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
- 'Thank you for handling' McDougal, Pecker says Trump told him
- 'This story is true,' Pecker recounts being told of Stormy Daniels
- Pecker describes $150,000 negotiations for McDougal's story
- 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.
Prospective alternates voice varied opinions of Trump
Many of the prospective alternates having been speaking freely about their opinions of former President Trump during individual questioning by defense attorney Susan Necheles.
As the former president looked on, one man said there were many categories to Trump: "He's a family man. He's a businessman," the man said. "Clearly he has brought a lot of value to the economy."
But he said his opinion was split over Trump himself.
"I really like lower taxes in this country. I like lower regulation," the man said. "When I think about the Republican Party and why we bring religion and women's rights with their own bodies," that's where he said he splits from Trump, concluding his impression is both "neutral and positive."
Another man conceded he posted online a handful of times about Trump in 2016 and "around the time of the insurrection." Asked for his impression of Trump, he responded, "I'd say it's fairly negative."
"You continue to hold that opinion of a strong dislike?" Necheles asked him. "Based on his rhetoric," the man answered, though he declared himself open-minded.
"What is your opinion?" Necheles asked another prospective alternate, the management consultant who likes the outdoors.
"I think not in agreement with a lot of policies. But it's also something that I've had to take a step back and really talk to a lot of people who are close to me that he has connected with," he responded. "You need to take both sides."
'That's an issue for me at the ballot box,' woman says
Defense attorney Susan Necheles has been questioning a woman who works for the New York City Law Department and who indicated she participated in the Women's March.
"Do you have strong feelings about former President Trump?" Necheles asked. "Not at the moment," the woman said. "I think my personal biases or opinions about President Trump are focused on his base. I think his rhetoric at times gives people permission to act on their negative impulses."
The woman said she used to box at the gym where she heard homophobic comments or racist comments "that would cite President Trump," but she said "that's an issue for me at the ballot box to deal with, not in the courtroom."
Trump turned in his seat to listen to the woman's responses.
The former president also appeared interested when a different prospective alternate complimented his "family unit," which she said "seems strong."
Earlier, as Necheles was questioning jurors about weighing the credibility of witnesses, a woman interrupted to ask Judge Merchan, "May I approach the bench?"
The woman indicated she was uncomfortable with what Necheles was asking.
"I feel that, through this line of questioning, I'm getting the same feeling of anxiety and self-doubt," the woman said.
The judge excused her after a short conference at the bench.
'I thought I could do this,' woman tearfully tells attorneys
The prospective alternate who said her father was a friend of Chris Christie's broke down crying during the individual questioning of prospective jurors, telling assistant DA Susan Hoffinger, "This is so much more stressful than I thought it would be."
Hoffinger was quizzing potential alternates about their views of the burden of proof that prosecutors are required to meet.
"I have to be honest, I feel so nervous and anxious right now," the woman said, breaking into tears. "I'm sorry, I thought I could do this. I wouldn't want someone who feels this way to judge my case."
Judge Merchan called her up to the bench for a private conversation and excused her from the pool.
When the questioning resumed, another prospective alternate turned the tables on Hoffinger. "May I ask you a question?" he said. "The burden of proof is subjective to each individual juror?"
Hoffinger explained that "there is only one burden of proof" and that prosecutors are obligated to prove Trump's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The man said he accepted that, and that he would not hold prosecutors to an even higher standard because Trump is a former president.
Some jurors reveal unexpected connections
As the prospective alternates continue to answer the questionnaire questions one by one, some jurors have revealed loose connections to Trump and others surrounding the case.
A young woman who works in financial services said that her father is a "lifelong friend" of Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor who then ran Trump's 2016 transition team before becoming a critic of the former president.
The mention of Christie's name drew a rare laugh from Trump.
The woman also revealed a loose connection to Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen.
A man who lives in Midtown and said he uses his spare time to "try to find a wife" said he has multiple family members who work for the New York State Court -- and is related to a court officer who's currently present in the courtroom. Trump attorney Todd Blanche let out a laugh.
The man said it wouldn't affect his ability to be fair and impartial.
One woman stood up and tearfully explained she served time in Massachusetts over 10 years ago. Trump appeared to crane his neck and turn all the way to look at her, before Judge Merchan called her to the bench for a sidebar.
"I apologize for crying," the woman said as she continued with her questionnaire.
Trump has been sitting at the defense table flipping through papers that contain either charts, photos or graphics.
'Thank you for handling' McDougal, Pecker says Trump told him
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he was twice summoned to Trump Tower in the period following the 2016 election: the first time for a meeting with Michael Cohen, and the second with Donald Trump.
The first meeting began in Cohen's office, where Cohen divulged for the first time to Pecker that he personally covered the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, and that he was concerned that he would not receive a bonus from the Trump Organization, Pecker testified.
"He (Cohen) asked me to talk to the boss on his behalf to try to help him get his bonus," Pecker said, referring to Trump.
When Trump himself came into the room, Pecker asked to walk him back to his office -- and at that time, Pecker told Trump that "Michael Cohen is very concerned about his bonus for this year, and I want you to know that he's very loyal."
Trump replied that Cohen had several apartments and taxi medallions, and added, "Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it," Pecker said.
On Jan. 6, 2017, Pecker arrived at Trump Tower for a meeting with Trump and was escorted to his residence by Jared Kushner, he testified.
Pecker said he was ushered into the room, where Trump was surrounded by administration officials James Comey, Sean Spicer, Reince Priebus, and Mike Pompeo -- they were "updating Mr. Trump on the Ft. Lauderdale shooting" that had occurred at the airport there.
Pecker testified that when Trump introduced him to Trump's inner circle of advisers, Trump said of the National Enquirer publisher, "He knows more than anyone else in this room."
"It was a joke. Unfortunately, they didn't laugh," Pecker testified, which brought some laughs from reporters in the gallery. A few jurors smiled at the moment.
Pecker testified that after Trump's advisers left the room, Trump turned to him.
"He (Trump) asked me how Karen [McDougal] was doing -- how's 'our girl' doing. I said, she's writing her articles, she's quiet, things are going fine."
Trump then said, "I want to thank you for handling the McDougal situation." And then he said, "I want to thank you for the doorman situation," Pecker testified.
Pecker testified that he took this to mean that Trump was thanking him "for not publishing any of the stories and helping the way I did."