Trump’s history-making hush-money trial begins ...

5 min ago
Prosecution presses David Pecker on election law
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During questioning of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, the prosecution drilled down on the alleged election-law violation at the heart of their case.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass asked Pecker whether he knew when his company paid $150,000 in hush money to a former Playboy model that payments made for the purposes of influencing an election — in coordination with a campaign — were illegal. Pecker said he did.

Steinglass asked whether Pecker’s company, American Media Inc., ever reported to the Federal Election Commission the payment to Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had an affair with Donald Trump. “No, we did not,” Pecker responded.'



cont
https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...ey-trial-live-updates-david-pecker-testimony/

 

.... which is perfectly legal and not what the trial is about.

 

During Trumps first term there was the Mueller investigation which did not charge him with a crime to do with any Russian collusion or even a process crime in the investigation. The Dems/Left/MSM and escape especially our resident anti-Trumpers declared that Presidents cannot only not be prosecuted for any crime they commit but cannot even be charged or even alleged. THAT was why Mueller did not charge him but he was still guilty.

NOW that has flipped and the Biden Solicitor-General is arguing in front if the SCOTUS of course if a President can be charged with a crime and it would be ridiculous to say otherwise. The liberal justices seem amazed that Trump's attorney are arguing there is at least immunity for OFFICIAL acts and they seem to be saying there is NO immunity at all.

So have our resident left changed their positions and now DO believe a President has no immunity and can be charged witn crimes even for official acts?

 

2 min ago
Pecker says he assumed Cohen would be reimbursed by Trump


'Pecker, speaking about the transaction, testifies that he assumed Michael Cohen was being reimbursed "by the Trump Organization or Donald Trump."

In regards to this contract, Pecker says he signed on behalf of the "assignor" and Cohen signed as the "assignee." The document, which was assigning the rights to McDougal’s story, was dated September 30, 2016 — but the agreement was never executed, Pecker says'.


cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html

 

Copilot
Usingthe web
As of the latest information available, the Trump Organization has been found guilty of a tax fraud scheme1. A jury in New York found the Trump Organization guilty of all charges in a sweeping, 15-year tax fraud scheme

Copilot
Usingthe web
Yes, there have been allegations and investigations into whether Donald Trump violated campaign finance laws. Here are some key points:

• Michael Cohen, President Trump’s onetime lawyer, has pleaded guilty to tax and campaign finance violations1.
• A New York grand jury is investigating hush money payments made in 2016 to two women who alleged sexual encounters with former president Donald Trump2. T

You're correct I misused the term bribery when referring to his charges of campaign finance violations.

 

1 min ago
Court is taking a short break


Court is now taking a break. Merchan says they'll address evidentiary issues when they return.

 

No. Quote me saying they are REQUIRED.

 

The president is immune from criminal charges when carring out his duties. But not when he is breaking the law for his personal benefit.

 

Not necessarily.

 

Nice dodge…..

Read what I said, and rebute THAT, not what your making up…

 

9 min ago
Trump whispers with attorney as prosecutors discuss evidence with judge


As Steinglass talks with the judge about exhibits prosecutors want to enter into testimony, Trump is leaning forward in his chair and whispering with his attorney Todd Blanche.

The discussion on the exhibits continues.



17 min ago
The judge and attorneys are going over disputed exhibits
The judge is back on the bench. We're now going to discuss the disputed exhibits. Steinglass handed the judge a binder with the exhibits


cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

26 min ago
David Pecker says he knew payments to women during political campaigns could be an issue


The former chief executive of American Media Inc. who allegedly helped Donald Trump hide negative news about him during his 2016 presidential campaign designed a hush money agreement with former Playboy model Karen McDougal to make it less blatant to campaign finance regulators.

David Pecker, former CEO of AMI, which publishes the National Enquirer, said he was already aware of the potential election law complications of entering into an agreement to protect a candidate because he had already been through that with another celebrity running for office: Arnold Schwarzenegger.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...ey-trial-live-updates-david-pecker-testimony/

 

Loosen up just playing your silly game Copilot is not a personal attack! Copilot is a reference but let's ask it if it should be trusted. It says:

1. Quality Control: Copilot should be treated as an assistant. After it generates content, it’s essential to review it, ensure accuracy, and adjust it to match your style. Incorporate Copilot’s output into your work with confidence2.
   

Obviously it can and is inaccurate when dealing with generalization.

 

min ago
Pecker says "Access Hollywood" tape was "very embarrassing" to Trump's campaign


Pecker is now summarizing the "Access Hollywood" tape.

He says he recalls when the tape went public, saying "it was very embarrassing, very damaging to the campaign."





3 min ago
Attorneys signal they will not be done with Pecker's testimony today
Attorneys signaled that they will not be done with Pecker's testimony today.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said he had about two to three hours left. Trump attorney Emil Bove noted that there's "a lot more to come."

"We're not going to finish today," Bove said.

Judge Juan Merchan noted that he wasn't trying to rush Trump's side and they could have as much time as they wanted to cross.

Steinglass is resuming questioning of Pecker.'

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

You're the one being silly. TRaitor tRump is on trial in what's touted as "the hush money trial"; THAT is a fact. It's going to go the distance and there WILL be a verdict.

Yet you keep thinking you can dismiss the charges and let tRaitor tRump just walk away right here on PF, I guess. I can't see another reason you would go against all FACTS.

So when I keep beating at your own game, you resort to nit-picking my every word and personal attacks.

Now, WHO'S being silly? Go find a mirror and you can look him right in the face.

 

You don't have to dismiss the charges because as I have told you and for some f'ing reason you can't bother to look up the NY charges.
There is no tax evasion charge, there is no campaign finance charge, and there is no bribery charge. It isn't hard and run along I can't waste anymore time on this ignorance.

 

PORTING FROM THE NEW YORK COURTHOUSE
3 min ago


Donald Trump just gave a big yawn amid a brief pause in David Pecker’s testimony about Stormy Daniels.


REPORTING FROM THE NEW YORK COURTHOUSE
5 min ago
R

David Pecker is beginning to discuss adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.


REPORTING FROM THE NEW YORK COURTHOUSE
5 min ago


Jurors have heard David Pecker reference the widely seen “Access Hollywood” tape that features Donald Trump telling host Billy Bush in 2005 that he could freely grab a woman’s genitals because of his celebrity. Justice Juan Merchan has already ruled that playing the video would be too prejudicial, so while prosecutors can make reference to it, they cannot show the video itself.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...ey-trial-live-updates-david-pecker-testimony/

 

Temper, temper hawg. I looked the charges up, and posted them several times. I can't make you agree with them, and you don't. BUT! It's you that hasn't posted anything to back up your position.

I've posted links an all of that and so far you've posted ... your opinion.

 

8 min ago
Pecker says he took down 2008 online story that referred to Trump as a "playboy man" after Cohen told him to


Pecker is saying that Cohen raised to him a posting on Radar Online, an online site owned by AMI, which referred to Trump as a "playboy man."

Pecker is testifying that Cohen told him he "should immediately take it down."

Pecker says he then told Dylan Howard, then executive editor of the National Enquirer, to remove the article immediately and notify Cohen.

The email from Howard to Cohen ends with, "I have deleted the text story completely. It no longer exists"

Pecker is saying Howard was following his instructions to remove the story from the Radar site.

The story in question was from October 27, 2008, according to the email Steinglass is showing that Howard sent to Cohen.

Pecker says that the email chain was also sent to Hope Hicks.


cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

2 min ago
Pecker told National Enquirer editor they "can't pay 120k" for Daniels' story, texts show


Steinglass is now showing text messages between Pecker and former National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard from October 2016.

On October 9, Howard texted Pecker: "Woman wants 120k. Has offers from Mail and GMA want her to talk and do lie detector live. I know the denials were made in the past - but this story is true. I can lock it on publication now to shut down the media chatter and we can assess next steps thereafter. OK?"

Pecker responded: "We can't pay 120k."

Howard then texted back: "Ok. They'd need to handle. Perhaps I call Michael and advise him and he can take it from there, and handle."

Later, Howard texted again: "Spoke to MC. All sorted. Now removed. No fingerprints. I'll recap with you face-to-face."

4 min ago
Pecker describes conversation with former National Enquirer editor about Daniels' story
Pecker is now testifying about his conversation with former National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard about Daniels' story.

He's testifying that he was told that Daniels was "trying to sell a story that she had a sexual relationship with Donald Trump."

According to Pecker, Howard told him on the phone that they could acquire the story for $120,000 "if we make the decision right now."



cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

1 min ago
Pecker testifies he thought Cohen and Trump should have bought Daniels' story


Pecker is testifying more about why that AMI, the National Enquirer's parents company, couldn't pay $120,000 for Daniels' story.

"I said, 'I don’t want the National Enquirer to be associated with a porn star,'" Pecker says on the stand, adding that with Walmart as a main distributor of the magazine, it would be very bad for AMI.

Steinglass then asked Pecker to explain why he sent Daniels' story to Michael Cohen.

Pecker says the story could be "very damaging" and the thought it could come off the market.

"If anyone was going to buy it, I thought Michael and Donald Trump should buy it," Pecker says.


cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

2 min ago
Pecker details how he first learned about Daniels


Pecker says he first learned about Daniels from former National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard.

He says his understanding was Karen McDougal's former attorney Keith Davidson reached out to Howard about Daniels' story.

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

1 min ago
Pecker says Cohen asked him about boxes of information on Trump after the election


Pecker testified that he met with Cohen at Trump Tower after the election, and that Cohen was still asking about the boxes of information about Trump. Pecker says he was not going to let Cohen go through the boxes.

Pecker assured Cohen there's nothing damaging to be worried about in the boxes, he testified.



5 min ago
AMI amended deal with McDougal, Pecker testifies
Pecker says that after the Wall Street Journal published its story on the agreement between McDougal and AMI, AMI amended the deal.

AMI received a call from a new lawyer saying McDougal wanted to amend the agreement because she would like to speak to the press, Pecker says.

Pecker says that Michael Cohen "highly recommended" he did not amend the agreement. "He said, 'it was a very bad idea,' adding that the Trump would be very angry.

But Pecker says that he did not take Cohen's advice.



cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

6 min ago
Pecker says they hired a press consultant for McDougal


Pecker is saying he wanted McDougal to speak to the press because the Wall Street Journal "already set the stage and tone" to what the story was.

Pecker said he wanted to keep control of the story so it didn't go further in the market

They hired a a press consultant for McDougal who reported to Pecker, the former tabloid executive testified.



15 min ago
Pecker admits AMI falsely denied it was killing negative stories about Trump
Following the Wall Street Journal story, AMI issued a statement denying it was killing negative stories about Trump, Pecker says.

On the stand, Pecker is acknowledging the denials were false.

Asked why he did it Pecker says, "I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself and I wanted also to protect Donald Trump."

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

2 min ago
Pecker says he learned later that Cohen paid Daniels with his own money


Pecker is testifying he didn't know the details of the transaction between Cohen and Daniels in real time.

He said he later learned Cohen had paid Daniels out of his own funds. "That was the first time I had heard of that," he says.

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.