Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial is now well underway, with the prosecution and defence teams laying out their cases in opening statements on Monday and the first witness taking to the stand to give testimony.
Tabloid media mogul David Pecker, who published The National Enquirer and was part of the “catch-and-kill” scheme at the heart of the case, is in the middle of testimony about how he ensured stories of an alleged Trump lovechild and an affair with Playboy model Karen McDougal were never published.
Judge Juan Merchan will soon rule on complaints raised by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg’s team about 10 instances of Mr Trump allegedly violating the terms of his gag order in posts on his Truth Social platform, having warned defence attorneys they are “losing all credibility” over the issue.
The defendant has continued to complain about the case to reporters and lashed out against the judge and prosecutors on social media, also berating New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman for debunking his claims that his supporters are being kept away from the Manhattan courthouse.
The courtroom stands dark on Wednesday but Mr Pecker will resume his testimony on Thursday.
Alex Woodward is providing live updates from the courthouse.
Key Points
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Mitt Romney doesn’t hold back when asked about Stormy Daniels
The Utah senator and former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney did not mince his words when speaking to reporters about Trump’s hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
“I think everyone has made their own assessment of President Trump’s character”, he said on Tuesday.
“And as far as I know you don’t pay someone $130,000 not to have sex with you”.
Here’s more from Michelle Del Rey.
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 12:55
Jesse Watters: ‘They could bring Bigfoot in as a witness and Trump would be fined for saying Bigfoot is real’
This is pretty wonderful, to be fair to him.
Also, never a truer word spoken here.
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 12:35
New York hush money trial: Manhattan prosecutors keeping witness list secret so Trump can’t lash out on Truth Social
When Trump’s attorney Susan Necheles asked for the names of witnesses likely to be called by the prosecution last week, Manhattan assistant district attorney Joshua Steinglass answered: “Mr Trump has been tweeting about the witnesses. We’re not telling him who the witnesses are.”
To which Judge Merchan responded: “I can’t fault them for that.”
Here’s more on their secret list from Ariana Baio and Kelly Rissman.
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 12:15
New York hush money trial: Michael Cohen vows ‘truth will prevail’ over Trump’s ‘incessant lying’
Trump’s former fixer-turned-foe has raged that “no one is above the law” and vowed that “truth will prevail” over the former president’s “incessant lying”, as he prepares to take the stand to testify in the historic hush money trial.
As we’ve heard, Judge Juan Merchan presided over a hearing on Tuesday to determine whether Trump has violated the gag order in the case.
Manhattan prosecutors argue that the former president has breached the order at least 10 times in posts on his Truth Social account and on his campaign website, following a series of attacks on Michael Cohen as well as adult film star Stormy Daniels – both of whom are likely prosecution witnesses in the landmark case.
Cohen, a frequent subject of the former president’s wrath, often discusses on his podcasts the death threats he has faced in the lead-up to the trial, showcasing the toll that being cast out of Trumpworld has taken on his life.
As the judge weighed the potential gag order violations, Cohen told The Independent by text message that – in the face of the attacks – he is “stronger than I ever imagined”.
Here’s the latest from Kelly Rissman.
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 11:55
New York hush money trial: Trump dubiously claims ‘thousands’ of supporters turned away from courthouse
As we saw from his latest Truth Social meltdown earlier, Trump is pushing hard against the idea that his supporters are being “turned away” from protesting on his behalf outside the courthouse by New York City cops, ranting at Maggie Haberman for suggesting they are simply not bothering to turn up.
Josh Marcus has this look at his dubious claim.
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 11:35
New York hush money trial: Key takeaways from second day of testimony
Here’s Oliver O’Connell with a round-up of the headline developments from yesterday.
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 11:15
New York hush money trial: What did Trump’s doorman say about his alleged lovechild?
Whatever other sins Donald Trump may have committed, there is little evidence that he fathered a secret child with his former housekeeper, although the allegation made by former Trump Tower doorman Dino Sajudin resurfaced in court yesterday.
Here’s Io Dodds to get to the bottom of it.
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 10:45
New York hush money trial: Tabloid boss David Pecker testifies to Trump’s ‘catch-and-kill’ scheme
The main event on Tuesday was the return to the stand of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who testified about how he ensured stories of an alleged Trump love child and an affair with Playboy model Karen McDougal were never published in his papers due to the “catch-and-kill” ploy then in operation.
We can expect to hear more from him on Thursday, likely on the juicy subject of one Stormy Daniels.
Here’s more on Pecker from Alex Woodward.
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 10:15
New York hush money trial: Judge warns Trump lawyers they are ‘losing all credibility’ over gag order breaches
Court is not in session today, as Judge Merchan has mercifully given everyone Wednesdays off, so let’s take a look back at yesterday’s action.
First up, here’s Alex Woodward, who was there to witness proceedings for us once again yesterday and filed this on the justice’s gag order hearing, in which the prosecution brought forward 10 instances of Mr Trump, in their opinion, breaching the order that he shut up about the case.
They are asking for a $1,000 fine per offending post and could ultimately lobby for jail time should the defendant persist (as he very much has so far).
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 09:45
Trump hosts ex-Japanese PM at Trump Tower
Before all that wailing and gnashing of teeth, Trump was calm enough to host former Japanese prime minister Taro Aso at Trump Tower.
Just like Polish president Andrzej Duda last week, Aso opted for the Nigel Farage shot outside the building’s famous golden elevator.
Joe Sommerlad24 April 2024 09:15