Live updates: Michael Cohen to testify in Trump hush money trial Monday
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Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial has adjourned for the weekend after a week that included fiery testimony from porn star Stormy Daniels.
Ms Daniels sparred with defense attorney Susan Necheles over alleged inconsistencies in her various tellings of the sexual encounter she alleges she had with Mr Trump. The adult entertainer and director remained calm and unflappable giving her account to the court.
On Friday morning, Madeleine Westerhout, Mr Trump’s “gatekeeper” and former director of Oval Office operations during his administration, concluded her testimony. Earlier, during Thursday’s session, she cried on the stand about being fired after fondly recalling her time working for the then-president.
Meanwhile, Judge Juan Merchan has rejected another mistrial motion from the defense and denied a request that the gag order imposed on Mr Trump be lifted to allow him to respond to Ms Daniels, who mocked him on Twitter by saying “real men” testify.
Ex-Trump “fixer” Michael Cohen is set to appear on Monday for his highly anticipated testimony. Judge Merchan instructed him to stop talking about the defendant in advance of his testimony.
Alex Woodward is covering Mr Trump’s trial and will be providing regular updates on proceedings.
Trump and Biden both have a Nikki Haley problem now
But this week showed that both men will face an uphill struggle.
Oliver O’Connell11 May 2024 00:15
Key moments from week four of Trump trial as Stormy Daniels testified about hotel night together
Graeme Massie10 May 2024 23:44
Republican congressman caught claiming KKK is the ‘military wing’ of Democratic party
In the audio, obtained by CNN, the Pennsylvania lawmaker also pushed the right-wing “replacement theory” – the baseless conspiracy theory that white people are slowly being replaced by minorities and immigrants – and claimed that migrants coming to the US “have no interest in being Americans.”
Amelia Neath has the story:
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 23:15
Trump hush money trial: Key takeaways from Day 15
In a relatively quiet day for the hush money trial, jurors heard from a former Trump administration aide and three analysts who introduced phone records, text messages and other evidence that will tee up Cohen’s expected testimony next week.
He coordinated with former tabloid publisher David Pecker to catch and kill stories and ultimately paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 for her silence over a sexual encounter she allegedly had with Mr Trump in 2006. The former president is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records over the $130,000 payment.
Cohen could take the stand to testify as early as Monday with Manhattan prosecutors telling New York Justice Juan Merchan they are on track to rest their case as soon as next Friday.
Here are the key moments from today’s day in court:
Ariana Baio & Alex Woodward10 May 2024 22:30
Trump’s historic criminal trial produces vulgar court record
The judge acknowledged the momentousness of jailing a presidential candidate in an election year but told Mr Trump: “At the end of the day I have a job to do, and part of that job is to protect the dignity of the justice system.”
Unfortunately for Judge Merchan, “dignity” has been a commodity in short supply in the trial.
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 22:15
Giuliani loses radio show for peddling false claims about 2020 election
In memoriam: The Rudy Giuliani Show.
Michelle Del Rey reports:
Rudy Giuliani has been suspended from his radio show for peddling false claims about the 2020 presidential election live on air.
WABC’s billionaire owner John Catsimatidis, who is also a Republican donor, told The New York Times that he had axed the former New York City mayor from “The Rudy Giuliani Show” and the radio show has been cancelled because he failed to comply with the station’s policy around the election.
Mr Catsimatidis said that Mr Giuliani had been given repeated warnings before his ousting.
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 22:00
Listen: Trump claims stock market would be 30 per cent lower if he wasn’t leading in polls
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 21:45
Full story: Steve Bannon faces four months in jail after losing appeal
Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon could soon be heading to jail after a federal court of appeals upheld his contempt of Congress conviction for failing to testify about the January 6 Capitol riot.
In a ruling on Friday morning, a three-judge panel with the Washington DC Court of Appeals denied Bannon’s appeal.
Continue reading for the full details…
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 21:27
It’s been quite a week…
Joe Khalil, White House correspondent for NewsNation, hit the nail on the head with the following tweet and helped out this reporter with a summary of just a portion of the craziness this week:
Our coverage is linked below:
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 21:15
Watch: ‘The View’ panel debate if Trump will go to prison
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 20:45
