Trump trial: Emotional Hope Hicks faces her former boss on 'Access Hollywood' tape, Stormy Daniels payment

Trump's former top aide was the top witness on Day 11 of his 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.


What to know about the hush money case

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


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'What have we done?' Stormy Daniels' lawyer texted on election night

On election night, as results were coming in that were favorable to Trump, Stormy Daniels' attorney Keith Davidson texted National Editor Dylan Howard, "What have we done?" according to texts shown the jury.

"This was sort of gallows humor. It was on election night as the results were coming," Davidson testified.

Asked to explain his text message, Davidson responded, "There was an understanding that our activities may have in some way assisted the presidential campaign of Donald Trump."

"Oh my god," Howard responded to the text on election night.


Jurors shown final contract for Stormy Daniels agreement

Jurors were shown the final Stormy Daniels contract, which prohibited her from making public statements about her alleged affair with Trump.

"That's essentially part of the nondisclosure aspect of the agreement," her then-attorney, Keith Davidson, told jurors after reading aloud from the contract.

The contract stated that Daniel's would owe $1 million for each breach of contract, though Davidson said that portion of the contract was likely unenforceable.

Davidson testified that Michael Cohen requested the $1 million penalty be added to the contract.

Jurors were shown signed copies of the agreement, which was signed by Daniels, Cohen, and Davidson.

The signature line for "David Dennison" -- the pseudonym used for Donald Trump -- was never signed by Trump. In one version of the contract, Cohen signed for "Dennison."

Davidson testified that he made $10,000 for negotiating the contract.


Lawyer resumes testimony on Stormy Daniels hush payment

Following the contempt hearing, Keith Davidson, the former lawyer for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, has returned to the stand to resume his testimony.

When Davidson stepped off the witness stand on Tuesday, he testified about the difficulty in getting the $130,000 payment from then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen for Stormy Daniel's hush money agreement.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass resumed the direct examination by asking Davidson about a phone call between himself, Michael Cohen, and National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard about the payment.

"That conversation took place because there was difficulty in communications with Michael Cohen and I had lost trust in what he was telling me, and Dylan came in as a mediator," Davidson said. "I believed he was not telling me the truth ... about the delays in funding."

Jurors then looked at an email from Cohen where he flagged to Davidson that the wire would be coming from an account for Essential Consultants LLC.

On Tuesday, jurors heard from a banker who described Cohen's rushed effort to create a bank account for Essential Consultants LLC, which prosecutors say was a shell company created for the Daniels payment.

Emails and texts involving Cohen, Davidson and Howard, displayed to the jury, indicate the hush payment was finalized with the wire transfer of $130,000 on October 27, 2016 -- 12 days before the 2016 election.


Contempt hearing ends without immediate ruling

After Judge Merchan asked defense attorney Todd Blanche to explain Trump's remarks about the jury, Blanche argued that Trump's remarks referenced the political nature of the trial.

"We very much believe that this is a political persecution and that this is a political trial," Blanche argued.

"I'm not accepting your argument," the judge said. "He spoke about the jury. And he said the jury was 95% Democrats and the jury had been rushed through, and the implication being this is not a fair jury."

The judge concluded the contempt hearing without issuing a ruling on whether Trump's four recent statements violated the case's limited gag order.

Testimony in the trial was then set to resume.


Defense argues Trump's comments were 'completely neutral'

Defense attorney Todd Blanche argued against accusations that Trump again violated the case' limited gag order, saying that Trump was attempting to respond to political attacks.

Appearing to cite President Joe Biden's remarks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner this weekend, Blanche said, "He mocked President Trump. He said, 'Donald had had a few tough days recently -- you might call it stormy weather," Blanche said, arguing Trump should be able to respond to that remark but can't because of the gag order.

Merchan pushed back on that argument, telling Blanche that Trump is allowed to respond to remarks by Biden.

"Trump can't respond to that in a way that he wants to because of this order," Blanche argued.

Blanche also argued that Trump's remarks about David Pecker were "completely neutral" comments about Trump's longtime friend.

"He is talking ... about a man he had known for decades, who he was friends with for decades. There is no threat in what President Trump said," Blanche said.

Blanche also attempted to put some blame on the press for asking Trump questions prompting his remarks. "He can't just say 'no comment' repeatedly, he's running for president," he said.

Merchan told Blanche that Trump's remarks about Pecker impacts other witnesses, because it signals that Trump could make remarks about other particpants.