The first week of testimony at Donald Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan focused on prosecutors portraying an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by burying negative stories. Prosecutors are building their case by presenting detailed testimony on email exchanges, business transactions, and bank accounts. They allege that Trump and his allies committed 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments, leading up to crucial testimony from Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, who went to federal prison after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations and other crimes. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty, and the trial is expected to continue for another month or more.
During the first week of the trial, jurors heard from witnesses such as Trump’s former executive assistant, Rhona Graff, and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Graff recalled seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump’s office and assumed she was a contestant for one of Trump’s shows. Pecker detailed a “catch and kill” arrangement where the Enquirer bought and buried negative stories about Trump to protect his image. Prosecutors are also focusing on Cohen’s role in opening bank accounts, including one used to pay Daniels $130,000 for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
The trial has been taking place four days a week, with Trump required to be in court when it is in session. Trump has expressed frustration with the trial and believes it is part of a plan to influence the upcoming election. Judge Juan M. Merchan may decide on prosecutors’ request to fine Trump for violating a gag order banning him from making public statements about the case. Prosecutors are also planning to present more evidence and witnesses in the coming weeks, including Cohen, who is expected to provide crucial testimony.
Farro, a banker who helped Cohen open accounts for two limited liability companies, testified about the process of setting up the accounts. He described how Cohen indicated the companies would be involved in real estate consulting, and how Cohen exhibited a sense of urgency in getting the accounts set up. Prosecutors showed jurors emails in which Cohen described the opening of one account as an “important matter.” Farro also testified that the bank’s policy prohibited doing business with entities tied to adult entertainment, including porn performers like Stormy Daniels.
Trump’s defense team has not yet had the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses like Farro. The trial is expected to continue for several more weeks, with the prosecution building their case against Trump for his alleged involvement in a scheme to pay hush money to bury negative stories during the 2016 presidential campaign. As the trial progresses, Trump remains frustrated with the legal proceedings and believes they are affecting his chances in the upcoming election. The prosecution is focused on detailing the timeline of events, business transactions, and email exchanges to prove their case against Trump.
