The hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump resumed in a Manhattan criminal courthouse, with adult film star Stormy Daniels testifying about her alleged affair with Trump in 2006 and his efforts to conceal it. Madeleine Westerhout, a former executive assistant to Trump, also testified about her time working with him at the White House. The defense grilled Daniels about the $130,000 deal she made to stay silent before the 2016 election, while the judge denied motions for a mistrial and loosening Trump’s gag order. Trump faces 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to hide the hush money payment to Daniels.
Judge Juan Merchan found Trump in contempt of court for the 10th time for violating the gag order that prevents him from attacking witnesses or commenting on the jury. The judge warned Trump that further violations could result in jail time. The prosecution called its next witness, Daniel Dixon, an AT&T compliance analyst, after Westerhout concluded her testimony. The trial also featured questions about Trump’s use of personal mail being sent to him in the Oval Office, with the defense arguing that there was nothing nefarious about it.
Photographers were not allowed in the courtroom to photograph Trump for the second consecutive day, following a violation of the judge’s rules by a pool photographer. This means that images from inside the courtroom will only be from sketch artists. Trump’s defense team’s request to subpoena records from former Manhattan prosecutor Mark Pomerantz was rejected by Judge Merchan. Trump spoke to reporters before entering court, expressing his anticipation for a campaign rally and criticizing the gag order that restricts him from attacking witnesses in the trial. Michael Cohen, Trump’s ex-lawyer and fixer, is scheduled to testify on Monday, expected to be a key witness for the prosecution.
The trial is expected to continue with more testimony from witnesses, including Westerhout and other individuals involved in the case. The defense will continue to challenge the allegations against Trump and argue for his innocence. The proceedings in court will shed light on the details of the hush money payment and the attempts to conceal the alleged affair between Trump and Daniels. As the trial progresses, more information may emerge about the events leading up to the payment and the roles of various individuals involved. Stay tuned for further updates on the trial and its outcomes as it unfolds.
