Former President Trump’s trial in Manhattan is in its 11th day, with the possibility of the judge ruling on the alleged gag order violations against him. Trump has already been fined for violating the gag order multiple times and could potentially face jail time if he continues to do so. The trial is set to resume on the final day of the third week with testimony from a computer forensics expert. Trump has expressed his intention to appeal the gag order.
During the trial on Thursday, the jury heard testimony from Keith Davidson, an attorney representing Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, as well as Doug Daus, a computer forensics expert. Daus testified about the number of contacts on Michael Cohen’s cellphone and confirmed audio recordings that appeared to involve conversations between Cohen and Trump. The case focuses on Cohen paying Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair she had with Trump, with prosecutors alleging that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen fraudulently. They are trying to prove that Trump falsified records with the intent to commit a crime.
Davidson testified that the payment to Daniels was a “consideration” payment, not a payoff or hush money. He mentioned that Daniels had interactions with Trump that were not explicitly romantic but acknowledged a sexual encounter between the two. Davidson also revealed that Cohen had hoped to land a position in the White House following Trump’s election, indicating that he had aspirations to be chief of staff or attorney general. This conflicts with Cohen’s previous statements in Congress where he denied wanting to go to the White House.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony counts against him and has criticized the case as a scam orchestrated by the Biden administration. The trial proceedings are expected to conclude early due to a juror’s appointment. Trump’s defense team continues to dispute the allegations against him, with the former president planning to appeal the gag order. The court will determine the outcome of the remaining alleged violations, and testimony is set to continue from key witnesses in the case.
The trial has brought to light intricate details surrounding the alleged affair between Trump and Daniels, as well as the legal payments made to keep her silent. The involvement of key figures like Cohen and Davidson sheds light on the complexity of the case and the potential implications for Trump. The ongoing proceedings will shape the outcome of the trial and determine the final verdict against the former president. Despite Trump’s staunch denial of the charges and criticisms of the legal process, the trial continues to unfold with new revelations and testimonies from key witnesses.
