuesday’s proceedings include:
President Trump arrested on contempt charge for violating gag order
Prosecutors had accused Trump of repeatedly violating a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Melchán, who presided over the case.
Trump’s lawyers countered that the former president was simply responding to what was said about him. They also argued that President Trump’s reposting of other people’s messages should generally not be counted.
Marchan ruled on Tuesday morning that nine of Trump’s 10 posts violated the gag order and therefore held Trump in contempt of court.
The former president was fined $1,000 for each count, for a total of $9,000.
“It would be desirable if the courts could impose fines commensurate with the wealth of Trump’s accusers,” Marchan wrote in the ruling, lamenting that higher fines cannot be imposed on Trump’s alleged wealthy family members. Ta.
Marchan also emphasized that President Trump could face prison time if he continues to violate the law.
President Trump’s campaign cited the judge’s decision in a fundraising email sent shortly afterward.
However, the offensive posts and comments that were the subject of the ruling were also immediately deleted in accordance with Machan’s orders.
Lawyer’s testimony reveals details of Karen McDougall’s contract
The payments to Daniels are at the heart of the criminal charges.
But prosecutors are trying to prove that Mr. Daniels’ case was part of a larger pattern in which Mr. Trump and his allies sought to cover up embarrassing stories to shore up their hopes of winning the 2016 presidential election. There is.
On Tuesday, a deal between American Media, publisher of the Trump-friendly National Enquirer, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal was in the spotlight.
Details were revealed in testimony from lawyer Keith Davidson, who represented McDougall and Daniels.
The jury heard about text messages between Davidson and Dylan Howard, then editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer.
Mr. Davidson told Mr. Howard that he could provide the supermarket tabloid with a “blockbuster Trump article,” referring to Mr. McDougall’s claims that she had an affair with Mr. Trump about a decade ago.
Howard replied: You can see why” – a possible reference to the publisher’s affinity for Trump.
In the end, McDougall was signed to a contract for $150,000 and the promise of interviews and ghostwritten columns in other American media publications.
President Trump weighs in on college protest controversy by comparing Charlottesville to January 6th
Speaking to the media before proceedings began, Trump mentioned university protests against Israeli actions in Gaza, but his comments were characteristically controversial.
President Trump described the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 as “peanuts” when compared to the current campus unrest.
In August 2017, far-right demonstrators marched through Virginia City carrying torches and chanting chants such as “Jews will not replace us!”
Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old counter-protester, was run over and killed by an admirer of Adolf Hitler, who was later convicted of murder.
President Trump also hinted Tuesday that pro-Palestinian Columbia University students who occupied a university building would be treated more leniently than those jailed for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Ta.
“I wonder if what’s going to happen to them will be similar to what happened to J6,” he said.
On January 6, 2021, approximately 140 law enforcement officials were assaulted by members of a pro-Trump crowd seeking to overturn President Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
President Trump previously referred to those imprisoned for the January 6th act as “hostages.”
Trump able to attend his youngest son’s high school graduation ceremony
One of the strangest arguments early in the trial was over whether President Trump could attend his youngest son Barron’s high school graduation. Former presidents are required to appear in court every day unless an exception is granted.
Marchan never said Trump would not be able to attend Barron’s graduation, but he was pending judgment on how quickly the trial would proceed.
Trump and his allies blew up Merchan anyway. President Trump complained during the ceremony on April 15, the first day of jury selection in the trial, “It looks like the judge won’t let me get away with this fraud.”
Barron’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for May 17th in Florida. Marchan said early Tuesday that the court should be able to adjourn for the day.
“I think the May 17th date is fine. So Mr. Trump could definitely be present on that day, meaning he could attend his son’s graduation,” Marchan said.
Some texts mocked President Trump about money.
Trump is famously sensitive to claims that he exaggerates his wealth.
His image in that regard took a major hit earlier this year when a civil fraud trial fined him and his associates $355 million. In the case, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump and his entities “submitted patently false financial data” to obtain loans.
Mr. Trump is appealing the ruling.
There was nothing of that magnitude in Tuesday’s proceedings.
But the testimony included text message exchanges between Mr. Davidson and Mr. Howard in which Trump’s frugality appeared to have caused him to delay payments to Mr. Daniels.
Howard complained that the delay was because Trump was “tough” on funds. A later message added, “I think the Trump impersonator I hired has more cash.”
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