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.
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.
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'I have a blockbuster Trump story,' lawyer texted tabloid in 2016
With Keith Davidson, the former attorney for Karen McDougal, on the stand, jurors were shows text messages between him and National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard from 2016.
"I have a blockbuster Trump story," Davidson texted Howard on June 7, 2016
"Talk 1st thing. I will get you more than ANYONE for it. You Know why..." Howard responded.
"It was sort of an entree or teaser to Dylan," Davidson testified about the message, adding that he was aware of Pecker's relationship with Trump.
Jurors were then shown more text messages from June 10, 2016.
"Did he cheat on Melania?" Howard asked. "Do you know if the affair was during his marriage to Melania?"
"I really cannot say yet. Sorry," Davidson replied.
"OK. Keep me informed," said Howard.
Asked on the stand why he did not confirm it was an affair, Davidson said, "I was not prepared to discuss the details."
McDougal's attorney outlines agreement he had with her
Keith Davidson testified that he represented Karen McDougal in the summer of 2016 when the former Playboy model entered into a non-disclosure agreement with AMI, the parent company of the National Enquirer.
Jurors were then showed the retainer agreement between Davidson and McDougal, which details McDougal’s “life rights related to interactions with Donald Trump and/or negotiating assignment of exclusive press opportunities regarding same.”
Davidson testified that he provided “legal services” to help the former Playmate negotiate with media outlets for the rights to her story about “a personal interaction she had -- allegedly had -- with Donald Trump."
“At the time ... media outlets, both traditional and tabloid, would often enter into an exclusive arrangement where someone would provide exclusive content to that outlet in exchange for money,” Davidson said.
Davidson told Steinglass that he did not go behind McDougal's back when he arranged the agreement with AMI for the rights to her story
Prosecution calls former attorney for McDougal and Daniels
Prosecutors called to the stand Keith Davidson, who worked as an attorney for both Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels when the hush money payments to both women were arranged.
Trump, at the defense table, turned his head to see Davidson as he entered the courtroom.
Davidson, who was granted immunity to testify, said that that he has set up nondisclosure agreements for some of his clients, including some with tabloids.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Davidson about his relationship with former National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard. Earlier, former Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that Davidson was one of Howard's sources.
"I knew him in my professional dealings," Davidson said. "We were professional acquaintances and friends."
Davidson said he first met Michael Cohen in 2011 after a blog was posted about Stormy Daniels -- who was Davidson's client -- and Donald Trump.
"Michael Cohen is the former attorney for Donald Trump," Davidson recounted.
Jury hears transcript of Trump addressing 'Access Hollywood' tape
Prosecutors called their next witness, Philip Thompson, who works for a national court reporting company, to testify about a deposition Trump gave that was taken as part of former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll's defamation cases against Trump.
Jurors were shown several videos, starting with Trump’s October 2022 deposition in that case.
In the first video, Trump briefly explains what Truth Social is and confirms his handle on the social media platform.
"It is a platform that has been opened by me as an alternative to Twitter," Trump said.
They were next shown an Oct. 19, 2022, deposition taken at Mar-a-Lago, in which Trump confirms he married his wife Melania in 2005.
Thompson then read from the transcript of a deposition where Trump is asked about the "Access Hollywood" video in which he boasts about grabbing women.
Thompson then stepped off the witness stand.
Banker details Michael Cohen's $130K payment to Stormy Daniels
Michael Cohen's former banker, Gary Farro, returned to the stand, where he was asked by prosecutor Becky Mangold about Cohen's frantic effort to create a bank account for a new company he created called Essential Consultants LLC on October 26, 2016.
Referring to Stormy Daniels, Farro told jurors that Cohen did not disclose the account would be used to send money to an adult film actress, adding that his bank, First Republic, avoided financing the adult-entertainment sector.
Farro said that Cohen added $131,000 to an account for Essential Consultants LLC using a home equity line of credit.
Farro then began walking jurors through a wire transfer authorization form that was filled out on October 27, 2016, using information provided by Michael Cohen.
The form -- which was signed by Cohen -- listed that $130,000 was being wired to Keith Davidson's attorney-client trust account. The money would be held in the account for Davidson's client.
According to the form, the purpose of the wire was a "retainer" payment.
Cohen completed the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels on October 27, 2016, which was 12 days before the presidential election.