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."

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

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.

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.

In the paper order explaining his ruling holding Trump in contempt for his violations of the case's limited gag order, Judge Merchan warned Trump that he could be locked up if he continues to willfully violate the order.

"Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment," Merchan wrote in his order.

Merchan wrote that Trump has until 2:15 p.m. ET today to remove posts violating the order from his social media account and campaign website. Trump has until close of business on Friday to submit the $9,000 penalty Merchan levied against him.

In his ruling, the judge also appeared to acknowledge the behavior of Michael Cohen, who has been targeting Trump on TikTok, and indicated that it could possibly lead to modifications of the gag order in the future.

Merchan said it is of the "utmost importance" that the limited gag order "not be used as a sword instead of a shield by potential witnesses," underscoring that the true purpose of the order is to "protect the integrity of these proceedings by shielding those fearful of reprisal by the Defendant so that they may take part in these proceedings without concern."

"However, if a protected party turns that underlying purpose on its head, it becomes apparent that the protected party likely does not need to be protected by the Expanded Order," the judge wrote.

Trump's team has argued that some of Trump's remarks were in response to attacks on him, including from Michael Cohen.