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.
'Oops, that sounds bad,' potential juror says of past social posts
Trump's lawyers sought to strike a potential juror by confronting her with her own social media posts about the former president.
"These posts are vitriolic," defense lawyer Susan Necheles said. "There is no question that this is as strong language as you can get for Donald Trump."
Necheles cited past posts including one where the potential juror said Trump was "anathema" to her beliefs.
"I wouldn't believe Donald Trump if his tongue were notarized," another post allegedly said.
When the potential juror was questioned about the posts, she said that she did not immediately recall making them.
Merchan then asked her to read back some of her posts, including one when she called Trump a "racist, sexist, narcissist."
"Oops, that sounds bad," the potential juror said. "I was in a disturbed frame of mind during that election cycle."
After questioning, the prospective juror apologized to Trump, saying of her posts, "I don't think it's appropriate."
The judge ultimately struck her from consideration for the jury.
"Those were pretty strong views," Judge Marchan said.
2 new jurors seated
Two new jurors have been seated, including a man with an MBA in finance who follows Trump on Truth Social and also follows Michael Cohen.
"I do not have any beliefs that would prevent me from being fair or impartial," the man said while answering attorneys' questions.
"Except for following Michael Cohen or someone like that I don't follow any anti-Trump organizations," he said.
The second new juror is a security engineer who is married with three children, whose wife is a teacher.
The new additions bring the number of jurors selected so far back to seven, after two jurors were excused earlier today.
The court is now looking for eleven more jurors, six of them alternates.
Prospective juror once stayed at defense attorney's house
After individual questioning, Judge Merchan dismissed a prospective juror after prosecutors raised concern about her preexisting knowledge of the case and asked to strike her for cause.
"I'm worried that I know too much," she said under questioning. "I am worried that it is going to seep in in some way."
Trump's lawyers attempted to strike another juror who previously interacted with defense attorney Susan Necheles in a personal setting.
"She stayed at my house overnight," Necheles said.
Merchan declined to strike the potential juror after she said she could follow the court's instructions and be a fair juror.
"One time in 50 years," Merchan said about the overnight stay.
"I know her husband very well," Necheles acknowledged.
"He is not in the jury," Merchan responded.
3rd group of prospective jurors sworn in
A third batch of 100 prospective jurors has just been sworn and sent home, while prosecutors and defense attorneys ponder which potential jurors who they just questioned individually should be excused for cause or with a peremptory challenge.
It's the third group of jurors who have been sworn in for consideration, after 96 jurors arrived Monday and another 96 arrived Tuesday.
The 18 people who were being in the jury box left the room when the new group of jurors entered, creating a brief traffic jam.
Defense attorney Susan Necheles ended her individual questioning by asking prospective jurors if they would be capable of returning a not guilty verdict if the prosecutors did not prove their case.
“If they do not prove it, I will not be returning a guilty verdict,” said a woman.
The court is looking for seven more jurors and six alternates.
'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."