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Former President Trump’s transgression proceedings volition resume Monday aft an eventful third week that saw cardinal witnesses attest and thousands of dollars successful fines against the presumptive Republican nominee — with the anticipation of further fines looming.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying concern records successful the archetypal degree. The charges stem from a years-long probe by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
The charges are related to alleged payments made to soundlessness big movie histrion Stormy Daniels astir an alleged extramarital matter with Trump earlier the 2016 election.
HOPE HICKS: COHEN CALLED HIMSELF ‘MR. FIX IT’ ONLY BECAUSE HE 'BROKE IT'
Former President Trump and attorneys Emil Bove, left, and Todd Blanche, right, be his proceedings for allegedly covering up hush wealth payments successful Manhattan Criminal Court May 3, 2024, successful New York City. (Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images)
DA Alvin Bragg indispensable person the assemblage that not lone did Trump falsify the concern records related to hush wealth payments, but that helium did truthful successful furtherance of different crime, conspiracy to beforehand oregon forestall election.
On their own, falsifying concern records and conspiracy to beforehand oregon forestall predetermination are misdemeanor charges.
Prosecutors, during the 3rd week of the trial, called a fig of witnesses to testify, including Keith Davidson, an lawyer who erstwhile represented Stormy Daniels and Playboy exemplary Karen McDougal.
Davidson said Daniels’ denial of an matter with Trump was technically true. He besides testified that the wealth ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen paid her was not a payoff, but a "consideration."
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg speaks during a property conference. (Barry Williams for NY Daily News via Getty Images)
Trump’s defence attorneys, during cross-examination, played audio recordings of Davidson, successful which helium tin beryllium heard admitting Cohen did not request authorization from Trump to marque the outgo to Stormy Daniels.
Before Davidson, the assemblage heard grounds from Doug Daus, a machine forensic expert for the DA’s office, who testified astir examining 2 cellphones that belonged to Cohen.
During Daus’ testimony, an audio signaling was played.
"I request to unfastened up a institution for the transportation of each of that info regarding our person David," Cohen said during the call. "So, I’m gonna bash that close away. I’ve really travel up and spoken to Allen Weisselberg. … I’m each implicit that. I’ve spoken to Allen astir it, erstwhile it comes clip for the financing, which volition be—"
A courtroom sketch shows erstwhile President Trump arsenic lawyer Keith Davidson, who represented erstwhile Playboy exemplary Karen McDougal, testifies. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)
Trump replied: "Listen, what financing?"
HUSH MONEY TRIAL JUDGE DOUBLES DOWN ON NOT SHOWING TRUMP 'ACCESS HOLLYWOOD' TAPE TO JURORS
Last week, the assemblage heard grounds from slope enforcement Gary Farro, who said helium assisted Cohen successful mounting up an relationship for Essential Consultants, LLC, the ammunition institution Bragg alleges Cohen utilized to marque the $130,000 outgo to Stormy Daniels.
But Farro testified that determination was thing to bespeak that the relationship would beryllium utilized to marque a outgo connected behalf of a governmental candidate, to acquisition a media communicative oregon to wage an big movie actress. Farro testified that had the relationship been intended for those matters, determination would person been further scrutiny and delays successful opening it, and helium admitted it was imaginable the relationship would ne'er person been opened.
Farro besides testified helium was unaware the relationship was being done connected behalf of Trump.
The week ended with grounds from Hope Hicks, who worked for the Trump Organization and aboriginal served arsenic Trump’s property caput during the 2016 statesmanlike campaign. Hicks aboriginal served arsenic White House manager of strategical communications.
Hope Hicks blasted erstwhile Trump "fixer" Michael Cohen successful tribunal during Trump's transgression trial (Getty | AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
"He knew what helium wanted to accidental and however to accidental it, and we were each conscionable pursuing his lead," Hicks said of Trump. "He deserves the recognition for the agenda."
TRUMP DELIVERS PIZZA TO NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTERS IN CAMPAIGN STOP AFTER DAY IN COURT
Hicks was asked astir the infamous "Access Hollywood" portion featuring arguable comments from Trump that came retired successful the weeks starring up to the 2016 election.
Hicks said she was "a small stunned" erstwhile she saw the portion and said it was a "damaging development" to the campaign, adding it "obviously wasn’t helpful." But she noted it was 2 guys talking privately and insisted it was locker country speech that wasn't meant to upset anyone.
The 2005 "Access Hollywood" portion came to airy up of the 2016 predetermination and showed Trump boasting to big Billy Bush that helium could buss and grope women owed to his prima power.
Judge Juan Merchan antecedently prohibited the prosecution from showing the portion to jurors, saying successful March, "It is not indispensable that the portion itself beryllium introduced into grounds oregon that it beryllium played for the jury."
Former President Trump and Judge Juan Merchan (Angela Weiss/AFP via AP I Pool/AP)
Hicks besides said Trump told her the claims of him having an matter with erstwhile Playboy exemplary Karen McDougal were "unequivocally untrue."
Hicks besides blasted Michael Cohen, saying helium was not progressive successful the 2016 campaign but would effort to insert himself astatine definite moments. Hicks said the run had its ain lawyers, and Cohen was instructed to absorption connected Trump’s backstage concern credentials.
NY V TRUMP: REMAINING ALLEGED GAG ORDER VIOLATIONS HANG IN BALANCE AS TRIAL RESUMES
Hicks said Cohen "used to similar to telephone himself Mr. Fix it, but it was lone due to the fact that helium archetypal broke it."
Hicks besides testified that, with respect to allegations astir Stormy Daniels, Trump did not privation "anyone successful his household to beryllium wounded oregon embarrassed astir thing connected the campaign."
"He wanted them to beryllium arrogant of him," she said.
Adult movie histrion Stormy Daniels (AP)
Trump was fined $9,000 for violating a proceedings gag bid imposed upon him. Judge Merchan inactive needs to see 4 further alleged violations of the order, which could travel this week.
The erstwhile president has blasted the proceedings arsenic rigged and successful coordination with President Biden’s White House. Trump says the case, and others against him, are "election interference."
As for the gag order, Trump calls it "unconstitutional" and said helium volition entreaty the bid altogether, arguing it is simply a usurpation of his First Amendment rights. Trump has called connected the justice to recuse himself, saying helium is "totally conflicted."
The erstwhile president has said Democrats privation to support him confined to the courtroom and disconnected of the run trail.
Former President Trump speaks to members of the media arsenic helium departs his proceedings for allegedly covering up hush wealth payments astatine Manhattan Criminal Court May 3, 2024, successful New York City (Jeenah Moon-Pool/Getty Images)
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Court does not conscionable connected Wednesdays. Trump has taken advantage of that statement and past week held rallies successful Wisconsin and Michigan.
After hours successful tribunal past Thursday, Trump delivered pizzas to FDNY firefighters astatine a midtown Manhattan firehouse to grant archetypal responders.
Fox News' Maria Paronich and Brianna Herlihy contributed to this report.
Brooke Singman is simply a governmental analogous and newsman for Fox News Digital, Fox News Channel and FOX Business.
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