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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

☆ Opinion: Harvey Weinstein’s prosecutors made a huge mistake. Trump’s prosecutors risk repeating it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Opinion Jim Walden | Deanna Paul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Jim Walden Courtesy of Jim WaldenA few days later, New York’s highest court overturned the sex crimes conviction of Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. And the recent dramatic developments in the Weinstein case demonstrate why the presiding judge in the Trump trial, Judge Juan Merchan, needs to reverse his ruling allowing Trump to be questioned about proven misconduct from other cases. If he doesn’t, Trump could have an easy path to having a conviction in the case tossed out. This is essentially what happened in the Weinstein case. If he does not, Trump could get a conviction overturned while the ink hasn’t yet dried on the jury’s verdict.

Persons: Jim Walden, Deanna Paul, Walden, Donald Trump’s Manhattan, Harvey Weinstein, Weinstein, Trump, Juan Merchan, Deanna Paul Meredith Eves Flynn Trump, —, Karen McDougal, Stormy Daniels, David Pecker, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Daniels, Maggie Haberman, Merchan, Letitia James, E, Jean Carroll, Merchan’s, James Burke, Burke’s Organizations: New, CNN, Republican, Hollywood, Trump, Prosecutors, National Enquirer, New York Times, New York, Manhattan, Appeals Locations: New York

☆ Trump will go from the trial to the trail and back again
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Donald Trump will make his most concentrated effort yet to turn his criminal trial into a political asset in the next two days, heading from the courtroom to the campaign trail and back again. Not surprisingly, a majority of Democrats feel that Trump is being treated more leniently than others, while a majority of Republicans think the opposite. But there’s also a risk Trump’s loose tongue out on the trail could get him into trouble following his alleged violations of Merchan’s gag order. They were also tied in Pennsylvania, a third swing state Biden flipped from Trump four years ago. Trump is following a similar playbook as he fuses his criminal defense as a supposed victim of partisan persecution with his political offensive for a White House comeback.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, They’ve, Michael Cohen, Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Joe Biden, Juan Merchan, he’s, —, “, ”, David Pecker, Matthew Colangelo, Todd Blanche, It’s, Biden, there’s, “ I’m, Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Joe Biden’s, Mike Johnson Organizations: CNN, White, Trump, Conservative Political, Republicans, Biden, Republican, White House, CBS News, Sunday, GOP, Democratic, Capitol, Democratic Party, Columbia University, National Guard Locations: New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, Trump, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Bedminster , New Jersey, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, “ State, Pennsylvania, Waukesha , Wisconsin, Gaza, Charlottesville , Virginia, Washington

☆ Fact check: Trump’s false courthouse claims about his trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Here’s a fact check of four of the claims he made about the trial. (For this particular article, we’ll leave aside the false claims he made in the courthouse about a variety of other subjects.) It is an armed camp to keep people away.” And he said in comments inside the courthouse on Thursday: “This courthouse is locked down; there’s not a person within five blocks.”Facts First: Trump’s claims are all false. Facts First: As he has before, Trump made Merchan’s gag order sound far broader than it is. The gag order does not prohibit Trump from declaring the case a sham or from sharing others’ claims that the case is a sham.

Persons: Donald Trump, Here’s, we’ll, Trump, it’s, Michael Cohen’s, Michael Cohen “, ” Cohen, “, ”, Cohen, Trump’s, ” Trump, Judge Juan Merchan’s, Merchan, you’re, “ I’m, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Biden, Alvin Bragg’s, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo Organizations: Washington CNN, New York Times, Trump, CNN, Monday, Republican, Intelligence, Manhattan, Attorney, Biden, Justice Department Locations: Lower Manhattan, Moscow, Russia, ”, Manhattan, York’s

☆ Opinion: Trump attorney gives David Pecker an embarrassing courtroom apology
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Indeed, Bove was forced to apologize to Pecker in front of the jury to open the day. Bove got Pecker to concede that the National Enquirer did “catch and kill” stories to bury damaging information about high-profile people all the time. Bove also contrasted Pecker’s testimony with what was in the FBI notes of Pecker’s first 2018 interview with the feds. And Bove intimated that Pecker cannot directly connect Trump to the allegedly illegal payments then-Trump fixer Michael Cohen made to Daniels at a later date. As for Trump’s recognition of yours truly, it happened again as he left the courtroom Friday for the mid-day break.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Trump, Donald Trump, David Pecker, Norm Eisen, Emil Bove, Bove, Stormy Daniels, —, Juan Merchan, Bove’s, Pecker, Daniels, Hope Hicks, Merchan, Trump’s, ” Merchan, blunting, Pecker’s, Michael Cohen Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Enquirer, White House Communications, Twitter Locations: New York, Manhattan, Washington, York, —, Trump

☆ Trump trial: Defense continues cross-examination of National Enquirer publisher David Pecker: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan criminal court in New York on April 26, 2024. Defense attorneys for former President Donald Trump continued the cross-examination Friday of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who has given three days of damning testimony for the prosecution in Trump's New York criminal hush money trial. Pecker's cross-examination began Thursday afternoon, when attorneys for Trump started a line of questions designed to poke holes in Pecker's credibility. The effort drew objections from prosecutors late Thursday afternoon, which New York Judge Juan Merchan said would be dealt with on Friday. Entering the courtroom Friday morning, Trump said he thought things went "very well" in the trial on Thursday.

Persons: Donald Trump, David Pecker, Pecker's, Trump, Juan Merchan Organizations: U.S, National Enquirer, New York Locations: Manhattan, New York, Trump's New York

☆ Trump trial split screen: Hush money case resumes with David Pecker testimony as Supreme Court hears immunity claim
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump waits for the start of proceedings in Manhattan criminal court on April 23, 2024. The New York criminal trial of Donald Trump is set to resume Thursday with more testimony from David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer and a key player in the former president's alleged hush money scheme. Trump is required to be in Manhattan Supreme Court for his criminal trial. Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump's request to skip at least part of the trial day Thursday to attend the Supreme Court oral arguments. "I made the decision to buy the story because of the potential embarrassment to the campaign and Mr. Trump," he testified.

Persons: Donald Trump, David Pecker, Pecker, Trump, Joe Biden, Judge Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen Organizations: U.S, The New, National Enquirer, Trump, Washington , D.C Locations: Manhattan, The New York, Washington ,

“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

☆ Trump can’t be in two places at once in double courtroom drama
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But Donald Trump’s return to his hush money trial Thursday does not even represent the most critical courtroom drama of his day. The ex-president’s attention is certain to stray from what he has repeatedly complained is a “freezing” court in New York to the neoclassical splendor of the US Supreme Court. Trump blames Judge Juan Merchan for dashing his hopes of being at the Supreme Court Thursday. Trump’s Supreme Court gambit is also part of his wider campaign strategy. CNN reporters in the courtroom said Trump was deeply engaged at times during Pecker’s earlier testimony.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, —, David Pecker, Juan Merchan, ”, Joe Biden, he’s, Boris Epshteyn, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, Merchan, quagmire, Michael Cohen, Cohen, “ Michael Cohen, ” Trump, WPVI, David Pecker –, Pecker, Karen McDougal – Organizations: CNN, US, Republican, Law, The New, Fox News Digital, Trump, Trump voters, Trump’s, White House, Prosecutors, American Media, National Enquirer, Pecker’s AMI Locations: New York, Washington, Manhattan, The New York, Arizona, Michigan, WPVI Philadelphia

☆ Donald Trump again is trying to bend the Supreme Court to his will
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Joan Biskupic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —When he was president, Donald Trump tried to make the Supreme Court his own. In a video earlier this month, Trump announced his campaign position on abortion, including his personal thanks – one-by-one – to the Supreme Court justices who had voted against the 1973 Roe v. Wade milestone. Lower court judges ruled against Trump, saying whatever immunity he might have enjoyed as president ended when he left office. Beyond the substance of cases, Roberts and Trump clashed memorably when Trump in 2018 disparaged a US trial judge in partisan terms. At the Supreme Court, lawyer John Sauer will represent Trump, as he did before the DC Circuit.

Persons: Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Trump, Jack Smith, Joe Biden, “, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, –, ’, Clarence Thomas, Virginia “ Ginni ” Thomas, Thomas, ”, ” Smith, Nixon’s, Ford’s, ” Trump, Juan Merchan, John Roberts, Roberts, Vance, Smith, Obama, it’s, ” Roberts, Bush, Clinton, Madison, Richard Nixon, Nixon, Fitzgerald, Marbury, John Sauer, Trump’s, Michael Dreeben, Dreeben Organizations: CNN, Supreme, Trump, Social, Democratic, DOJ, US Justice Department, Jackson, Health Organization, recusal, DC US, Trump rejoined, Madison, DC Circuit, Department of Justice Locations: America, Dobbs v, Washington, New York, Colorado, Florida, United States, Manhattan, Marbury, Marbury v, Fitzgerald, “

☆ 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

☆ How a gag order showdown explains everything about Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“He knows what he’s not allowed to do, and he does it anyway.”Conroy was referring to Trump’s incessant testing of a gag order protecting witnesses, court staff and the jury. “Michael Cohen is a convicted liar and he’s got no credibility whatsoever,” Trump said in an interview with WPVI Philadelphia. Trump could face a ladder of escalating sanctionsProsecutors now want Merchan to fine Trump $1,000 for each of 10 alleged violations of the gag order and to warn that imprisonment could be an option if he continues to flout restrictions. Trump claims the gag order stifles his right to free speech and to campaign as a presumptive party nominee. And while a dispute over one partial gag order might seem like a small wrinkle in an individual case, it conveys a wider truth about Trump’s impact on American life.

Persons: Chris Conroy, Donald Trump, “, he’s, ” Conroy, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Trump, “ Michael Cohen, ” Trump, CNN’s John Miller, “ Judge Merchan, ”, Jeffrey Swartz, Jim Sciutto, CNN Max, lacerating, Merchan, Elizabeth Williams, Todd Blanche, doesn’t, CNN’s Erin Burnett, —, Jack Smith’s, there’s, •, Joe Biden’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, mishandle, He’s, president’s, Trump’s, George Conway, ” Conway, CNN’s Burnett Organizations: CNN, GOP, The New, Trump, Philadelphia, Prosecutors, New York City Department of Corrections, Cooley Law, US, Trump Organization, Conservative Political, Conference, Biden Locations: The New York, Washington ,, Georgia

☆ Trump trial: Hearing on gag order violations; David Pecker to resume testimony
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The New York hush money trial of Donald Trump is set to resume Tuesday with testimony from its first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Most either referenced, or linked to articles referencing, Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, a key witness in the Manhattan Supreme Court trial. The posts "unquestionably relate to known witnesses and prospective jurors in this criminal trial" in violation of Trump's gag order, a state prosecutor wrote in a court filing Thursday. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche fired back, "I have a spoiler alert: There's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accuses Trump of carrying out the hush money scheme in order to influence the 2016 election, which he would go on to win.

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, David Pecker, Pecker, Trump's, Michael Cohen, Jesse Watters, Juan Merchan, Trump, Matthew Colangelo, Todd Blanche, It's, Cohen, Daniels, Attorney Alvin Bragg Organizations: National Enquirer, Manhattan Supreme, Fox News, Liberal, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, York

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

☆ Hearing over gag order comes amid Trump-Michael Cohen feud
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Jeremy Herb | Lauren Del Valle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Judge Juan Merchan will consider whether to fine Donald Trump for repeatedly violating the gag order barring the former president from publicly discussing witnesses or jurors in the criminal hush money case. Trump nevertheless went after Cohen in remarks on camera after leaving court on Monday. Trump’s lawyers have argued that his social media posts do not actually violate the gag order. The jury will not hear the argument on the gag order violations. Merchan said if arguments over the gag order were not finished by 11 a.m., they would pick up the hearing later.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, ”, Chris Conroy, Michael Cohen Trump, Cohen, he’s, ” Trump, Hey Von ShitzInPantz, ” Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Emil Bove, Todd Blanche, Trump’s, ” Blanche, “, ’ Jesse Watters, ” Merchan, Merchan Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Twitter, Truth, New, Liberal Locations: Manhattan, Trump, New York

☆ Opinion: Both sides brought their A-game for opening of Trump’s trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Opening statements, followed by a few minutes of testimony from the first witness, concluded Monday in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump. Norm Eisen Courtesy Norm EisenMy takeaway: The prosecution has the upper hand based on the evidence and the law, and Trump knows it. As expected, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo hammered home his theory of the case: that it is all about election interference and its cover-up. Colangelo made the complex simple, going through the chronology of evidence that prosecutors will present to prove the election interference. ACT THREE: A payment to another person with a damaging story — Karen McDougal, who alleged she had an affair with Trump.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Norm Eisen, Trump, Matthew Colangelo, ”, Colangelo, David Pecker, Pecker, Michael Cohen, Dino Sajudin, Karen McDougal, Hope Hicks, Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Cohen, Daniels, Todd Blanche, Blanche, ” Blanche, Juan Merchan, –, “ Trump, couldn’t, Hicks Organizations: CNN, ACT ONE, Trump, American Media, National Enquirer, ACT FOUR, White House, ACT FIVE, Trump Organization, ” Locations: Trump

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

☆ 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

☆ Opening statements to show the stark personal and political stakes of Trump’s first criminal trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

But on Monday, his diminished reality as a criminal defendant will become clear in humbling fashion during opening statements in his first criminal trial. The process, known as a Sandoval hearing, offered the ex-president a glimpse of personal and unflattering revelations that the trial could dredge up. The political case against the prosecutions was laid out by South Dakota Gov. But Noem rehearsed a political argument that Trump and his associates will be seeking to land as the trial goes ahead. But the deeply consequential political and personal stakes for the former president will become even clearer when the first trial begins for real on Monday.

Persons: Donald Trump, he’s, Trump, Joe Biden, –, victimhood, He’s, “, ” Trump, president’s, haggled, Sandoval, Stacey Schneider, Jean Carroll, ” Schneider, it’s, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, Pecker, Joshua Steinglass, ”, Juan Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Biden, There’s, Kristi Noem, ” Noem, CNN’s Dana, Noem, Cohen Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Trump, American Media Inc, National Enquirer, Prosecutors, Manhattan, Attorney, Democratic, Mar, South Dakota Gov, New York Times Locations: Manhattan, North Carolina, New York, United States, “ State, Siena, Dakota

☆ Trump berates judge for 'rushed' hush money trial, days before opening statements
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former US President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Donald Trump on Saturday took to social media to deliver another tirade against the judge and the circumstances of his New York hush money trial, which wrapped up jury selection on Friday and is expected to begin opening arguments on Monday. "THIS SCAM 'RUSHED' TRIAL TAKING PLACE IN A 95% DEMOCRAT AREA IS A PLANNED AND COORDINATED WITCH HUNT," the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee wrote in one of several Truth Social posts on Saturday morning. Trump's social media rants targeting Merchan and others involved in the trial have become a regular pattern for the former president, despite a gag order imposed in March. The prosecutors requested a $1,000 sanction for each of the three posts and asked the judge to warn Trump that future violations could result in jail time.

Persons: Donald Trump, HUNT, Juan Merchan, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Michael Cohen Organizations: WHO, New, Manhattan Locations: Manhattan, New York, York, New York City, U.S

☆ As hush money trial begins, Trump hits the trail in North Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Appearing in Greensboro, North Carolina ahead of the state’s primary last month, Trump remarked on his legal peril at length. Nikki Haley managed to win support from 23% of Republican primary voters in North Carolina, with many in Trump’s party saying they could not overlook the vast legal challenges he faces. “Polling shows the American people see right through the Stalinist tactics employed by Crooked Joe and his allies,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN in a statement. Without cameras inside the courtroom, Trump has also challenged the narratives that have emerged from those watching the proceedings. I’m supposed to be in North Carolina, South Carolina.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, baselessly, ”, ” Trump, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, don’t, Crooked Joe, Karoline Leavitt, Judge Juan Merchan, “ I’m, I’m, I’ve, Joe Biden’s, Trump’s, ” Leavitt Organizations: CNN, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice, South Carolina Gov, Republican, GOP Locations: Manhattan, North Carolina, Wilmington, Charlotte, New York, York, Greensboro , North Carolina, New Hampshire, Georgia, South Carolina

☆ Takeaways from the final day of jury selection in Trump’s historic hush money trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jeremy Herb | Lauren Del Valle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

There had been estimates at the start of the week that jury selection could spill into a second week, and it appeared likely after Merchan lost two empaneled jurors on Thursday. Here are takeaways from the final day of jury selection in Trump’s hush money trial:The jury is setFour women and one man were added to the jury on Friday as five of the six alternates for the case. The fourth day of jury selection played out similarly to the first three. Trump is still trying to stop his trialDespite seating a jury, Trump’s legal team again tried to stop the trial in its tracks with another strategic appeal. The DA’s team argued at that point that the motion was premature because jury selection hadn’t happened yet.

Persons: Judge Juan Merchan, Donald Trump’s, Merchan, Trump –, “, ” Trump, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, I’m, ”, ” Merchan, Trump, Cliff Robert, Robert, Trump’s, Steven Wu, ” There’s, Prosecutors haven’t Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney’s Locations: New York, Spain, New Yorker, Manhattan

Fire extinguishers (R) are left at the park across from Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City after a man reportedly set himself on fire during the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump, in New York City on April 19, 2024. A man set himself on fire Friday outside of the New York courthouse where a jury was being picked for the criminal hush money trial of former President Donald Trump. NBC News reported that the man was in an area across from Manhattan Supreme Court that is cordoned off for protestors. Judge Juan Merchan had been scheduled to hold a hearing Friday afternoon on the admissibility of past conduct by Trump as evidence at the trial. On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was spotted just outside the building.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, Eric Adams Organizations: Manhattan Criminal, NBC News, Manhattan Supreme, Flames, Trump, Brooklyn Bridge, CNBC, New York Police Department, New York City Locations: Manhattan, New York City, York, Brooklyn, New York

☆ Trump trial set to pick final alternate jurors for hush money case
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears ahead of the start of jury selection at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15, 2024 in New York City. The New York criminal hush money trial of Donald Trump is poised to get its final five alternate jurors Friday after a full 12-person panel and one alternate were seated a day earlier. Judge Juan Merchan anticipates opening arguments in the Manhattan Supreme Court trial to begin Monday. Trump has said that he would testify in the hush money trial. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has fumed that the trial is a "scam" and a "witch hunt" aimed to damage his electoral chances against President Joe Biden.

Persons: Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Alvin Bragg's, Trump, E, Jean Carroll, defaming, Carroll, Merchan, Sandoval, Joe Biden Organizations: U.S, Manhattan Criminal, New, Manhattan Supreme, Trump, Manhattan Locations: New York City, New York, 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

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