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☆ The jury in the Trump trial faces a task unique in American history
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“The judge hates Donald Trump, just take a look, take a look at him, take a look at where he comes from. The intricate task that awaits jurorsIt’s impossible to know how jurors are interpreting the daily drama of the courtroom in any trial. Trump has denied the alleged affair with Daniels, and hush money payments are not illegal in themselves. When Cohen finally took the stand, he directly implicated Trump in the alleged scheme to buy Daniels’ silence. But he may have ended up creating a hole in the Trump defense, according to several legal experts.

Persons: there’ll, Donald Trump’s, He’s, Juan Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Donald Trump, Trump, It’s, he’s, —, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, “, Matthew Colangelo, they’ve, Michael Cohen, ”, Todd Blanche, Cohen, David Pecker, Pecker, Hope Hicks, Hicks, ” Hicks, ’, ” Trump, ‘, ’ ” Cohen, Trump’s, he’d, beseeched, Cohen’s, ” Blanche, Merchan, — Robert Costello, Costello Organizations: CNN, Trump, Attorney, Democrat, Republican, GOP, New York, Prosecutors, American Media Inc, National Enquirer, White House Locations: New York, Manhattan, Lake Tahoe

☆ Latest Trump hush-money battle: how to instruct jurors on the coverup of a coverup and crimes within crimes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Read previewLawyers in the Donald Trump hush-money trial spent Tuesday afternoon in a spirited battle over this question: what will the judge tell jurors right before they begin their deliberations next week? The jury charge is so important, so sacrosanct, that Merchan will order the doors to his courtroom sealed for its duration, with no one in the well or audience allowed to enter or leave. AdvertisementThe jury charge for this single felony should be easy, right? But it's not the only law jurors must understand and weigh when they begin deliberations as early as Wednesday. Or can some jurors find that Trump conspired to violate tax law, while other jurors see the falsification of National Enquirer business records as the central offense?

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Trump, There's, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Michael Cohen, Cohen, — Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Getty, Daniels, it's, Prosecutors, he's, It's, reimbursements, Emil Bove, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, Merchan, I'm, Yuki Iwamura, Bove, he'll Organizations: Service, York, Business, Trump Organization, Prosecutors, Attorney, Trump, Manhattan, Federal, National Enquirer Locations: New York, York, Manhattan

☆ Opinion: Trump’s defense ends on one disastrous witness
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Part of the reason for those modest hopes was the fact that the defense case would not include testimony by the defendant. Later, the charging conference to agree on jury instructions showed how daunting the law is that Trump faces. All of that is bad news not just for Costello, whose clash with Merchan won Trump’s praise outside the courtroom Monday, but also for the defense. Because Costello was one of Trump’s only witnesses, there is also the risk that he — and the jury’s reaction to his poor attitude — will taint the defense case overall. There was little the defense could do about the law in the charging conference beyond their usual able argument.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Robert Costello, Costello, Michael Cohen, Susan Hoffinger, ” Cohen, Rudy Giuliani, Cohen, —, Trump, Norm Eisen, Stormy Daniels, ”, parrying, Merchan, it’s, Matthew Colangelo, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump —, FBI, Prosecutors, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Manhattan, , New York

☆ Opinion: Trump’s defense got one last shot at Michael Cohen. Did they make their case?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The biggest drama in the trial of former President Donald Trump on Monday came not, as expected, in the cross-examination of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. His testimony wrapped without any moments approaching the significance of last week’s defense hits on the star witness. Cohen had already admitted that he lied to Costello, and indeed lied more broadly to protect Trump before cooperating with the government. But Cohen has already testified that he lied about Trump’s knowledge of the payment to Daniels before cooperating with prosecutors. It culminated before the lunch break with a bit of razzle- dazzle to bolster Cohen’s testimony about what happened on that phone call with Schiller and Trump.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, — Robert Costello, Cohen —, audibly, Juan Merchan, Costello, ” Merchan, cautioning, ’, …, ” Costello, Merchan, Norm Eisen, Cohen, chastising Costello, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Keith Schiller, Schiller, —, Trump’s, ”, Susan Hoffinger, Perry Mason Organizations: CNN, Monday, Trump, Trump Organization, SPAN, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Trump’s Manhattan, Tampa , Florida

AdvertisementThe first-ever criminal trial of a former American president is now nearing its end after several weeks of witness testimony. Related storiesIn some of those hallway appearances earlier in the trial, Trump has told reporters that he planned to testify. He told jurors that Cohen told him that Trump didn't know anything about the payments. "If you don't like my ruling, you don't give me side-eye, and you don't roll your eyes," Merchan told Costello before he cleared the room. Trump " wasn't thinking about Melania — this was all about the campaign," Cohen told jurors.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Juan Merchan, Trump, Robert Costello, Costello, Emil Bove, muttered, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Susan Hoffinger, Merchan, Stormy Daniels, Cohen —, Trump —, Daniels, didn't, Rudy Giuliani, audibly, Judge Juan Merchan, castigates, Elizabeth Williams, Daniel Sitko, Brad Smith, Smith's, Smith, reimbursing Cohen Organizations: Service, GOP, Business, New, Trump, Republican, Manhattan, Attorney's Office, Attorney's, Prosecutors, FBI, AP, Federal, Washington Examiner Locations: New York, American, Manhattan, Trump

CNN —The defense rested its case in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial on Tuesday after roughly 90 minutes of testimony – and without the former president taking the stand. Here are takeaways from the final day of testimony in the Trump hush money trial:Trump doesn’t take the standOver the last several months, Trump repeatedly teased that he would take the stand in his own defense. “That was a lie,” Blanche alleged of Cohen’s testimony he spoke to Trump about moving forward with the hush money deal. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger also tried to remind jurors that it was Trump – not Cohen – who was on trial in this case. In their first meeting, Costello said Cohen was “absolutely manic” and suicidal after the FBI raid on his properties.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Robert Costello, Michael Cohen, Trump, Cohen, ” Trump, Todd Blanche, Costello, Sandoval, –, Jean Carroll, Donald J, Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, Cohen –, Trump’s, Blanche, Keith Schiller, Schiller, Daniels, ” Blanche, Keith, ” Cohen, Prosecutors, Susan Hoffinger, Trump –, ” Hoffinger, “, Juan Merchan, ” Merchan, Merchan, ” Costello, Emil Bove, Bob, Donald Trump, ”, scold Costello, Hoffinger, Rudy Giuliani, Mercahn Organizations: CNN, FBI, Publicly, Trump, New, Mr, Giuliani Locations: Wisconsin, New York, Florida

☆ Trump trial resumes with defense witness Robert Costello after judge scorches him for disrespectful conduct
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The man who might be the most significant defense witness for former President Donald Trump — and the last witness in his New York criminal hush money trial — resumes testimony Tuesday, a day after a judge ripped him for disrespectful conduct on the witness stand. The witness, criminal defense lawyer Robert Costello, was sharply warned Monday afternoon by Judge Juan Merchan for glaring at the judge and muttering in disdain when Merchan upheld objections from prosecutors. "I'm putting you on notice that your conduct is contemptuous now," Merchan told Costello, after clearing the courtroom of most of the public and press when he had had enough of the former federal prosecutor's antics. "If you stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand," Merchan warned, according to a transcript of the verbal beatdown. Cohen has said he paid Daniels to keep her quiet about a one-off sexual tryst with Trump in 2006 to keep her from damaging his chances in the 2016 presidential election.

Persons: Robert Costello, Juan Merchan, Donald Trump's, Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump —, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Costello, Trump's, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Daniels, Trump Organizations: FBI Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, New York

☆ Bob Menendez: Trump circus overshadows senator’s corruption trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

So it goes for Menendez, who is likely pleased to have his legal drama playing out in relative obscurity. More recently, Fetterman mocked the senator’s defense, which relies in part on pointing the finger of blame on Nadine Menendez, his wife. Republicans in Washington, as they’ve done during these first two weeks of the Menendez trial in New York, have been consistently deferential to the New Jersey Democrat. Rep. Andy Kim, a popular Democrat from South Jersey, is expected to win the nomination to succeed Menendez. Andrew Giuliani, pressed for a thought on the senator’s trial or the allegations against him, shrugged.

Persons: New York CNN — Andrew Giuliani, Donald, ”, Rudy Giuliani squinted, “, ” He’s, Sen, Bob Menendez’s, –, Michael Cohen, Daniels, Menendez, Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Ronny Jackson, Bob Costello, Pam Bondi, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Matt Whitaker, Sebastian Gorka, Gov, Dan Patrick, Jackson, María Elvira Salazar, Troy Nehls, Dale Strong, Daniel Webster of, Vladimir Putin’s, Cory Booker, Chuck Schumer, John Fetterman, George Santos, Fetterman, Nadine Menendez, ” Fetterman, Jake Tapper, Mitch McConnell, ” North Dakota Sen, Kevin Cramer, he’s, Andy Kim, Andrew Giuliani, haven’t, ” CNN’s Sabrina Souza Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York, Manhattan Criminal, Court, Republican, Democrat, The New, The New Jersey Democrat, Foreign Relations, Trump, Democratic, Manhattan, Attorney, Texas, Dale Strong of, Pennsylvania Democrat, New York Rep, “, Union, ”, Republicans, New Jersey Democrat, Democrats, GOP, ” North, Politico Locations: New York, Lower Manhattan, Manhattan, The, The New Jersey, Menendez’s, Florida, Sebastian Gorka , Texas, María Elvira Salazar of Florida, Texas, Dale Strong of Alabama, Daniel Webster of Florida, North Korea, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, Egypt, ”, “ State, Israel, ” North Dakota, South Jersey, New York City

☆ Live Updates: Trump’s Lawyers Are Expected to Rest Case in Criminal Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Matthew Haag | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Here are five takeaways from Mr. Trump’s 19th day on trial. Last week, Todd Blanche, Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer, confronted Mr. Cohen about a phone call on Oct. 24, 2016. After cross-examination, prosecutors sought to introduce a photo showing Mr. Trump with Mr. Schiller that was taken about the same time as the call. He tried to raise questions about other calls that Mr. Cohen said he placed to Mr. Trump around the time of the hush-money payment. Mr. Cohen, Mr. Trump’s combustible former lawyer and fixer, never lost his temper, despite admitting all manner of bad behavior.

Persons: Michael D, Cohen, Donald J, Trump, sully, Juan M, Merchan, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Trump’s, Robert Costello, Costello, “, ”, Justice Merchan, Mr, . Costello, ” Prosecutors, Todd Blanche, —, Keith Schiller —, Schiller, Cohen’s, Blanche, Susan Hoffinger, ” Cohen, Dave Sanders Organizations: Mr, Defense, Trump Organization, The New York Times Locations: Manhattan, Lake Tahoe, Nev

☆ Trump’s trial reaches crescendo as tempers fray in the courtroom
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The presumptive Republican nominee’s lawyers made a long-shot bid for the dismissal of his first criminal trial before the jury has even been asked to deliberate. And he implored Merchan not to hand jurors a case so reliant on testimony from Cohen, a confessed liar. Key developmentsMonday’s court action at times threatened to spin out of control — in a way that only a Trump trial can. “I know it may feel like you’re on trial here after cross-examination, but are you actually on trial?” she asked Cohen. Courtroom chaosVeteran lawyers and court reporters said they’d never seen anything like the scene precipitated by defense witness Robert Costello.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Juan Merchan, Michael Cohen, sensationally, ’, Todd Blanche, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Cohen, ” Blanche, ”, “, Blanche, he’d, ” Trump, Daniels, won’t, —, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, Keith Schiller, Susan Hoffinger, LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, Jake Tapper, they’d, Robert Costello, Costello, there’s, ” Merchan, ” Cordell, Tapper, Bob Costello, I’ve, Terri Austin, CNN’s Erin Burnett, we’ll Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, Republican Party, Trump Organization, “ Locations: Merchan, Trump, Manhattan

☆ A Swift Defense and a Decision Ahead: 5 Takeaways From Trump’s Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Jesse Mckinley | Kate Christobek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

And, despite dangling the possibility, Mr. Trump did not testify. Testimony started April 22 with a tabloid publisher called by the prosecution, David Pecker, and ended with a lawyer called by the defense, Robert Costello. Mr. Trump, 77, has denied the charges and the encounter. Here are five takeaways from Mr. Trump’s 20th day on trial. Mr. Costello, once Mr. Cohen’s informal adviser, continued on the stand on Tuesday, after a reprimand Monday from Justice Juan M. Merchan, who said he had been “contemptuous.”

Persons: Donald J, Trump, David Pecker, Robert Costello, Stormy Daniels, Trump’s, Michael D, Cohen, Hope Hicks, Daniels, . Costello, Justice Juan M, Merchan, ” Organizations: Memorial, Mr, Justice

☆ Stakes are high for prosecutors to rescue Cohen testimony as Trump trial enters endgame
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Defense lawyers say they expect to complete their bruising cross-examination of Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and enforcer, on Monday morning. In dramatic testimony, Cohen last week directly implicated Trump in the alleged scheme, saying the former president directed him to hand over $130,000 to Daniels and promised him reimbursement. With the end of Cohen’s testimony looming, there is uncertainty over the extent of Trump’s defense case. Blanche referred to the possibility of Trump’s testimony on Thursday, the last day the court was in session. After the defense case wraps up, the prosecution has a chance to put on its own rebuttal.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Michael Cohen —, Cohen, Trump’s, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, ” Cohen, Todd Blanche, Keith Schiller, Blanche, President Trump, Schiller, ’, Randy Zelin, Republican nominee’s, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, — Bradley Smith, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Smith, —, backtrack, “, ” Blanche, Arthur Engoron, president’s, Engoron Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Cornell Law School, Central ”, Republican, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, Commission Locations: New York, Lago, Manhattan, Louisiana, Lake Tahoe

Once Mr. Trump was elected, he agreed to repay Mr. Cohen for the $130,000 hush-money deal and more. And at a meeting in Trump Tower just weeks before he was sworn in, Mr. Trump signed off on the fakery, Mr. Cohen recounted from the stand. “What, if anything, did Mr. Trump say at that time?” a prosecutor asked Mr. Cohen. There, he said, Mr. Trump’s chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, explained how Mr. Trump would reimburse Mr. Cohen for the payoff. To reach Mr. Trump, Mr. Cohen testified, he called the candidate’s bodyguard, Keith Schiller.

Persons: Donald J, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Michael D, Cohen, Trump, Trump’s, —, Alvin L, Bragg, Cohen —, Marc F, Scholl, ”, ” Mr, Stormy Daniels, Mr, “, Michael M, Joshua Steinglass, Juan M, Merchan —, “ Trump, David Pecker, Pecker, Hope Hicks, Penny, Daniels, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Susan Hoffinger, Cohen’s, Keith Schiller, Schiller, William K, Rashbaum Organizations: Trump, Mr, Trump “, New, National Enquirer, Playboy, fixer Locations: Manhattan, New York

☆ Trump's election-law witness Bradley Smith is getting $1,200 an hour to testify — and spin reporters
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewAs Donald Trump's criminal hush-money trial nears the end, the former president's defense team plans to call at least one witness — an ex-commissioner of the Federal Election Commission who's getting a whopping $1,200 an hour. Smith does not appear to be quoted in media coverage of Trump's hush-money case. Related storiesThe judges in both cases found that the defense improperly wanted Smith to interpret campaign finance law to the jury. AdvertisementIn putting Smith on the stand, Trump's defense team hopes to challenge the prosecution's argument that the hush-money payment breached those laws.

Persons: —, Donald, Commission who's, Bradley Smith —, Smith, he'd, Trump, Juan Merchan, Bill Clinton, Bradley Smith, Douglas Graham, Sam Bankman, Suarez, Trump —, Eli Bartov, Arthur Engoron, Engoron, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Daniels, Melania Trump Organizations: Service, Commission, Republican, Business, New, Save America PAC —, New York University, The Manhattan, Attorney's, Prosecutors, Trump Locations: Trump's, Manhattan, States

☆ Hush-money judge rips Trump witness who scoffed at his rulings: 'You don't give me the side-eye!'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The witness, attorney Robert Costello, was called by the defense to attack the credibility of key prosecution witness Michael Cohen. Within minutes of taking the stand, Costello was in open conflict with New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the case. "If you don't like my ruling you don't say 'Jeez," you don't give me side eye, and you don't roll your eyes," the judge scolded. "You don't say 'strike it,'" the judge told the witness, adding that it's his job, not the witness' to strike testimony. Bove could not instigate a "trial within a trial," the judge ordered, by asking Costello questions beyond this limited topic.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Robert Costello, Michael Cohen, chafed, Costello, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Costello glared, Trump, Robert Balin, Emil Bove, Cohen —, Rudy Giuliani, Cohen, Cohen's, Bove, Costello audibly, Stormy Daniels, Blanche, Daniel Citco Organizations: Service, Business, New York, Trump, Manhattan District, Republican Locations: Nassau County, New

☆ Opinion | A Trump Conviction Doesn’t Hang on Michael Cohen
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jeffrey Toobin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But the verdict is likely to turn on the other half — whether Mr. Trump caused the false information to appear on the invoices and vouchers. According to the prosecution, on the eve of the 2016 election, Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s onetime lawyer and fixer, paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, the porn star, to guarantee her silence about a tryst she and Mr. Trump allegedly had a decade earlier. Mr. Trump then reimbursed Mr. Cohen for his outlay, plus a bonus and additional funds for taxes. Several witnesses support the government’s claim that Mr. Trump’s payments to the lawyer were not legal fees. Mr. Trump himself tweeted in 2018 that Mr. Cohen received a “reimbursement” and said as much in a White House financial disclosure form.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump, Michael Cohen, Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Cohen, Daniels, ” Organizations: White Locations: Manhattan

☆ Prosecutors Poised to Conclude Trump Case as Trial Enters Final Days
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jonah E. Bromwich | Ben Protess | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Donald J. Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial will enter its final phase on Monday with the prosecution poised to complete its case and the defense considering whether to call witnesses of its own. The witness, Michael D. Cohen, has already testified over the course of three days, telling jurors that in 2015 he entered a conspiracy to suppress information damaging to the presidential campaign of his then-boss, Mr. Trump. Mr. Cohen, who was Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer and fixer, suppressed one of those stories himself, paying $130,000 to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, just weeks before the election to bury her story of having had sex with Mr. Trump. After the election, Mr. Cohen testified, the president-elect approved a plan to reimburse him for the payment, knowing that the reimbursements would be classified as ordinary legal expenses. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has charged Mr. Trump with 34 felonies, arguing that what Mr. Cohen described was a crime: the falsification of business records.

Persons: Donald J, Michael D, Cohen, Trump, Stormy Daniels Locations: Manhattan

CNN —The prosecution rested their case against Donald J. Trump on Monday in the former president’s hush money trial, which is barreling toward a conclusion as soon as next week. Regardless of the break, the Trump hush money trial is near its end – and roughly a week away from being in the hands of the jury. Cohen was the key witness, spending more than 17 hours on the witness stand over four days before wrapping up on Monday. Trial endgame comes into focusTrump’s side began its defense case Monday afternoon – and the former president’s lawyers appear likely to rest on Tuesday. The defense first called a paralegal to introduce call records between Cohen and Costello, before Costello took the stand.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Michael Cohen’s, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Robert Costello, audibly, Costello, Merchan, Daniels, Hope Hicks, National Enquirer David Pecker, Todd Blanche, Trump’s, Rudy Giuliani, “, Bob, Donald Trump, Emil Bove, ”, there’s, ” Merchan, Susan Hoffinger Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Enquirer, CNN Defense, FBI, New Locations: Manhattan, New York

☆ Opinion: Credibility is the key at Trump trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

The idea that Cohen talked to Trump about Daniels on that call “was a lie,” Blanche alleged. Moreover, my experience has been that juries don’t decide based upon one moment — they base their judgment on an overall view.”There were allegedly three parties aware of the scheme to conceal the real reason Trump paid Cohen more than $400,000 in supposed legal fees: Trump, Cohen and Allen Weisselberg, then-chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. “Weisselberg could be the linchpin to validate Cohen’s claims about Trump agreeing to reimburse him through Trump Organization, as a business expense,” wrote attorney Stacy Schneider. Trump seems to be tempted to go mano a mano and show that he is better fit to be commander-in-chief. The new requirement for GOP politicians wanting to demonstrate their loyalty to Trump seems to be visiting the Manhattan courthouse where he’s on trial.

Persons: CNN —, ” Mark Twain, “, Twain, ” Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, —, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Norm Eisen, Blanche, ”, pummeled Cohen, Robert Mueller, Nick Anderson, Agency Cohen, Keith Schiller, Daniels, ” Blanche, ” Eisen, don’t, Allen Weisselberg, Stacy Schneider, Weisselberg, David Zurawik, “ I’ve, Sen, Robert Menendez, He’s, George Santos ., CNN “ It’s, he’s, ‘, Henry Cuellar, ” Cupp, Drew Sheneman, Georgia —, Vladimir Putin’s, Frida Ghitis, ” Ghitis, Joe Biden’s, ” Dana Summers, “ Biden, ” Julian Zelizer, mano, Biden, ” Bill Bramhall, Stephanie Griffith, Howard Tucker, Gayle Fleming, Michael Ventura Gayle Fleming, Biden —, ” Tom Brady’s, Kara Alaimo, Tom Brady “, Kevin Hart, Gisele Bündchen, Brady, Benjamin, Vivian, ’ Brady, ’, Alaimo, Brady didn’t, Nafees Syed, Kamel El Hilali, Andrew Borene, freakout Scott Stantis, Jeff Yang, … ” Brown, Keith Magee, Brown, backpedaling, Forget, Doug Burgum, Scott Jennings, Burgum’s, Bill Bramhall, Content Agency Clarence Thomas Washington, Clarence Thomas ’, Dean Obeidallah, Thomas, Harlan Crow, ” Clay Jones, John Oliver’s, Steve Vladeck, “ Thomas, ” Don’t, Clayton Swope, Dan Perry, Netanyahu, Jill Filipovic, Miss Teen USA Mary Ziegler, Bob Kolasky, Megan L, Ranney, Karen Tang, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Jonathan Yeo, King Charles III, Aaron Chown, Holly Thomas, King Organizations: CNN, Trump, Tribune, Agency, Trump Organization, Twitter, Facebook, DC, Robert Menendez of New, GOP, ” Texas, White, Europe, Russia, Kyiv, Biden, ABC, Democratic Party, Netflix, Garden State, Content Agency, Capitol, Consumer Financial, Board, Fifth Circuit, ICC, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Buckingham Palace, Royal Locations: New York, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Russian, Ukraine, Slovakia, Georgia, Soviet Republic, United States, Cleveland, “, Manhattan, North, . North Dakota, ” That’s, Louisiana , Mississippi, Texas, Florida’s, Buckingham

☆ Trump is unlikely to testify in his hush-money trial as he could risk committing perjury, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewDonald Trump is unlikely to testify in his hush-money trial in Manhattan, despite previously saying he would, sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. Four unnamed people close to the former president told the paper that they were not expecting him to take the witness stand next week. Related storiesDespite this, Trump has previously insisted that he would "absolutely" testify in the trial. On Friday, a centrist Washington DC-based think tank, Third Way, released an ad dubbed "Coward," daring Trump to take the stand.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, John Coffee, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Coward, Donald, Robert Mintz, Michael Cohen, Trump's, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Coffee, Blanche Organizations: Service, Washington Post, Business, Columbia Law School, Telegraph, Lawyers, Elmen, Washington DC, Post Locations: Manhattan, Washington

☆ Trump's hush money verdict hinges on a single piece of paper. See the most important evidence in the case.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Read previewWelcome to People's Exhibit 35, the single most important piece of evidence in the Donald Trump hush-money trial. People's 35 is the fulcrum for the entire case. What People's 35 does not have is Trump's fingerprints, a point that the defense is sure to press during closing arguments next week. AdvertisementProsecutors allege that Trump's payments to Cohen were falsified to conceal hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels. "Yes," Cohen answered, as Trump watched from the defense table"And what, if anything, did Mr. Trump say at the time?"

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, we'll, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Cohen —, Reince, Jon Elswick, Susan Hoffinger, Daniels, Hoffinger, Todd Blanche, — Cohen, Keith Davidson, Davidson, Karen McDougal, Playboy Bunny, Trump's, Melania Trump, peddled, Charlie Sheen, Hulk Hogan, Lindsay Lohan, Tila, RedFinch, That's Allen Weisselberg's, Allen, — it's, Trump —, Mary Altaffer Organizations: Service, Business, Attorney's, Trump Organization, Trump, Prosecutors, AP, Manhattan, BI Prosecutors, Essential, Consultants, Tahoe, National Enquirer, RedFinch Solutions, RedFinch, People's, frick Locations: Manhattan, Virginia

☆ This Is What Worries Me About the Trump Trial - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I can’t remember when I’ve been more disturbed by a criminal trial than I have been by the Manhattan trial of Donald Trump. At the same time, the underlying legal theory supporting the prosecution’s case remains dubious. Stormy Daniels’s testimony crystallized, better than that of any other witness, the prosecution’s theory that Trump ordered Michael Cohen to pay off Daniels to save his campaign and then fraudulently disguised the reimbursements. The Washington Post released the infamous recording in which Trump told Billy Bush, one of the show’s hosts, “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.” Trump went on, saying he could grab women by the genitals.

Persons: I’ve, Donald Trump, Trump, MAGA, Let’s, Michael Cohen, Daniels, Billy Bush, ” Trump, ” Organizations: Washington Post Locations: Manhattan

☆ $1.8K to stand in line: Line sitters are cashing in on Donald Trump's hush-money trial, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Donald Trump's hush-money trial is proving beneficial for professional line-sitting businesses. Limited courtroom spots and long wait times are driving the demand for their services. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementDonald Trump's hush-money trial at Manhattan's criminal court isn't being televised, and with limited spots inside the courtroom for the public and media, seats are given out on a first-come-first-served basis. Professional line sitters, who will wait in line so you don't have to, have been cashing in on the former president's trial.

Persons: Donald Trump's, —, isn't, Trump, Stormy Daniels Organizations: Service, Business

☆ We asked ChatGPT to be a juror in Donald Trump's hush-money trial. It said it would find him guilty.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Madeline Berg | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewIt will be a jury of 12 ordinary New Yorkers that will decide the fate of former President Donald Trump in his ongoing Manhattan hush-money trial. Using that document, we asked various AI chatbots whether they found Trump guilty. They were told to "choose now whether you would find him guilty or not guilty." AdvertisementBut OpenAI's ChatGPT and Perplexity weighed in — and both said they'd find Trump guilty. "I would vote guilty on the charges of falsifying business records," Perplexity responded definitively.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Perplexity, they'd, ChatGPT, Trump's, Cohen, David Pecker, Juan Merchan, chatbots Organizations: Service, Business, Prosecutors, New York, Trump, National Enquirer Locations: Manhattan, —, Trump

☆ Opinion | Why the Manhattan Trial Is Probably Helping Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Ross Douthat | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Throughout the Republican primary campaign (such as it was), it was perfectly clear that the multiple indictments of Donald Trump helped him consolidate support. This was a source of moral exasperation to liberals, but their bafflement coexisted with the hope that what played well with the MAGA faithful would have the opposite effect in the general election. Trump’s cries of persecution might rally conservatives in a primary, but the trials themselves would help Joe Biden cruise to re-election. But watching the trial play out so far, it seems just as likely that as in the primaries, so now in the general election: Any political effect from being charged and tried is probably working marginally in Trump’s favor. First, consider how this trial plays if you are not paying close attention to the legal details.

Persons: Donald Trump, MAGA, Trump’s, Joe Biden, we’re, Trump, Stormy Daniels Organizations: Republican

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