Testimony Reveals Details of Alleged Attempts to Suppress Trump Affairs
In a significant development during the hush money trial, Keith Davidson, a Los Angeles attorney representing Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, testified about orchestrated efforts to suppress their alleged affairs with Donald Trump. The strategy, known as “catch-and-kill,” was highlighted as an attempt to protect Trump from potential political fallout. The former president faces charges related to falsifying business records to hide the repayment of hush money to Daniels, aimed at bolstering his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Interest in Daniels’ Claims and the “Access Hollywood” Tape
The interest in Stormy Daniels’ allegations surged after the 2016 release of the “Access Hollywood” tape, where Trump was caught making inappropriate comments about women. Davidson, who expected Trump rather than Michael Cohen, Trump’s then-lawyer, to take responsibility for keeping Daniels silent, testified during the trial. Meanwhile, Judge Juan Merchan found Trump in criminal contempt, imposing a $9,000 fine for multiple violations of the case’s gag order. A hearing is set for Thursday morning to address additional violations.
District Attorney’s Case Links to Trump’s Political Ambitions
Davidson’s testimony underscored the core of the district attorney’s case, suggesting that Cohen’s lack of action was tied to Trump’s political ambitions. Davidson expressed frustration with Cohen’s delay in paying Daniels, suspecting the intention was to postpone the payment until after the election. He assumed Cohen lacked the authority to disburse funds without Trump’s eventual approval.
McDougal’s Agreement with National Enquirer
During the trial, text exchanges between Davidson and Dylan Howard, an editor at the National Enquirer, were revealed to the jury. On June 7, 2016, Davidson informed Howard of a sensational Trump story. McDougal was reportedly torn between two deals, ultimately opting for the National Enquirer, which offered her a chance to avoid public disclosure of her story. She aimed to revitalize her career and secure financial benefits without being labeled the ‘other woman.’
Trump Penalized for Gag Order Violations
Before the testimony, Judge Merchan held Trump in criminal contempt for repeatedly violating the case’s gag order by targeting potential witnesses on social media. Trump was fined $1,000 for each of the nine breaches, warned of possible jail time for further intentional violations, and ordered to remove the offending posts. Trump complied during a lunch break and must settle the fine by the end of the business week.
Jury Examines Trump’s Denials of Affair Allegations
Jurors were shown video clips from 2016 and 2017 featuring Trump discussing allegations of extramarital affairs. In these videos, Trump denied the claims during campaign events in 2016 and a press conference in 2017 after his election. He dismissed the stories as entirely fictional, asserting that they would never happen.
