Both sides delivered opening statements and the first witness took the stand Monday in former President Donald Trump's hush money case. Live updates have ended.
What happened today in court
It was a short day in court, as expected. Here's a brief recap:
Opening statements: Both sides presented their opening statements. The prosecution told jurors the case is about a "criminal conspiracy and a cover up." The defense argued Trump "did not commit any crimes," asking jurors to listen to the evidence and use their "common sense."
First witness: Prosecutors called their first witness to the stand, David Pecker. Pecker, the former chairman and CEO of the National Enquirer's parent company, briefly began his testimony before court adjourned.
Sandoval ruling: This morning, Judge Juan Merchan issued his ruling on which of Trump's legal matters can and cannot be brought up, should he testify.
Tomorrow: Judge Merchan will hold a hearing Tuesday morning over whether or not Trump violated a gag order. Court begins tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., the jury will return at 11 a.m.
Court adjourns
Court has ended for the day.
As he walked out of the courtroom, Trump slammed prosecutors for indicting him over a "legal expense."
"It's a case as to bookkeeping which is a very minor thing in terms of the law, in terms of all the violent crime that's going on outside," he told reporters. "This is a case where you pay a lawyer... and they call it a legal expense."
"I got indicted for that," Trump said, later repeating that he should be campaigning.
Trump: It’s a case as to book-keeping, which is a very minor thing in terms of the law in terms… This is a case where you pay a lawyer, it's a lawyer and they call it a legal expense. That's the exact term they use. We never even deducted it as a tax deduction pic.twitter.com/OxNvUXGWEc
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 22, 2024
In other news: Trump's $175M bond will stand
In other legal news, the New York Attorney General's Office and lawyers for Donald Trump reached a deal today in the former president's civil fraud case.
The agreement allows Trump's $175 million bond to stand on certain conditions and essentially tosses out Attorney General Letitia James' request. Read more here.
Prosecution calls David Pecker as first witness
The prosecution has called its first witness to the stand, David Pecker.
Pecker was the former chairman, president and CEO of the National Enquirer's parent company, American Media Inc. (AMI). Pecker testifies that he had the "final say" regarding the celebrity side of magazines under AMI's umbrella.
"We paid for stories," he said, adding editors could not spend more than $10,000 to investigate or publish a story. Anything over $10,000 was vetted through him.
Pecker's assistants looked through and vetted his daily emails, as he received such a high volume. He had a second email address that was used for more "sensitive" issues, he explains.
He is now discussing his relationship with Dylan Howard, the then-editor in chief of the National Enquirer.
"Dylan reported directly to me," Pecker testifies, adding Howard would run decisions on "juicy" stories by him.
Blanche to jurors: "Use your common sense"
"Please listen to the evidence," he tells jurors. Listen to the testimony of Michael Cohen and whether it "rings true."
He urges jurors to use their common sense, saying, "We're New Yorkers, that's why we're here."
Blanche wraps up his opening statement telling jurors they trust the case will be decided based on evidence heard in court and nothing else.
"If you do that, there will be a very swift, not guilty verdict."
Court is now taking a 10 minute break.
Defense: Cohen is "obsessed" with Trump
Trump attorney Todd Blanche argues that Michael Cohen is "obsessed" with the former president "even to this day," pointing to Cohen's podcasts and media appearances about his former boss.
"He has talked extensively about his desire to see President Trump go to prison," he says. As Blanche goes into Cohen lying under oath, prosecution objects. Counsel again approaches the bench.
Defense: "There's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It's called democracy."
Blanche rebukes Colangelo's argument directly: "Would a frugal businessman, would a man who 'pinches pennies' repay $130,000 debt to the tune of $420,000?"
Blanche says that Stormy Daniels did sign an NDA in exchange for $130,000, adding that entering into such a disclosure is "perfectly legal."
Trump is looking at the jury while Blanche speaks.
"I have a spoiler alert," Blanche says. "There's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. It's called democracy. They put something sinister on this idea, as if it's a crime. You'll learn that it's not."
Blanche is interrupted while arguing that Trump is "entitled" to defend himself from harmful allegations. Counsels approach the bench.
Later, Blanche addressed Stormy Daniels' likely testimony in the trial, saying she has "made a life" off of her communications with Trump and that in the weeks leading up to the 2016 election, "saw her chance to make her money."
Defense begins its opening statement
The defense has now started its opening statement.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche tells begins by telling jurors that the former president is innocent and "did not commit any crimes."
You've seen Trump for years and years and years on television and in photos, Blanche tells jurors, saying, "he's in some ways, larger than life."
"But he is also here in this courtroom, doing what any of us would do, defending himself," he says.
Blanche said Trump will be referred to as "President Trump" out of respect, also adding, "he's a man, he's a husband, he's a father."
Prosecution: Access Hollywood tape turned the election "upside down"
The Access Hollywood tape turned the 2016 presidential election "entirely upside down," Colangelo says.
Trump whispers to his attorney Todd Blanche while the prosecution argues that Trump invited David Pecker to his inauguration and the White House, and again when Colangelo talks about the campaign trying to reimburse Cohen for the Stormy Daniels payment.
Colangelo calls Trump a "very frugal businessman" who believed in "pinching pennies," when emphasizing his willingness to pay Cohen double in order to hide the Stormy Daniels payment.
Trump passes a note to Blanche as Colangelo wraps up his opening arguments, when he reiterates that the case is about an "illegal conspiracy to undermine an election" and the steps Trump took to "conceal that election fraud."
He said that Cohen recorded the exchange to reassure Pecker that Trump would find a way to pay him back for the money Pecker used to buy the rights to Karen McDougal's story of her affair with Trump.
— Katherine Fung (@katherinekfung) April 22, 2024
Recorded call between Trump and Cohen will be played
The prosecution is now addressing Trump's alleged affair with former Playboy model Karen McDougal and revealed one of the first pieces of evidence they plan to show jurors.
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo tells the jury they will hear a recorded phone conversation between Cohen and Trump about buying McDougal's story from AMI, which had purchased it for a price higher than what its publications normally pay.
David Pecker directed AMI to make a payment to McDougal so she wouldn't go public with the story before the 2016 election, the prosecution argues, and Trump would pay AMI back. Pecker will testify about this, Colangelo tells the jury.
Pecker became frustrated without the money, Colangelo continues, so Michael Cohen recorded a phone conversation with Trump in September of 2016.
Colangelo said that Trump is heard on the recording asking Cohen, "So what do we have to pay for this? $150,000?" The prosecution also said Trump is heard suggesting that his campaign pay Pecker in cash.
Prosecution begins opening statements
Opening statements in the case are now underway, the prosecution is up first.
This case is about a "criminal conspiracy and a cover up," assistant district attorney Matthew Colangelo begins.
The prosecution's opening arguments make it plain that they are trying to argue that Trump interfered with the 2016 presidential election by orchestrating a scheme to conceal his sexual encounters with Stormy Daniels.
Colangelo tells the jury that Trump, Michael Cohen and David Pecker met ahead of the election to devise a plan whereby Pecker would act as the "eyes and ears" of the campaign to gather information that could be harmful to Trump's campaign and relay it to Cohen.
At the time, Pecker was chairman and CEO of American Media Inc. (AMI), the then publisher of the National Enquirer.
The trio agreed that AMI would publish flattering stories about Trump and attack Trump's political opponents in others, the prosecution argues.
If Trump testifies, he can be asked about these prior court decisions
If Donald Trump takes the stand, prosecutors can ask the former president about four previous proceedings, Judge Juan Merchan rules.
The People are allowed to cross-examine Trump about the ruling in his civil fraud case, his gag order violations in that case, the defamation finding about E. Jean Carroll and his agreement to dissolve the Trump Foundation.
What is off-limits? Prosecutors cannot ask the former president about the Trump Organization's tax fraud conviction in 2022 nor the frivolous lawsuit against Hillary Clinton in Florida.
Trump has indicated he would testify in the case.
The jury is now being brought into the courtroom ahead of opening statements and will be read instructions.
Judge reads Sandoval ruling
Judge Juan Merchan is now revisiting the Sandoval hearing, which was held Friday afternoon.
As Merchan reads, Trump is whispering to his attorney Todd Blanche.
Merchan says the court has "considered many relevant factors" in the matter.
Criminal cases are required to hold Sandoval hearings under New York law. These proceedings are meant to ensure that a defendant is not caught off guard by cross-examination if they choose to take the stand.
Court is in session
Opening statements will begin soon. The prosecution's opening statement will be about 45 mins, the defense says theirs is 25 minutes.
One juror raised concerns about the amount of media attention surrounding the case. After speaking with this juror, Judge Merchan says they will remain.
Trump: "These are all Biden trials"
Former President Donald Trump addressed the media as he walked into Manhattan Criminal Court Monday morning.
"I just want to say before we begin, these are all Biden trials," Trump told reporters, calling the trial a "witch hunt."
The former president reiterated that he should be on the campaign trail, in states like Pennsylvania and Georgia, but instead is required to be in court.
"This is election interference," Trump said.
Will Melania Trump take the stand?
Among several potential witnesses that could be called to testify, there is growing speculation over whether or not Melania Trump could be called to the witness stand.
The former first lady may prove to be a "very powerful" boost to her husband's criminal trial in New York City, according to a former Manhattan prosecutor.
"There's no question that Melania is the most important family member to be there," Mark Bederow, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor for the Manhattan district attorney's office, told Business Insider.
The former first lady was not present in court last week. However, she has continued to support her husband during his 2024 reelection run.
Read the full story from Newsweek's Kaitlin Lewis here.
Who is expected to testify today?
David Pecker, the former chairman of the National Enquirer's parent company, is expected to be called as the first witness by the Manhattan district attorney's office.
Pecker was allegedly present at a meeting with Trump in 2015 about how the National Enquirer could help him get elected in the 2016 presidential election. That allegedly led to the Enquirer being used as a front by Trump while he was trying to silence women with whom he had allegedly had affairs.
According to prosecutors, the magazine would buy up the person's story and never publish it, a way of hiding any possible scandal.
Read the full story from Newsweek's Sean O'Driscoll here.
Opening statements to begin soon
Good morning, the second week of former President Donald Trump's hush money case gets underway this morning in New York City. Opening statements are expected to begin this morning and the first witness is expected to take the stand.
First witness: The Manhattan district attorney's office is expected to call its first witness, David Pecker, the former chairman of the National Enquirer's parent company.
On Friday, the defense asked to be provided with the name of at least one of three witnesses who will testify this week. Prosecutors offered to provide the name of a witness testifying Monday on Sunday night, but warned that if Trump posts on social media about this witness, it will be the "last time" they extend the courtesy.
Schedule: Court begins at 9:30 a.m. ET. Today and tomorrow are expected to wrap up early, around 2 p.m. ET. Court is off on Wednesdays.
Gag order hearing: Judge Juan Merchan will hold a gag order hearing tomorrow morning. The prosecution has accused Trump of violating the order 10 times.
The jury: Jury selection wrapped up on Friday, with 12 jurors and six alternates selected in four days. Here's what we know about them.
Quick case background: Trump is facing trial for charges of allegedly falsifying business documents in connection to an alleged hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. Last year, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump in a 34-count indictment over the alleged hush money payment, which prosecutors allege was intended to prevent Daniels from discussing her claims of having an affair with the former president.
Newsweek's Katherine Fung is inside the courtroom, follow here for the latest updates.
