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CNN —New York Judge Juan Merchan has fined former President Donald Trump for repeatedly violating the gag order in the hush money trial. Merchan ruled Trump violated the gag order nine times for criticizing expected trial witnesses in posts on social media and his campaign page. Reposts are endorsements, judge saysIn last week’s hearing on gag order violations, Trump’s defense argued that reposts of other people’s words do not violate the gag order and that the posts represent protected political speech in response to attacks. Second, Merchan acknowledged that the gag order does allow Trump to respond to political attacks, but said criticisms of key witnesses were not allowed. This is the first sanction against Trump for violating the gag order in this case.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, Merchan, Trump, “, ” Trump, ” Merchan, ’, ”, Prosecutors, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Todd Blanche, Cohen, David Pecker Organizations: CNN, New, Trump, Truth, Prosecutors, AMI, New York Locations: New York, New York State

CNN —Judge Juan Merchan handed down his first punishment to Donald Trump for violating the judge’s gag order in the New York hush money trial Tuesday, fining Trump $9,000 for nine violations. Instead, Davidson negotiated a $130,000 hush money deal with Cohen on Daniels’ behalf, and she did not speak out publicly before the 2016 election. In his order, the judge warned Trump that he could be imprisoned if he continues to willfully violate the gag order. “All you have to do is talk to that a**hole Cohen,” Davidson recalled. His son, Eric Trump, attended the trial – the first family member of the former president to appear during the trial.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, fining, Daniels, Karen McDougal, Keith Davidson, Trump’s, Michael Cohen, Davidson, Cohen, Trump, –, Merchan, David Pecker, “, ” Merchan, Stormy’s, McDougal, ’, Dylan Howard –, Gina Rodriguez, “ It’s, ” Davidson, Rodriguez, Peggy Peterson, David Dennison, Joshua Steinglass, Dennison, ” Steinglass, ” Cohen, Gary Farro, Daniels ’, Farro, ” Trump, “ Michael Cohen, He’s, Judge Merchan didn't, Jean Carroll, Prosecutors, Melania Trump, Eric Trump, Susie Wiles, Ken Paxton, David McIntosh, Barron’s Organizations: CNN, fining Trump, Trump, AMI, Prosecutors, American Media Inc, Daniels . Records, Bank, Twitter, Club for Growth, Mar Locations: New York, LA, Texas

CNN —The third week of the Donald Trump criminal hush money business fraud trial will resume Tuesday with the Manhattan district attorney’s office continuing to be secretive about it its plan of attack. In court, they said they would not give Trump’s legal team much in an effort to avoid subjecting witnesses to Trump’s social media wrath before they take the stand. He described a tabloid media landscape where America Media Inc. did Trump’s bidding ahead of the 2016 election with Cohen as Trump’s liaison. Trump’s longtime assistant Rhona Graff also testified Friday, telling the jury she remembers seeing Daniels at Trump’s office once years before the 2016 election. Graff – whose lawyers are paid for by Trump – testified that she input the contact information for Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Michael Cohen’s, Trump, Juan Merchan, he’s, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Cohen, Gary Farro’s, Farro, Daniels, Karen McDougal’s, David Pecker, Trump’s, Rhona Graff, McDougal, Graff –, Trump – Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, AMI, America Media Inc, Trump Organization Locations: Manhattan, Delaware

The defense started its cross-examination of David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, on Thursday. When asked, Pecker acknowledged he still has equity in AMI. Trump's attorney asked Pecker if he managed AMI to make money. Bove asked. Bove asked.

Persons: David Pecker, Donald Trump's, Emil Bove, Pecker, Bove Organizations: National Enquirer, American Media Inc, AMI, AMI wasn't

CNN —Jurors will now have a three-day weekend to think about what they heard during the first full week of testimony in the historic Donald Trump hush money trial. In one instance, Bove pointed to FBI notes from a 2018 interview, where agents had written that Pecker testified Trump did not thank him or AMI during a January 6, 2017, meeting at Trump Tower. In that interview, Pecker testified that Trump had in fact thanked him during that 2017 Trump Tower meeting. Trump cracks a smile for his longtime assistantTrump’s longtime assistant Rhona Graff testified for less than an hour. He replied, “Of course I do.”Graff no longer works for Trump, but she spoke positively about her experience at the Trump Organization and having Trump as a boss.

Persons: Donald Trump, David Pecker, pummel, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, Trump’s, Rhona Graff, Cohen, Trump, Karen McDougal’s, Banker Gary Farro, Daniels, Farro, He’s, Emil Bove, Pecker, Bove, McDougal, Prosecutors, Joshua Steinglass, Steinglass, Karen McDougal, ”, Graff, Susan Necheles, ” Graff, “, humanize Trump, ” Trump, Hope Hicks Organizations: CNN, American Media Inc, National Enquirer, Trump Organization, Trump, First Republic Bank, AMI, Trump Tower, Trump Org, ” Defense Locations: Delaware

☆ Federal judge upholds verdict in E. Jean Carroll case and denies Trump’s motion for a new trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Kara Scannell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

CNN —A federal judge on Thursday upheld the verdict and award in E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case against former President Donald Trump and denied Trump’s motion for a new trial. Judge Lewis Kaplan, in a written opinion, said Trump’s legal arguments are without merit. The judge also found that the punitive damages the jury awarded to Carroll “passes constitutional muster.”Trump is also separately appealing the verdict. This is a breaking story and will be updated.

Persons: Jean Carroll’s, Donald Trump, Lewis Kaplan, Carroll “, ” Trump Organizations: CNN

“As we walked out, President Trump asked me, ‘How’s Karen doing, how’s Karen doing?’ So, I said, ‘She’s doing well, she’s quiet, everything’s going good.’” Pecker said. I thought you had this under control.”Pecker also received a call from Trump after McDougal was interviewed by CNN’s Anderson Cooper in March 2018. Pecker told Trump on the call that he had amended McDougal’s agreement on speaking to other media. “But the US Supreme Court had a monumental hearing on immunity and the immunity having to do with presidential immunity. “So, you ran articles about President Trump because it was good for business?” Bove asked.

Persons: David Pecker, Donald Trump’s, Karen McDougal’s, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, Pecker, Cohen, Daniels, McDougal, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Trump’s, ‘ How’s Karen, how’s Karen, ‘ She’s, ” Pecker, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, “, Chris Conroy, ” Conroy, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Jackson, CNN Trump, ” Trump, Emil Bove, Quizzing, Bove, Dino Sajudin, ” Bove, Stelter, Bove’s, –, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger, Ari Emanuel, Mark Wahlberg, Rahm Emanuel, Tiger Woods, Woods, ”, Wahlberg Organizations: CNN, Former American Media Inc, Trump, AMI, White House, Wall, Office, National Enquirer, National, Pecker, California, Chicago, ” CNN Locations: Manhattan, Washington, New York, New York City, Bedminster, CNN’s, Japan

☆ Fact check: Trump falsely claims police turned away ‘thousands’ from Manhattan courthouse and that supporters ‘can’t get near’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Daniel Dale | Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Former President Donald Trump is a famed exaggerator of the size of his crowds. For years, he has lied about how many supporters attended his presidential inauguration and numerous campaign rallies. The police have not turned away “thousands of people” from the courthouse during his trial; only a handful of Trump supporters have shown up to demonstrate near the building. Trump may have been suggesting that thousands would have been present if not for repressive security measures. Trump supporters are free to walk into not only the protest zone but also the courthouse itself, though they, like everyone else, have to observe decorum rules if they go inside.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, denigrate, ” Trump, it’s, George Conway, “, ” CNN’s Kara Scannell, Lauren del Valle, Jeremy Herb, Nicki Brown, Sabrina Souza, Joel Williams Organizations: Washington CNN, New York Times, Trump, CNN, Security, Police Locations: Manhattan, Lower Manhattan

☆ Donald Trump has shared tales of courtroom spectacles. The reality is much more subdued
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —An email Monday night from Donald Trump – subject line: “My farewell message” – carried a fateful warning to his backers. Throughout the first six days of his trial, Trump’s dramatized retellings of his legal peril have veered considerably from the events actually unfolding in and around Manhattan’s criminal courthouse. In one fundraising email on the first day of his trial, Trump claimed he “stormed out” of the proceedings. With the courtroom quiet Tuesday, Trump flipped through a pile of papers loud enough to hear the pages turning. “I will not have any jurors intimidated in the courtroom,” Merchan said.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, Rather, untethered, “, he’s, unremarkably Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, E, Jean Carroll, Merchan, ” Merchan, hasn’t, “ You’re, ”, Todd Blanche, Christopher Conroy, Blanche, ‘, CNN’s Kate Sullivan, Kristen Holmes, Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell Organizations: CNN, Trump, Columbia University, Truth, Protesters Locations: Manhattan, Fiji, Lower Manhattan

Here are takeaways from Tuesday’s day in court:Gag order hearing goes badly for TrumpMerchan issued the gag order before the trial began, limiting Trump from publicly discussing witnesses, the jury or the district attorney’s staff. Merchan expanded the order, which Trump has appealed, to cover his own family after Trump attacked his daughter. “It’s your client’s position that when he reposts he did not believe he was violating the gag order. Judge says Trump lawyers are ‘losing all credibility’Tensions continued to grow between Trump’s legal team and the trial judge during the gag order hearing. Pecker places Michael Cohen deep in the conspiracyPecker placed Cohen in the heart of the alleged “catch and kill conspiracy” Tuesday.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, David Pecker, Karen McDougal, Trump’s, Michael Cohen, Trump, ”, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Cohen, Michael Avenatti, Daniels, ” Merchan, “, ” Blanche, reposts, “ You’ve, “ I’ve, You’ve, “ You’re, Josh Steinglass, Pecker, McDougal, Michael, ” Pecker, Stelter, wasn’t, “ Michael Cohen, Ted Cruz, ’ ” Pecker, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Media Inc, Trump, Trump Merchan, Truth, AMI, CNN Locations: New York

Donald Trump was once, and may soon be again, the most powerful man in the world. But on Monday, his diminished reality as a criminal defendant will become clear during opening statements in his first criminal trial. Nothing is more antithetical to Trump’s lifelong operating assumption that because of who he is, he is immune from such accountability. Regardless of its outcome, this trial is underscoring how the presumptive GOP nominee is like no other presidential candidate in history. Read Collinson's full analysis ahead of opening statements in Trump's first criminal trial.

Persons: Donald Trump, he’s, Trump, Read, Trump's Organizations: White, Republican Locations: Manhattan

☆ Will Trump testify? What he says and why it’s a risky bet
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Video Ad Feedback Smerconish: Will Trump testify? While he is under no obligation to testify, Trump has promised he will. And the truth is that there’s no case, they have no case,” Trump said. When juries and a judge have seen Trump testify, he lostThe first Carroll trial jury in 2023 was played a videotape of Trump’s deposition by lawyers. Not a hush money case, but an election interference caseOne other key thing to note out of the prosecution’s opening statement is that they want to portray this case as an election interference case rather than a hush money case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, National Enquirer David Pecker, Cohen, Pecker, Will Trump, I’m, ” Trump, Juan Merchan, Kara Scannell, Lauren del Valle, Jeremy Herb, E, Jean Carroll, ►, – Trump, Merchan, Hillary Clinton, Joey Jackson, Jackson, “, Jake Tapper, Will Scharf, Scharf, ”, ” Scharf, Carroll, Marla Maples, Read, Feedback Trump, Arthur Engoron, reimbursing Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Clifford, Daniels, … … …, CNN’s Paula Reid Organizations: CNN — Prosecutors, New, National Enquirer, Trump, CNN, Mar, Trump Organization, Prosecutors Locations: New York

CNN —The first criminal trial of Donald Trump is officially underway. Prosecutors and Trump’s attorneys delivered opening statements and the first witness – a former National Enquirer publisher – was called Monday in the historic and unprecedented criminal trial of a former president. “The defendant Donald Trump orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election,” said prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told jurors. At the hearing, Trump’s attorneys came to an agreement with the New York attorney general’s office on the terms of that $175 million bond. Trump’s attorneys representing him in the civil matter later stopped by the criminal trial and spoke to cameras in the hallway outside the courtroom where Trump sat at the defense table.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Stormy Daniels, Trump, ” Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, ”, Matthew Colangelo, “, ” Colangelo, Cohen, David Pecker, Colangelo, it’s, Todd Blanche, “ Donald Trump, ” Blanche, he’s, Blanche didn’t, It’s, Blanche, Cohen’s, Trump ”, Trump’s, Michael Cohen, President Trump, He’s, Pecker, Karen McDougal –, Letitia James, James ’, ” Alina Habba, Merchan, Chris Conroy, Emil Bove Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, National Enquirer, Trump, American Media Inc, Defense, AMI, Pecker’s AMI, New, Specialty Insurance Locations: New York

The man who lit himself on fire outside of the Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump’s trial was taking place died Friday night, a senior law enforcement official told CNN. NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey B. Maddrey said earlier that the man walked into the center of Collect Pond Park, which is directly across from the courthouse. He opened his backpack and took out pamphlets that he scattered in the park before setting himself on fire. The man was taken to Cornell Burn Center earlier in critical condition. Police had said they thought it was not likely that he would survive.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jeffrey B, Maddrey Organizations: CNN, NYPD, Collect, Cornell Burn, Police Locations: Manhattan

Donald Trump's Truth Social posts repeating unsubstantiated claims about potential jurors is "baiting" Judge Juan Merchan into acting and "thumbing his nose at the system," Elliot Williams, CNN legal analyst, said. "However, it is not entirely straightforward under New York law what happens next," Williams added. Prosecutors say Trump has violated his gag order seven more times, pointing to posts online and calling the situation "ridiculous." Williams notes that despite the repeated violation allegations, Merchan can't just throw Trump in jail. The judge has to bring Trump in for a hearing and he has to decide if it's a civil or criminal proceeding.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Juan Merchan, Elliot Williams, Williams, Trump, Merchan, he's Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump Locations: York

New York CNN —Jury selection in Donald Trump’s hush money business fraud case began Thursday looking like the task of finding 12 jurors had run aground. Juror 11 was seated on the jury after Merchan denied Trump’s challenge to the juror for cause. Trump’s lawyers argued she should be dismissed because she said she does not like Trump’s “persona.”“I don’t like his persona,” she said. The district attorney’s office refused. Trump’s attorneys and the district attorney’s office also will get additional peremptory challenges for the alternate jurors.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Juan Merchan’s, It’s, won’t, topsy turvy, Trump, Merchan, ”, “, “ It’s, Trump’s, it’s, Susan Necheles, she’d, Michael Cohen, he’s, Todd Blanche, Josh Steinglass, “ We’re, ” Merchan, Blanche, “ They’re, what’s, Sandoval, they’ll, Jean Carroll, that’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Trump, CNN, Twitter Locations: New York, Manhattan, New Yorker

CNN —If Donald Trump opts to testify at his New York criminal trial, Manhattan prosecutors want to use his past legal run-ins to discredit him to the jury. Prosecutors say they’ll want to question him about what they claim is false testimony he gave on the stand at that trial last November. The judge plans to hold a proceeding called a Sandoval hearing to rule on what’s fair fodder for prosecutors if Trump takes the stand in his defense later at trial. A Sandoval hearing is a common preliminary proceeding that reviews a defendant’s criminal history and looks at how much prosecutors can ask if a defendant testifies. “If for some reason we are fortunate and get done early on Friday, we will take up Sandoval at that time,” Merchan said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, They’ll, Jean Carroll, Hillary Clinton, Donald J, Judge Juan Merchan, Sandoval, Merchan, ” Merchan Organizations: CNN, Manhattan, Office, New, Prosecutors, Trump Foundation, Trump Locations: York, Manhattan, New York

Former President Donald Trump's motorcade has arrived at the Manhattan courthouse where jury selection will begin for his hush money criminal trial. He's the first former president to go on trial for criminal charges. As in any state criminal court case in the county, the pool will be limited to people who live in Manhattan. Twelve jurors will make up the panel that will ultimately consider the 34 counts of falsifying business records against Trump. Six alternates will also hear the case in case a juror on the main panel needs to be replaced.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Juan Merchan’s Organizations: Trump . Locations: Manhattan

CNN —The first criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is here. Trump has complained that he cannot get a fair jury in Manhattan, where the jurors must live. He was fined twice for violating a gag order imposed by New York Judge Arthur Engoron in his civil fraud trial. This payment is not part of the charges against Trump, but prosecutors have said that the testimony would help establish a pattern of payments. Merchan also denied prosecutors’ request to show E. Jean Carroll’s deposition from her defamation case against Trump because it would be “building in a trial into a trial.”

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, ” Merchan, “, Michael Cohen, they’d, CNN’s Paula Reid, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Chris Conroy, ” Conroy, Daniels, Michael Avenatti, Cohen, ”, Arthur Engoron, Karen McDougal, McDougal, Prosecutors, Jean Carroll’s Organizations: CNN, Republican, Manhattan, Attorney’s, Judge, New York, Trump . Defense, Monday Trump, Trump, Prosecutors, Social, New, National, American Media Inc Locations: Manhattan, New, New York

CNN —Lawyers for former President Donald Trump said his $175 million bond posted to satisfy the judgement in the New York civil fraud case is financially sound, and they asked the judge to set aside the attorney general’s challenge to the bond and award him costs and fees. In court filings Monday night, Trump said the bond secured by Knight Specialty Insurance Company is backed by Trump’s Charles Schwab account with more than $175 million in cash. “KSIC also has a standing agreement with its parent company, Knight Insurance Company, Ltd. (‘KIC’), by which KIC reinsures 100% of KSIC’s risk,” the affirmation said. “The $175 million bond at issue is adequately secured.”Earlier this month, the attorney general’s office challenged the financial ability of the underwriter to be able to stand in for the bond. The attorney general’s office questioned whether Knight Specialty was authorized to underwrite a surety bond in New York state and whether it lacked a certificate from the state regulator saying it is qualified.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Trump’s Charles Schwab, Schwab, Gregory Serio, “ KSIC, Arthur Engoron, ” Organizations: CNN, Knight Specialty Insurance, DJT Trust, Knight Insurance Company, Ltd Locations: New York

☆ Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg to face his toughest trial yet as Trump criminal case begins
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Gregory Krieg | Kara Scannell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“I’ve done a lot of cases that are considered no-win,” Bragg told CNN at the time, in December 2021. Though Bragg’s ambitions are widely considered to be less lofty than some of his predecessors, the Trump trial will likely write both his political future and legacy. Two months into office, Bragg was confronted by two senior attorneys leading the Trump investigation. When Bragg refused to authorize them to seek an indictment they abruptly and noisily resigned, putting additional pressure on the new district attorney. Trump eventually paid $2 million of his own money to a group of charities, and the foundation was dissolved.

Persons: Alvin Bragg, Donald Trump, “, ” Bragg, you’re, ’, ”, Bragg, indicting Trump, Trump, –, craven, Jim Jordan, Cy Vance Jr, Robert Morgenthau, Morgenthau, Vance, Charles Seymour Whitman, Thomas Dewey, Dewey, Eric Garner, Garner, Trump’s, Michael Cohen –, Stormy Daniels, Cohen, blitzed Bragg, Alina Habba, that’s, ” Trump, “ Alvin, I’m, Eric Adams, Adams, Donald J, Barbara Underwood, Judge Juan Merchan, Daniels Organizations: CNN, Ohio, White, Harvard, of, New, New York Law, Racial, Trump, Republican, Prosecutors, New York, “, New York City, NYPD, Trump Organization, Democratic, Trump Foundation Locations: Harlem, American, New York City, Black, New York, Southern, of New York, America

☆ New York trial of Donald Trump: an unusual request on trial Day 1
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Of the first group of 96 potential jurors who crammed into the courtroom, more than half were immediately excused for saying they could not be fair and impartial. A Manhattan jury also found Trump’s business, the Trump Organization, guilty of tax evasion, although Trump was not personally named in that case. And here is an excellent visual timeline of the entire hush money scandal. It was Cohen who orchestrated the hush money payments and who pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating campaign finance law, for which he served time in prison. Trump is accused by New York of falsifying business records when he paid Cohen back for the hush money scheme.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, CNN’s Kara Scannell, Jeremy Herb, Scannell, “, ” Scannell, Jeffrey Abramson, ”, ” Abramson, Jean Carroll, Abramson, Judge Juan Merchan, Kellyanne Conway, Rudy Giuliani, Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, CNN’s Kaanita Iyer, McDougal – She’s, Trump’s, Melania, Barron, Merchan, Carroll –, Carroll, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Maggie Haberman, Jake Tapper Organizations: CNN, America, Democracy, New, Trump, Trump Organization, National Enquirer, Trump . ►, Enquirer, – Prosecutors, New York Times Locations: Manhattan, sidebars, New York, Trump

☆ Key players in Trump’s hush money trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Kaanita Iyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Donald Trump’s criminal New York hush money trial begins Monday, more than a year after the former president was indicted in the case. Stormy DanielsAdult-film star Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels, received a $130,000 payment just days before the 2016 presidential election. Michael CohenThe $130,000 payment to Daniels was made by Cohen, then Trump’s personal attorney, who landed in federal prison over that transaction for breaking campaign finance laws. Cohen, now a critical witness, has said that Trump directed him to make the payment to Daniels. Judge Juan MerchanNew York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, who is known for maintaining control of his courtroom even when his cases draw considerable attention, will preside over this case.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Trump, Stephanie Clifford, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Michael Cohen, Cohen, he’s, David Pecker, Pecker, Karen McDougal, Hope Hicks, Hicks, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Juan Merchan, Steve, Trump’s, Allen Weisselberg, Merchan, Sydney Kashiwagi, CNN’s Devan Cole, Kara Scannell, Lauren del Valle, Jeremy Herb, Marshall Cohen, Kaitlan Collins Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, American Media Inc, National Inquirer, AMI, Manhattan, Attorney, Juan Merchan New, Trump Organization, Democratic Locations: York, Manhattan

☆ What prosecutors have to prove in the Trump hush money trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Kara Scannell | Lauren Del Valle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Prosecutors allege Trump falsified business records to hide the reimbursement of hush money payments that were made to influence the election outcome. And it may feature at least one audio recording of Trump and Cohen allegedly discussing a catch and kill deal. Necheles represented Trump’s business at its tax fraud trial in 2022. It was the third “catch and kill” deal to come after a key meeting at Trump Tower in August 2015 between Trump, Cohen and Pecker. On October 27, 2016, Cohen wired the money to Daniels and 12 days later Trump won the election.

Persons: Donald Trump, coverup, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Donald Trump's, Kena Betancur, Juan Merchan, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, ”, Hope Hicks, Cohen, they’ve, Daniels, Todd Blanche, Emil Bove, Susan Necheles, Necheles, Bradley Smith, Alan Garten, Merchan, Pecker, Karen McDougal, Allen Weisselberg Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Manhattan, Attorney, Trump, National Enquirer, Commission, Trump Organization, Trump Tower, American Media Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Kena, New York, Lake Tahoe

CNN —The first criminal trial of a US ex-president kicks off Monday, April 15, with jury selection in New York, where former President Donald Trump faces charges from the Manhattan District attorney related to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. This is the first of four criminal cases expected to go to trial for Trump, also the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee. CNN compiled a timeline of the key events leading up to the historic trial. Here’s how we got here:

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels Organizations: CNN, Manhattan District, Trump Locations: New York

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