Donald Trump is set to appear in Manhattan court on Friday as his hush money trial progresses into its 11th day. The trial has been marked by a flurry of witness testimonies, with lawyer Keith Davidson recently concluding nearly 6 1/2 hours of testimony over two days. Davidson detailed his negotiations with Michael Cohen and the National Enquirer on behalf of Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, acknowledging the potential impact on Trump's 2016 election win.
Forensic analyst Douglas Daul also testified about the contents of Cohen's cellphone, revealing that Cohen had almost 40,000 contacts saved on the device. Additionally, a contempt hearing was held regarding potential violations of a gag order by the former president, with prosecutors seeking fines rather than jail time for the alleged breaches.
The prosecution has accused Trump and others of engaging in a scheme to unlawfully influence the 2016 election by purchasing and concealing damaging stories. Trump faces charges of falsifying internal business records to cover up hush money payments, including $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, recorded as legal expenses. He has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
This trial marks the first criminal case against a former U.S. president and the first of four prosecutions of Trump to reach a jury. The proceedings have seen the involvement of key players and the presentation of audio recordings and witness testimonies, including those of Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and fixer.
Court proceedings are expected to conclude early on Friday to accommodate a juror's appointment in the late afternoon. Judge Juan M. Merchan announced the scheduling change, with court ending at 3:45 p.m., 45 minutes earlier than usual. As the trial enters its 11th day, Trump is anticipated to be present in court, following a contempt hearing over potential violations of the gag order.
