Donald Trump is expected to return to court Thursday morning as witness testimony in his hush money trial enters a third day. The trial resumes as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in Washington over whether he should be immune from prosecution for actions taken during his presidency.
During the trial in Manhattan, veteran tabloid publisher David Pecker testified about his friendship with the former president and a pledge he made to support Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Pecker revealed an agreement to alert Trump's personal lawyer about potentially damaging stories and help suppress them, including negative stories about Trump's political opponents and a payment for a doorman's silence.
The prosecution aims to show that Trump sought to influence the 2016 election through a 'catch-and-kill' strategy to suppress negative stories. The case involves hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, and the doorman, which prosecutors allege were falsely recorded as legal expenses.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, marking the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. The trial is one of four prosecutions of Trump to reach a jury.
Key Developments:
- The Supreme Court will decide if Trump, as president, is subject to prosecution
- Investigator implicates Trump and allies in a plot to overturn the Michigan election
- David Pecker testifies on the 'catch-and-kill' scheme at Trump's trial
- Overview of key players in Trump's hush money criminal trial
- Details of Trump's other ongoing legal cases
Allegations at the Heart of the Case:
Trump is accused of falsifying records to suppress damaging stories during his 2016 campaign, including payments to Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, and the doorman. The payments were allegedly disguised as legal expenses in Trump Organization records.
Pecker's Testimony:
David Pecker testified about an agreement to bury negative stories about Trump during the 2016 campaign. He detailed how he coordinated with Trump's personal lawyer to suppress damaging information.
Potential Consequences:
If convicted, Trump faces up to four years in prison for falsifying business records. A conviction would not prevent him from running for president again, but he would be unable to pardon himself in a state case.
Violation of Gag Order:
The judge has yet to rule on whether Trump violated a gag order by making public statements about witnesses in the case. Prosecutors seek a fine for alleged violations, citing Trump's social media posts.
