Trump trial ends second week of combustible testimony

A 2nd week of sometimes heated witnesser grounds wraps up Friday successful the New York proceedings of Donald Trump, accused of covering up hush wealth payments to big movie prima Stormy Daniels.

Trump, 77, is charged with falsifying concern records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 outgo to Daniels conscionable days up of the 2016 predetermination against Hillary Clinton.

Prosecutors this week urged Judge Juan Merchan to good Trump for much violations of a gag bid helium imposed to support proceedings participants.

Merchan, who threatened Trump with jailhouse clip connected Tuesday for further gag bid violations, heard arguments from some sides and could contented a ruling Friday.

The justice started Friday’s league by unusually addressing Trump directly, saying helium wanted to “clear up (any) misunderstanding” connected the gag order.

Merchan stressed that Trump had an “absolute close to testify” successful court, and that the gag “only applies to extrajudicial statements… extracurricular of court.”

Trump, who had claimed that the gag bid meant helium would not beryllium capable to attest freely, was heard to respond “thank you.”

On Thursday, authoritative Christopher Conroy had urged Merchan to good Trump for 4 caller violations of the gag bid barring him from publically attacking witnesses, jurors, tribunal unit oregon their relatives.

Merchan fined Trump $9,000 earlier this week for violations of his gag order.

Conroy pointed to nationalist comments Trump has made astir Cohen, who has go a vocal professional of his erstwhile brag and is expected to beryllium a prima witnesser successful the case.

“The suspect thinks the rules should beryllium antithetic for him,” Conroy said.

‘Made nary threats’

On Thursday Daniels’ erstwhile attorney, Keith Davidson, was grilled by the ex-president’s lawyers. Davidson besides represented different woman, Karen McDougal, who claimed to person had a year-long matter with Trump.

Trump lawyer Emil Bove’s questioning of Davidson rapidly turned heated.

“When you were negotiating connected behalf of McDougal and Daniels 1 of your concerns was staying connected the close broadside of the instrumentality with respect to extortion,” Bove said.

“I accidental so,” Davidson replied. “I did everything I could to marque definite my activities were lawful.”

Bove asked Davidson astir his engagement successful different cases wherever helium “extracted” wealth from celebrities with thing to hide, citing a colony involving the “Platoon” prima Charlie Sheen.

The Los Angeles lawyer objected to the usage of the connection “extract” successful a testy exchange.

Davidson acknowledged helium was probed by national and authorities investigators for alleged extortion portion representing clients who had possession of a enactment portion of the erstwhile nonrecreational wrestler Hulk Hogan. He did not extremity up facing immoderate charges.

“I made a monetary demand,” said Davidson, which would let Hogan to get the tapes. “I made nary threats to anyone.”

The tribunal besides heard from a forensic expert, Douglas Daus, who examined Cohen’s compartment phones and retrieved what appeared to beryllium recordings of Trump, and Cohen’s telephone calls.

He volition proceed to springiness grounds Friday.

Leaving tribunal connected Thursday, Trump denounced the lawsuit arsenic “election interference astatine the highest level”

“I should beryllium retired campaigning close now,” helium said.