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Former President Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial is now in its third week of proceedings.
Trump is facing 34 criminal counts related to his alleged efforts to conceal $130,000 in hush money paid in 2016 to silence allegations of an extramarital affair with adult film actor Stormy Daniels. Daniels is expected to testify in the trial, as is Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney, who previously served jail time for his role in facilitating the payment.
Last week, the jury heard from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who testified about conversations he had with Cohen regarding the Daniels payment. He also detailed his publication’s efforts to “catch and kill” unflattering stories about Trump, including allegations by former Playboy model Karen McDougal that she had an affair with Trump from 2006 to 2007.
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Trump is represented by a team of defense attorneys led by Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the charges against Trump, selected Susan Hoffinger and Joshua Steinglass to lead the prosecution.
Judge Juan Merchan is presiding over the Manhattan trial.
Follow live updates from the trial:
Judge Warns Trump He Could Be Jailed For Violating Gag Order
Judge Merchan warned Trump that he could be jailed if he continued to violate the gag order on him, according to the AP.
Trump must remove the offending social media posts by 2:15 p.m. today, according to CNN.
According to the order, "THEREFORE, Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment."
You can read the ruling here.
Another hearing on four more alleged violations will be held Thursday morning.
Trump must remove the offending social media posts by 2:15 p.m. today, according to CNN.
According to the order, "THEREFORE, Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment."
You can read the ruling here.
Another hearing on four more alleged violations will be held Thursday morning.
Judge Permits Trump To Attend Barron's High School Graduation
Merchan cleared up a scheduling issue that had come up at the start of the trial — Trump's request to take Friday, May 17, off to attend his youngest child's graduation.
Another date that Trump requested, June 3, depends on whether the jury is in deliberations by then. If they are, he won't be able to take the day off.
Another date that Trump requested, June 3, depends on whether the jury is in deliberations by then. If they are, he won't be able to take the day off.
Gary Farro Resumes Witness Testimony
With jurors back in their box, a former banker for Cohen, Gary Farro, has resumed his testimony about a bank account Cohen asked him to open under the name “Essential Consultants LLC” in October 2016.
Trump Complains About 'Icebox' Courtroom
Trump, before entering the courtroom, spoke to reporters, once again complaining about being required to attend the court proceedings instead of being on the campaign trail.
"I'm going to go into the icebox now and sit for about eight hours or nine hours," he said. "I’d much rather be in Georgia, I’d much rather be in Florida. I’d much rather be in states that are in play."
"I'm going to go into the icebox now and sit for about eight hours or nine hours," he said. "I’d much rather be in Georgia, I’d much rather be in Florida. I’d much rather be in states that are in play."
Key Moment
Judge Fines Trump For Contempt Of Court
Merchan announced that Trump would be fined a total of $9,000 for nine of the 10 incidents in which prosecutors said he breached his gag order by attacking the court and witnesses.
Eric Trump Appears Alongside Dad
A somber Trump walked into the courtroom with his team of lawyers, some carrying boxes of documents. His second-eldest son, Eric Trump, is in court today to support his father. The two chat over the bar before Trump takes his seat.
This is the first time a member of Trump's family has shown up at the trial.
This is the first time a member of Trump's family has shown up at the trial.
Trump Arrives At Court
Trump’s motorcade has made it to the Manhattan courthouse ahead of another day of proceedings, according to CNN's live coverage.
His son, Eric Trump, was spotted joining the motorcade, the network reported.
His son, Eric Trump, was spotted joining the motorcade, the network reported.
Trump Details Authoritarian Second Term
Trump’s new interviews in Time magazine provide an alarming backdrop as we wait for the former president to enter the courtroom for the third week of his criminal trial. Trump spoke with reporter Eric Cortellessa twice in order to describe his goals for a second term, providing what Cortellessa called “the outlines of an imperial presidency that would reshape America and its role in the world.”
Among the sweeping changes Trump would aim to make would be mass detention camps for migrants along the border, a federal government filled with his acolytes and permission for red states to monitor women’s pregnancies. Read the full profile here.
Among the sweeping changes Trump would aim to make would be mass detention camps for migrants along the border, a federal government filled with his acolytes and permission for red states to monitor women’s pregnancies. Read the full profile here.
Far-Right Outlet Retracts Baseless Michael Cohen-Stormy Daniels Story
A far-right news outlet had to retract a baseless story about Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal fixer, that claimed he had an affair with Stormy Daniels and "cooked up" a scheme to extort the former president.
Cohen and Daniels are set to testify in the hush money trial.
Cohen and Daniels are set to testify in the hush money trial.
When Will The Media Stand Up To Trump?
The media has yet to learn how to cover Trump, 10 years after his laughable charade over Obama’s birth certificate, and just five months out of November's general election, Bruce Maiman writes in this opinion piece.
Obama Says Trump 'Not Considered A Serious Guy' In New York
Former President Barack Obama said Trump is "not considered a serious guy” in his hometown.
"There’s nobody in New York who does business with him or lend him money," Obama said on the latest episode of the “Smartless” podcast.
"There’s nobody in New York who does business with him or lend him money," Obama said on the latest episode of the “Smartless” podcast.
Trump Says He Had 'Great Meeting' With DeSantis
The former president said he had a "great meeting" Sunday with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of his former rivals in the GOP presidential primary.
"The conversation mostly concerned how we would work closely together to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," Trump wrote. "Also discussed was the future of Florida, which is FANTASTIC! I greatly appreciate Ron’s support in taking back our Country from the Worst President in the History of the United States."
You can read more on their meeting here.
"The conversation mostly concerned how we would work closely together to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," Trump wrote. "Also discussed was the future of Florida, which is FANTASTIC! I greatly appreciate Ron’s support in taking back our Country from the Worst President in the History of the United States."
You can read more on their meeting here.
Former U.S. Attorney Discusses Trump's Legal Strategy
Former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman criticized the strategy that Trump's attorneys are using in the trial.
MSNBC’s Joy Reid suggested Trump attorney Todd Blanche was stuck trying to please Trump.
“Trump, we often compare to a mob boss,” Litman said in response. “But even when a mob boss is under indictment and goes to see his Roy Cohn, Roy Cohn says, ’Shut up and listen to me now. I know what needs to happen," Litman said.
MSNBC’s Joy Reid suggested Trump attorney Todd Blanche was stuck trying to please Trump.
“Trump, we often compare to a mob boss,” Litman said in response. “But even when a mob boss is under indictment and goes to see his Roy Cohn, Roy Cohn says, ’Shut up and listen to me now. I know what needs to happen," Litman said.
What's Expected To Happen Today?
The Associated Press recaps what's happened in the trial so far and previews what to expect today.
Jurors will hear from Gary Farro, a banker who helped Michael Cohen open accounts, including the one used to pay Stormy Daniels. Farro first took the stand on Friday and talked about being assigned to work Cohen and the process used to open the bank accounts. Trump's lawyers haven't cross-examined Farro yet.
Jurors will hear from Gary Farro, a banker who helped Michael Cohen open accounts, including the one used to pay Stormy Daniels. Farro first took the stand on Friday and talked about being assigned to work Cohen and the process used to open the bank accounts. Trump's lawyers haven't cross-examined Farro yet.
Trump Supporters Gather In Park Near Courthouse
HuffPost's Sara Boboltz is at the courtroom for us and reports that there's a group of pro-Trump protesters across the street.
Catch Up On Last Week's Proceedings
Need a refresher on what happened during the last week of the trial? Catch up with our previous live blog here: