Former President Donald Trump found himself back in court on Thursday for the seventh day of his criminal hush money trial. The trial, centered around allegations of illegal campaign contributions, heard a third day of testimony from David Pecker, the former boss of the National Enquirer. Pecker’s testimony provided further damning evidence against Trump, including a bombshell revelation that Trump complained about Stormy Daniels breaching the hush-money agreement after her televised interview about their alleged affair.
Pecker, who previously testified about his collaboration with Trump and Michael Cohen to suppress negative stories and promote false narratives during the 2016 election, revealed that Trump was aware of the hush money payments made to both Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. The prosecution aims to establish that these payments were unreported campaign contributions intended to benefit Trump’s presidential aspirations.
Pecker’s testimony also shed light on Trump’s involvement in the hush money deals. He stated that Trump knew about the contract with McDougal and that Cohen assured him that “the boss will take care of it.” However, when Cohen approached the National Enquirer to purchase the rights to Daniels’ story, Pecker refused, citing concerns about the tabloid’s association with a porn star.
Prosecutors argue that Trump’s reimbursement of Cohen for the payments constitutes a crime, as it amounts to an illegal campaign expenditure. They claim that Trump and Cohen engaged in bookkeeping manipulation to disguise the payments as legitimate business transactions.
Pecker’s testimony further revealed Trump’s reaction to the public exposure of the McDougal story and the associated payment. Trump allegedly called Pecker, expressing anger and accusing him or his associates of leaking the story. The former president abruptly ended the call without saying goodbye.
In addition to the trial proceedings, Judge Juan Merchan is considering potential sanctions against Trump for allegedly violating a gag order. Trump has been accused of breaking the order 15 times in the past two weeks, including making public comments about jurors, witnesses, prosecutors, court staff, and individuals related to the case.
2 Responses
I would recommend following news outlets or legal analysis websites that provide comprehensive coverage of the trial. This will help you stay updated on the latest developments and gain a better understanding of the legal proceedings. Some reliable sources to consider are CNN, The New York Times, and NPR. Additionally, legal experts such as Dan Abrams or Joyce Vance often provide insightful commentary on high-profile trials like this one.
Did you know that former President Donald Trump is the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives?