As former President Donald Trump stands trial in New York City on felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment, details emerge from the courtroom depicting a meticulously crafted plan to sway the presidential election. This historic trial, marking the first time a former U.S. president has been criminally charged, continues to unfold, shedding light on the inner workings of a secret arrangement meant to bolster Trump’s campaign and silence detractors.
David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher, provided illuminating testimony about his “secret arrangement” with Trump and Michael Cohen, Trump’s then-attorney, hatched back in August of 2015. Pecker admitted that the tabloid was geared to champion Trump’s candidacy while simultaneously acting as a vessel for Cohen’s opposition research. And he pledged to be Donald Trump’s “eyes and ears” during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Pecker’s account revealed how the National Enquirer lavished praise on Trump while targeting his adversaries with negative coverage – a tactic Pecker said was “mutually beneficial” to both Trump and himself. Yet, when it came to the catch-and-kill aspect of the agreement – acquiring negative information about Trump to prevent its publication – Pecker conceded that this facet did not serve the Enquirer’s financial interests.
Prosecutors have charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records, alleging that he disguised reimbursements to Cohen as legal expenses. These payments were part of a bid to silence adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had an encounter with Trump. The former president has denied any sexual encounter with Daniels and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Blanche, the defense attorney, attempted to proactively diminish Cohen’s credibility, portraying him as someone with an “obsession” with Trump and therefore unreliable. Cohen had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges linked to his involvement in the hush money scheme.
The gravity of the case was emphasized by prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, who described the scheme as “election fraud, pure and simple,” arguing that the actions taken were part of a broader conspiracy to corrupt the 2016 presidential election.
Amidst the proceedings, a tense hearing on Trump’s compliance with a gag order also took center stage. Judge Juan Merchan chastised Trump’s defense team, warning that they were “losing all credibility” with the court. Prosecutors claimed Trump was intentionally flouting the order with social media posts attacking witnesses and jurors at least 10 times since the order went into effect. Judge Merchan has not yet ruled on the matter, but the hearing underscored the legal tightrope Trump’s team must navigate.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche sought to dismantle the prosecution’s narrative, framing Trump’s actions as defensive rather than criminal, and claiming that Trump fought back against “sinister” efforts to tarnish his reputation and that of his family. Blanche dismissed the notion of a criminal conspiracy, asserting that there is nothing wrong with seeking to influence an election, which he equated with the exercise of democracy.
Relevant articles:
– Trump trial live updates: Tense hearing on contempt ends without ruling, ABC News, 04/24/2024
– Trump hush money trial: Jury hears opening statements, The Associated Press, Mon, 22 Apr 2024 22:52:00 GMT
– Trump trial live updates: Publisher describes secret catch-and-kill arrangement for 2016 election, ABC News, Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:38:32 GMT
– Judge skewers Trump defense’s ‘credibility’ in gag order hearing ahead of key witness testimony, NBC News, Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:51:13 GMT
– Judge conducts hearing on request to hold Trump in contempt for social media posts, The Associated Press, Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:03:00 GMT