Category Archives: Donald Trump trials

David Pecker, Trump’s ‘eyes and ears’, to resume testimony in hush-money trial

Posted on by

Former National Enquirer publisher says he helped Trump to suppress negative stories that threatened 2016 election campaign

The former tabloid publisher David Pecker will continue testimony at Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial on Thursday, following his testimony earlier in the week.

Pecker, the former chief executive of American Media, which publishes the National Enquirer, testified that he used his position to help Trump kill negative stories that threatened his campaign.

Continue reading...

Trump hush-money trial live: judge to hold hearing over gag order before first witness David Pecker returns to stand

Posted on by

Trump to fight court order preventing him from abusing wide range of people connected to trial; former CEO of National Enquirer returns

Then it was the defense’s turn for opening statements.

Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche started by making an effort to humanize Trump, while also repeatedly calling him “President Trump”. “He’s, in some ways, larger than life. But he’s also here in this courtroom doing what any of us would do – defending himself,” Blanche said.

Donald Trump was a very frugal businessman. He believed in pinching pennies … He believed in negotiating every bill.

… Donald Trump’s willingness to [overpay] here shows just how important it was to hide the true nature of Cohen’s [payment] to Ms Daniels and the overall election conspiracy they had launched in August of 2015.

Continue reading...

Man sets himself on fire outside Trump trial courthouse in New York

Posted on by

Florida resident in critical condition in hospital after images of incident carried live on television

A man was in critical condition in a New York hospital on Friday after setting himself on fire outside the lower Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump is on trial in a hush-money case.

Pictures of the incident were carried live on television and spread on X, formerly Twitter.

Continue reading...

All 12 jurors seated for Trump’s historic criminal trial – as it happened

Posted on by

This live blog is now closed. For the latest on Trump’s criminal trial, read our full report:

Judge Merchan, in directing the press not to use physical descriptors to describe jurors, complained specifically about mentioning one of the jurors had an Irish accent.

“We just lost” what would have been a good juror for the case, Merchan said, after one of the jurors was excused after she told the court that she had concerns about her ability to be impartial. Merchan added:

She said she was afraid and intimidated by the press, all the press.

I would recommend the press simply apply common sense and refrain from anything that has to do, for example, with physical descriptions. It’s just not necessary, it serves no purpose.

Continue reading...

Trump rebuked as hush-money trial judge warns against juror intimidation

Posted on by

Juan Merchan admonishes ex-president for ‘gesturing and speaking in the direction of the juror’ as jury selection continues

Donald Trump met a stern rebuke on Tuesday from the jurist presiding over his criminal hush-money trial, with the judge warning: “I won’t have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom.”

Trump’s apparent misbehavior did not derail the trial’s progress; seven jurors were picked by day’s end.

A guide to Trump’s hush-money trial – so far

The key arguments prosecutors will use against Trump

How will Trump’s trial work?

From Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels: the key players

Continue reading...

Court adjourns after first day of Trump’s historic criminal trial – as it happened

Posted on by

Ex-president dozed off during calm day of proceedings in trial over hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels, with some potential jurors chosen. This blog is now closed.

Shortly, we should have the first set of potential jurors enter the courtroom where they will give their responses verbally to a 42-point questionnaire.

There are several categories of questions, including: in which New York neighborhood they live, their educational background, whether they’ve engaged in political activism or previously served on a jury.

Continue reading...

E Jean Carroll, writer who bested Trump in court, surrenders gun to police

Posted on by

Police were made aware of unlicensed gun after Carroll testified in court she kept a revolver by her bed

New York writer E Jean Carroll has handed over a gun to police that she was keeping, but without a license, during her long legal battles with Donald Trump after she sued him over sexual abuse, according to a new report.

Police in Warwick, New York, “took possession” of the firearm after discussing the matter with the former Elle magazine columnist, NBC News reported, citing a police report the TV network had obtained.

Continue reading...