Former US President Donald Trump’s hush money trial resumed Tuesday with the first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. However, the proceedings were overshadowed by allegations of contempt against Trump for violating a gag order with online posts that referenced potential witnesses.
The prosecution claims that Trump’s posts violated the court order and seeks a contempt finding, while the defense denies any wrongdoing. The trial centers on accusations that Trump falsified business records to conceal payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
On Monday, jurors heard opening statements from the prosecution, which alleged that Trump led a criminal hush money scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election. Opening statements also came from the defense, which denied that Trump had committed any crime.
‘It was election fraud, pure and simple,’ prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the jury. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche fired back, ‘I have a spoiler alert: There’s nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It’s called democracy.’
Trump is charged with falsifying business records to discreetly reimburse Cohen, who in late 2016 paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 for her silence about an alleged sexual tryst with Trump years earlier. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accuses Trump of carrying out the hush money scheme to influence the 2016 election, which he would go on to win.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, and the outcome could have significant implications for Trump’s political future. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
