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Trump trial updates: Appeals court denies defense's bid for judge's recusal
The defense rested its case Tuesday without testimony from Donald Trump.
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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Defense could present case or wait for tomorrow
Judge Merchan offered to break early today and resume tomorrow morning when C-SPAN executive Robert Browning arrives to testify.
He also gave the defense the option begin presenting its case today.
Defense counsel and Trump huddled over the question.
Attorneys continue to argue over admission of photo
After Judge Merchan ruled that he would not admit a photo that prosecutors said showed Trump and his bodyguard Keith Schiller together on Oct. 24, 2016 -- the night of the phone call Michael Cohen said he had with Trump to finalize the Stormy Daniels deal -- prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said he respected Merchan's ruling, but criticized the defense for objecting to the evidence despite not contesting that Schiller and Trump are both in the photo together.
"I am not sure why we are jumping through all these hoops," Steinglass said.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche said it would be "patently unfair" to allow prosecutors to recall C-SPAN executive Robert Browning to testify about the photo after the defense has presented witnesses.
"That's not the way a trial is supposed to work, judge," Blanche said.
The judge ordered prosecutors to check with Browning -- who previously traveled from Louisiana to testify -- to see if he can be here by 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.
Mangold subsequently reported that Browning would be able to make it.
"They are booking travel right now," Mangold said.
Judge rules against admitting prosecution's photo evidence
Judge Merchan has ruled that he will not admit into evidence two still images prosecutors want to introduce that purportedly show Trump and his bodyguard Keith Schiller together on Oct. 24, 2016, the night of the phone call Michael Cohen said he had with Trump to finalize the Stormy Daniels deal.
Prosecutors want to introduce screenshots from a C-SPAN video showing Trump and Schiller together at that time.
Merchan said the images are relevant but said prosecutors could not overcome a hearsay objection.
Prosecutor Becky Mangold told Merchan that they just reached out to C-SPAN executive Robert Browning, who testified earlier, to ask him to return to court "as soon as reasonably possible" to introduce the images as evidence.
Mangold said she would update Merchan about Browning's status by the end of the day.
Proceedings resume following lunch break
Judge Juan Merchan and all parties are back in the courtroom following the lunch break.
The judge is preparing to rule on the admission of the photograph requested by prosecutors prior to the break.
Prosecution seeks to limit Costello's testimony
The prosecution objected to the defense calling Robert Costello, Michael Cohen's former attorney to the stand.
Out of earshot of the jury, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Judge Merchan to omit Costello or limit his testimony to two questions.
"I think there's very limited testimony that's permissible here if at all," Hoffinger said.
The defense said it wants to use Costello to rebut Cohen's testimony about a "pressure campaign" carried out against him not to flip on Trump after Cohen made Stormy Daniels payment.
Costello, a longtime Trump ally, testified before the grand jury in March 2023 as an exculpatory witness at the request of Trump's attorneys.