Opinion: Trump attorney gives David Pecker an embarrassing courtroom apology

Editor’s Note: Norman Eisen is a CNN legal analyst and editor of “Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial.” He served as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for the first impeachment and trial of Trump. CNN — Hello from the Donald Trump criminal trial in New York, where the testimony of the opening star prosecution witness David Pecker wrapped up this week — and where the former president pointed at me and scowled as he left the court for the morning break on Friday. Norm Eisen Courtesy Norm Eisen Every day has felt consequential here, but Friday was even more so after Thursday’s Supreme Court hearing on whether Trump can avoid other federal criminal trials by claiming presidential immunity. So the New York case matters more than ever — but Trump defense counsel Emil Bove seemed to be missing a beat Friday morning after having gotten off to a promising start in his cross-examination of Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, the day before. Bove’s stumble came when he insinuated Pecker was changing his story about the key August 2015 Trump Tower meeting — where the alleged conspiracy to benefit the Trump campaign was formulated — that ultimately led to Daniels getting the payments to bury her story of her alleged affair with Trump.