Denigration of witnesses: judge warns Trump before prison
Monday May 6, 6:06 PM: In the trial against Donald Trump in connection with hush money payments to a Porn actress the former American president has to pay another fine. The court ruled Monday that Trump had violated another news blackout and made comments about members of the trial. Judge Juan Merchan therefore decided to impose a fine of 1,000 dollars (928 euros), but hinted at heavier penalties for further violations: “The last thing I want is to put you in jail,” Merchan said, according to consistent reports. in court. He is aware that Trump is the former and possibly future president. “But at the end of the day, I have a job to do.”
Last week, Merchan had already punished Trump with a payment of $ 9,000 for inappropriate statements. The 77-year-old is known for aggressive behavior, including in legal proceedings. In the run-up to the trial, he repeatedly portrayed Merchan and prosecutor Alvin Bragg, among others, as corrupt and biased. The judge therefore blocked comments about prosecutors, witnesses and jurors, as well as their family members.
The indictment accuses Trump of trying to influence the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election by paying $130,000 in hush money to porn actress Stormy Daniels. Although the transaction itself was not illegal, when Trump returned the money to his lawyer Michael Cohen, he falsified business documents to conceal their real purpose.
This is the first criminal trial of an ex-president in American history. Trump faces a prison sentence of several years, which can also be suspended, or a fine. The case could influence the American election campaign. Trump wants to be re-elected president in November. He had pleaded not guilty.
Trump compares the Biden administration to the Gestapo
Sunday May 5, 11:53 am: Former US President Donald Trump has compared the current administration under President Joe Biden to the Gestapo. “These people are running a Gestapo government,” Trump said on Saturday (local time) during a private fundraising event at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, US media reported, citing audio recordings and witness statements. The Gestapo was the political police between 1933 and 1945 Police of the Nazi regime.
The Nazi comparison was part of a longer tirade in which Trump accused the Biden administration of being behind the four criminal cases now pending against him in several states. “In their view, this is the only way to win,” Trump added.
Trump lawsuit: ex-confidante was “very concerned” about sexist video
Saturday May 4, 2024, 11:15 am: In the trial against Donald Trump in connection with hush money payments to a porn actress, an ex-confidante of the former US president described her view on the scandal surrounding the ‘Access Hollywood’ video. She was “concerned, very concerned” when the video of Trump’s sexist statements during the 2016 election campaign became public, Hope Hicks said on the witness stand in court on Friday. New Yorkas American media consistently reported.
Hicks, Trump’s communications director, then instructed her employees to, among other things, “deny, deny, deny.” In the 2005 video, Trump boasts that as a celebrity you can do anything to women, including grabbing their crotches.
Hicks was also asked about her opinion of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who has been repeatedly portrayed as unreliable by the Trump defense. Hicks, 35, said she had not spoken to Trump since 2022. Their testimony, which lasted several hours, had to be interrupted once for a short break because Hiccup burst into tears.
In the proceedings – the first criminal trial against a former American president in the history of the United States – Trump is accused, among other things, of falsifying company documents. The 77-year-old, who is seeking re-election as US president in November, has pleaded not guilty.
The trial started in mid-April and could last eight weeks, according to the court. If convicted, the 77-year-old faces a prison sentence of several years, which may also be conditional. Trump would also have the option to appeal. Even after a possible conviction – and even in the event of a prison sentence – Trump is likely to participate in the presidential election.
Trial against Trump: lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels questioned
Friday May 3, 2024, 7:04 AM: In the trial of the former American president Donald Trump A lawyer for the porn actress has been questioned in connection with hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. According to US media reports, lawyer Keith Davidson appeared as a witness in court in New York on Thursday and reported on how he negotiated with then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen during the 2016 presidential election. Ultimately, his client Daniels agreed not to her meeting with Trump in exchange for $130,000 in hush money.
Daniels claims sex with to have had Trump. Trump denies an affair, but does not deny that money flowed. In the proceedings – the first criminal trial against a former American president in the history of the United States – Trump is accused, among other things, of falsifying company documents. The 77-year-old, who is seeking re-election as US president in November, has pleaded not guilty. Non-disclosure agreements between two parties are not necessarily illegal. However, Trump is accused of illegally recording the payments, attempting to illegally conceal them and thereby covering up other legal violations.
After Trump was elected US president, it became clear to him “that our activities could have helped Donald Trump’s election campaign in some way,” lawyer Davidson said on the witness stand. Cohen also called him many times after the election and expressed disappointment that Trump had not brought him to Washington and rewarded him with a job.
The trial against Trump started in mid-April and could last eight weeks, according to the court. If convicted, the 77-year-old faces a prison sentence of several years, which may also be conditional. Trump would also have the option to appeal. Even after a possible conviction – and even in the event of a prison sentence – Trump will likely run for president.
Defamation of witnesses: Trump must pay a $9,000 fine
Tuesday April 30, 5:07 PM: In the trial against Donald Trump in connection with hush money payments to a porn actress, the former American president must pay an administrative fine of 9,000 dollars (about 8,400 euros). Judge Juan Merchan responded Tuesday in New York to Trump’s repeated comments about those involved in the trial. He is actually not allowed to do that because of an associated news ban. Various American media reported unanimously.
The week before, prosecutor Christopher Conroy listed a number of news blocking violations that Trump had committed through his account on the Truth Social platform or on his campaign website. There he attacked, among others, suspected trial witnesses Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen. “Trump knows exactly what he can and cannot do, and he does it anyway,” Conroy said and requested the fine. “We are not looking for a prison sentence yet, although Trump appears to be looking for that.”
Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche, on the other hand, presented his client’s statements as responses to political attacks: “It is permissible to respond to political attacks.” When the judge repeatedly asked what attacks Trump had responded to, Blanche did not provide a specific explanation as to what Judge Merchan was growing impatient with: “We are losing all credibility here in court.”
The indictment accuses Trump of trying to influence the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election by paying $130,000 in hush money to sex actress Daniels. Although the transaction itself was not illegal, when Trump returned the money to his lawyer Michael Cohen, he falsified business documents to conceal their real purpose.
This is the first criminal trial of an ex-president in American history. Trump faces a prison sentence of several years, which can also be suspended, or a fine. The case could influence the American election campaign. Trump wants to be re-elected president in November. He had pleaded not guilty.
Trump is known for his aggressive behavior, including in legal proceedings. In the run-up to the trial, he repeatedly portrayed Judge Merchan and District Attorney Alvin Bragg, among others, as corrupt and biased. Merchan therefore blocked comments about prosecutors, witnesses and jurors, as well as their family members.