Trump trial: Trump hit with contempt, witnesses detail Stormy Daniels deal

Stormy Daniels' former attorney testified on Day 9 of Trump's hush money trial.

ByAaron Katersky, Peter Charalambous, Olivia Rubin, Lucien Bruggeman, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: April 30, 2024, 4:58 PM EDT

Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

Top headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 22, 5:51 am

What to know about the hush money case

READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.

Apr 30, 2024, 9:58 AM EDT

Judge orders Trump to pay gag order fine by Friday

After Judge Merchan fined Trump a total of $9,000 for nine violations of the case's limited gag order, Trump was ordered to pay the fine by the close of business this Friday.

Merchan also ordered Trump to remove the posts from his Truth Social account and campaign website by 2:15 p.m. today.

Former President Donald Trump looks on in the courtroom, during his trial in New York City, April 30, 2024.
Seth Wenig/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Before resuming Gary Farro's direct examination, Judge Merchan also informed the parties that Trump will be able to attend his son Barron's high school graduation in May, as Trump had requested.

"I don't think the May 17 date is the problem, so Mr. Trump can certainly attend that day, attend his son's graduation," Merchan said.

Apr 30, 2024, 9:49 AM EDT

Judge fines Trump $9,000 for violating limited gag order

Judge Juan Merchan has ruled that Donald Trump repeatedly violated the limited gag order imposed by the court.

The judge found that prosecutors "met their burden" to show several contempt motions.

Trump will be fined $1,000 for each of nine violations, Merchan said, and will be ordered to pay a total of $9,000.

Apr 30, 2024, 9:31 AM EDT

Trump enters courtroom with son Eric

Former President Trump has entered the courtroom with his son Eric Trump.

Eric Trump frequently attended last year's New York civil fraud trial, but today marks his first time attending his father's criminal hush money trial.

Eric Trump listens as his father, former President Donald Trump, talks with the press as he arrives for his criminal trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York, Apr. 30, 2024.
Justin Lane/Pool via Reuters

Trump's campaign staff and advisers have attended the criminal trial over the last two weeks, but Eric Trump is the only Trump family member to attend the proceedings.

Susie Wiles, Trump's top campaign adviser who is helping lead his presidential campaign, is also in the courtroom with him, marking the first time she has been spotted in court.

Apr 30, 2024, 9:26 AM EDT

Prosecutors have arrived

Prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney's office have entered the courtroom.

Prosecutors Joshua Steinglass, Becky Mangold, and Matthew Colangelo are seated at counsel table.

Former President Trump and his counsel are on their way in.

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