Takeaways from the start of week 2 of testimony in Trump’s hush money trial
Associated PressNEW YORK — The first week of testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money trial was the scene-setter for jurors. Prosecutors are setting the stage for crucial testimony from Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, who arranged hush money payments on Trump’s behalf before going to prison for campaign finance violations and other crimes. In a ruling Tuesday fining Trump $9,000 for repeated violations of the gag order, Merchan wrote that as a judge he was “keenly aware of, and protective of” Trump’s First Amendment rights, “particularly given his candidacy for the office of President of the United States.” Former President Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche return to the courtroom after a break for his trial at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Former President Donald Trump leaves the courtroom following the day’s proceedings in his trial at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Davidson testified that the National Enquirer initially wasn’t keen on the idea of buying McDougal’s story because she “lacked documentary evidence of the interaction.” Former President Donald Trump walks outside the courtroom of his trial at Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in New York.