Trump’s first criminal trial is well underway in New York. Halfway through week 2 of the trial (which breaks on Wednesdays), there’s already a lot to unpack in what will be one of the most consequential — and unprecedented — trials in U.S. history.
Reminder: In this case, Trump is accused of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payoff to Stormy Daniels, a porn star who claimed she had a sexual encounter with him. By buying Daniels’ silence, the payoff avoided a possible sex scandal in the final weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign. Of the four criminal trials Trump’s facing, this could be the only one resolved by November.
Last week, a full jury was chosen that’ll put to the test Trump’s argument that he can’t get a fair trial in liberal Manhattan. This week, the trial kicked off in full, with opening statements and the first witness testimony from David Pecker, a former Trump ally and ex-publisher of the National Enquirer’s parent company. Pecker will return to the stand on Thursday when the trial resumes.
Court yesterday began with a contempt hearing, where the judge heard arguments over whether Trump violated his gag order, which bars him from attacking likely witnesses and others involved in the case (prosecutors argued he’s violated it 11 times). The judge didn’t issue an immediate ruling on that — and didn't indicate when he would.
Outside the courtroom, Trump is feeling the effects of the trial on his campaign schedule. He’s facing stark restrictions on where he can go (and what he’s allowed to say). It’s a harsh new reality for the former president, who has otherwise consistently benefited from special treatment in both the civil and criminal cases against him.
So what’s next? Ask us anything about Trump’s first criminal trial and how it’s impacting his 2024 campaign.
More about us:
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Erica Orden, a New York-based legal reporter who’s been covering Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial inside the courtroom. She’s also covered Trump’s other legal troubles in New York, including the civil case where he was ordered to pay $354 million for business fraud, and the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, where he was ordered to pay $83.3M.
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Sally Goldenberg, our senior New York editor who’s team has been covering the scene outside the courthouse during Trump’s trial.
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Meridith McGraw, a national political correspondent covering Trump and the 2024 presidential race. She co-wrote this piece on Trump’s attempt to flip the script on his New York trial with a campaign event at a Harlem bodega.
P.S. We launched a new live blog to cover every development — in the courtroom and outside the courthouse — of People of the State of New York v. Trump. You can follow those live updates at politico.com/TrumpTrial. We’ll also include a weekly recap of the trial every Friday in The Nightly newsletter.
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