The New York criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is set to resume on Friday, with testimony from a forensic analyst who examined data from former Trump attorney Michael Cohen’s phones. Cohen is a key figure in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump, alleging that Cohen and Trump conspired with National Enquirer publisher David Pecker to suppress scandalous stories about Trump during his 2016 campaign. This resulted in Cohen paying porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about a sexual encounter she claimed to have had with Trump in 2006, which Trump denies. Trump later repaid Cohen with payments that the DA says were falsely classified as legal expenses. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. The forensic analyst testified that he found over 39,000 contacts on Cohen’s phone, including those for Trump and his wife, Melania, text messages with Trump allies like Hope Hicks, photos of Cohen in the White House, and some recordings.
One of the recordings played in court was a conversation between Cohen and Trump in September 2016 about repaying Pecker for the $150,000 spent to silence Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who claimed to have had an affair with Trump in 2006. Trump was heard saying, “So what do we got to pay for this — 150?” and told Cohen to “pay with cash,” to which Cohen responded, “No, no, no. I got it.” Pecker initially demanded the money back but later relented, fearing legal trouble. Another recording played in court was of Cohen telling Keith Davidson, the attorney who negotiated the deals with Daniels and McDougal, that Trump had expressed regret over the settlements. Trump’s attorney Emil Bove questioned Davidson about his involvement in other tabloid stories, but Davidson was evasive. During cross-examination, Bove questioned whether the phone data could have been manipulated, as the FBI had examined the phones before the DA’s office did.
The DA’s office has been tight-lipped about upcoming witnesses, citing concerns that Trump might post about them on social media despite a partial gag order. Trump was found in criminal contempt and fined $9,000 for violating the order with nine social media and campaign posts. Prosecutors argued for further contempt charges based on additional alleged violations. The court day on Friday will end slightly early due to a juror’s appointment. It is unclear who will testify after the forensic analyst. The DA’s office is cautious about giving advance notice of witnesses to prevent potential social media posts from Trump. The judge overseeing the case has yet to rule on the motion for additional contempt charges against Trump. During the trial, various recordings and text messages have been presented as evidence of Trump’s involvement in efforts to suppress scandalous stories during his 2016 campaign.
The trial has provided insights into the relationship between Trump, Cohen, and Pecker, as well as their efforts to silence individuals like Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. The recordings played in court highlight Trump’s direct involvement in discussions about payments and handling of sensitive information. The forensic analyst’s testimony detailed the contents of Cohen’s phone, which included thousands of contacts, text messages with Trump associates, and photos from inside the White House. Trump’s attorney questioned the credibility of the evidence, suggesting possible manipulation of phone data and raising doubts about the validity of the information presented. The ongoing legal proceedings shed light on the complex nature of the case and the challenges faced by the prosecution and defense teams. With additional witnesses yet to testify, the trial is expected to continue to reveal new details about the alleged conspiracy between Trump, Cohen, and Pecker.
