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.
Court recessed for the day
Judge Juan Merchan has recessed court for the day.
Proceedings will resume tomorrow with plans to choose the remaining alternates for the jury.
Citing concerns, prosecutors mum on identity of 1st witnesses
Prosecutors are keeping their cards close to vest regarding who the first witnesses called at trial will be.
When defense attorney Todd Blanche requested the names of the first three state witnesses, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass declined to provide the name of the first planned witnesses following opening statements.
“Mr. Trump has been tweeting about the witnesses,” Steinglass said. “We are not telling you who the witnesses are.”
Blanche attempted to ease that concern by vowing that the former president would not post about the likely witness.
“I don’t think you can make that representation,” Judge Juan Merchan said.
On a separate matter, Merchand said that if time permits tomorrow, he plans to hold a planned hearing on the bounds of Trump’s cross-examination if he opts to testify.
Judge says goal is for opening statements on Monday
Judge Merchan indicated that his goal is to have opening statements in the trial begin on Monday morning.
“We can't start until every single one of you is here,” Merchan said to the newly sworn-in jury members, urging them to inform him if they encounter any delay.
After the jury was sworn in, former President Trump sat stone-faced at the defense table with his hands locked, staring at the jury as they left the courtroom.
5 new jurors include several transplanted New Yorkers
Following the seven jurors chosen earlier, here is basic biographical information on the remaining five jurors, whose identities are being kept private for security reasons.
Juror No. 8 is a former wealth manager who moved to New York in the 1980s. He is originally from Lebanon.
Juror No. 9 is a speech therapist who grew up in New Jersey.
Juror No. 10 has lived in Murray Hill for six years and worked in commerce for an eyewear company.
Juror No. 11 is originally from California and works as a production development manager for a multinational apparel company.
Juror No. 12 is a physical therapist whose husband works as a coach for a professional sports team.
Trump en route to courthouse
Former President Trump is en route to the courthouse in lower Manhattan for this morning's proceedings.
The former president left for the the courthouse from Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan.