Former President Trump’s trial in Manhattan resumed for its 11th day, with the judge potentially ruling on alleged gag order violations and continued testimony from a computer forensics expert. Trump faced alleged violations of the gag order banning him from speaking about witnesses and family members of court officials. The judge issued a $9,000 fine for nine separate violations and warned of jail time for continued breaches. Trump stated that he would appeal the gag order following the trial’s adjournment. The trial focused on the alleged payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an extramarital affair with Trump in 2006.
The trial featured testimony from Keith Davidson, an attorney involved in the Daniels case and Doug Daus, a computer forensics expert. Daus testified about the large number of contacts on Michael Cohen’s phone and confirmed metadata for audio recordings involving conversations between Cohen and Trump. Prosecutors alleged that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen for payments to Daniels and fraudulently recorded them as legal expenses. The case aims to prove that Trump falsified records to commit or conceal a crime. Davidson testified that the $130,000 payment to Daniels was a consideration payment, not hush money, in exchange for abiding by a contract.
Davidson’s testimony included details about Cohen’s post-2016 election behavior, where he expressed disappointment for not securing a White House position under the Trump administration. Cohen allegedly aspired to roles such as White House chief of staff or attorney general. This testimony contradicted Cohen’s previous statements to Congress in 2019, where he claimed he did not want to go to the White House but was proud to be Trump’s personal attorney. Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records, calling the case a Biden administration-driven scam led by a conflicted judge. The trial proceedings were expected to conclude early on Friday due to a juror’s appointment.
The trial also covered Davidson’s interaction with Daniels and the contract she entered to remain silent about her alleged affair with Trump. Davidson clarified that while Stormy Daniels did not publicly allege a romantic interaction with Trump, she did have a sexual encounter with him. Additionally, Davidson’s testimony highlighted Cohen’s emotional state after the 2016 election, where he expressed regret for not securing a top position in the Trump administration. These revelations provide insight into the dynamics between key figures in the case and their motivations during the events in question.
The hearing on Thursday featured continued expert testimony linking Cohen to Trump and the alleged hush payment made to Stormy Daniels. The focus on Cohen’s actions and intentions in relation to Trump added depth to the prosecution’s arguments about fraudulent payments and intent to commit a crime. The testimonies of key witnesses shed light on the inner workings of the case and the personal motivations of individuals involved. The trial’s developments painted a complex picture of the events leading to the legal proceedings and showcased the interplay between key players in the unfolding drama.
As the trial entered its third week, the legal battle between Trump and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office intensified, with the focus shifting to Cohen’s role in the alleged payment scheme. The deliberations surrounding potential jail time for Trump in case of further violations of the gag order added a sense of urgency to the proceedings. The legal intricacies of the case, including the nature of the payments and the intent behind them, were further examined through expert testimony and witness statements. The unfolding drama in the courtroom captured the public’s attention as the former president faced significant legal challenges in a high-stakes trial.
