Trump trial: 1st week of testimony ends with testimony from Michael Cohen's former banker
Banker Gary Farro testified in Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York.
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 to hide the reimbursement of 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:
- Banker says he set up LLC, which Cohen used to pay Daniels
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- 'This story is true,' Pecker recounts being told of Stormy Daniels
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- Secret Service has plans if Trump is confined for contempt: Sources
What to know about the hush money case
READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.
Full jury panel now selected
"We have a full panel," Judge Merchan said after alternate jurors 5 and 6 were selected.
Alternate Juror No. 5 is originally from Texas and has spent four years in New York.
She works in creative operations for a clothing company and ejoys concerts, restaurants and music.
Man with connection to Cohen's podcast is excused
The defense successfully challenged a man who said he owns a minority stake in the company that produced Michael Cohen's "Mea Culpa" podcast and said he has a "fairly negative" opinion of former President Trump based on his "negative, divisive rhetoric."
The judge confronted the man with several social media posts, including one referring to Trump with the words "sociopathic incompetence" and another saying of Trump, "I do believe that he is actually the devil."
The judge asked if that reflected his opinion. "I would say it's not far off base," the man replied, and he was immediately excused.
Judge excuses man who attended rally
Judge Merchan excused a retired teacher who attended what he considered to be a women's rights rally near the United Nations but that the defense considered to be an anti-Trump rally.
"I did go there because I wanted to take pictures," he said.
The judge confronted him with his social media post of a sign from the rally with a comment that said. "My sentiments exactly."
Merchan said he wasn't sure those sentiments were anti-Trump sentiments, but said he had concerns about the nature of the rally, which, in one post, the man suggested was a "massive anti-Trump rally."
New alternates include audio pro, fintech employee
Alternate Juror No. 3 is an audio professional who offered to assist Judge Merchan with a microphone that kept cutting out. He expressed his opinion that "Donald Trump is a man, just like I am."
He said growth results from correcting their prior wrongful actions. "Every man should respond to their wrongdoings if found," he said. "If there is evidence found against a man, there should be consequences."
Alternate Juror No. 4 is a woman who said "I have no really strong opinions about President Trump."
She is married with two boys that she likes to take to Knicks games and Rubik's Cube speed competitions. She has been a contract specialist for 20 years, currently employed at a publicly traded fintech company.
The woman who participated in the Women's March and said Trump enabled homophobic and racist comments was excused. The judge called it "the safer course."
Pecker describes 'great relationship' with Trump
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, back on the witness stand, pointed at Donald Trump and flashed a smile when he was asked to identify the defendant. Trump turned his chin up and grinned at his longtime friend.
"I met Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago," Pecker said. "I've had a great relationship with Mr. Trump over the years."
That relationship started in 1989 when Pecker wanted to start a magazine called Trump Style.
"He was very helpful in introducing me to other executives in New York. He would always advise me of parties or events that I would go to," Pecker said, adding that Trump was among the first to congratulate him upon acquiring the National Enquirer.
Pecker described how Trump became a "major celebrity" after launching The Apprentice and later Celebrity Apprentice, and how the National Enquirer was there to juice Trump's profile.
"He was always kind enough to send me the content showing the ratings and I was able to publish that," Pecker said of their "great mutual beneficially relationship.
Pecker said he considered Trump a friend from 2015 to 2017, calling him by the familiar "Donald," as he pursued the White House for the first time.
"After he announced his run for the presidency I saw Mr. Trump more frequently, maybe once a month," Pecker said. The two spoke "maybe once every couple of weeks."
Pecker recalled meeting Trump in his office when his assistant brought a batch of invoices and checks to sign.
"As I recollect the entire package was stapled together," Pecker said.
"So you observed him reviewing an invoice and signing a check?" prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked. "That's correct," Pecker responded.
"I would describe him as very knowledgeable, very detail-oriented, almost as a micromanager," Pecker said.
When Steinglass asked how Trump was with money, Pecker responded, "He was very cautious and very frugal."