Former President Trump’s trial in Manhattan continues for its 11th day, marked by ongoing discussions of alleged gag order violations and the presentation of computer forensics evidence.
Judge Juan Merchan held a hearing to consider the remaining alleged gag order violations against Trump, who has already been fined $9,000 for violating the order on multiple occasions. The judge could issue a decision on these violations on Friday, with the possibility of jail time if further violations occur.
The trial also featured continued testimony from Keith Davidson, an attorney who represented Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, as well as testimony from Doug Daus, a computer forensics expert. Daus presented evidence regarding the unusual number of contacts on former Trump attorney Michael Cohen’s cellphone and confirmed the metadata for audio recordings on Cohen’s phone, including a conversation between Cohen and Trump.
The prosecution’s case centers around a $130,000 payment made to Daniels in 2006 to allegedly silence her claims of an extramarital affair with Trump. The prosecution alleges that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen and fraudulently recorded the payment as legal expenses. Trump has denied the affair and has denounced the case as politically motivated.
Davidson clarified that the payment to Daniels was not a “hush money” payment but rather a “consideration” payment, which is legal compensation for abiding by a contract. He also testified that Cohen had aspirations for a White House position such as chief of staff or attorney general but was disappointed when he did not receive an offer.
The proceedings are expected to conclude earlier than usual on Friday due to a juror’s appointment. The outcome of the trial remains uncertain, with the prosecution aiming to demonstrate Trump’s intent to conceal a crime while Trump maintains his innocence and alleges a biased prosecution.
