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Trump trial live updates: Pecker testifies he was told Stormy Daniels story was 'true'
(NEW YORK) -- Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.
Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
Here's how the news is developing:
Apr 25, 5:16 PM
Trump calls day's court proceedings 'breathtaking'
Former President Trump, exiting the courtroom at the end of Day 7 of his trial, called the day's court proceedings "breathtaking."
He specifically remarked on the Supreme Court's hearing this morning on his bid for presidential immunity in his federal election interference case, which Trump was forced to miss due to his criminal trial.
"I heard the meeting was quite amazing. The justices were on their game," Trump said.
Apr 25, 4:40 PM
Prosecutor objects to defense questions before court is adjourned
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass alleged that defense attorney Emil Bove used a "totally improper line of questioning" during Bove's cross-examination of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.
Judge Juan Mechan, addressing Bove, at one point raised his voice slightly, saying, "Are you missing my point? Because I don't think you are responding to what I am saying."
Merchan said that the jurors will be corrected about the alleged misimpression at the start of court tomorrow.
The judge then adjourned the day's proceedings, with court scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. ET Friday.
Apr 25, 4:31 PM
Pecker says AMI paid to kill stories for Schwarzenegger
In his cross-examination of David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher who ran the publication's parent company, AMI, defense lawyer Emil Bove sought to draw a contrast between AMI's conduct with Donald Trump and its work with another celebrity-turned-politician: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Earlier today, Pecker testified about an agreement with Schwarzenegger ahead of the actor's run for California governor. According to Pecker, Schwarzenegger agreed to serve as an editor-at-large for some of AMI's fitness magazines in exchange for help quashing negative stories about Schwarzenegger's past interactions with women.
"A number of women called up the National Enquirer about stories that they have to sell on different relationships or contacts and sexual harassment they felt that Arnold Schwarzenegger did," Pecker said. "The agreement I had with Arnold was I would call him and advise him of any stories that were out there."
Pecker described that his arrangement with Schwarzenegger -- which he said resulted in an "embarrassing" investigation into AMI's conduct -- provided him with some foundational experience when he began identifying and killing stories for Trump.
"That's how I became sensitive on this topic," Pecker.
Pressed on cross-examination about the arrangement with Schwarzenegger, Pecker acknowledged that AMI spent its own money to kill stories about the former California governor.
"It was hundreds of thousands of dollars," Pecker said.
"And Mr. Schwarzenegger never paid you back for that?" Bove asked.
"No, he didn't," Pecker said.
Pecker also testified about an effort to compel Tiger Woods to do an interview with AMI's fitness magazines by purchasing a negative story about him as leverage.
Apr 25, 4:15 PM
Pecker tells defense that killing stories is 'standard' procedure
Former President Trump's attorney Emil Bove began his cross-examination of Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker by seeking to painting Pecker and Trump's "mutually beneficially" relationship as one that had nothing to do with the election but rather had been underway for years under a "standard operating procedure."
"Seventeen years of providing President Trump with a heads-up about potentially negative publicity?" Bove asked Pecker.
"That's correct," Pecker said.
Bove asked Pecker about the first time he ever provided Trump with information -- which Pecker testified was in the 1990s and related to a negative story about Marla Maples, Trump's ex-wife.
"Fair to say that predated the Trump Tower meeting by a long time?" Bove asked of Pecker and Trump's relationship.
"Yes," Pecker said.
"A lot of interactions?" Bove asked.
"Yes," Pecker responded.
Bove also sought to show that kind of relationship between publishers and politicians was normal, saying there was "nothing wrong about" it.
"You are aware many politicians work with the media to try to promote their image?" Bove asked.
"Yes," Pecker responded.
"That's standard operating procedure?" Bove again asked.
"Yes," Pecker said.
"And sometimes when politicians are doing that, that is to try to win elections?" Bove continued.
"Right," Pecker responded.
"Nothing wrong about that?" Bove asked.
Apr 25, 3:29 PM
'I still consider him a friend,' Pecker says of Trump
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker concluded his direct examination by offering kind words about the former president.
"I felt that Donald Trump was my mentor. He helped me throughout my career," Pecker said, detailing how Trump reached out to help after one of Pecker's employees died from an anthrax attack in 2001.
"The first person who called me if I needed help was Donald Trump, and he was very helpful," Pecker said.
Pecker confirmed that he has not spoken to Trump since early 2019, though the former president sent his regards through mutual friends who saw the former president at Mar-a-Lago.
"I thought the investigation that was going on at the same time -- I thought it was inappropriate to respond or have any conversations with Mr. Trump," Pecker said.
Pecker said he still considers Trump to be a friend.
"I have no ill will at all," Pecker said about Trump. "Even though we haven't spoke … I still consider him a friend."
Apr 25, 3:17 PM
Pecker details his non-prosecution agreement with DA
When former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker received a letter from the Federal Election Commission in September 2018, "I called up Michael Cohen immediately," Pecker said.
Cohen said he had also received a letter from the FEC -- but urged Pecker not to fret.
"He says,' Why are you worried?' He said, 'Jeff Sessions is the attorney general and Donald Trump has him in his pocket,'" Pecker testified.
Pecker then described the non-prosecution agreement his company, AMI, struck with federal prosecutors in Manhattan, which included details about the catch-and-kill arrangement he had brokered with Cohen.
Pecker read for the jury passages from the non-prosecution agreement, including a reference to AMI's deal to pay Karen McDougal -- described in the agreement only as "the model" -- for her story, "so as to prevent it from influencing the presidential election."
Apr 25, 3:04 PM
'I thought we had an agreement,' Pecker says Trump told him
After court resumed for the afternoon session, David Pecker retook the stand.
The former National Enquirer publisher testified that six months after Donald Trump became president, Trump hosted a "thank-you dinner" for Pecker and some of his business associates.
After taking photos in the Oval Office -- "Jared Kushner was there, Sean Spicer was there" Pecker said -- Trump asked Pecker to walk with him along the colonnade "past the Rose Garden," Pecker recalled. The jury saw a photo of the two men on that walk.
Trump said that on that walk, Trump asked Pecker, "How's Karen doing?" referring to Karen McDougal, who the National Enquirer had paid to catch-and-kill her story claiming a year-long relationship with Trump.
"She's doing well. She's quiet. All's going good," Pecker recalled responding.
Eight months later, in March 2018, Pecker said Trump called him about a television interview McDougal had conducted.
"He said 'Did you see the Anderson Cooper interview with Karen McDougal?' I said yes. He said, 'I thought we had an agreement with Karen that she can't give any interviews or be on any television shows.' So I said yes we have an agreement, but I amended it," said Pecker, who testified earlier that he had done so following the election.
Pecker testified that Trump was very upset. "He couldn't understand why," Pecker said. "He couldn't believe that I did it."
Pecker said Trump also called him after Stormy Daniels appeared on a television interview a short while later.
"He said, 'We have an agreement with Stormy Daniels that she cannot mention my name or do anything like this, and each time she breaches the agreement it's $1 million penalty,'" Pecker said.
Apr 25, 1:42 PM
Pecker says 'family was never mentioned' as reason for killing stories
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker concluded his morning testimony by answering questions about what he perceived to be Trump's motivation to silence negative and salacious stories about him.
"I thought it was for the campaign," Pecker said. "His family was never mentioned."
Pecker added that Trump's motivation for killing stories appeared to change once he announced his run for the presidency.
"Prior to the election, if a negative story was coming out with respect to Donald Trump and we spoke about it, he was concerned about Melania Trump and Ivanka, what the family might hear or say about it, whether it was true or not," Pecker said.
Things changed when Trump changed from a businessman to a politician, Pecker said.
"I didn't hear or discuss that it was what [would] Melania say or what Ivanka would say or what his family would say, but the impact it would have upon the election," Pecker said, before court recessed for the afternoon break.
As Trump left the courtroom for the lunch break, a reporter shouted him a question: "Do you still like Pecker?" They did not get a response.
Pecker's testimony is scheduled to resume following the break.
Apr 25, 1:19 PM
'Thank you for handling' McDougal, Pecker says Trump told him
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he was twice summoned to Trump Tower in the period following the 2016 election: the first time for a meeting with Michael Cohen, and the second with Donald Trump.
The first meeting began in Cohen's office, where Cohen divulged for the first time to Pecker that he personally covered the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, and that he was concerned that he would not receive a bonus from the Trump Organization, Pecker testified.
"He (Cohen) asked me to talk to the boss on his behalf to try to help him get his bonus," Pecker said, referring to Trump.
When Trump himself came into the room, Pecker asked to walk him back to his office -- and at that time, Pecker told Trump that "Michael Cohen is very concerned about his bonus for this year, and I want you to know that he's very loyal."
Trump replied that Cohen had several apartments and taxi medallions, and added, "Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it," Pecker said.
On Jan. 6, 2017, Pecker arrived at Trump Tower for a meeting with Trump and was escorted to his residence by Jared Kushner, he testified.
Pecker said he was ushered into the room, where Trump was surrounded by administration officials James Comey, Sean Spicer, Reince Priebus, and Mike Pompeo -- they were "updating Mr. Trump on the Ft. Lauderdale shooting" at the airport there.
Pecker said that after the others had left, Trump turned to him.
"He (Trump) asked me how Karen [McDougal] was doing -- how's 'our girl' doing. I said, she's writing her articles, she's quiet, things are going fine."
Trump then said, "I want to thank you for handling the McDougal situation. And then he said, I want to thank you for the doorman situation," Pecker testified.
Upon additional questioning, Pecker testified that he took this to mean that Trump was thanking him "for not publishing any of the stories and helping the way I did."
Apr 25, 1:07 PM
Pecker says he released McDougal from agreement after election
After the Wall Street Journal ran a story that began to uncover the catch-and-kill arrangement between National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, Donald Trump and Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen, Pecker testified that he ordered National Enquirer's Chief Content Officer Dylan Howard to contact McDougal's lawyer to ensure that she maintained her silence.
"I didn't know if she went off the reservation, so I asked Dylan to call Keith Davidson," Pecker testified before he began reading through a series of text messages from the 2016.
"She's cool. Moving forward with the [confidentiality agreement]," Howard texted Pecker.
"Excellent news," Pecker texted back.
"One day of discomfort and back [to] the campaign issues," Howard texted.
Days later, Trump was elected president of the United States.
"Is it fair to say that by the time of this [release from the agreement] … Mr. Trump has already been elected president?" Steinglass asked.
Apr 25, 1:00 PM
Trump was 'very upset' about Wall Street Journal story, Pecker says
It was November 4, 2016 -- four days before the presidential election -- and the Wall Street Journal ran a story that began to uncover the catch-and-kill arrangement between National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, Donald Trump and Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen.
"National Enquirer Shielded Donald Trump From Playboy Model's Affair Allegation," the headline read.
Pecker, on the stand, testified that he soon got a call at his home from Donald Trump directly.
"Donald Trump was very upset, saying, 'How could this happen, I thought this was under control,'" Pecker said, adding that Trump suggested it was a leak from the National Enquirer. "He was very agitated. He couldn't understand how this could happen, and the call ended up very abruptly."
Pecker said his company promptly issued a statement denying the story.
"Was that the truth?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked.
"No, it was not," Pecker said.
Asked why he issued the denial, Pecker said, "I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself, and I wanted also to protect Donald Trump."
Apr 25, 12:29 PM
'This story is true,' Pecker recounts being told of Stormy Daniels
"Do you know someone by the same of Stephanie Clifford?"
The question, by assistant district attorney Josh Steinglass, was the jury's introduction during the evidentiary phase of the trial to the woman whose long-denied claim of a sexual tryst with Donald Trump set in motion the alleged falsification of business records.
"Stormy Daniels is, or was, a porn star," former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker replied, using Clifford's stage name.
Pecker was having dinner with his wife on a Saturday night in early October 2016 when he said he received an urgent call from National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard.
"He said that she, she being Stormy Daniels, is trying to sell a story that she had a sexual relationship with Donald Trump, and Dylan can acquire the story for $120,000 from Keith Davidson if we made a decision right now," Pecker recalled.
In a series of text messages the jury saw, Howard told Pecker, "I know denials were made in the past but this story is true."
Pecker replied to Howard, "We can't pay 120k." The company had already paid $30,000 for the Dino Sajudin story and $150,000 for the Karen McDougal story, and Pecker recalled thinking, "I am not a bank."
In the text exchange, Howard responded, "Perhaps I call Michael and advise him and he can take it from there, and handle."
Pecker texted back, "Yes a good idea."
Pecker recalled having "a number of conversations" with Michael Cohen about Stormy Daniels. Cohen wanted Pecker to catch and kill the story.
"I said, 'I am not purchasing this story, I am not going to get involved with a porn star,'" Pecker testified he told Cohen. "He was upset and said the boss would be furious with me."
Apr 25, 11:58 AM
Pecker says he was never repaid for McDougal's catch-and-kill
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker described his concern about Trump's repayment for the catch-and-kill purchase of Karen McDougal's story showing up in his company's accounting system, and his efforts to hide it.
Pecker testified that he put a different label on the invoice to Trump attorney Michael Cohen's LLC for the repayment because he "did not want to have a payment received in the his company's finance department from the Trump Organization or Michael Cohen."
"Why not?" the prosecutor asked him.
"Because I believed that that payment would raise a lot of questions and issues," Pecker testified.
Pecker also suggested he became uncomfortable with being reimbursed by Trump or Cohen after speaking with his legal counsel.
Lastly, Pecker testified about his repeated efforts to get that repayment -- which he said never happened.
"To be clear, Mr. Pecker, did AMI ever get reimbursed?," the prosecutor asked, referring to the Enquirer's parent company.
"No," Pecker answered.
Apr 25, 11:49 AM
'The boss will be angry' if the deal is off, Pecker says he was told
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker described one of the most heated moments so far during the catch-and-kill arrangement between him, Donald Trump and Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen.
"I called Michael Cohen and I said to him that the agreement we signed -- the deal was off. I am not going forward, it is a bad idea," Pecker testified. "I want you to rip up the agreement."
"He was very, very, angry. Very upset, screaming basically at me. And I said, I'm not going forward with this agreement, rip it up," Pecker said.
Pecker said Michael Cohen then brought up "the boss."
"And Michael Cohen said, the boss is going to be very angry with you. And I said, I'm sorry, I am not going forward. The deal is off," Pecker recounted. "And he said, I cant believe it. I'm a lawyer, I'm your friend. I don't understand why you're not going forward. I said I am not going forward. Period."
Pecker did not say exactly what prompted that exchange, but he previously described at length that he was aware that the National Enquirer's payment to Karen McDougal in order to catch and kill her story for the benefit of Trump's campaign would amount to an illegal campaign contribution -- softening his tone when he testified to this.
Apr 25, 11:05 AM
Pecker says McDougal's story could have 'hurt the campaign'
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he believed Donald Trump had knowledge about the $150,000 contract to buy Karen McDougal's silence regarding an alleged year-long affair.
"Do you know if anyone else besides Michael Cohen had any knowledge of this contract?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked.
"Yes, I believe Donald Trump did," Pecker responded.
"Was your principal purpose to suppress the story to prevent it from influencing the election?" Steinglass asked.
"Yes," Pecker said.
"Were you aware that expenditures by corporations made for the purpose of influencing an election made in coordination with or at the request of a candidate or campaign were unlawful?" Steinglass asked.
Pecker said he was aware and confirmed that the Enquirer's parent company, AMI, never reported the payment to the Federal Election Commission.
"We purchased the story so it wouldn't be published by any other organization," Pecker said.
"Why did you not want it to be published by any other organization?" Steinglass asked.
"We didn't want the story to embarrass Mr. Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign," Pecker said.
"Who is we?" Steinglass followed up.
"Myself and Michael Cohen," Pecker said.
According to Pecker, AMI agreed to the $150,000 payment on the promise that Donald Trump or the Trump Organization would reimburse AMI for the payment. He frequently followed up with Cohen about the reimbursement and got a similar answer from Cohen.
"Why are you worried? I am your friend. The boss will take care of it," Pecker said about Cohen's response.
Apr 25, 10:44 AM
Pecker describes $150,000 negotiations for McDougal's story
With Donald Trump following along from the defense table, head cocked slightly to the side, David Pecker described the negotiations conducted with Karen McDougal to purchase the exclusive rights to her story about an alleged year-long relationship with Trump.
Pecker said that Trump's attorney Michael Cohen authorized negotiations to begin, then during those negotiations, "Michael was very agitated," constantly asking "Why is this taking so long?"
"To purchase the lifetime rights to Karen McDougal was going to cost $150,000. Plus Karen wanted to restart her career. She wanted to write for the celebrity magazines. She wanted to be on the cover of the life and fitness titles. She had a major problem when her breast implants were removed and she wanted to write about that," Pecker testified.
Pecker said he asked Cohen, "Who is going to reimburse me for this?" He said Cohen responded "Don't worry about it, I'm your friend the boss will take care of it.'"
When prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked Pecker who "the boss" was, Pecker answered "The boss would have been Donald Trump"
Prosecutors then displayed for the jury the contract with McDougal, dated August 5, 2016. It awarded AMI, the Enquirer's parent company, the rights to her story of a relationship she had "with any then-married man." Pecker said "she was referring to Donald Trump."
Pecker testified he needed to "validate" the amount of money AMI was going to pay, so the contract included other provisions, like having McDougal write monthly columns on aging and fitness.
"With respect to campaign laws, I wanted to have the contract be a record that stipulates the services she was going to perform for American Media had a basis for it, the $150,000," Pecker said.
"Was it your primary purpose to buy the life rights?" Steinglass asked. "Yes it was," Pecker responded.
"Were the other provisions to disguise the true nature of this contract?" Steinglass asked. "Yes," Pecker replied, letting out a sigh.
Apr 25, 10:18 AM
Cohen said Trump would pay to buy McDougal story, Pecker says
In June of 2016, as the National Enquirer evaluated the merits of Karen McDougal's claim of a year-long affair with Trump, Trump's attorney Michael Cohen instructed Pecker to purchase her story -- and suggested that Trump would compensate the company for the cost, according to Pecker.
Pecker recalled from the stand a conversation he had with Cohen, in which Cohen told him, "You should go ahead and buy this story."
"So I said to him … 'Who's going to pay for it?'' Pecker testified, saying Cohen replied, "'Don't worry, I'm your friend, the boss will take care of it.'"
Pecker said he interpreted that to mean that if the National Enquirer purchased the story, Trump or the Trump Organization would reimburse him.
Picking up on his testimony from Tuesday, Pecker said that when he spoke with Trump about McDougal's story, he recalled that Trump called McDougal "a nice girl" and asked Pecker what he should do about it.
"I think you should buy this story and take it off the market," Pecker said, explaining that he "believed the story was true. I think that it would be embarrassing to himself and also to his campaign."
During her negotiations with the National Enquirer, McDougal represented that "she didn't want to be the next Monica Lewinsky," Pecker said.
Apr 25, 10:04 AM
Pecker resumes testimony about Karen McDougal
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker has resumed his testimony.
The veteran tabloid executive is fielding questions from prosecutors about how his publication handled its initial interactions with Karen McDougal, who approached the National Enquirer with allegations that she had had a year-long sexual relationship with Donald Trump.
When one of his reporters met with McDougal, the reporter found that her allegations “could be true, but she didn’t have any corroborating evidence," Pecker said.
Apr 25, 9:57 AM
Prosecutors say Trump violated gag order four more times
Prosecutors have asked Judge Juan Merchan to hold Donald Trump in contempt for four additional violations of the court's limited gag order over the last three days.
"He is doing what the order tells him not to do," prosecutor Christopher Conroy said about Trump's recent remarks about witnesses and the jury.
Conroy outlined the four alleged violations, including Trump's hallway statements about Cohen on Monday, an interview Trump did on Monday where he made comments about the political composition of the jury pool, Trump's interview with Philadelphia ABC station WPVI-TV where he attacked Cohen, and Trump's remarks this morning at a construction site where he commented on David Pecker's testimony.
"This is a message to Pecker -- be nice. It is a message to others. I have a platform and I will talk about you," Conroy said. "It is a message to everyone involved in this proceeding and this court."
Conroy did not specify what penalty Merchan should impose. In total, prosecutors have asked to hold Trump in 14 counts of criminal contempt.
Apr 25, 9:42 AM
Court is in session
Court is underway this morning for Day 7 of Donald Trump's hush money trial.
Trump entered the courtroom and took his usual seat at the defense table. He then whispered something to his attorney Todd Blanche, who let out a laugh.
Judge Juan Merchan gaveled in the hearing and said, "Good Morning, Mr. Trump." Trump didn't appear to respond.
Apr 25, 7:17 AM
Trump again complains about not being allowed to go to the Supreme Court hearing on presidential immunity
Donald Trump arrived at a New York City construction site early Thursday morning and was greeted by several dozen supporters before speaking to the media and complaining that he was not allowed to go to the Supreme Court hearing in Washington, D.C., later in the day.
“We have a big case today – this judge wouldn’t allow me to go, but we have a big case today at the Supreme Court on presidential immunity, a president has to have immunity. If you don't have immunity, you just have a ceremonial president," said Trump.
Trump also expressed confidence in the outcome of the hearing, saying that the Supreme Court has “very talented people, they’re very smart, they know what they’re doing.”
Apr 24, 5:17 PM
Michael Cohen says he'll stop commenting about Trump
Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen vowed to stop making public comments about the former president ahead of his likely testimony in Trump's New York hush money case.
On his podcast and on social media, Cohen has frequently commented about the former president's legal troubles. Trump's lawyers have argued that the former president's comments about Cohen -- which prosecutors allege were in violation of the case's limited gag order -- were in response to political attacks by Cohen.
"Despite not being the gagged defendant, out of respect for Judge Merchan and the prosecutors, I will cease posting anything about Donald on my X (formerly Twitter) account or on the Mea Culpa Podcast until after my trial testimony. See you all in a month (or more)," Cohen said on social media on Wednesday afternoon.
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche devoted a portion of his opening statement on Monday to attacking Cohen's credibility, describing the former lawyer as a "convicted perjurer" and "admitted liar" who has an "obsession with getting Trump."
Cohen's testimony is expected to be a key part of the state's case against Trump, as prosecutors attempt to prove that Trump falsified business records as he, Cohen and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker engaged in a conspiracy to influence the 2016 election by suppressing negative stories about Trump.
Apr 23, 2:34 PM
Trump again assails judge for limited gag order
Former President Trump, addressing reporters after court was adjourned for the day, angrily criticized Judge Merchan and the limited gag order that was the topic of this morning's contempt hearing.
"We have a gag order, which to me is totally unconstitutional. I'm not allowed to talk but people are allowed to talk about me," Trump said. "So, they can talk about me, they can say whatever they want, they can lie. But I'm not allowed to say that. I just have to sit back and look at why a conflicted judge has ordered for me to have a gag order. I don't think anybody's ever seen anything like this."
Shuffling through a thick stack of papers, which Trump said were news articles from the past day and a half, the former president continued his criticism.
"So, I put an article on it and then somebody's name is mentioned somewhere deep in the article and I ended up in violation of the gag order," he said. "I think it's a disgrace. It's totally unconstitutional."
Prosecutors this morning asked the judge to fine Trump $10,000 for what the say are 10 recent violations of the limited gag order, which prohibits Trump from making statements about witnesses, jurors, and lawyers in the case other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The judge has yet to issue a ruling.
-Michael Pappano
Apr 23, 2:16 PM
Pecker testifies about Karen McDougal before court ends for day
"Karen McDougal was a Playboy model," former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker said, recalling how he learned in June 2016 "that there's a Playboy model who is trying to sell a story about a relationship that she had with Donald Trump for a year."
Pecker said he immediately called Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen to inform him. By then, he was speaking to Cohen "a couple times a week," but that soon changed. Pecker said he and Cohen spoke "much more frequently" about McDougal's claims.
"Michael was very agitated. It looked like he was getting a lot of pressure to get the answer right away," Pecker said. "He kept on calling, and each time he called he seemed more anxious."
Pecker said he assumed "Mr. Trump was asking Michael Cohen, 'Did we hear anything yet?'" Pecker said.
"Did you ever come to believe that Michael Cohen had spoken with Mr. Trump about McDougal's claims?" prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked.
"Yes I did," Pecker responded before recounting a phone conversation Pecker said he himself had with Trump.
"I said I think the story should be purchased and we should buy it," Pecker recalled telling Trump. "Mr. Trump said to me, 'I don't buy stories. Anytime you do anything like this, it always gets out.'"
Ultimately, McDougal was paid $150,000 and promised a series of exercise articles in the publication.
Following that testimony, court was adjourned.
It's expected the jury will hear more on McDougal upon Pecker's return to the witness stand, when court resumes on Thursday.
Apr 23, 2:05 PM
Pecker kept doorman under contract until after election
According to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, Michael Cohen pushed for the National Enquirer to keep doorman Dino Sajudin locked into a contract until after the 2016 election, even though the story Sajudin was shopping about Trump having a love child were untrue.
"I told Michael Cohen the story was not true. I told him that the doorman is very difficult to deal with," Pecker testified.
Cohen had earlier encouraged Pecker to add a $1 million penalty to Sajudin's contract if he broke the agreement and tried to shop around the story.
"He would breach this agreement and owe American Media a million dollars," Pecker said. "It was basically a lever over him to make sure that wouldn't happen."
Cohen encouraged Pecker to keep Sajudin locked in, according to the former publisher.
"I am going release him one way or the other," Pecker said he told Cohen regarding Sajudin. "He said, 'No, release him after the election.'"
"When was he released?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Pecker.
"December 9, 2016," Pecker said.
"After the presidential election?" Steinglass asked.
"Yes," Pecker responded.
Apr 23, 1:48 PM
Pecker details catch-and-kill deal with Trump Tower doorman
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker described the very first story he "caught and killed" pursuant to his agreement with Donald Trump and his then-attorney Michael Cohen: a false story from a Trump Tower doorman in 2015.
Trump, sitting at the defense table, shook his head when Pecker laid out the allegation: that "Donald Trump fathered an illegitimate girl with a maid at Trump Tower."
Pecker testified that he "immediately called Michael Cohen" when his team got wind of those allegations being shopped by the doorman, Dino Sajudin. Cohen told him it was "absolutely not true" -- but Pecker testified he ultimately moved forward with buying the story to the tune of $30,000.
"This could be a very big story. I believe that it's important that it should be removed from the market," Pecker said he told Cohen.
Asked about Cohen's response, Pecker said: "He said the boss would be very pleased," saying he understood "the boss" to mean Donald Trump.
Pecker testified that Cohen later called back to say the story is "absolutely not true" and that Trump "would take a DNA test" -- an apparently new revelation -- but Pecker said it wouldn't be necessary.
Pecker conceded that if the story turned out to be true, it "probably would be the biggest sale" for the paper since the death of Elvis Presley.
Still, Pecker testified he would have held it until after the campaign was over.
"I would have published it after the election," Pecker said. "That was the conversation I had with Michael Cohen, and that's what we agreed to."
Ultimately, the story turned out to be untrue -- but Pecker still paid for it.
"Why are you paying $30,000 for an untrue story?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked while displaying the contract Pecker had with Sajudan to the jury.
"Because if the story got out to another publication, it would have been embarrassing for the campaign," Pecker said.
"So this was a way to lock it up?" Steinglass asked.
"That's correct," Pecker responded.
Apr 23, 12:57 PM
Pecker testifies that he strategized with Steve Bannon
Donald Trump introduced David Pecker to Steve Bannon to strategize future stories about Trump's opponents, the former National Enquirer publisher testified.
"[Trump] thought both of us could work very well together," Pecker said of Bannon, who would go on to become chief strategist in the Trump White House.
Pecker said Bannon liked some of the National Enquirer's past coverage and had ideas for the future.
"He liked them very much. He had some other ideas," Pecker said, mentioning a proposed plan to book one of Pecker's reporters on Sean Hannity's Fox News show to talk about the National Enquirer's reporting about Hillary Clinton.
Apr 23, 12:40 PM
Plan to boost Trump was hatched in 2015, Pecker says
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker's "secret arrangement" with Donald Trump and his then-attorney Michael Cohen was hatched during a "20-25 minute meeting" at Trump Tower in August of 2015, Pecker testified.
Under the arrangement, the National Enquirer would become a trumpet for Trump's presidential ambition and a megaphone for Michael Cohen's opposition research on Trump's opponents, he said.
"He would send me information about Ted Cruz or Ben Carson or Marco Rubio, and that was the basis for our story, and we would embellish," Pecker testified.
He said that he kept the arrangement from all but his top people.
"I told them we were going to try and help the campaign, and to do that we would keep it as quiet as possible," Pecker recalled telling his East and West Coast bureau chiefs.
Prosecutors showed the jury a collection of Enquirer headlines that lauded Trump and disparaged his opponents.
"Bungling Surgeon Ben Carson Left Sponge in Patient's Brain," one article said. "Donald Trump blasts Ted Cruz's Dad for Photo with JFK Assassin," said another, recounting classic fare from the 2016 campaign.
"After the Republican debates and based on the success that some of the other candidates had, I would receive a call from Michael Cohen and he would direct me and direct Dylan Howard which candidate and which direction we should go," Pecker said, referring to the National Enquirer.s chief content officer.
Apr 23, 12:24 PM
Pecker says he didn't catch-and-kill any Trump stories before 2016
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he suspected that multiple women would come forward to shop stories about Trump during Trump's run for president.
"In a presidential campaign, I was the person that thought there would be a lot of women who came out to sell their stories because Mr. Trump was well known as the most eligible bachelor and dated the most beautiful woman," Pecker testified. "It is very common for these women to call up a magazine like the National Enquirer to try and sell their stories. I would hear it in the marketplace through other sources that stories were being marketed."
If those stories emerged, Pecker said he vowed that he would notify Michael Cohen, Trump's then-personal attorney, per their agreement.
According to Pecker, most elements of their agreement -- including running positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents -- were "mutually beneficial" to Trump and Pecker.
"Hillary running for president and Bill Clinton's womanizing was one of the biggest sales ... for the National Enquirer," Pecker said. " It was easy for me to say I was going to continue running those kinds of stories for the National Enquirer."
"It would help his campaign, but it would also help me," Pecker said.
"As I recollect, [Trump] was pleased. Michael Cohen was pleased [about] the way I was going to handle these issues," Pecker said.
Pecker said that prior to the 2016 election, his magazines never caught and killed any stories for Trump.
When pressed by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, Pecker acknowledged that the catch-and-kill element of the agreement -- buying negative information about Trump then killing the story -- was not beneficial for the National Enquirer.
"How was that going to boost sales of the National Enquirer?" Steinglass asked.
"No, that part didn't help," Pecker said.
Apr 23, 11:57 AM
Pecker says he was in regular contact with Cohen
Despite first meeting Michael Cohen by chance in 2000 at a bar mitzvah, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that Donald Trump first introduced him to Cohen as his personal lawyer in 2007.
Pecker said Trump asked him to begin coordinating with Cohen about any stories or rumors related to Trump or his family.
"All of the contacts that I had with Mr. Trump -- now my contact should go through Michael Cohen," Pecker said about Trump's directive after meeting Cohen.
Pecker and Cohen would touch base monthly over the following decade, but communications ramped up after Trump announced his candidacy for president in 2015, Pecker said.
"I would say a minimum of every week, and if there was an issue, it could be daily," Pecker said about his contact with Cohen during the campaign.
Apr 23, 11:52 AM
Pecker describes 'great relationship' with Trump
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, back on the witness stand, pointed at Donald Trump and flashed a smile when he was asked to identify the defendant. Trump turned his chin up and grinned at his longtime friend.
"I met Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago," Pecker said. "I've had a great relationship with Mr. Trump over the years."
That relationship started in 1989 when Pecker wanted to start a magazine called Trump Style.
"He was very helpful in introducing me to other executives in New York. He would always advise me of parties or events that I would go to," Pecker said, adding that Trump was among the first to congratulate him upon acquiring the National Enquirer.
Pecker described how Trump became a "major celebrity" after launching The Apprentice and later Celebrity Apprentice, and how the National Enquirer was there to juice Trump's profile.
"He was always kind enough to send me the content showing the ratings and I was able to publish that," Pecker said of their "great mutual beneficially relationship.
Pecker said he considered Trump a friend from 2015 to 2017, calling him by the familiar "Donald," as he pursued the White House for the first time.
"After he announced his run for the presidency I saw Mr. Trump more frequently, maybe once a month," Pecker said. The two spoke "maybe once every couple of weeks."
Pecker recalled meeting Trump in his office when his assistant brought a batch of invoices and checks to sign.
"As I recollect the entire package was stapled together," Pecker said.
"So you observed him reviewing an invoice and signing a check?" prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked. "That's correct," Pecker responded.
"I would describe him as very knowledgeable, very detail-oriented, almost as a micromanager," Pecker said.
When Steinglass asked how Trump was with money, Pecker responded, "He was very cautious and very frugal."
Apr 23, 11:43 AM
Secret Service has plans if Trump is confined for contempt: Sources
The U.S. Secret Service has held meetings and started planning for what to do if former President Trump were to be held in contempt and Judge Juan Merchan opted to send him to short-term confinement, officials familiar with the situation tell ABC News.
Prosecutors said at this point they are seeking a fine.
"We are not yet seeking an incarceratory penalty," assistant district attorney Chris Conroy said, "But the defendant seems to be angling for that."
Officials do not necessarily believe Merchan would put Trump in a holding cell in the courthouse but they are planning for contingencies, the officials said.
There have be no discussion about what to do if Trump is convicted and sentenced to prison, they said.
"Under federal law, the United States Secret Service must provide protection for current government leaders, former Presidents and First Ladies, visiting heads of state and other individuals designated by the President of the United States," the Secret Service said in an official statement. "For all settings around the world, we study locations and develop comprehensive and layered protective models that incorporate state of the art technology, protective intelligence and advanced security tactics to safeguard our protectees. Beyond that, we do not comment on specific protective operations."
-Josh Margolin and Luke Barr
Apr 23, 10:56 AM
Contempt hearing ends without a ruling
The combative hearing on Trump's alleged violations of the judge's limited gag order ended with the judge saying he will not rule from bench on the district attorney's motion to hold Trump in contempt, so a ruling will come later.
Before concluding the hearing, Judge Merchan told Trump attorney Todd Blanche, "You're not offering me anything … to hang my hat on."
The trial will resume shortly with the return of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker to the witness stand.
Apr 23, 10:48 AM
'You’re losing all credibility,' judge admonishes defense
Judge Juan Merchan is visibly irritated with the lack of evidence presented by defense attorney Todd Blanche.
“You have presented nothing,” Merchan said. “I have asked eight or nine times; show me the exact post he was responding to.”
“You’re losing all credibility with the court,” Merchan said after Blanche suggested Trump has been careful to comply with the gag order.
Blanche attempted to represent that Trump did not intend to violate the gag order, but Merchan did not appear satisfied by the response.
“Are you testifying under oath that this is his position?” Merchan asked.
“Do you want me to put him on the stand?” Blanche asked, though Trump did not take the stand.
Merchan strongly reacted earlier when Blanche suggested there were two tiers of justice in the courtroom.
“There are two systems of justice. Mr. Weisselberg is in prison, and Mr. Cohen is a witness," Blanche said, in reference to the former Trump Organization CFO who was sentenced to jail time for perjury.
“There are two systems of justice in this courtroom -- is that what you are saying?” Merchan responded.
Apr 23, 10:41 AM
'It's just common sense,' defense argues regarding Trump's posts
The contempt hearing has turned tense as Trump attorney Todd Blanche tries to defend Trump's posts as mere responses to attacks -- but isn't giving clear examples of how Trump was being attacked.
Instead, Blanche asked the judge why the timing of the posts mattered -- prompting a strong rebuke from the judge.
"I'm asking the questions, OK?" Judge Merchan told Blanche. "Please don't turn it around."
Merchan continued to reprimand Blanche: "I'm asking a specific question over and over and I'm not getting an answer."
Merchan then lamented that nearly an hour into the hearing they are still only up to reviewing post NO. 2 of 10, and the jury is set to arrive at 11 a.m. ET to resume trial proceedings.
"The people got to speak as long as they want to," Blanche said regarding the prosecutors.
"The people were answering my questions," Merchan retorted.
So far, Merchan has appeared skeptical of what Blanche has been arguing in defense of the posts. Blanche at times has been struggling to answer Merchan's questions, at one point saying, "I don't have any case law to support that. It's just common sense."
Apr 23, 10:31 AM
Prosecutors warn about seeking potential jail time
Donald Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche, during the contempt hearing on the limited gag order in the case, defended the former president's comments by arguing that Trump was responding to political attacks.
"President Trump does in fact know what the gag order allows him to do and not allow him to do," Blanche said. "There is no dispute that President Trump is facing a barrage of political attacks from all sides."
According to Blanche, while the limited gag order prohibits statements about a witness' potential participation in a case, Trump is allowed to make comments in response to political attacks from potential witnesses like Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels.
"They are talking about their very strong dislike of President Trump," Blanche said about a post related to former Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti's comments on Michael Cohen.
Judge Juan Merchan questioned Blanche about what exactly made Trump's response "political" in nature.
"You believe that everything Mr. Avenatti said does not relate to the trial, but the use of the word 'pardon' makes it political and in a sense authorizes your client to respond?" Merchan asked.
"It's everything. It can't just be a single word," Blanche responded.
"When your client is violating the gag, I expect more than one word," Merchan said.
Conroy asked Merchan to advise Trump that for future violations of the gag order, “incarceration is an option should it be necessary.”
Apr 23, 10:08 AM
Trump's remarks 'pose a very real threat,' prosecutors say
Donald Trump's alleged violations of the court-imposed limited gag order "pose a very real threat to the integrity of the judicial proceedings," prosecutor Christopher Conroy said during the hearing on whether Trump should be held in contempt.
In addition to the ten alleged gag order violations, Conroy said the district attorney's office would file an additional contempt motion later today about comments Trump made to cameras on Monday about Michael Cohen.
Among Trump's comments: "Because as you know, Cohen is a lawyer -- represented a lot of people over the years -- now, I'm not the only one. And he wasn't very good in a lot of ways, in terms of his representation, but he represented a lot of people."
"And also, the things he got in trouble for were things that had nothing to do with me. He got in trouble and went to jail. This had nothing to do with me. This had to do with the taxi-cab company that he owned, which is something -- and medallions and borrow money and a lot of things but had nothing to do with me. He represented a lot of people over the years."
"And when are they going to look at all the lies that Cohen -- did -- in the last straw he got caught lying in the last trial. So he got caught lying -- pure lying. And when are they going to look at that?"
Conroy told the judge that Trump has "violated this order repeatedly and hasn't stopped."
Conroy said Trump's conduct is "all part of his plan for this trial," accusing the former president of "conditioning his followers" by making derogatory remarks about potential witnesses.
Apr 23, 9:59 AM
Trump falsely claims his supporters can't protest
On his way into the courtroom, Trump continued to falsely claim that his supporters were being barred from protesting outside the courthouse.
“Great Americans -- people that want to come down and they want to protest at the court. And they want to protest peacefully,” he told reporters. “We have more police presence here than anyone's ever seen for blocks. You can't get near this courthouse.”
But as the day's proceedings began, the park across from the New York criminal courthouse was open and nearly empty, and the area around the courthouse is not closed off.
-Mike Pappano and Brian Hartman
Apr 23, 9:37 AM
Trump arrives in court
Donald Trump has arrived in court with his usual entourage of lawyers, staff, and secret service agents.
Trump promptly took his seat alone at the counsel table as his lawyers and paralegals worked around him set up electronics for this morning's contempt hearing, in which prosecutors will seek to have Trump held in contempt of court for repeatedly violating the case's limited gag order.
Three prosecutors -- Joshua Steinglass, Christopher Conroy, and Matthew Colangelo -- are seated at the counsel table, with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and about eight members of his office seated in the first two rows of the gallery.
Bragg appears to have two security agents seated behind him, while a dozen court officers and secret service agents surround the courtroom and former president.
Apr 23, 8:20 AM
Day 6 of trial to start with contempt hearing
Day 6 of Donald Trump's criminal trial will begin with a hearing in front of Judge Juan Merchan in which prosecutors will seek to have the former president held in contempt for repeatedly violating the limited gag order in the case.
Prosecutors have argued that Trump violated the limited gag order -- which prohibits statements about witnesses, jurors, and lawyers in the case other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg -- on at least 10 separate occasions this month, and have asked the judge to hold him in contempt of court and fine him $10,000.
Trump's lawyers have argued that prosecutors have not proven the posts in question were willful violations of the gag order, telling Merchan that the former president was defending himself from attacks by the likely witnesses.
Following the hearing, testimony in the hush money trial is scheduled to resume with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker on the stand. Prosecutors believe he is key to understanding Trump’s motivation for paying off Stormy Daniels so damaging information did not seep into the 2016 campaign.
Apr 22, 1:28 PM
Trump, after court, says payments were correctly labeled
Moments after his criminal trial adjourned for the day, Donald Trump exited the courtroom and told reporters that his payments to Michael Cohen were appropriately labeled as legal expenses.
"Actually, nobody's been able to say what you're supposed to call it," Trump told the media. "If the lawyer puts in a bill or an invoice and you pay the bill ... that's a very small little line ... it's not like you could tell a life story."
"They marked it down for a legal expense. This is what I got indicted over," Trump said.
The former president also attempted to paint his former attorney Michael Cohen as an unreliable witness and said he "wasn't very good in a lot of ways" as an attorney.
Trump's motorcade then departed the courthouse.
-Michael Pappano
Apr 22, 12:52 PM
Court wraps for day, Pecker to return tomorrow
David Pecker stepped off the witness stand after his initial testimony. He is scheduled to return to the witness stand tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET.
During his brief testimony, Pecker suggested that former National Enquirer Chief Content Officer Dylan Howard -- an alleged participant in the catch-and-kill scheme alleged by prosecutors -- will be unable to testify due to a medical condition.
Pecker appeared to greet Trump and his lawyers as he exited the courtroom.
Court subsequently wrapped for the day.
Trump left the courtroom flanked by Secret Service agents and staffers, as well as Trump Organization General Counsel Alan Garten.
Judge Merchan is scheduled to hold a contempt hearing about Trump’s alleged violations of the case’s limited gag order tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Apr 22, 12:27 PM
David Pecker takes the stand for prosecution
David Pecker, who once called Donald Trump "a personal friend of mine," flashed a big smile as he took the stand as the trial's first witness, belying the gravity of the moment.
Pecker cackled loudly into the microphone, jolting the room, when prosecutor Josh Steinglass, asked him about his various phone numbers that he struggled to remember.
Pecker, 72, was the publisher of the National Enquirer but prosecutors said he was "acting as a co-conspirator" in helping buy and bury damaging stories about Trump, including a doorman's false claim that Trump had fathered a love child and a Playboy model's claim of a sexual relationship with Trump, who has denied both allegations.
Trump, who once said Pecker would make a "brilliant" choice as editor of Time magazine, listened while leaning forward in his chair, arms crossed on the table, an unhappy look on his face.
Pecker testified that he had final say whether to publish any story involving a famous person.
"I had the final say of the celebrity side of the magazine," Pecker said. "We used checkbook journalism. We paid for stories."
Pecker is testifying pursuant to a subpoena. He has also secured a non-prosecution agreement with the Manhattan district attorney's office.
Apr 22, 12:10 PM
Prosecutors call David Pecker as 1st witness
Prosecutors have called former American Media Inc. executive David Pecker as their first witness.
The DA alleges that Pecker, who oversaw the National Enquirer, engaged in a conspiracy with Trump to help influence the 2016 election by killing negative stories about Trump.
Apr 22, 11:50 AM
Michael Cohen obsessed with 'getting Trump,' defense claims
In his opening statement, defense attorney Todd Blanche sought to eviscerate Michael Cohen's credibility, saying Cohen is obsessed with Donald Trump, has a desire to see Trump incarcerated and has a propensity to lie.
"He has a goal, an obsession, with getting Trump. I submit to you he cannot be trusted," Blanche said.
On Sunday night, Cohen publicly posted online that he had a "mental excitement about this trial" and the testimony he would deliver, Blanche said.
"His entire financial livelihood depends on President Trump's destruction," Blanche said. "You cannot make a serious decision about President Trump by relying on the words of Michael Cohen.
Apr 22, 11:47 AM
Trump had 'nothing to do,' with invoices, defense says
"I have a spoiler alert," defense attorney Todd Blanche told jurors during his opening statement. "There is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It's called democracy."
Amid frequent objections from prosecutors, Blanche argued that the Manhattan district attorney has attempted to make the payments and non-disclosure agreements between Trump and Stormy Daniels "sinister" to the jury.
Judge Merchan had to interrupt Blanche's opening after multiple objections from prosecutors, then he met the parties at a sidebar conference, after which he struck a line from Blanche's opening.
"There is nothing illegal about entering into a non-disclosure agreement. Period," Blanche restated after the portion of his opening was struck from the record.
Blanche's opening has come off more casual and off-the-cuff than the state's opening, with Blanche improvising and posing hypotheticals to argue that accountants at the Trump Organization did not run the invoices by Trump as he was "running the country."
"'Hey, we got this invoice. I know we are trying to cover it up here,'" Blanche said sarcastically about how prosecutors described how accountants received invoices from Cohen. "Absolutely not."
According to Blanche, Trump was unaware of how the invoices were processed by his employees.
"President Trump has nothing to do -- nothing to do -- with the invoice, with the check being generated, or with the entry on the ledger," Blanche said, arguing that Trump was busy "in the White House while he was running the country."
"The reality is that President Trump is not on the hook -- criminally responsible -- for something Michael Cohen might have done years after the fact. The evidence will prove otherwise," Blanche said.
Apr 22, 11:38 AM
'None of this was a crime,' defense attorney says
Donald Trump is "not just our former president, he's not just Donald Trump that you've seen on TV," said defense attorney Todd Blanche in his opening statement.
"He's also a man. He's a husband," Blanche said. "He's a father."
Blanche pushed back on the DA's overall allegation that the payments to Trump's attorney Michael Cohen were weren't only payback for Stormy Daniels by using the prosecutor's own words against him.
Blanche noted that Cohen paid $130,000 to Daniels, but that Trump paid back Cohen a total of $420,000. If Trump really was a frugal businessman, as prosecutors said, why would he overpay that money, Blanche asked.
"Ask yourself, would a frugal businessman, a man who pinched his pennies, repay a $130,000 debt to the tune of $420,000?" Blanche asked.
Blanche repeatedly reiterated that Cohen truly was an attorney for Trump and was doing legal work for him, pointing out that Michael Cohen's own email signature noted he was Trump's attorney.
"None of this was a crime," Blanche said, saying the 34 counts against Trump "are really just 34 pieces of paper."
Apr 22, 11:30 AM
Trump 'did not commit any crimes,' defense tells jury
"President Trump is innocent. President Trump did not commit any crimes," defense attorney Todd Blanche said to begin the defense's opening statements.
"The Manhattan district attorney's office should never have brought this case," Blanche said.
"You will hear me and others refer to him as President Trump. That is a title he has earned because he was our 45th President," Blanche added.
Apr 22, 11:26 AM
Prosecutor says jury can believe Cohen despite mistakes
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the jury, during his opening statement, "During this trial you're going to hear a lot about Michael Cohen.”
Trump's former personal attorney, Cohen is a key witness -- perhaps the only one that will testify to Donald Trump’s intent when he agreed to pay Stormy Daniels hush money.
The defense “will go to great lengths” to convince the jury Cohen is not credible, Colangelo said.
He acknowledged that Cohen had earlier lied regarding the matter. “He lied about it to protect his boss,” Colangelo said. “You will also learn that Michael Cohen has a criminal record.”
Colangelo told jurors they can believe Cohen despite his past mistakes.
“Cohen's testimony will be backed up by testimony from other witnesses you will hear from, including David Pecker, Keith Davidson. It will be backed up by an extensive paper trail. And it will be backed up by Donald Trump’s own words,” the prosecutor said.
Colangelo concluded by saying, “This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up, an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of a presidential election and then the steps that Donald Trump took to conceal that election fraud. At the end of the case we are confident you will have no reasonable doubt that Donald Trump is guilty of falsifying business records.”
Apr 22, 11:16 AM
'It was election fraud, pure and simple,' prosecutor says
"It was election fraud, pure and simple," prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the jury during opening statements as he outlined the hush payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and how it was logged by the Trump Organization
Dylan Howard, then editor of the National Enquirer, had called Trump attorney Michael Cohen to inform him about Daniels and the story that she had of a sexual liaison with Trump, which the former president has long denied.
"Cohen then discussed the situation with Trump who is adamant that he did not want the story to come out," Colangelo said. "it could have been devastating to his campaign."
At the time, Trump and the campaign were "deeply concerned" about the "Access Hollywood" video, the prosecutor said. Cohen wired the $130,000 to Daniels' lawyer to keep her quiet.
"Cohen made that payment at Donald Trump's direction and for his benefit and he did it with the special goal of influencing the election
This was not spin or communications strategy. This was a planned, coordinated long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election to help DT get elected through illegal expenditures to silence people who had something bad about his behavior. It was election fraud, pure and simple," Colangelo said.
Apr 22, 11:10 AM
'Access Hollywood' tape was 'explosive,' prosecutors claim
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo read aloud part of the transcript of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape to jurors.
"You can do anything," Colangelo slowly read to the jurors, quoting Trump from the tape. "Grab them by the p----. You can do anything."
According to Colangelo, the October 2016 release of the tape had an "immediate and explosive" impact on Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
"Seeing and hearing a candidate in his own words, in his own voice, with his own body language ... has a much greater impact on voters than words on paper," Colangelo said. "The campaign went on immediate damage control mode to blunt the impact of the tape."
The campaign was concerned about the impact it might have on Trump voters or even the possibility that Trump could lose the Republican nomination one month out from the election, according to Colangelo.
"The Republican National Committee even considered whether it was too late to replace their own nominee," Colangelo said.
Apr 22, 11:04 AM
Trump, listening to openings, shakes his head
Former President Trump, sitting at the defense table, softly shook his head "no" when prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the jurors that Trump formed a "conspiracy" with Michael Cohen and David Pecker to "help him get elected."
It was one of the most notable reactions from Trump as he sits and listens to prosecutors lay out their story of the case.
Colangelo then brought up the "Access Hollywood" tape and said it showed Trump "bragging about sexual assault," Trump shook his head no again, pursing his lips. He did not react when Colangelo, quoting Trump on the tape, said, "grab them by the p----."
Earlier, as Colangelo brought up a former Trump doorman who was he said was paid off as part of the alleged catch-and-kill scheme, Trump -- looking annoyed -- leaned over and tapped his lawyer Todd Blanche. When Colangelo said the doorman was paid $30,000 to bury his story, Trump raised his eyebrows and grabbed onto a pen.
The former president has been passing notes and sliding papers between Blanche and attorney Emil Bove, and leaning side-to-side, whispering to them. Blanche at one point pulled out his own sticky note and slid a note back to Trump.
At other times he has hardly seemed engaged at all, slumping in his red leather chair looking straight forward with no facial expression, or fidgeting with his head tilting back and forth. At one point during jury instructions he let out a yawn.
Apr 22, 10:48 AM
Prosecutor alleges 3-prong conspiracy
"It starts with that August 2015 meeting in Trump Tower," prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told jurors about the alleged conspiracy, in his opening statement.
Following a meeting between Donald Trump, his then-lawyer Michael Cohen, and AMI executive David Pecker, the three engaged in a three-prong conspiracy to help influence the 2016 election, according to Colangelo.
First, the National Enquirer would run "headline after headline that extolled the defendant's virtues," according to Colangelo.
"Pecker had the ultimate say over publication decisions," Colangelo said, adding that Trump edited, killed, and suggested the cover of the magazine.
Second, the National Enquirer would run negative stories attacking Trump's opponents in the 2016 Republican primary, such as attacks on Ben Caron or Marco Rubio.
Third, the "core of the conspiracy" was killing negative stories about Trump -- evolving into the catch-and kill scheme, Colangelo said.
"The National Enquirer ran these stories as part of the conspiracy launched after the Trump Tower meeting," he said.
Apr 22, 10:40 AM
'This case is about a criminal conspiracy,' prosecutor says
"This case is about a criminal conspiracy," prosecutor Matthew Colangelo began his opening statement in Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York.
"The defendant, Donald Trump, orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election," the prosecutor said.
The utterance represents the first time a prosecutor has sought to implicate a former president in a crime at his trial.
Colangelo said Trump schemed with his attorney Michael Cohen and National Enquirer publisher David Pecker "to influence the presidential election by concealing negative information about former President Trump."
Trump slouched in his seat the defense table, listening.
"The defendant said in his business records that he was paying Cohen for legal services pursuant to a retainer agreement. But those were lies," Colangelo said. "The defendant was paying him back for an illegal payment to Stormy Daniels on the eve of the election."
Apr 22, 10:21 AM
Trump is 'presumed to be innocent,' judge tells jury
Donald Trump faced forward and did not appear to make eye contact with any jurors as they entered the courtroom and took their seats in the jury box.
Before any of the lawyers in the case could speak a word, Judge Merchan launched into a lengthy speech outlining how the trial will work.
“We are about to begin the trial of People of the State of New York v. Donald Trump,” Merchan told the 12 jurors and six alternates.
Merchan emphasized that the burden of proof rests on the prosecutors and that jurors should presume that Trump is innocent. A guilty verdict requires that each juror determines that the state proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt, Merchan said.
“The defendant is presumed to be innocent,” Merchan said. “It is not sufficient to prove that the defendant is probably guilty.”
Merchan attempted to set expectations for the jurors, only two of which have ever served on a jury before. For example, Merchan told the jurors not to expect the lawyers to launch into lengthy speeches outside of the opening and closing statements.
“That happens in TV and in movies, but it doesn’t happen in real trials,” Merchan said.
Apr 22, 10:09 AM
Judge issues mixed ruling on cross-examination of Trump
Judge Juan Merchan ruled that if Trump takes the stand, prosecutors can question him about a number of previous legal issues -- but the judge limited the scope of the cases and the extent to which prosecutors can question him about the facts of those cases.
The ruling is a mixed bag for Trump, who had sought to entirely block questioning on these previous issues if he takes the stand.
Judge Merchan ruled that Trump can be questioned by the DA's office on six determinations from four previous proceedings, including aspects of his New York civil fraud case and the gag order violations there, as well as both E. Jean Carrol verdicts and the Trump foundation case.
Prosecutors had originally asked to question Trump about six different proceedings with 13 total determinations.
Merchan said with his ruling, he has "greatly curtailed" how much prosecutors can discuss the underlying facts of those cases.
"The court cautions the defendant that this Sandoval ruling is a shield, not a sword," Merchan said.
Apr 22, 9:59 AM
Schedule set for today's proceedings
Prosecutors told Judge Merchan that they need 40 minutes for their opening statements.
Defense attorneys told the judge they need 25 minutes.
The judge also announced that court will break at 12:30 p.m. ET today, after a juror had a toothache and got an emergency appointment this afternoon.
Court had already been scheduled to end early today, at 2 p.m. ET, due to the Passover holiday.
Apr 22, 9:52 AM
Issue with Juror No. 9 is resolved
Judge Juan Merchan announced there is an issue with Juror No. 9 -- who, according to Merchan, "was concerned about media attention" of the case. According to Merchan, the juror "wasn't 100% sure" they could serve.
Merchan said they would speak to the juror in chambers to "find out what the issue is and see if this juror can continue to serve."
After a brief sidebar, the judge announced: “Juror No. 9 is going to remain with us.”
There are six alternate jurors seated in case any of the 12 jurors cannot serve.
Apr 22, 9:44 AM
Trump tells reporters it's a 'sad day in America'
On his way into the courtroom for the day's proceedings, Trump once again alleged that the trial constitutes election interference, claiming that the proceedings are unfairly keeping him off the campaign trail.
"Everybody knows that I'm here instead of being able to be in Pennsylvania and Georgia and lots of other places campaigning, and it's very unfair," he told reporters.
"It's a very, very sad day in America," he said. "I can tell you that."
The former president is seated at the defense table between his lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove.
Apr 22, 9:37 AM
Proceedings are underway
The proceedings are underway in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial. Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are both in the courtroom.
Three prosecutors -- Joshua Steinglass, Matthew Colangelo, and Susan Hoffinger -- are seated at the counsel table.
Bragg is seated in the front row of the gallery with approximately a dozen lawyers and staff from his office.
Apr 22, 9:26 AM
Ex-National Enquirer publisher to be 1st witness, say sources
The first witness prosecutors with the Manhattan DA's office plan to call is former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
ABC News previously reported that prosecutors planned to call Pecker as a witness, but sources now say he's expected to be the first witness to take the stand.
Pecker served as the longtime chief executive of American Media Inc., which published the National Enquirer.
Shortly after Trump announced his 2016 presidential campaign, Pecker met with Trump and agreed to act as the "eyes and ears" of the campaign by looking out for and killing negative stories about Trump, according to the Manhattan DA.
As part of the arrangement, Pecker allegedly directed a deal to pay $30,000 to a former Trump Tower doorman regarding the false allegation that Trump allegedly fathered a child out of wedlock, prosecutors say. Then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen allegedly insisted that the deal stay in place even after AMI discovered the allegation was false, and AMI paid the doorman, according to the Manhattan DA.
Apr 22, 5:55 AM
Attorneys to present opening statements in historic trial
After a week-long selection process, the jurors in Donald Trump's New York hush money case will hear opening statements Monday in the first criminal trial of a former United States president.
To prove their case, lawyers for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg need to convince 12 jurors beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump repeatedly falsified records related to unlawfully influencing the 2016 presidential election.
"This case has nothing to do with your personal politics or your feelings about a particular political issue," prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told potential jurors on Thursday. "It's not a referendum on the Trump Presidency, a popularity contest, or any indication of who you plan to vote for this fall. This case is about whether this man broke the law."
Trump's lawyers are expected to focus their efforts on going after the credibility of prosecution witnesses, suggesting the case itself is politically motivated and arguing the former president never intended to commit a crime.
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Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction overturned in New York; DA will attempt to retry
Federal judge rejects Donald Trump's bid for new E. Jean Carroll defamation trial, upholds $83M judgment
(NEW YORK) -- A federal judge in New York on Thursday rejected former President Donald Trump's bid for a new trial in a defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. The ruling upheld the jury's $83.3 million damage award.
"Contrary to the defendant's arguments, Ms. Carroll's compensatory damages were not awarded solely for her emotional distress; they were not for garden variety harms; and they were not excessive," Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote.
"Mr. Trump's malicious and unceasing attacks on Ms. Carroll were disseminated to more than 100 million people," he added. "They included public threats and personal attacks, and they endangered Ms. Carroll's health and safety."
At the end of a five-day trial in February, Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million to Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, for defaming her in 2019 when he denied her allegations of sexual abuse.
Carroll was awarded $17.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages.
In May 2023, Trump was found liable in a separate trial for sexually abusing Carroll in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s, and defaming her in a 2022 social media post by calling her allegations "a Hoax and a lie" and saying, "This woman is not my type!"
While he was found liable for sexual abuse, jury members found that Trump did not rape Carroll as she claimed.
Trump rejected all accusations of wrongdoing and claimed he had not even heard of Carroll.
The ruling Thursday from Kaplan rejected each of Trump's lawyer's claims, ultimately deciding, "In short, the argument -- which Mr. Trump previously made to the jury, conspicuously without success, and which defies common sense -- does not warrant dismissal as a matter of law."
ABC News' Peter Charalambous and Olivia Rubin contributed to this report.
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College protests live updates: 93 arrested at USC
(NEW YORK) -- Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.
Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.
The student protests -- some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments -- have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests.
Here's how the news is developing:
Apr 25, 9:09 AM
Princeton students begin encampment on campus
Princeton University students began a Gaza solidarity encampment on Thursday, demanding the university divest from Israel and that Israel end its campaign on Gaza.
The students are also calling for an academic boycott of Israel and Israeli universities -- including ending study abroad programs with Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, students said in a statement.
"Princeton students stand in solidarity with Columbia University's Gaza Solidarity Encampment, launched on April 17. They strongly condemn the decisions of Columbia University, Yale University, New York University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and Cal Poly Humboldt's administrations to employ militarized police against their own students and demand the immediate release of all arrested students, the immediate dropping of all charges, and the immediate revocation of suspensions and evictions," students said in a statement.
"Despite the systematic repression of pro-Palestinian voices, students will continue to stand their ground," students said.
Apr 25, 8:57 AM
108 protesters arrested, four police officers injured as Emerson encampment cleared
More than 100 people were arrested and four police officers were injured early Thursday when Boston police moved to clear a pro-Palestinian encampment at Emerson College. It is one of several set up by students at Massachusetts colleges including Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.
Three of the officers suffered minor injuries and a fourth officer suffered more serious injuries, according to Boston police.
None of the protesters in custody have reported injuries, according to police. The protesters will be arraigned at Boston Municipal Court.
Apr 25, 1:11 AM
93 arrested following protest at USC
Police arrested 93 people on and around the University of Southern California campus, mostly on misdemeanor trespass Wednesday night.
The university declared the campus closed in the afternoon, open only to students with their USC IDs at pedestrian gates, due to what USC said "significant activity at the center of campus."
On Wednesday night, LAPD Captain Kelly Muniz told ABC News that around 35 protesters had been processed for misdemeanor trespass. Several dozen more were waiting to be processed, Muniz said.
There was an altercation in one portion of the protest area that resulted in one arrest for assault with a deadly weapon, according to Muniz.
There are no known injuries to police or protesters.
The scene will be cleared some time tonight., Muniz said.
Apr 24, 10:59 PM
At least 34 arrested at UT Austin
At least 34 people had been arrested at the University of Texas at Austin as of 9 p.m. local time, according to the Texas Department of Safety.
"Today, our University held firm, enforcing our rules while protecting the Constitutional right to free speech. Peaceful protests within our rules are acceptable," University President Jay Hartzell said in a statement Wednesday evening.
"Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting others’ ability to learn are not allowed. The group that led this protest stated it was going to violate Institutional Rules. Our rules matter, and they will be enforced. Our University will not be occupied," Hartzell said.
"There is a way to exercise freedom of speech and civil discourse, and our Office of the Dean of Students has continued to offer ways to ensure protests can happen within the rules," Hartzell continued.
The dispersal order ended shortly after 9 p.m. and the campus was deemed "all clear," Austin Police said on X.
Apr 24, 9:08 PM
Dispersal order issued at USC amid protests
Campus police have issued a dispersal order at the University of Southern California amid ongoing protests over the Israel-Hamas war.
LAPD officers have surrounded Alumni Park on campus, and while much of the crowd has dispersed, an estimated group of 50 protesters remain in the park.
In an update shared on X Wednesday evening, the university’s Department of Public Safety said, "If you are in the center of campus, please leave; LAPD will be arresting people who don’t disperse."
Apr 24, 7:11 PM
House Speaker calls on Columbia president to resign if she can't control protests
During a visit to Columbia University, House Speaker Mike Johnson joined his New York House Republican colleagues in calling on the school's president, Minouche Shafik, to resign unless she can improve what he called her failure to handle the anti-Israel protests on campus.
During the news conference on the university's campus, Johnson said Shafik should step down "if she can't immediately bring order to this chaos."
"As speaker of the House, I am committing today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from -- fighting in fear," Johnson said.
The scene at the news conference was rowdy itself, as Johnson and other House Republicans got booed and heckled throughout -- their words sometimes nearly drowned out by shouting from the crowd.
Shafik, who met with Johnson on Wednesday, and the rest of the university administration are committed to ensuring the safety of the campus community and ending the encampment, Columbia spokesman Ben Chang said in a briefing with reporters later on Wednesday.
Apr 24, 6:44 PM
USC updates community on protest, campus shutdown
Andrew T. Guzman, the provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Southern California, sent a letter to the school's students, faculty and other members with an update on the situation taking place on campus.
Guzman reiterated the university "values freedom of expression and protects the right of every member of our community to express themselves," but added, "We have well-established policies regarding limits on the time, place, and manner of free expression."
Guzman said the call to shut down the campus stemmed from a confrontation between protesters outside the Doheny Library and security. Security members asked the protesters, many of whom Guzman said weren't affiliated with USC, to leave and remove tents they set up, but the protesters refused, according to the school.
"Their actions have escalated to the point of confrontation and have threatened the safety of our officers and campus community," Guzman said.
Until further notice, only people with "USC identification or verifiable business purpose will be able to access campus, attend classes, and participate in activities" will be allowed on campus, according to Guzman.
"In these challenging times, we call on the Trojan Family to remember that every member of our community is deserving of respect, has the right to be safe on campus, take classes, and participate in other campus activities without fear of harassment or bullying. It should be everyone’s priority to treat each other with kindness and care," he said.
Apr 24, 6:09 PM
Columbia administrators deny rumors of National Guard deployment
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik and administrators said they are committed to ensuring the campus community's safety and ending the encampment following their meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson, a school spokesman told the press.
Ben Chang, the school's vice president of the Office of Public Affairs, told reporters that the encampment on the west lawn has raised serious safety concerns, but the university has been in a dialogue with students on ending it and those discussions will be "successful."
He refuted rumors that the National Guard would become involved and called those reports false and "unsubstantiated." Chang said that the university has been in contact with the NYPD and will continue to be going forward.
The university will have to consider "alternative options" to end the encampment in time for graduation, according to Chang.
Protesters so far have already committed to dismantling "a significant number" of tents and only Columbia students will be involved in the encampment at this point, he added.
For the time being, the Morningside campus will only be open for people with a Columbia ID, Chang said.
Apr 24, 6:06 PM
At least 20 arrested at UT Austin
At least 20 people have been arrested at the University of Texas at Austin, according to the school.
“UT Austin does not tolerate disruptions of campus activities or operations like we have seen at other campuses," the UT Division of Student Affairs said in a statement. "This is an important time in our semester with students finishing classes and studying for finals and we will act first and foremost to allow those critical functions to proceed without interruption."
The University of Texas at Austin's Office of the Dean of Students sent a letter to the Palestine Solidarity Committee Tuesday night saying the protest was not allowed to take place.
"The Palestine Solidarity Committee student organization's event 'Popular University for Gaza,' which is planned for tomorrow, has declared intent to violate our policies and rules, and disrupt our campus operations. Such disruptions are never allowed and are especially damaging while our students prepare for the end of the semester and final exams. For these reasons, this event may not proceed as planned," the letter, obtained by ABC News, stated.
Apr 24, 5:34 PM
White House condemns antisemitism, defends free speech on college campuses
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed on Wednesday the ongoing student protests taking place at Columbia University and other colleges across the country.
During the daily press briefing, Jean-Pierre reiterated the administration's condemnation of antisemitism.
"When we see violent rhetoric, we have to call that out. When we see physical intimidation or grotesque antisemitic remarks, we have to speak that out," she told reporters.
When asked whether the administration shares the view of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called on the president of Columbia University to resign, Jean-Pierre declined to comment saying, “Columbia is a private institution."
"That is obviously the speaker’s privilege to speak for himself and what he sees," she said.
"This is a deeply painful, painful moment for many communities, and we understand that. But the president believes that free speech debate and nondiscrimination on college campuses are important. They're important American values," Jean-Pierre said.
Apr 24, 4:50 PM
USC closes campus to public as protesters clash with police
The University of Southern California said it will be closing its campus to the public with "significant activity at the center of the [main] campus due to a demonstration," it said in a post on X.
"The gates are closed, so anyone coming to campus should be prepared to show an ID at the gates for class or for business," USC said.
Apr 24, 4:21 PM
USC pro-Palestinian rally turns chaotic after police confront protesters: KABC
A rally by pro-Palestinian protesters at USC became chaotic after campus police confronted people who tried to set up an encampment at the school's Alumni Park, according to Los Angeles ABC station KABC-TV. The university's commencement ceremony is scheduled to occur in Alumni Park on May 10.
Last week, USC canceled the valedictorian's speech out of safety concerns considering her pro-Palestinian views, sparking backlash. The student, Asna Tabassum, is a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim who majored in biomedical engineering and minored in resistance to genocide, according to a statement published through the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Dozens of students and others have issued a list of demands, including the university's divestment, similar to demands from students on other campuses, according to KABC.
USC police officers began attempting to clear the encampment of tents and signs before Los Angeles Police Department officers joined the effort, according to KABC
Apr 24, 3:57 PM
Harvard University students begin encampment in Harvard Yard
Pro-Palestinian students at Harvard University began an encampment in Harvard Yard on Wednesday, despite the university closing it through Friday.
The encampment comes after Harvard suspended the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee -- an on-campus group that has been under a spotlight -- amid debates on campuses over the war. The ACLU of Massachusetts, which represents the group, has called for the university to lift the suspension.
Students and student workers released a statement Wednesday announcing their encampment, calling for the university to divest and accusing it of "relentlessly suppress[ing] voices in its community speaking out against the actions of the Israeli state and for the rights of the Palestinian people," the suspended group said in a statement on Instagram.
The group is also demanding that the university "drop all its charges against students for their organizing and activism, and commit to ending the weaponization of disciplinary policy," the statement said.
Apr 24, 3:45 PM
Troopers call for protesters to disperse at UT Austin
Students at the University of Texas at Austin began protesting on campus calling for a divestment, resembling encampments set up at Columbia and Yale University. A similar encampment was set up at New York University before police arrested over 130 students and faculty Monday.
Texas State Troopers were seen marching through campus calling for protesters to disperse.
"Early on Monday, we learned of a plan for a large-scale anti-Israel protest on our UT campus during Passover," Texas Hillel, the center for Jewish Life on campus, said in a statement on Instagram. "The timing of this protest is not lost on us - making use of a Jewish holiday and observance to promote a hateful agenda - and we quickly contacted our university and security partners to begin coordinating a response plan to keep our campus and our students safe."
Austin's Palestine Solidarity Committee wrote on Instagram that "students were welcomed by a draconian police presence, refusing to allow them to use their campus space for political speech."
The Austin Police Department told ABC News its role is only in assisting the UT Police Department, the main agency responding to the campus events. Austin police noted that the Texas Department of Public Safety is also assisting.
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Trump trial updates: Jury will hear again from former "National Enquirer" publisher
Trump hush money trial Day 7: "National Enquirer’s" David Pecker to resume testimony
(NEW YORK) -- Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker is set to return to the witness stand in Manhattan, New York on Thursday to continue his testimony about an alleged conspiracy with Donald Trump to identify and kill negative stories about the then-presidential candidate ahead of the 2016 election.
Earlier this week, Pecker told jurors that he became Trump's "eyes and ears" during the election, allegedly transforming a supermarket tabloid into an extension of Trump's presidential campaign by spending thousands of dollars to kill negative stories about Trump.
"I made the decision to buy the story because of the potential embarrassment it would have to the campaign," Pecker testified on Tuesday about a $30,000 payment for a disproven story that Trump had an illegitimate child.
His testimony on Thursday is expected to touch on his involvement with a $130,000 alleged hush money payment to Stormy Daniels by Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen; the documents related to Trump's reimbursement to Cohen became the basis for the Manhattan district attorney's 34-count criminal indictment against the former president. Trump had pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing.
Thursday marks the third day of Pecker's direct examination by prosecutors and comes as members of Trump's legal team head to the Supreme Court to argue in favor of the former president's claim of presidential immunity. Judge Juan Merchan previously denied a request from defense lawyers to permit Trump to attend the oral arguments in Washington, D.C.
"Your client is a criminal defendant in New York County Supreme Court. He is required to be here. He is not required to be in the Supreme Court," Merchan said last Monday.
Pecker, who testified that he has a "great relationship" with Trump, said that the former president summoned him to Trump Tower in August 2015 for a meeting that became the genesis of the so-called "catch-and-kill" scheme alleged by prosecutors.
"At that meeting, Donald Trump and Michael, they asked me what can I do and what my magazines could do to help the campaign," said Pecker, who agreed to run positive stories about Trump, put out negative stories about his opponents, and identify potentially damaging information about Trump.
According to Pecker, that agreement resulted in frequent negative articles in the National Enquirer about Trump's opponents that were largely hatched by Cohen.
"[Cohen] would send me information about Ted Cruz or about Ben Carson or about Marco Rubio that was the basis of our story, and then we would embellish it from there," Pecker said.
Positive stories about Trump included headlines like "Donald Trump: The Man Behind the Legend" and "John F. Kennedy's Secret Son Endorses Donald Trump," and false stories on Trump's opponents featured stories like "Senator Marco Rubio's Cocaine Collection" and "Leaked DNC Documents: Ted Cruz's Father with JFK Assassin."
"What was he doing with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the death? Before the shooting? It's horrible," Trump told Fox and Friends about the fabricated story in 2016.
Pecker's testimony has so far focused on two alleged hush-money payments -- the first to a doorman who falsely alleged that Trump had a child out of wedlock with a housekeeper and the second to a former Playboy model Karen McDougal who is alleged to have had a months-long affair with Trump, which he has denied.
"If the story got out to another publication or another media outlet, it would have been very embarrassing to the campaign," Pecker said about the decision to buy the rights to the doorman story for $30,000 despite determining it was false.
Pecker appeared to distance Trump from some of the alleged conduct during his testimony on Tuesday, suggesting he mainly dealt with Cohen when arranging the two payments and producing negative stories about Trump's opponents.
"I would only work with Michael, so I don't know who else he spoke to," Pecker said. "He wasn't part of the campaign, but I think he may have heard things informally, or he injected himself into."
According to Pecker, Cohen grew anxious during the process of negotiating the McDougal payoff, which he attributed to pressure from Trump himself.
"He kept on calling; and each time he called, he seemed more anxious," Pecker said. "I assumed that he had the conversation with Mr. Trump and … Mr. Trump was asking Michael Cohen, 'Did we hear anything yet?' This is only a theory on my part. I did not speak to Mr. Trump."
Pecker detailed a phone call with Trump related to the McDougal story when he encouraged Trump to "take this story off the market."
"Mr. Trump said to me, he said … 'I don't buy any stories,'" Pecker said. "He said that, 'Any time you do anything like this, it always gets out.'"
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Michigan father 1st charged under new safe gun storage law after son shoots himself in the face
Trump trial live updates: Publisher describes secret catch-and-kill arrangement for 2016 election
(NEW YORK) -- Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.
Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
Here's how the news is developing:
Apr 24, 5:17 PM
Michael Cohen says he'll stop commenting about Trump
Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen vowed to stop making public comments about the former president ahead of his likely testimony in Trump's New York hush money case.
On his podcast and on social media, Cohen has frequently commented about the former president's legal troubles. Trump's lawyers have argued that the former president's comments about Cohen -- which prosecutors allege were in violation of the case's limited gag order -- were in response to political attacks by Cohen.
"Despite not being the gagged defendant, out of respect for Judge Merchan and the prosecutors, I will cease posting anything about Donald on my X (formerly Twitter) account or on the Mea Culpa Podcast until after my trial testimony. See you all in a month (or more)," Cohen said on social media on Wednesday afternoon.
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche devoted a portion of his opening statement on Monday to attacking Cohen's credibility, describing the former lawyer as a "convicted perjurer" and "admitted liar" who has an "obsession with getting Trump."
Cohen's testimony is expected to be a key part of the state's case against Trump, as prosecutors attempt to prove that Trump falsified business records as he, Cohen and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker engaged in a conspiracy to influence the 2016 election by suppressing negative stories about Trump.
Apr 23, 2:34 PM
Trump again assails judge for limited gag order
Former President Trump, addressing reporters after court was adjourned for the day, angrily criticized Judge Merchan and the limited gag order that was the topic of this morning's contempt hearing.
"We have a gag order, which to me is totally unconstitutional. I'm not allowed to talk but people are allowed to talk about me," Trump said. "So, they can talk about me, they can say whatever they want, they can lie. But I'm not allowed to say that. I just have to sit back and look at why a conflicted judge has ordered for me to have a gag order. I don't think anybody's ever seen anything like this."
Shuffling through a thick stack of papers, which Trump said were news articles from the past day and a half, the former president continued his criticism.
"So, I put an article on it and then somebody's name is mentioned somewhere deep in the article and I ended up in violation of the gag order," he said. "I think it's a disgrace. It's totally unconstitutional."
Prosecutors this morning asked the judge to fine Trump $10,000 for what the say are 10 recent violations of the limited gag order, which prohibits Trump from making statements about witnesses, jurors, and lawyers in the case other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The judge has yet to issue a ruling.
-Michael Pappano
Apr 23, 2:16 PM
Pecker testifies about Karen McDougal before court ends for day
"Karen McDougal was a Playboy model," former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker said, recalling how he learned in June 2016 "that there's a Playboy model who is trying to sell a story about a relationship that she had with Donald Trump for a year."
Pecker said he immediately called Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen to inform him. By then, he was speaking to Cohen "a couple times a week," but that soon changed. Pecker said he and Cohen spoke "much more frequently" about McDougal's claims.
"Michael was very agitated. It looked like he was getting a lot of pressure to get the answer right away," Pecker said. "He kept on calling, and each time he called he seemed more anxious."
Pecker said he assumed "Mr. Trump was asking Michael Cohen, 'Did we hear anything yet?'" Pecker said.
"Did you ever come to believe that Michael Cohen had spoken with Mr. Trump about McDougal's claims?" prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked.
"Yes I did," Pecker responded before recounting a phone conversation Pecker said he himself had with Trump.
"I said I think the story should be purchased and we should buy it," Pecker recalled telling Trump. "Mr. Trump said to me, 'I don't buy stories. Anytime you do anything like this, it always gets out.'"
Ultimately, McDougal was paid $150,000 and promised a series of exercise articles in the publication.
Following that testimony, court was adjourned.
It's expected the jury will hear more on McDougal upon Pecker's return to the witness stand, when court resumes on Thursday.
Apr 23, 2:05 PM
Pecker kept doorman under contract until after election
According to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, Michael Cohen pushed for the National Enquirer to keep doorman Dino Sajudin locked into a contract until after the 2016 election, even though the story Sajudin was shopping about Trump having a love child were untrue.
"I told Michael Cohen the story was not true. I told him that the doorman is very difficult to deal with," Pecker testified.
Cohen had earlier encouraged Pecker to add a $1 million penalty to Sajudin's contract if he broke the agreement and tried to shop around the story.
"He would breach this agreement and owe American Media a million dollars," Pecker said. "It was basically a lever over him to make sure that wouldn't happen."
Cohen encouraged Pecker to keep Sajudin locked in, according to the former publisher.
"I am going release him one way or the other," Pecker said he told Cohen regarding Sajudin. "He said, 'No, release him after the election.'"
"When was he released?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Pecker.
"December 9, 2016," Pecker said.
"After the presidential election?" Steinglass asked.
"Yes," Pecker responded.
Apr 23, 1:48 PM
Pecker details catch-and-kill deal with Trump Tower doorman
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker described the very first story he "caught and killed" pursuant to his agreement with Donald Trump and his then-attorney Michael Cohen: a false story from a Trump Tower doorman in 2015.
Trump, sitting at the defense table, shook his head when Pecker laid out the allegation: that "Donald Trump fathered an illegitimate girl with a maid at Trump Tower."
Pecker testified that he "immediately called Michael Cohen" when his team got wind of those allegations being shopped by the doorman, Dino Sajudin. Cohen told him it was "absolutely not true" -- but Pecker testified he ultimately moved forward with buying the story to the tune of $30,000.
"This could be a very big story. I believe that it's important that it should be removed from the market," Pecker said he told Cohen.
Asked about Cohen's response, Pecker said: "He said the boss would be very pleased," saying he understood "the boss" to mean Donald Trump.
Pecker testified that Cohen later called back to say the story is "absolutely not true" and that Trump "would take a DNA test" -- an apparently new revelation -- but Pecker said it wouldn't be necessary.
Pecker conceded that if the story turned out to be true, it "probably would be the biggest sale" for the paper since the death of Elvis Presley.
Still, Pecker testified he would have held it until after the campaign was over.
"I would have published it after the election," Pecker said. "That was the conversation I had with Michael Cohen, and that's what we agreed to."
Ultimately, the story turned out to be untrue -- but Pecker still paid for it.
"Why are you paying $30,000 for an untrue story?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked while displaying the contract Pecker had with Sajudan to the jury.
"Because if the story got out to another publication, it would have been embarrassing for the campaign," Pecker said.
"So this was a way to lock it up?" Steinglass asked.
"That's correct," Pecker responded.
Apr 23, 12:57 PM
Pecker testifies that he strategized with Steve Bannon
Donald Trump introduced David Pecker to Steve Bannon to strategize future stories about Trump's opponents, the former National Enquirer publisher testified.
"[Trump] thought both of us could work very well together," Pecker said of Bannon, who would go on to become chief strategist in the Trump White House.
Pecker said Bannon liked some of the National Enquirer's past coverage and had ideas for the future.
"He liked them very much. He had some other ideas," Pecker said, mentioning a proposed plan to book one of Pecker's reporters on Sean Hannity's Fox News show to talk about the National Enquirer's reporting about Hillary Clinton.
Apr 23, 12:40 PM
Plan to boost Trump was hatched in 2015, Pecker says
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker's "secret arrangement" with Donald Trump and his then-attorney Michael Cohen was hatched during a "20-25 minute meeting" at Trump Tower in August of 2015, Pecker testified.
Under the arrangement, the National Enquirer would become a trumpet for Trump's presidential ambition and a megaphone for Michael Cohen's opposition research on Trump's opponents, he said.
"He would send me information about Ted Cruz or Ben Carson or Marco Rubio, and that was the basis for our story, and we would embellish," Pecker testified.
He said that he kept the arrangement from all but his top people.
"I told them we were going to try and help the campaign, and to do that we would keep it as quiet as possible," Pecker recalled telling his East and West Coast bureau chiefs.
Prosecutors showed the jury a collection of Enquirer headlines that lauded Trump and disparaged his opponents.
"Bungling Surgeon Ben Carson Left Sponge in Patient's Brain," one article said. "Donald Trump blasts Ted Cruz's Dad for Photo with JFK Assassin," said another, recounting classic fare from the 2016 campaign.
"After the Republican debates and based on the success that some of the other candidates had, I would receive a call from Michael Cohen and he would direct me and direct Dylan Howard which candidate and which direction we should go," Pecker said, referring to the National Enquirer.s chief content officer.
Apr 23, 12:24 PM
Pecker says he didn't catch-and-kill any Trump stories before 2016
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he suspected that multiple women would come forward to shop stories about Trump during Trump's run for president.
"In a presidential campaign, I was the person that thought there would be a lot of women who came out to sell their stories because Mr. Trump was well known as the most eligible bachelor and dated the most beautiful woman," Pecker testified. "It is very common for these women to call up a magazine like the National Enquirer to try and sell their stories. I would hear it in the marketplace through other sources that stories were being marketed."
If those stories emerged, Pecker said he vowed that he would notify Michael Cohen, Trump's then-personal attorney, per their agreement.
According to Pecker, most elements of their agreement -- including running positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents -- were "mutually beneficial" to Trump and Pecker.
"Hillary running for president and Bill Clinton's womanizing was one of the biggest sales ... for the National Enquirer," Pecker said. " It was easy for me to say I was going to continue running those kinds of stories for the National Enquirer."
"It would help his campaign, but it would also help me," Pecker said.
"As I recollect, [Trump] was pleased. Michael Cohen was pleased [about] the way I was going to handle these issues," Pecker said.
Pecker said that prior to the 2016 election, his magazines never caught and killed any stories for Trump.
When pressed by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, Pecker acknowledged that the catch-and-kill element of the agreement -- buying negative information about Trump then killing the story -- was not beneficial for the National Enquirer.
"How was that going to boost sales of the National Enquirer?" Steinglass asked.
"No, that part didn't help," Pecker said.
Apr 23, 11:57 AM
Pecker says he was in regular contact with Cohen
Despite first meeting Michael Cohen by chance in 2000 at a bar mitzvah, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that Donald Trump first introduced him to Cohen as his personal lawyer in 2007.
Pecker said Trump asked him to begin coordinating with Cohen about any stories or rumors related to Trump or his family.
"All of the contacts that I had with Mr. Trump -- now my contact should go through Michael Cohen," Pecker said about Trump's directive after meeting Cohen.
Pecker and Cohen would touch base monthly over the following decade, but communications ramped up after Trump announced his candidacy for president in 2015, Pecker said.
"I would say a minimum of every week, and if there was an issue, it could be daily," Pecker said about his contact with Cohen during the campaign.
Apr 23, 11:52 AM
Pecker describes 'great relationship' with Trump
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, back on the witness stand, pointed at Donald Trump and flashed a smile when he was asked to identify the defendant. Trump turned his chin up and grinned at his longtime friend.
"I met Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago," Pecker said. "I've had a great relationship with Mr. Trump over the years."
That relationship started in 1989 when Pecker wanted to start a magazine called Trump Style.
"He was very helpful in introducing me to other executives in New York. He would always advise me of parties or events that I would go to," Pecker said, adding that Trump was among the first to congratulate him upon acquiring the National Enquirer.
Pecker described how Trump became a "major celebrity" after launching The Apprentice and later Celebrity Apprentice, and how the National Enquirer was there to juice Trump's profile.
"He was always kind enough to send me the content showing the ratings and I was able to publish that," Pecker said of their "great mutual beneficially relationship.
Pecker said he considered Trump a friend from 2015 to 2017, calling him by the familiar "Donald," as he pursued the White House for the first time.
"After he announced his run for the presidency I saw Mr. Trump more frequently, maybe once a month," Pecker said. The two spoke "maybe once every couple of weeks."
Pecker recalled meeting Trump in his office when his assistant brought a batch of invoices and checks to sign.
"As I recollect the entire package was stapled together," Pecker said.
"So you observed him reviewing an invoice and signing a check?" prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked. "That's correct," Pecker responded.
"I would describe him as very knowledgeable, very detail-oriented, almost as a micromanager," Pecker said.
When Steinglass asked how Trump was with money, Pecker responded, "He was very cautious and very frugal."
Apr 23, 11:43 AM
Secret Service has plans if Trump is confined for contempt: Sources
The U.S. Secret Service has held meetings and started planning for what to do if former President Trump were to be held in contempt and Judge Juan Merchan opted to send him to short-term confinement, officials familiar with the situation tell ABC News.
Prosecutors said at this point they are seeking a fine.
"We are not yet seeking an incarceratory penalty," assistant district attorney Chris Conroy said, "But the defendant seems to be angling for that."
Officials do not necessarily believe Merchan would put Trump in a holding cell in the courthouse but they are planning for contingencies, the officials said.
There have be no discussion about what to do if Trump is convicted and sentenced to prison, they said.
"Under federal law, the United States Secret Service must provide protection for current government leaders, former Presidents and First Ladies, visiting heads of state and other individuals designated by the President of the United States," the Secret Service said in an official statement. "For all settings around the world, we study locations and develop comprehensive and layered protective models that incorporate state of the art technology, protective intelligence and advanced security tactics to safeguard our protectees. Beyond that, we do not comment on specific protective operations."
-Josh Margolin and Luke Barr
Apr 23, 10:56 AM
Contempt hearing ends without a ruling
The combative hearing on Trump's alleged violations of the judge's limited gag order ended with the judge saying he will not rule from bench on the district attorney's motion to hold Trump in contempt, so a ruling will come later.
Before concluding the hearing, Judge Merchan told Trump attorney Todd Blanche, "You're not offering me anything … to hang my hat on."
The trial will resume shortly with the return of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker to the witness stand.
Apr 23, 10:48 AM
'You’re losing all credibility,' judge admonishes defense
Judge Juan Merchan is visibly irritated with the lack of evidence presented by defense attorney Todd Blanche.
“You have presented nothing,” Merchan said. “I have asked eight or nine times; show me the exact post he was responding to.”
“You’re losing all credibility with the court,” Merchan said after Blanche suggested Trump has been careful to comply with the gag order.
Blanche attempted to represent that Trump did not intend to violate the gag order, but Merchan did not appear satisfied by the response.
“Are you testifying under oath that this is his position?” Merchan asked.
“Do you want me to put him on the stand?” Blanche asked, though Trump did not take the stand.
Merchan strongly reacted earlier when Blanche suggested there were two tiers of justice in the courtroom.
“There are two systems of justice. Mr. Weisselberg is in prison, and Mr. Cohen is a witness," Blanche said, in reference to the former Trump Organization CFO who was sentenced to jail time for perjury.
“There are two systems of justice in this courtroom -- is that what you are saying?” Merchan responded.
Apr 23, 10:41 AM
'It's just common sense,' defense argues regarding Trump's posts
The contempt hearing has turned tense as Trump attorney Todd Blanche tries to defend Trump's posts as mere responses to attacks -- but isn't giving clear examples of how Trump was being attacked.
Instead, Blanche asked the judge why the timing of the posts mattered -- prompting a strong rebuke from the judge.
"I'm asking the questions, OK?" Judge Merchan told Blanche. "Please don't turn it around."
Merchan continued to reprimand Blanche: "I'm asking a specific question over and over and I'm not getting an answer."
Merchan then lamented that nearly an hour into the hearing they are still only up to reviewing post NO. 2 of 10, and the jury is set to arrive at 11 a.m. ET to resume trial proceedings.
"The people got to speak as long as they want to," Blanche said regarding the prosecutors.
"The people were answering my questions," Merchan retorted.
So far, Merchan has appeared skeptical of what Blanche has been arguing in defense of the posts. Blanche at times has been struggling to answer Merchan's questions, at one point saying, "I don't have any case law to support that. It's just common sense."
Apr 23, 10:31 AM
Prosecutors warn about seeking potential jail time
Donald Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche, during the contempt hearing on the limited gag order in the case, defended the former president's comments by arguing that Trump was responding to political attacks.
"President Trump does in fact know what the gag order allows him to do and not allow him to do," Blanche said. "There is no dispute that President Trump is facing a barrage of political attacks from all sides."
According to Blanche, while the limited gag order prohibits statements about a witness' potential participation in a case, Trump is allowed to make comments in response to political attacks from potential witnesses like Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels.
"They are talking about their very strong dislike of President Trump," Blanche said about a post related to former Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti's comments on Michael Cohen.
Judge Juan Merchan questioned Blanche about what exactly made Trump's response "political" in nature.
"You believe that everything Mr. Avenatti said does not relate to the trial, but the use of the word 'pardon' makes it political and in a sense authorizes your client to respond?" Merchan asked.
"It's everything. It can't just be a single word," Blanche responded.
"When your client is violating the gag, I expect more than one word," Merchan said.
Conroy asked Merchan to advise Trump that for future violations of the gag order, “incarceration is an option should it be necessary.”
Apr 23, 10:08 AM
Trump's remarks 'pose a very real threat,' prosecutors say
Donald Trump's alleged violations of the court-imposed limited gag order "pose a very real threat to the integrity of the judicial proceedings," prosecutor Christopher Conroy said during the hearing on whether Trump should be held in contempt.
In addition to the ten alleged gag order violations, Conroy said the district attorney's office would file an additional contempt motion later today about comments Trump made to cameras on Monday about Michael Cohen.
Among Trump's comments: "Because as you know, Cohen is a lawyer -- represented a lot of people over the years -- now, I'm not the only one. And he wasn't very good in a lot of ways, in terms of his representation, but he represented a lot of people."
"And also, the things he got in trouble for were things that had nothing to do with me. He got in trouble and went to jail. This had nothing to do with me. This had to do with the taxi-cab company that he owned, which is something -- and medallions and borrow money and a lot of things but had nothing to do with me. He represented a lot of people over the years."
"And when are they going to look at all the lies that Cohen -- did -- in the last straw he got caught lying in the last trial. So he got caught lying -- pure lying. And when are they going to look at that?"
Conroy told the judge that Trump has "violated this order repeatedly and hasn't stopped."
Conroy said Trump's conduct is "all part of his plan for this trial," accusing the former president of "conditioning his followers" by making derogatory remarks about potential witnesses.
Apr 23, 9:59 AM
Trump falsely claims his supporters can't protest
On his way into the courtroom, Trump continued to falsely claim that his supporters were being barred from protesting outside the courthouse.
“Great Americans -- people that want to come down and they want to protest at the court. And they want to protest peacefully,” he told reporters. “We have more police presence here than anyone's ever seen for blocks. You can't get near this courthouse.”
But as the day's proceedings began, the park across from the New York criminal courthouse was open and nearly empty, and the area around the courthouse is not closed off.
-Mike Pappano and Brian Hartman
Apr 23, 9:37 AM
Trump arrives in court
Donald Trump has arrived in court with his usual entourage of lawyers, staff, and secret service agents.
Trump promptly took his seat alone at the counsel table as his lawyers and paralegals worked around him set up electronics for this morning's contempt hearing, in which prosecutors will seek to have Trump held in contempt of court for repeatedly violating the case's limited gag order.
Three prosecutors -- Joshua Steinglass, Christopher Conroy, and Matthew Colangelo -- are seated at the counsel table, with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and about eight members of his office seated in the first two rows of the gallery.
Bragg appears to have two security agents seated behind him, while a dozen court officers and secret service agents surround the courtroom and former president.
Apr 23, 8:20 AM
Day 6 of trial to start with contempt hearing
Day 6 of Donald Trump's criminal trial will begin with a hearing in front of Judge Juan Merchan in which prosecutors will seek to have the former president held in contempt for repeatedly violating the limited gag order in the case.
Prosecutors have argued that Trump violated the limited gag order -- which prohibits statements about witnesses, jurors, and lawyers in the case other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg -- on at least 10 separate occasions this month, and have asked the judge to hold him in contempt of court and fine him $10,000.
Trump's lawyers have argued that prosecutors have not proven the posts in question were willful violations of the gag order, telling Merchan that the former president was defending himself from attacks by the likely witnesses.
Following the hearing, testimony in the hush money trial is scheduled to resume with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker on the stand. Prosecutors believe he is key to understanding Trump’s motivation for paying off Stormy Daniels so damaging information did not seep into the 2016 campaign.
Apr 22, 1:28 PM
Trump, after court, says payments were correctly labeled
Moments after his criminal trial adjourned for the day, Donald Trump exited the courtroom and told reporters that his payments to Michael Cohen were appropriately labeled as legal expenses.
"Actually, nobody's been able to say what you're supposed to call it," Trump told the media. "If the lawyer puts in a bill or an invoice and you pay the bill ... that's a very small little line ... it's not like you could tell a life story."
"They marked it down for a legal expense. This is what I got indicted over," Trump said.
The former president also attempted to paint his former attorney Michael Cohen as an unreliable witness and said he "wasn't very good in a lot of ways" as an attorney.
Trump's motorcade then departed the courthouse.
-Michael Pappano
Apr 22, 12:52 PM
Court wraps for day, Pecker to return tomorrow
David Pecker stepped off the witness stand after his initial testimony. He is scheduled to return to the witness stand tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET.
During his brief testimony, Pecker suggested that former National Enquirer Chief Content Officer Dylan Howard -- an alleged participant in the catch-and-kill scheme alleged by prosecutors -- will be unable to testify due to a medical condition.
Pecker appeared to greet Trump and his lawyers as he exited the courtroom.
Court subsequently wrapped for the day.
Trump left the courtroom flanked by Secret Service agents and staffers, as well as Trump Organization General Counsel Alan Garten.
Judge Merchan is scheduled to hold a contempt hearing about Trump’s alleged violations of the case’s limited gag order tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Apr 22, 12:27 PM
David Pecker takes the stand for prosecution
David Pecker, who once called Donald Trump "a personal friend of mine," flashed a big smile as he took the stand as the trial's first witness, belying the gravity of the moment.
Pecker cackled loudly into the microphone, jolting the room, when prosecutor Josh Steinglass, asked him about his various phone numbers that he struggled to remember.
Pecker, 72, was the publisher of the National Enquirer but prosecutors said he was "acting as a co-conspirator" in helping buy and bury damaging stories about Trump, including a doorman's false claim that Trump had fathered a love child and a Playboy model's claim of a sexual relationship with Trump, who has denied both allegations.
Trump, who once said Pecker would make a "brilliant" choice as editor of Time magazine, listened while leaning forward in his chair, arms crossed on the table, an unhappy look on his face.
Pecker testified that he had final say whether to publish any story involving a famous person.
"I had the final say of the celebrity side of the magazine," Pecker said. "We used checkbook journalism. We paid for stories."
Pecker is testifying pursuant to a subpoena. He has also secured a non-prosecution agreement with the Manhattan district attorney's office.
Apr 22, 12:10 PM
Prosecutors call David Pecker as 1st witness
Prosecutors have called former American Media Inc. executive David Pecker as their first witness.
The DA alleges that Pecker, who oversaw the National Enquirer, engaged in a conspiracy with Trump to help influence the 2016 election by killing negative stories about Trump.
Apr 22, 11:50 AM
Michael Cohen obsessed with 'getting Trump,' defense claims
In his opening statement, defense attorney Todd Blanche sought to eviscerate Michael Cohen's credibility, saying Cohen is obsessed with Donald Trump, has a desire to see Trump incarcerated and has a propensity to lie.
"He has a goal, an obsession, with getting Trump. I submit to you he cannot be trusted," Blanche said.
On Sunday night, Cohen publicly posted online that he had a "mental excitement about this trial" and the testimony he would deliver, Blanche said.
"His entire financial livelihood depends on President Trump's destruction," Blanche said. "You cannot make a serious decision about President Trump by relying on the words of Michael Cohen.
Apr 22, 11:47 AM
Trump had 'nothing to do,' with invoices, defense says
"I have a spoiler alert," defense attorney Todd Blanche told jurors during his opening statement. "There is nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It's called democracy."
Amid frequent objections from prosecutors, Blanche argued that the Manhattan district attorney has attempted to make the payments and non-disclosure agreements between Trump and Stormy Daniels "sinister" to the jury.
Judge Merchan had to interrupt Blanche's opening after multiple objections from prosecutors, then he met the parties at a sidebar conference, after which he struck a line from Blanche's opening.
"There is nothing illegal about entering into a non-disclosure agreement. Period," Blanche restated after the portion of his opening was struck from the record.
Blanche's opening has come off more casual and off-the-cuff than the state's opening, with Blanche improvising and posing hypotheticals to argue that accountants at the Trump Organization did not run the invoices by Trump as he was "running the country."
"'Hey, we got this invoice. I know we are trying to cover it up here,'" Blanche said sarcastically about how prosecutors described how accountants received invoices from Cohen. "Absolutely not."
According to Blanche, Trump was unaware of how the invoices were processed by his employees.
"President Trump has nothing to do -- nothing to do -- with the invoice, with the check being generated, or with the entry on the ledger," Blanche said, arguing that Trump was busy "in the White House while he was running the country."
"The reality is that President Trump is not on the hook -- criminally responsible -- for something Michael Cohen might have done years after the fact. The evidence will prove otherwise," Blanche said.
Apr 22, 11:38 AM
'None of this was a crime,' defense attorney says
Donald Trump is "not just our former president, he's not just Donald Trump that you've seen on TV," said defense attorney Todd Blanche in his opening statement.
"He's also a man. He's a husband," Blanche said. "He's a father."
Blanche pushed back on the DA's overall allegation that the payments to Trump's attorney Michael Cohen were weren't only payback for Stormy Daniels by using the prosecutor's own words against him.
Blanche noted that Cohen paid $130,000 to Daniels, but that Trump paid back Cohen a total of $420,000. If Trump really was a frugal businessman, as prosecutors said, why would he overpay that money, Blanche asked.
"Ask yourself, would a frugal businessman, a man who pinched his pennies, repay a $130,000 debt to the tune of $420,000?" Blanche asked.
Blanche repeatedly reiterated that Cohen truly was an attorney for Trump and was doing legal work for him, pointing out that Michael Cohen's own email signature noted he was Trump's attorney.
"None of this was a crime," Blanche said, saying the 34 counts against Trump "are really just 34 pieces of paper."
Apr 22, 11:30 AM
Trump 'did not commit any crimes,' defense tells jury
"President Trump is innocent. President Trump did not commit any crimes," defense attorney Todd Blanche said to begin the defense's opening statements.
"The Manhattan district attorney's office should never have brought this case," Blanche said.
"You will hear me and others refer to him as President Trump. That is a title he has earned because he was our 45th President," Blanche added.
Apr 22, 11:26 AM
Prosecutor says jury can believe Cohen despite mistakes
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the jury, during his opening statement, "During this trial you're going to hear a lot about Michael Cohen.”
Trump's former personal attorney, Cohen is a key witness -- perhaps the only one that will testify to Donald Trump’s intent when he agreed to pay Stormy Daniels hush money.
The defense “will go to great lengths” to convince the jury Cohen is not credible, Colangelo said.
He acknowledged that Cohen had earlier lied regarding the matter. “He lied about it to protect his boss,” Colangelo said. “You will also learn that Michael Cohen has a criminal record.”
Colangelo told jurors they can believe Cohen despite his past mistakes.
“Cohen's testimony will be backed up by testimony from other witnesses you will hear from, including David Pecker, Keith Davidson. It will be backed up by an extensive paper trail. And it will be backed up by Donald Trump’s own words,” the prosecutor said.
Colangelo concluded by saying, “This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up, an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of a presidential election and then the steps that Donald Trump took to conceal that election fraud. At the end of the case we are confident you will have no reasonable doubt that Donald Trump is guilty of falsifying business records.”
Apr 22, 11:16 AM
'It was election fraud, pure and simple,' prosecutor says
"It was election fraud, pure and simple," prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the jury during opening statements as he outlined the hush payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and how it was logged by the Trump Organization
Dylan Howard, then editor of the National Enquirer, had called Trump attorney Michael Cohen to inform him about Daniels and the story that she had of a sexual liaison with Trump, which the former president has long denied.
"Cohen then discussed the situation with Trump who is adamant that he did not want the story to come out," Colangelo said. "it could have been devastating to his campaign."
At the time, Trump and the campaign were "deeply concerned" about the "Access Hollywood" video, the prosecutor said. Cohen wired the $130,000 to Daniels' lawyer to keep her quiet.
"Cohen made that payment at Donald Trump's direction and for his benefit and he did it with the special goal of influencing the election
This was not spin or communications strategy. This was a planned, coordinated long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election to help DT get elected through illegal expenditures to silence people who had something bad about his behavior. It was election fraud, pure and simple," Colangelo said.
Apr 22, 11:10 AM
'Access Hollywood' tape was 'explosive,' prosecutors claim
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo read aloud part of the transcript of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape to jurors.
"You can do anything," Colangelo slowly read to the jurors, quoting Trump from the tape. "Grab them by the p----. You can do anything."
According to Colangelo, the October 2016 release of the tape had an "immediate and explosive" impact on Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
"Seeing and hearing a candidate in his own words, in his own voice, with his own body language ... has a much greater impact on voters than words on paper," Colangelo said. "The campaign went on immediate damage control mode to blunt the impact of the tape."
The campaign was concerned about the impact it might have on Trump voters or even the possibility that Trump could lose the Republican nomination one month out from the election, according to Colangelo.
"The Republican National Committee even considered whether it was too late to replace their own nominee," Colangelo said.
Apr 22, 11:04 AM
Trump, listening to openings, shakes his head
Former President Trump, sitting at the defense table, softly shook his head "no" when prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the jurors that Trump formed a "conspiracy" with Michael Cohen and David Pecker to "help him get elected."
It was one of the most notable reactions from Trump as he sits and listens to prosecutors lay out their story of the case.
Colangelo then brought up the "Access Hollywood" tape and said it showed Trump "bragging about sexual assault," Trump shook his head no again, pursing his lips. He did not react when Colangelo, quoting Trump on the tape, said, "grab them by the p----."
Earlier, as Colangelo brought up a former Trump doorman who was he said was paid off as part of the alleged catch-and-kill scheme, Trump -- looking annoyed -- leaned over and tapped his lawyer Todd Blanche. When Colangelo said the doorman was paid $30,000 to bury his story, Trump raised his eyebrows and grabbed onto a pen.
The former president has been passing notes and sliding papers between Blanche and attorney Emil Bove, and leaning side-to-side, whispering to them. Blanche at one point pulled out his own sticky note and slid a note back to Trump.
At other times he has hardly seemed engaged at all, slumping in his red leather chair looking straight forward with no facial expression, or fidgeting with his head tilting back and forth. At one point during jury instructions he let out a yawn.
Apr 22, 10:48 AM
Prosecutor alleges 3-prong conspiracy
"It starts with that August 2015 meeting in Trump Tower," prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told jurors about the alleged conspiracy, in his opening statement.
Following a meeting between Donald Trump, his then-lawyer Michael Cohen, and AMI executive David Pecker, the three engaged in a three-prong conspiracy to help influence the 2016 election, according to Colangelo.
First, the National Enquirer would run "headline after headline that extolled the defendant's virtues," according to Colangelo.
"Pecker had the ultimate say over publication decisions," Colangelo said, adding that Trump edited, killed, and suggested the cover of the magazine.
Second, the National Enquirer would run negative stories attacking Trump's opponents in the 2016 Republican primary, such as attacks on Ben Caron or Marco Rubio.
Third, the "core of the conspiracy" was killing negative stories about Trump -- evolving into the catch-and kill scheme, Colangelo said.
"The National Enquirer ran these stories as part of the conspiracy launched after the Trump Tower meeting," he said.
Apr 22, 10:40 AM
'This case is about a criminal conspiracy,' prosecutor says
"This case is about a criminal conspiracy," prosecutor Matthew Colangelo began his opening statement in Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York.
"The defendant, Donald Trump, orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election," the prosecutor said.
The utterance represents the first time a prosecutor has sought to implicate a former president in a crime at his trial.
Colangelo said Trump schemed with his attorney Michael Cohen and National Enquirer publisher David Pecker "to influence the presidential election by concealing negative information about former President Trump."
Trump slouched in his seat the defense table, listening.
"The defendant said in his business records that he was paying Cohen for legal services pursuant to a retainer agreement. But those were lies," Colangelo said. "The defendant was paying him back for an illegal payment to Stormy Daniels on the eve of the election."
Apr 22, 10:21 AM
Trump is 'presumed to be innocent,' judge tells jury
Donald Trump faced forward and did not appear to make eye contact with any jurors as they entered the courtroom and took their seats in the jury box.
Before any of the lawyers in the case could speak a word, Judge Merchan launched into a lengthy speech outlining how the trial will work.
“We are about to begin the trial of People of the State of New York v. Donald Trump,” Merchan told the 12 jurors and six alternates.
Merchan emphasized that the burden of proof rests on the prosecutors and that jurors should presume that Trump is innocent. A guilty verdict requires that each juror determines that the state proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt, Merchan said.
“The defendant is presumed to be innocent,” Merchan said. “It is not sufficient to prove that the defendant is probably guilty.”
Merchan attempted to set expectations for the jurors, only two of which have ever served on a jury before. For example, Merchan told the jurors not to expect the lawyers to launch into lengthy speeches outside of the opening and closing statements.
“That happens in TV and in movies, but it doesn’t happen in real trials,” Merchan said.
Apr 22, 10:09 AM
Judge issues mixed ruling on cross-examination of Trump
Judge Juan Merchan ruled that if Trump takes the stand, prosecutors can question him about a number of previous legal issues -- but the judge limited the scope of the cases and the extent to which prosecutors can question him about the facts of those cases.
The ruling is a mixed bag for Trump, who had sought to entirely block questioning on these previous issues if he takes the stand.
Judge Merchan ruled that Trump can be questioned by the DA's office on six determinations from four previous proceedings, including aspects of his New York civil fraud case and the gag order violations there, as well as both E. Jean Carrol verdicts and the Trump foundation case.
Prosecutors had originally asked to question Trump about six different proceedings with 13 total determinations.
Merchan said with his ruling, he has "greatly curtailed" how much prosecutors can discuss the underlying facts of those cases.
"The court cautions the defendant that this Sandoval ruling is a shield, not a sword," Merchan said.
Apr 22, 9:59 AM
Schedule set for today's proceedings
Prosecutors told Judge Merchan that they need 40 minutes for their opening statements.
Defense attorneys told the judge they need 25 minutes.
The judge also announced that court will break at 12:30 p.m. ET today, after a juror had a toothache and got an emergency appointment this afternoon.
Court had already been scheduled to end early today, at 2 p.m. ET, due to the Passover holiday.
Apr 22, 9:52 AM
Issue with Juror No. 9 is resolved
Judge Juan Merchan announced there is an issue with Juror No. 9 -- who, according to Merchan, "was concerned about media attention" of the case. According to Merchan, the juror "wasn't 100% sure" they could serve.
Merchan said they would speak to the juror in chambers to "find out what the issue is and see if this juror can continue to serve."
After a brief sidebar, the judge announced: “Juror No. 9 is going to remain with us.”
There are six alternate jurors seated in case any of the 12 jurors cannot serve.
Apr 22, 9:44 AM
Trump tells reporters it's a 'sad day in America'
On his way into the courtroom for the day's proceedings, Trump once again alleged that the trial constitutes election interference, claiming that the proceedings are unfairly keeping him off the campaign trail.
"Everybody knows that I'm here instead of being able to be in Pennsylvania and Georgia and lots of other places campaigning, and it's very unfair," he told reporters.
"It's a very, very sad day in America," he said. "I can tell you that."
The former president is seated at the defense table between his lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove.
Apr 22, 9:37 AM
Proceedings are underway
The proceedings are underway in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial. Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are both in the courtroom.
Three prosecutors -- Joshua Steinglass, Matthew Colangelo, and Susan Hoffinger -- are seated at the counsel table.
Bragg is seated in the front row of the gallery with approximately a dozen lawyers and staff from his office.
Apr 22, 9:26 AM
Ex-National Enquirer publisher to be 1st witness, say sources
The first witness prosecutors with the Manhattan DA's office plan to call is former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
ABC News previously reported that prosecutors planned to call Pecker as a witness, but sources now say he's expected to be the first witness to take the stand.
Pecker served as the longtime chief executive of American Media Inc., which published the National Enquirer.
Shortly after Trump announced his 2016 presidential campaign, Pecker met with Trump and agreed to act as the "eyes and ears" of the campaign by looking out for and killing negative stories about Trump, according to the Manhattan DA.
As part of the arrangement, Pecker allegedly directed a deal to pay $30,000 to a former Trump Tower doorman regarding the false allegation that Trump allegedly fathered a child out of wedlock, prosecutors say. Then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen allegedly insisted that the deal stay in place even after AMI discovered the allegation was false, and AMI paid the doorman, according to the Manhattan DA.
Apr 22, 5:55 AM
Attorneys to present opening statements in historic trial
After a week-long selection process, the jurors in Donald Trump's New York hush money case will hear opening statements Monday in the first criminal trial of a former United States president.
To prove their case, lawyers for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg need to convince 12 jurors beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump repeatedly falsified records related to unlawfully influencing the 2016 presidential election.
"This case has nothing to do with your personal politics or your feelings about a particular political issue," prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told potential jurors on Thursday. "It's not a referendum on the Trump Presidency, a popularity contest, or any indication of who you plan to vote for this fall. This case is about whether this man broke the law."
Trump's lawyers are expected to focus their efforts on going after the credibility of prosecution witnesses, suggesting the case itself is politically motivated and arguing the former president never intended to commit a crime.
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Student protesters begin dismantling some tents as negotiations with Columbia University progress
(NEW YORK) -- Protests on college campuses calling for the divestment of funds from Israeli military operations continued to spread on Wednesday, even as hundreds of students have been arrested.
The student protests -- some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments -- have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University. Schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University and more have launched protests.
More than 100 protesters were arrested on April 18 at Columbia University, according to authorities, while others were suspended and removed from campus. Over 150 people were arrested at New York University on Monday night, according to police.
The protests on campuses have been largely peaceful, according to school administrators, with some officials, including the New York Police Department, as well as protesters, blaming unaffiliated individuals for instances of violence and offensive rhetoric.
Here's what's happening across the country:
Harvard University
After suspending the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee, an on-campus group that has been under a spotlight, Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana defended the decision to The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, rejecting the group's accusations that they have been "disproportionately targeted by the administration."
Khurana insisted that the college sought to apply its policies fairly, but the Crimson said Khurana did not respond to specific questions about what prompted the suspension.
The Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee announced it will be holding a rally against the suspension on Wednesday "to let Harvard know: you can suspend PSC, but you can't suspend the movement," it said in a post on Instagram. The rally comes even as the university has shut down Harvard Yard through Friday.
In a letter to the Harvard administration urging it to lift the suspension on the Palestine Solidarity Committee, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts -- which said it is representing the group -- raised concerns over the "validity of the probation" imposed on the group, which predicated its suspension. The ACLU is also requesting a meeting with Harvard over the group's suspension.
"We believe that Harvard's imposition of probation on the PSC constitutes a breach of contract, violates Harvard's duty to provide basic fairness in disciplinary proceedings, and may otherwise be unlawful because of its negative impact on free speech and associational rights," the ACLU said in a letter to Harvard.
"While Harvard is undoubtedly facing immense pressure, including from Congress and others, to restrain pro-Palestinian advocacy, it is incumbent upon Harvard to apply its policies fairly, consistently, and without regard to viewpoint. It is at such fraught political times that the risk to freedom of speech and rights of association is at its highest -- and it is in such times that a university's commitment to protecting such rights is most critical," the ACLU said.
In response to ABC News' request for a response from Harvard over statements made by the Palestine Solidarity Committee regarding its suspension and the reasoning behind it, Harvard pointed to its policies in the school's Student Organization Resource Guide.
"Harvard College works closely with our recognized independent student organizations to ensure they are following existing policies outlined in the Student Organization Resource Guide and all College and University expectations," Harvard said. "The College is committed to applying all policies in a content-neutral manner and in close partnership with our student organizations. All student organizations are required to participate annually in training on these policies, and any organization found in violation of the policy is subject to corrective action."
Columbia University
Columbia University has said it is making "important progress" with representatives of the student encampment on campus calling for the divestment of college and university funds from Israeli military operations.
"We are making important progress with representatives of the student encampment on the West lawn," Columbia University said in a statement released early Wednesday, adding that student protesters have committed to dismantling and removing a significant number of tents and that protesters will ensure that those not affiliated with Columbia will leave.
Columbia University also said that student protesters in the encampment have agreed to comply with all requirements of the New York City Fire Department and that encampments have prohibited discriminatory or harassing language.
Also, Columbia announced that its final exams will be hybrid amid tensions on campus, with the university saying "safety is our highest priority."
"In order to address the concerns of our members in an evolving campus environment, all final course assessments (e.g., exams, presentations, projects) on the Morningside campus (with the carveouts listed at the end) must include a remote option for students who have requested support for virtual assessment," the university said in a statement
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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