Trump’s team once again asked for a mistrial and for the gag order against the ex-president to be modified. Merchan shot down both requests.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan denied two motions filed by former President Donald Trump’s defense team in his hush-money case on Thursday as several witnesses, including Stormy Daniels, took the stand.
Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records in attempts to conceal hush money paid to Daniels, an adult-film actress, and others during the former president’s 2016 campaign. The payment to Daniels was intended to keep her quiet about an extramarital affair she had with Trump, the prosecution alleges. The former president denies the accusations leveled by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Court proceedings on Thursday were filled with testimony from a handful of witnesses called on by prosecutors, including Daniels, who was grilled by Trump attorneys in an effort to point out any discrepancies in her recount of the alleged sexual encounter with Trump. The jury also heard from Rebecca Manochio, a junior bookkeeper at The Trump Organization, Tracy Menzies, a custodian of records at HarperCollins publishing house, and Madeleine Westerhout, former director of Oval Office operations for the Trump administration.
Trump’s attorneys also raised three issues shortly after the lunch break: a new motion for a mistrial; an issue with the gag order against the former president; and a request to preclude testimony from Karen McDougal, a model and actress who alleges that she was also paid to stay quiet about her affair with Trump.
