Focus on Checks and Phone Records in Trump Hush Money Trial
In the trial surrounding former President Donald Trump’s alleged hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, the focus on Friday shifted to checks and phone records. Central to the prosecution’s case is Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and key witness, who is expected to take the stand next week.
The current phase of the trial emphasizes record-keeping, a shift from Daniels’ earlier testimony that described an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies. Prosecutors argue that Trump’s team suppressed damaging stories to influence the 2016 election unlawfully.
Trump maintains his innocence, and his legal team unsuccessfully requested a mistrial following Daniels’ detailed testimony on Thursday. Cohen’s forthcoming testimony is eagerly anticipated, given his role in arranging the $130,000 payment to Daniels, allegedly under Trump’s directive. Cohen has previously served time for tax evasion and campaign-finance violations linked to the hush money case.
Witnesses have varied from bookkeepers and bankers to those sharing scandalous stories about Trump. However, the trial fundamentally examines the financial transactions and their possible illegal intent concerning the 2016 election.
Friday’s session included Madeleine Westerhout, a former White House aide, who detailed the White House process for Trump receiving personal mail, including checks for signature. This process is significant as it pertains to how Trump allegedly signed checks reimbursing Cohen for the Daniels payment.
Westerhout also testified that Trump was “very upset” when The Wall Street Journal reported the hush money agreement with Daniels in 2018. Trump’s attorneys assert that the payment was to shield his family, not to impact his campaign.
Technical testimony by employees from AT&T and Verizon about phone records was presented, though it seemed to challenge the jurors’ attention span.
Daniels’ explicit recounting of her interaction with Trump at a celebrity golf event held the courtroom’s focus for more than 7½ hours. Trump’s legal team attempted to undermine Daniels, labeling her a liar and extortionist leveraging her allegations against him.
The defense also sought to modify the gag order preventing Trump from discussing witnesses in the case to publicly rebut Daniels’ statements, but the court dismissed this request.
On Friday, Trump sought records from Mark Pomerantz, a former Manhattan prosecutor, but this request was also denied. Trump faces 34 charges related to falsifying Trump Organization business records, with prosecutors claiming these were reimbursements to Cohen framed as legal expenses.
As the risk of incarceration over repeated gag order violations looms, Trump’s lawyers are appealing the order, hoping for a prompt appellate decision. Should this fail, they plan to elevate their appeal to the state’s highest court.
