The hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump saw significant developments on Friday as new witnesses took the stand following the testimony of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.
Pecker's account was scrutinized by Trump's defense team, who aimed to challenge his credibility by highlighting inconsistencies in his statements. Pecker had previously testified about brokering a deal with Stormy Daniels and orchestrating the suppression of a story about Trump's alleged affair with Karen McDougal.
During the trial, Pecker clarified that the concept of 'catch and kill' was not discussed during an August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower, where he agreed to assist the Trump campaign in identifying negative stories. He also confirmed that the purpose of the agreement with McDougal was to suppress damaging information about Trump and influence the 2016 election.
Another key witness, Rhona Graff, Trump's former long-term assistant, testified about her role in managing Trump's calendar and contacts during her 34-year tenure at the Trump Organization. Graff recalled encounters with Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower and described working with Trump as stimulating and exciting.
Finance executive Gary Farro provided insights into the financial transactions related to the case, detailing how Michael Cohen coordinated with him to set up accounts for payments that were never completed. Farro's testimony shed light on the establishment of Essential Consultants LLC, which was used to pay Daniels $130,000.
Notably, the trial also addressed potential violations of the gag order against Trump, with Judge Juan Merchan scheduling a hearing to discuss the matter on Thursday.
As the trial continues, these testimonies play a crucial role in unraveling the complexities of the hush money scandal and its implications for the former president.
