Reminder — each day’s complete court transcript is being posted on the NY courts website.

Direct link to the #TrumpTrial transcripts:

https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/

#criminal #law #Trump #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics #NodFarter #GagOrder #StormyDaniels #KarenMcDougal

Davidson’s testimony on Tues ended w/how he had started to doubt #MichaelCohen would pay the $130k.

Before the day ended, Davidson said Cohen forwarded him an email from First Republic Bank vouching for his solvency.

In addition to #StormyDaniels, Davidson represented #KarenMcDougal, a Playboy model who had a year-long affair w/ #Trump. McDougal also received #HushMoney —$150k from the parent company of The #NationalEnquirer.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

#Trump also attacked Justice #Merchan at a rally in Wisconsin last night & said that the #jury in this trial was drawn from a county —Manhattan — which is “a 95% or so Democrat area.”

Trump continued the same line of attack in the courthouse hallway. According to a pool report, he referred to Justice Merchan as conflicted & bragged about yesterday's rallies.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #MobTactics #GagOrder #TrumpTrial

Gag order hearing is underway

Moments into the prosecutors' argument, #Trump slapped the arm of his lead lawyer, Todd Blanche, and gestured with his hands. They spoke briefly and then Trump sat back and immediately shut his eyes.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #MobTactics #GagOrder #TrumpTrial

Regarding #Trump’s comments about David #Pecker being nice, prosecutor Conroy argued it was a threat to other witnesses “be nice or else face attacks” not sure that will work. Conroy called Trump’s statements as “air of menace” I agree, but if we’re supposed to infer for a #GagOrder that gets a little tricky.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #MobTactics #TrumpTrial

But the judge asks, isn’t it possible to respond to #Biden without actually mentioning #StormyDaniels, a potential #witness?

[also Biden isn’t under a #GagOrder, threatening any #witnesses or facing multiple #criminal charges]

#Trump appeared to get frustrated during this exchange & motioned w/his hands.

#law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #MobTactics #TrumpTrial

Justice #Merchan seems very mindful of #Trump painting himself as a #martyr, & is trying to emphasize Trump’s #FreeSpeech rights as a candidate.

Merchan says he’s not that concerned w/the potential violation where Trump referred to David Pecker as “a nice guy.”

Blanche moved on to #MichaelCohen.
Who has really been relentless & isn’t doing the prosecution any favors.
Blanche shows some of Cohen’s tweets.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #ElectionInterference #MobTactics #GagOrder #TrumpTrial

#Blanche discusses #MichaelCohen’s Tik-Tok videos, saying, “This is not a man that needs protection from the gag order.”

This is a serious concern for prosecutors. Their #witness, who had said that he would be silent after having attacked #Trump, has not. + Justice #Merchan has already written that he is somewhat sympathetic to the defense’s argument here.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #MobTactics #GagOrder #TrumpTrial

Justice #Merchan signals he continues to have little patience for #Trump’s comments about the #jury, saying they were mostly #Democrats.

Pretty sure he’ll be penalized for at least those comments.

The #GagOrder violations hearing is over.

Hopefully Merchan will give a ruling soon on it.

Short break.

#KeithDavidson, #StormyDaniels's lawyer, is back on the stand for more questioning from prosecutors.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #MobTactics #TrumpTrial

#KeithDavidson starts off by reminding the jury how bad things had gotten between him & #MichaelCohen. #DylanHoward, the editor of The #NationalEnquirer, had to step in because Davidson believed Cohen was “not telling me the truth” about the delay in receiving a #HushMoney payment for #StormyDaniels’s story.

Prosecution next shows Davidson text to Howard saying he has received the #HushMoney payment: “funds received.”

#criminal #law #Trump #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

#KeithDavidson is asked to go over the specifics of the #HushMoney contract w/ #StormyDaniels & #MichaelCohen, which was signed “on behalf of” #Trump.

Davidson confirmed that Daniels' contract had a $1M liquidated damages provision, meaning that Daniels would be obligated to pay $1M if she breached the contract.

Davidson added that Cohen was the person who insisted the provision contain an amount so high.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference

More on #MichaelCohen signing “on behalf of” #Trump:

#KeithDavidson said Cohen signed the documents instead of “David Dennison”, which was the alias they used for Trump.

Prosecutor #Steinglass showed the doc in court & the signatures from Cohen, #StormyDaniels, & Davidson, but there wasn’t one from Trump.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

👀👀
#KeithDavidson is asked about a text he sent #DylanHoward (#NationalEnquirer) on election night as the election was about to get called for #Trump.

“What have we done?” Davidson texted.

Howard responded: “Oh my god.”

Davidson describes his text as “gallows humor,” but explains that “there was an understanding” that their “activities may have in some way assisted the presidential campaign of Donald Trump.”

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

As results came in on election night, #DylanHoward called #MichaelCohen, who invited him to celebrate at the Hilton in Times Square. He went w/one of his #NationalEnquirer reporters.

Davidson on Cohen:
"He said something to the effect of, Jesus Christ, can you f---ing believe I'm not going to Washington... I've saved that guy's a-- so many times you don't even know."

Defense will love that testimony.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#KeithDavidson testimony re the #HushMoney deal:

Prosecutor #Steinglass: Did you send a denial to Stormy to sign?

Davidson: "I don't recall."

Prosecution presents a Jan 2018 statement from #StormyDaniels, in which she denied reports of a relationship w/ Trump, a denial she would later rescind. Later, she would say that while she did not have an affair w/ #Trump, she did have sex w/him.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#KeithDavidson was asked about texts w/ #MichaelCohen referencing the State of the Union address that #Trump was going to deliver - so this was happening as Trump was running the country.

Davidson testified about how handling both #StormyDaniels & #MichaelCohen made his life very complicated.

Prosecutor #Steinglass grilled Davidson on how Daniels's denials were not believable, important to counter arguments by defense.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Steinglass presented texts between #MichaelCohen & #KeithDavidson about a statement prepared before #StormyDaniels' #JimmyKimmel appearance in Jan 2018.

The statement said that she was denying an affair w/ #Trump. Asked how truthful that was, Davidson testified that it's technically true because no one had alleged a #relationship between the 2 of them. He said a relationship is an ongoing interaction.
[#situationship?]

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#MichaelCohen texted #Keith Davidson that #StormyDaniels "just denied the letter...claiming it's not her signature...she said she did it in front of you."

Davidson said, "She did. Impossible — she posted it on her own Twitter page."

"They showed her signature & she claimed it was not hers on Kimmel," Cohen said.

"Wtf," Davidson said.

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Steinglass finished questioning #KeithDavidson in an abrupt conclusion. Before he finished, Steinglass asked Davidson if he had any stake in the outcome of the trial. Davidson said that he did not.

#Trump's lawyer Emil #Bove on #CrossExamination of Davidson, fmr #StormyDaniels & #KarenMcDougal lawyer.

Bove begins by establishing that Davidson has not met Trump.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Bove tried to create distance between the #HushMoney deals & #Trump.

Prosecution tried to atttibute the deals to Trump, the boss overseeing #MichaelCohen.

Defense is trying to tweak the whole story to frame everything as something orchestrated by #KeithDavidson, Cohen, #StormyDaniels & Daniels’ manager Gina Rodriguez.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Bove returns to the topic of how #MichaelCohen wanted a job in #Trump's WH & acted despondent, on a call w/ #KeithDavidson, when he did not receive it.

Davidson, asked about that call, says:

“I thought he was going to kill himself."

Bove then introduces the idea that Cohen had hoped for a high-ranking position, even as high as U.S. attorney general.

Objection (obviously)
Sidebar

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Bove is trying to paint #KeithDavidson as a serial extorter, asking for money in various situations & being mindful not to cross the line into actual extortion.

Bove is digging up unsavory episodes from Davidson's past to cast him as shady — for example, Bove says, a fmr of client of his leaked information that the Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan was in rehab.

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Bove’s cross-examination so far hasn't even been about #Trump, but it is an effort by his legal team to discredit #KeithDavidson & persuade the jury that his previous testimony shouldn't be trusted.

2 more celebs have been named - Tila Tequila, a reality TV star, & Charlie Sheen.

Bove is accusing Davidson of essentially extorting Sheen.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

Lots of "I don't recalls" from #KeithDavidson during this cross-examination. #Bove is trying to make him appear dishonest & unethical.
Presumably, Bove is going to suggest that the money to #StormyDaniels may not have been paid to cover up an affair, but because #Trump was being shaken down.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Bove asked #KeithDavidson if it's fair to say his memory "seems a little fuzzy around some of these issues?"

Davidson replied that he has had over 1500 clients in his career.

Bove told Davidson that he (Bove) was "not here to play lawyer games" & Davidson told Bove that he was "getting truthful answers, sir"

Very hostile & confrontational cross.

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#KeithDavidson responded specifically to #Bove’s "lawyer games" comment. He said if Bove didn't want to play such games then he should not use the word "extract" to describe the way Davidson & his clients would get monetary settlements from celebrities.

Bove then asked about the Hulk Hogan sex tape & media outlet Gawker. Bove said Davidson used connections at the website TheDirty, to get stills of the video.

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

Gawker was sued out of existence by Hogan, in a lawsuit financed by the billionaire #PeterThiel.

#Bove insinuated that an article #NationalEnquirer editor #DylanHoward co-wrote about the Hulk Hogan sex tapes in 2015 was a product of Davidson’s providing that info.

Davidson denied that he gave Howard the tapes.

Bove then revealed that the #FBI had set up a sting related to Davidson’s discussion w/Hogan’s reps.

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Bove insisted that #KeithDavidson was familiar w/ #extortion law after the brush w/ federal agents.

Bove also suggested that Davidson violated California's #ethics code for #lawyers by compensating non-lawyers w/ legal fees.

Lunch break

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

Basically yes, all these characters are sleazy scumbag criminals, but that’s who sleazy scumbag criminals typically conduct their sleazy scummy crimes with.

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#KeithDavidson said he thought #MichaelCohen was recording him because they were “structured conversations” & seemed “self-serving." + Cohen spoke on those calls differently than usual.

After that, defense played a taped, private conversation between #StormyDaniels' lawyer & Cohen in which Davidson talked about people having “settler’s remorse,” a reference to Daniels.

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Bove briefly questioned #KeithDavidson again in a recross-examination. He ended it by emphasizing that Davidson had never been in a room w/ #Trump until this week.

"You never spoke to or never were in same room until Tuesday?," Bove asks Davidson.

Davidson said that was correct.

Douglas Daus a senior forensic analyst & audio visual specialist is called as a fact witness.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

Per NBC: Daus was in Iraq 2009-2011 doing forensic data analysis; & is now a supervising computer forensic analyst in the DA’s office.

Daus, is expected to assist in verifying records.

DA #AlvinBragg is watching his employee explain the path between a device coming into the office, either through a search warrant or consent, & the actual extraction & preservation of data.

(oosh boring)

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

Daus, who extracted data from #MichaelCohen's cellphones, confirms that Cohen was texting w/ #HopeHicks, who at the time was #Trump’s spox.

A report from Daus shows that one of Cohen’s phones had 39,745 contacts!

A photo of Cohen behind the press secretary's lectern in the #WhiteHouse briefing room is displayed on video screens.

The courtroom is now hearing a recording Cohen secretly made of Trump talking.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

👀 On the recording, #MichaelCohen is talking to #Trump, it sounds like #HopeHicks in the background. Cohen is explaining they had just gotten served by The NYT to unseal records from Trump’s first divorce, from Ivana Trump.

At the end of the tape, Cohen tells Trump,

“I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David.”
[The #NationalEnquirer’s David #Pecker]

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

👀 #MichaelCohen says he talked to #AllenWeisselberg, who was the #TrumpOrganization's CFO. Cohen references “the financing,” & #Trump interjects, “What financing?”

The call related to the #HushMoney deal made w/ #KarenMcDougal.

#Jurors are hearing Trump in the OvalOffice discussing a hush-money payment.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

Tape Transcript:

“I need to open up a company for the transfer of all that info regarding our friend, David, you know, so that — I'm going to do that right away," #MichaelCohen said. "And I've spoken to #AllenWeisselberg about how to set the whole thing up."

"So, what do we got to pay for this? 150?" #Trump asked.

"...funding. Yes. Um, & it's all the stuff," Cohen said.

"Yea, I was thinking about that," Trump said.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

"All the stuff. Because — here, you never know where that company — you never know what he’s...," #MichaelCohen said.

"Maybe he gets hit by a truck," Trump said.

#Trump then asked about financing & Cohen said, "Well, I'll have to pay something."

"Pay with cash," Trump said.

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

The prosecution has finished, & #Bove, the #Trump defense lawyer, is now cross-examining the forensic analyst custodial witness, Douglas Daus.

Bove asked about his credentials then about the chain of custody of #MichaelCohen’s phones. He is implying that perhaps the data on the phones — including the recording of Trump the jury just heard — might be compromised.

#Trump #criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial

#Bove is implying that the DA’s office was sloppy in their data extraction & the devices could have been manipulated, asking questions about chain of custody & if the intake process was secure.

Daus was excused, but will be back to testify more tomorrow.

Court adjourned for the day.

Funny from NYT’s Maggie Haberman:

#Trump left the courtroom, squinting strangely at Lawrence O’Donnell, the MSNBC host, as he did.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #TrumpTrial