Donald Trump was recently back in court for his hush money trial. Judge Juan Merchan ruled that Trump had violated a gag order and fined him $9,000, as well as ruling against him on nine out of ten accusations. Trump was barred from attacking witnesses, but argued that it was unfair for him, as a presidential nominee, to be unable to speak out against his accusers. Merchan warned Trump that he could face further fines and possibly incarceration for breaching the gag order, though many don’t see that as a likely outcome.
Testimony from the first witness, Gary Farro, highlighted damaging information about Trump’s fixer, Michael Cohen. Cohen, who was not on trial but will be taking the stand, has been accused of falsifying expense records to reimburse Cohen. Farro testified that he had no indication that the money Cohen was transferring to an account for Stormy Daniels was related to a political candidate. Cohen listed the payment as a “retainer,” which was ultimately misleading. Farro’s testimony highlighted the complexity of the financial transactions involved in the case.
The trial also touched on other figures involved in the hush money scandal, such as lawyer Keith Davidson, who represented both Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Davidson was involved in shopping McDougal’s story to media outlets, including the National Enquirer, but ultimately, the story was never published. McDougal later agreed to a deal with AMI for fitness columns rather than to disclose her story. Testimony from various figures involved in the scandal painted a complex picture of the events leading up to the payment to Stormy Daniels, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes negotiations and interactions.
While the trial involved technical witnesses like the C-SPAN archive director and a court reporter official, the proceedings have been largely uneventful. Reports from inside the courtroom have indicated that much of the testimony is tedious and uninteresting. The trial has featured testimony from various figures tangentially related to the case, but the central focus remains on whether prosecutors can prove that Trump committed a crime. The outcome of the trial hinges on whether prosecutors can convince the jury of Trump’s guilt, with the defense team seeking to cast doubt on the prosecution’s case.
Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with his legal team, particularly lead lawyer Todd Blanche, who he feels has not been aggressive enough in attacking witnesses and contesting the charges against him. Trump has reportedly considered hiring a more combative lawyer in the mold of Roy Cohn, seeking someone who will push back against what he views as an unfair legal battle. Despite Trump’s frustrations, his legal team maintains that they are focused on fighting the charges and disregards rumors or gossip surrounding the case. The trial continues to unfold as new revelations come to light and key witnesses take the stand.
