Donald Trump’s prosecutors in his New York criminal hush money trial are keeping their witness schedule secret to prevent him from targeting upcoming witnesses. This secrecy has added suspense to the trial, as the prosecution informs defense attorneys of the next witnesses one day before their testimony. Despite this, defense claims that Trump is at a disadvantage due to not having a full witness schedule. Trump is bound by a gag order that forbids him from speaking about witnesses and jurors, and the judge has warned him that further violations of court orders could result in jail time.
The latest contempt citations against Trump were issued before the jury was seated, with the judge warning him that future violations could result in incarceration. However, Trump has indicated that he may continue to violate the gag order, stating that the constitution is more important than jail. The day’s testimony in court included insights from Trump Organization insiders regarding the company’s operations and business records at the center of the case. Former Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney testified about reimbursement payments made to Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen, and the alleged falsification of records to cover up payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.
McConney revealed that the company made unusual reimbursement payments to Cohen without reviewing invoices through the legal department, which is standard procedure. He also testified that he never saw a retainer agreement for Cohen related to these payments. Another significant detail was the instruction to “gross up” the payments to cover Cohen’s anticipated taxes, along with an additional $60,000 bonus amounting to $420,000 in total payments. This raised questions about the legality and transparency of the transactions, as prosecutors alleged that Trump falsified records to hide the payments to Cohen.
The day began with the judge issuing a warning to Trump about the consequences of violating court orders, including potential incarceration. Trump had been held in contempt of court ten times for violating the gag order, with fines totaling $10,000. Despite the repeated violations, the judge emphasized that imprisonment would be a last resort due to the disruptive nature it would have on the proceedings. While acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, the judge reiterated his duty to uphold the law and ensure a fair trial for all parties involved. Trump’s ongoing defiance of the gag order has raised concerns about the integrity of the trial and the safety of jurors and their families.
