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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.
Full story: Hush money judge says Michael Cohen needs to stop talking about Trump
Alex Woodward reports from the courthouse in Lower Manhattan:
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 18:57
Jimmy Kimmel roasts Trump for ‘falling asleep while Stormy Daniels testified’
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has roasted Donald Trump for “falling asleep while Stormy Daniels testified about sleeping with him”, after jurors heard revealing testimony about the former president’s alleged tryst with the adult film star.
Joe Sommerlad has the story…
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 18:45
Per the pool in the hallway, here’s what Trump said:
Trump walked into hall at 1:09. Spoke for 10min.
Stood next to Blanche near pool.
Everyone else in his posse hung back, including Susie Wiles.
Asked by your pooler what he thought of the judge’s gag order on Michael Cohen.
“There is no gag order on Michael Cohen but what the judge did was amazing actually.”
Criticized Merchan and complained everyone is allowed to criticize him, while he remains gagged.
“The only thing he gives us to look a little bit good” called Merchan “a disgrace”
Touts various press clippings.
Complains about inflation under Biden.
Says Biden lies about everything “including his golf game.”
Talks about Biden’s Israel policy, says his donors are anti-Israel.
“I would be very proud to go to jail for our Constitution.”
Talks at length about Mark Pomerantz and how the case is illegitimate.
Says a “very good bookkeeper” marked things as “a legal expense.”
Complains about how he can’t campaign while stuck in court. Calls Merchan a corrupt “thug.”
Says he thinks he can win the state of New Jersey. Rally tomorrow.
Claims the stock market is up because he’s leading in polls. If he loses, we’ll have a crash “like 1929″
I’ve been right about everything.”
– should Allen Weisselberg testify?
– Mr Blanche, what did you think of the judge’s gag order on Michael Cohen?
Trump appeared to mutter the word “Jeanine” on the way out (Pirro is in court), after he turned around and started leaving, but neither poolers nor pool microphone captured what he said.
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 18:26
‘I’d be very proud to go to jail for our constitution’ says Trump
…and yet he appears to be sticking very closely to the rules of the gag order.
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 18:20
Trial adjourns for the weekend
The trial has now adjourned for the weekend.
Stand by for Trump’s inevitable hallway comments and our key takeaways from the day.
Court resumes at 9.30am on Monday, but stay tuned for all the latest news and analysis from Trumpworld.
Oliver O’Connell10 May 2024 18:13
“We have no control over what they do, and we have repeatedly, repeatedly, asked the witnesses to do that. Not just Mr Cohen. All the witnesses,” ADA Joshua Steinglass says.
“If Mr Blanche is asking the court to order the people not to do something, we have already done that,” he adds.
Judge Merchan finds a compromise.
“I will direct the People to communicate to Mr Cohen that the judge is asking him to refrain from making any more statements about Mr Trump or anything else related to this case.”
“That comes from the bench,” he adds, telling prosecutors to tell Cohen that the judge is “communicating that from the bench.”
Alex Woodward10 May 2024 18:09
Now lead defence lawyer Todd Blanche has some concerns about Michael Cohen, who “continues to speak publicly about this trial and President Trump,” on “TikTok, this time… wearing a white T-shirt with a picture of President Trump behind bars” and “announcing that he’s running for Congress”.
He wants Cohen “prohibited from talking” in the same way that Trump is by the gag order.
“It’s becoming a problem every single day that President Trump is not allowed to respond to this witness, but this witness is allowed to continue to talk,” Blanche says.
Alex Woodward10 May 2024 18:06
Prosecutors want to explain to jurors why Allen Weisselberg is not appearing at this trial.
Emil Bove doesn’t want prosecutors to introduce his separation agreement from the Trump Organization.
ADA Christopher Conroy suggests, sort of jokingly, that they could instead explain to jurors that he’s in prison for pleading guilty to perjury.
“I think that would be one way to solve the problem,” Judge Merchan says.
He then suggests there is a way to get Weisselberg on the stand, telling counsel that they’re maybe “trying to jump the gun.”
“We’re trying to explain why he’s not here without making an effort to get him here.”
He suggests bringing him forward without the jury but under record and under oath.
Alex Woodward10 May 2024 18:05
