Protesters Shouted Down Maga Lawmakers Outside Trump Trial Courthouse: ‘Go Home Carpetbagging Fools’
A crowd of anti-Donald Trump protesters repeatedly shouted down a group of Maga lawmakers outside of a lower Manhattan courthouse while a press briefing was taking place.
Last week, several of the former president’s allies made an appearance to rail against Trump’s prosecution in his New York hush money trial and emphasized their devotion to him.
The group included South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, former New York police commissioner Bernie Kerik, ex-Trump administration official Kash Patel, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Georgia).
When Trump’s supporters gathered to talk with the press and deliver their statements of support for the former president, protesters in the crowd jeered at and heckled them.
The police tried to keep the protesters at bay, but their sounds drowned out the Maga lawmakers from declaring support for Trump.
“I wanted this country to understand that prosecutors around...
Last week, several of the former president’s allies made an appearance to rail against Trump’s prosecution in his New York hush money trial and emphasized their devotion to him.
The group included South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, former New York police commissioner Bernie Kerik, ex-Trump administration official Kash Patel, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Georgia).
When Trump’s supporters gathered to talk with the press and deliver their statements of support for the former president, protesters in the crowd jeered at and heckled them.
The police tried to keep the protesters at bay, but their sounds drowned out the Maga lawmakers from declaring support for Trump.
“I wanted this country to understand that prosecutors around...
- 5/29/2024
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
Update: Closing arguments in Donald Trump’s hush money trial ended tonight almost 11 hours after they began, with a prosecutor telling jurors that the former president’s “intent to defraud … could not be any clearer,” according to multiple news outlets.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass, wrapping just ahead of an 8 p.m. deadline set by Judge Juan Merchan, also ran into one last objection from the defense when he invoked a statement that Trump famously made a year before his inauguration as president: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose voters.”
Merchan upheld the defense objection and Steinglass later moved on to thanking the jury for their time and attention. Six weeks after the first jury candidates walked into the lower Manhattan courtroom, they are expected to begin their deliberations on Wednesday after receiving Merchan’s instructions on the law.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass, wrapping just ahead of an 8 p.m. deadline set by Judge Juan Merchan, also ran into one last objection from the defense when he invoked a statement that Trump famously made a year before his inauguration as president: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose voters.”
Merchan upheld the defense objection and Steinglass later moved on to thanking the jury for their time and attention. Six weeks after the first jury candidates walked into the lower Manhattan courtroom, they are expected to begin their deliberations on Wednesday after receiving Merchan’s instructions on the law.
- 5/29/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
New York prosecutors and Donald Trump’s defense team engaged in a verbal tug-of-war over Michael Cohen’s testimony during their closing arguments on Tuesday.
The former president’s former fixer was the subject of the majority of both summations, with both sides freely taking jabs at the other as the defense attempted to paint Cohen as an unreliable witness, while prosecutors reminded jurors it was Trump, not Cohen, on trial.
“The question is not whether you like Cohen,” Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said during his closing arguments. “It...
The former president’s former fixer was the subject of the majority of both summations, with both sides freely taking jabs at the other as the defense attempted to paint Cohen as an unreliable witness, while prosecutors reminded jurors it was Trump, not Cohen, on trial.
“The question is not whether you like Cohen,” Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said during his closing arguments. “It...
- 5/28/2024
- by Catherina Gioino
- Rollingstone.com
Former First Lady Melania Trump received criticism on social media for promoting Memorial Day-themed jewelry. On Instagram and X, Trump reposted USA Memorabilia’s Fortitude Collection. The collection features a pair of necklaces with patriotic images engraved in the pendant.
The Bravery necklace features a soldier and the United States flag. The Liberty necklace features an eagle flying in front of a flag above the word “liberty.” Both necklaces are available in stainless steel or gold-plated versions and are priced at $125 and $175, respectively.
According to USA Memorabilia’s website, “The Fortitude Collection celebrates our service members, our Nation, and our freedom.”
After Trump shared the jewelry on her social media pages, the former First Lady faced criticism from users who claimed the jewelry was “cheap” and “tacky.” However, Trump also received praise from fans who thanked her for honoring service members.
“Very cheap items sold at very high prices to...
The Bravery necklace features a soldier and the United States flag. The Liberty necklace features an eagle flying in front of a flag above the word “liberty.” Both necklaces are available in stainless steel or gold-plated versions and are priced at $125 and $175, respectively.
According to USA Memorabilia’s website, “The Fortitude Collection celebrates our service members, our Nation, and our freedom.”
After Trump shared the jewelry on her social media pages, the former First Lady faced criticism from users who claimed the jewelry was “cheap” and “tacky.” However, Trump also received praise from fans who thanked her for honoring service members.
“Very cheap items sold at very high prices to...
- 5/26/2024
- by Ann Hoang
- Uinterview
Judge Juan Merchan scolded lawyer Robert Costello for his behavior during former President Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial.
On Monday afternoon, Merchan cleared out his Manhattan courtroom of jurors, spectators and the press so that he could dress down at Costello, who was there as a key defense witness for Trump, after he made a frustrated comment about the judge’s rulings, according to a court transcript.
The transcript also mentioned that the lawyer commented under his breath and rolled his eyes.
The judge told Costello that his behavior during testimony was “contemptuous.” Costello frequently angered the judge, in part by speaking after objections were sustained.
“Geez,” the lawyer muttered after Merchan sustained several prosecution objections to his testimony.
He also called the whole exercise “ridiculous.”
When the judge had addressed Costello for not adhering to basic courtroom decorum, the witness told the court stenographer to “strike...
On Monday afternoon, Merchan cleared out his Manhattan courtroom of jurors, spectators and the press so that he could dress down at Costello, who was there as a key defense witness for Trump, after he made a frustrated comment about the judge’s rulings, according to a court transcript.
The transcript also mentioned that the lawyer commented under his breath and rolled his eyes.
The judge told Costello that his behavior during testimony was “contemptuous.” Costello frequently angered the judge, in part by speaking after objections were sustained.
“Geez,” the lawyer muttered after Merchan sustained several prosecution objections to his testimony.
He also called the whole exercise “ridiculous.”
When the judge had addressed Costello for not adhering to basic courtroom decorum, the witness told the court stenographer to “strike...
- 5/22/2024
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
As the Television Academy continues to review submissions, NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” will see at least 17 of its 20 guest hosts of Season 49 listed on the Emmy ballot in the guest acting race, the highest number of the past five seasons.
The most recent season of the iconic sketch comedy show, which heads into its 50th year, featured an impressive lineup of emcees. Those confirmed to be submitted include comedians Nate Bargatze, Shane Gillis and Ramy Youssef; former “SNL” cast members Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph; and Hollywood A-listers Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, Adam Driver, Jacob Elordi, Ayo Edebiri, Sydney Sweeney, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jason Momoa.
Musical stars Bad Bunny and Dua Lipa, along with actor Dakota Johnson, have not yet been confirmed to be submitted for consideration.
Multiple sources and representatives confirmed to Variety exclusively that all submissions were made by the network or talent representatives,...
The most recent season of the iconic sketch comedy show, which heads into its 50th year, featured an impressive lineup of emcees. Those confirmed to be submitted include comedians Nate Bargatze, Shane Gillis and Ramy Youssef; former “SNL” cast members Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph; and Hollywood A-listers Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, Adam Driver, Jacob Elordi, Ayo Edebiri, Sydney Sweeney, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jason Momoa.
Musical stars Bad Bunny and Dua Lipa, along with actor Dakota Johnson, have not yet been confirmed to be submitted for consideration.
Multiple sources and representatives confirmed to Variety exclusively that all submissions were made by the network or talent representatives,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Update: The testimony is done in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, and the jurors are off until next Tuesday, but Judge Juan Merchan still found cause this afternoon to call out one of Trump’s lawyers.
Merchan scolded lawyer Emil Bove during a conference on jury instructions for trying to resurrect a defense that the judge rejected during pre-trial motions. Merchan said it was “disingenuous” of Bove to bring the matter up again. It was a moment reminiscent of the judge warning defense lawyer Todd Blanche that he was “losing all credibility” during a gag order hearing in April.
The subject today was “advice of counsel,” in which defendants can lessen or eliminate their guilt by providing evidence that they relied on what their lawyers told them. More than two hours into the negotiation, Bove raised the subject — but apparently under a different name, “involvement of counsel.” The language...
Merchan scolded lawyer Emil Bove during a conference on jury instructions for trying to resurrect a defense that the judge rejected during pre-trial motions. Merchan said it was “disingenuous” of Bove to bring the matter up again. It was a moment reminiscent of the judge warning defense lawyer Todd Blanche that he was “losing all credibility” during a gag order hearing in April.
The subject today was “advice of counsel,” in which defendants can lessen or eliminate their guilt by providing evidence that they relied on what their lawyers told them. More than two hours into the negotiation, Bove raised the subject — but apparently under a different name, “involvement of counsel.” The language...
- 5/21/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Cohen may have directly transferred the funds, but he says it was at the behest and benefit of Donald Trump that he made the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
After four days on the witness stand, the prosecution’s key witness stepped down on Monday following a barrage of fast-paced questions and quick-shifting topics from Trump’s defense team. Cohen’s testimony covered his various consulting gigs and legal work he did for the Trump family, as well as his actions leading up to the Daniels hush-money payment and how,...
After four days on the witness stand, the prosecution’s key witness stepped down on Monday following a barrage of fast-paced questions and quick-shifting topics from Trump’s defense team. Cohen’s testimony covered his various consulting gigs and legal work he did for the Trump family, as well as his actions leading up to the Daniels hush-money payment and how,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Catherina Gioino
- Rollingstone.com
Jon Stewart was back on The Daily Show and compared Donald Trump to Mr. Magoo as the hush money trial continues.
Michael Cohen wrapped up his testimony and admitted he had stolen from the Trump Organization, which prompted Stewart to compare the former Potus to the animated character.
“How lucky is Donald Trump?” Stewart said. “Donald Trump is like a corruption Mr. Magoo. He’s just stumbling around, quid pro quo-ing, metal beams falling all around him [and] gets out completely unscathed.”
Mr. Magoo is a fictional character who appeared in the Upa animated series Mister Magoo, voiced by Jim Backus. The character is an elderly, wealthy retiree who gets into comical situations and, through sheer luck, always finds himself unharmed.
Trump is on trial and faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal other crimes. All of this was to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to silence her amid the 2016 U.
Michael Cohen wrapped up his testimony and admitted he had stolen from the Trump Organization, which prompted Stewart to compare the former Potus to the animated character.
“How lucky is Donald Trump?” Stewart said. “Donald Trump is like a corruption Mr. Magoo. He’s just stumbling around, quid pro quo-ing, metal beams falling all around him [and] gets out completely unscathed.”
Mr. Magoo is a fictional character who appeared in the Upa animated series Mister Magoo, voiced by Jim Backus. The character is an elderly, wealthy retiree who gets into comical situations and, through sheer luck, always finds himself unharmed.
Trump is on trial and faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal other crimes. All of this was to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to silence her amid the 2016 U.
- 5/21/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
The big news from Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal hush money trial Monday was Judge Juan Merchan clearing the courtroom so he could reprimand the Trump legal team’s combative witness, Robert Costello — who had spent the last several days publicly attacking the judge and the proceedings.
Costello, a lawyer, previously advised Michael Cohen, the longtime Trump fixer who is now prosecutors’ key witness in their case against the former president. During his testimony, Merchan admonished Costello for audibly and visibly reacting — including apparently rolling his eyes — in response to...
Costello, a lawyer, previously advised Michael Cohen, the longtime Trump fixer who is now prosecutors’ key witness in their case against the former president. During his testimony, Merchan admonished Costello for audibly and visibly reacting — including apparently rolling his eyes — in response to...
- 5/21/2024
- by Andrew Perez
- Rollingstone.com
Update: A “suicidal” Michael Cohen said he almost threw himself off a 21-story building on Park Avenue in Manhattan because he saw no other way out after an FBI raid turned him into a federal criminal target, a lawyer testified this afternoon in the hush money trial of Cohen’s former boss, Donald Trump.
Shortly after prosecutors for the Manhattan District Attorney rested their case against the former president, the lawyer, Robert Costello, was called by Trump’s defense team to discuss a meeting with Cohen. The meeting took place a week after an April 2018 raid by the FBI on Cohen’s hotel room, home, office and safety deposit box.
“He was putting on quite a show,” criminal defense lawyer Costello said, referring to the sit-down at the Loews Regency New York hotel, where Cohen was also staying with his family when the raid occurred.
Costello was introduced to Cohen...
Shortly after prosecutors for the Manhattan District Attorney rested their case against the former president, the lawyer, Robert Costello, was called by Trump’s defense team to discuss a meeting with Cohen. The meeting took place a week after an April 2018 raid by the FBI on Cohen’s hotel room, home, office and safety deposit box.
“He was putting on quite a show,” criminal defense lawyer Costello said, referring to the sit-down at the Loews Regency New York hotel, where Cohen was also staying with his family when the raid occurred.
Costello was introduced to Cohen...
- 5/20/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal hush money trial was briefly thrown into chaos on Monday when Judge Juan Juan Merchan ordered the courtroom cleared in order to dress down a combative witness.
Robert Costello, a lawyer and former adviser to Michael Cohen, testified on behalf of Trump’s defense in a tense interrogation and cross-examination by the former president’s attorneys and state prosecutors. Throughout his testimony, Costello was visibly annoyed by the prosecution’s objections to lines of questioning leveled by Trump’s attorneys. At one point, Costello was...
Robert Costello, a lawyer and former adviser to Michael Cohen, testified on behalf of Trump’s defense in a tense interrogation and cross-examination by the former president’s attorneys and state prosecutors. Throughout his testimony, Costello was visibly annoyed by the prosecution’s objections to lines of questioning leveled by Trump’s attorneys. At one point, Costello was...
- 5/20/2024
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez and Catherina Gioino
- Rollingstone.com
Former Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark attended Donald Trump‘s trial in Manhattan on Thursday. Clark, a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Justice Department, was indicted for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
During Trump’s Thursday trial, Clark sat at the back of the courtroom during the cross-examination of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. On the stand, Cohen called Trump a “Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain” on his podcast. Several other Trump allies joined Clark, though they did not come with Trump’s entourage.
Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson was among those who made the pilgrimage to the Manhattan courtroom.
After President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Clark falsely claimed the Justice Department was investigating errors and irregularities in the election results. In April, a D.C. Bar panel found Clark responsible for ethical violations by promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
During Trump’s Thursday trial, Clark sat at the back of the courtroom during the cross-examination of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. On the stand, Cohen called Trump a “Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain” on his podcast. Several other Trump allies joined Clark, though they did not come with Trump’s entourage.
Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson was among those who made the pilgrimage to the Manhattan courtroom.
After President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Clark falsely claimed the Justice Department was investigating errors and irregularities in the election results. In April, a D.C. Bar panel found Clark responsible for ethical violations by promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
- 5/20/2024
- by Ann Hoang
- Uinterview
“I’m not afraid to testify at all, I’m just not going to out of fear,” said James Austin Johnson ‘s Donald Trump from the hall of a Manhattan courthouse in the cold open tonight of the final show of SNL’s 49th season.
Set to pick up with the defense’s case on May 20, Trump’s hush money trial is never short of providing laughs as much as it is tears. However, while the courthouse was the backdrop, the focus of the beginning of tonight’s show was a potential Vice President. Sen, Tim Scott, played by Devon Walker, and dog-killing South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, portrayed by Heidi Gardner, both got a cameo, but there was only one true contender – at least according to Trump.
“And finally, my last and favorite choice is a man I can’t stop talking about in my rallies, It’s the late great Hannibal Lector,...
Set to pick up with the defense’s case on May 20, Trump’s hush money trial is never short of providing laughs as much as it is tears. However, while the courthouse was the backdrop, the focus of the beginning of tonight’s show was a potential Vice President. Sen, Tim Scott, played by Devon Walker, and dog-killing South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, portrayed by Heidi Gardner, both got a cameo, but there was only one true contender – at least according to Trump.
“And finally, my last and favorite choice is a man I can’t stop talking about in my rallies, It’s the late great Hannibal Lector,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
While testifying at Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial, Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, admitted that he ridiculed the former president repeatedly and explained why he stopped admiring him.
On Thursday, Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, continued his cross-examination in an attempt to discredit Cohen’s testimony against Trump.
The attorney asked Cohen about the many compliments he gave the former president when he was still his lawyer and the money Cohen had made from books and podcasts since he turned against him.
Cohen wasn’t flustered when his statements were read back to him, and Trump barely reacted to his lawyer’s interrogation.
Regarding the ex-Trump lawyer’s first podcast in 2020, Blanche asked him if he called his former client a “Did you call Trump a ‘boorish cartoon misogynist’ and a ‘Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain’ on your podcast?” Blanche asked.
“Sounds like something I would say,” Cohen stated.
On Thursday, Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, continued his cross-examination in an attempt to discredit Cohen’s testimony against Trump.
The attorney asked Cohen about the many compliments he gave the former president when he was still his lawyer and the money Cohen had made from books and podcasts since he turned against him.
Cohen wasn’t flustered when his statements were read back to him, and Trump barely reacted to his lawyer’s interrogation.
Regarding the ex-Trump lawyer’s first podcast in 2020, Blanche asked him if he called his former client a “Did you call Trump a ‘boorish cartoon misogynist’ and a ‘Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain’ on your podcast?” Blanche asked.
“Sounds like something I would say,” Cohen stated.
- 5/17/2024
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
Update: Michael Cohen appeared to win a battle this afternoon over how reliable his memory is of eight-year-old phone calls with Donald Trump, after faltering in an earlier round of cross-examination questioning today in the former president’s hush money trial in New York.
Before a lunch break, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche got Cohen to admit that his memory of a key call with Trump in late October 2016 — to discuss paying off porn star Stormy Daniels — was largely a product of reviewing phone logs provided by prosecutors.
Blanche showed Cohen texts from the same exact time frame that suggested another matter — a 14-year-old prank caller — was the reason Cohen rang Trump’s bodyguard.
Cohen said he still believed that the bodyguard, Keith Schiller, handed the phone to Trump so he could report to the presidential candidate that a deal with Daniels was close. Cohen was getting ready to pay her...
Before a lunch break, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche got Cohen to admit that his memory of a key call with Trump in late October 2016 — to discuss paying off porn star Stormy Daniels — was largely a product of reviewing phone logs provided by prosecutors.
Blanche showed Cohen texts from the same exact time frame that suggested another matter — a 14-year-old prank caller — was the reason Cohen rang Trump’s bodyguard.
Cohen said he still believed that the bodyguard, Keith Schiller, handed the phone to Trump so he could report to the presidential candidate that a deal with Daniels was close. Cohen was getting ready to pay her...
- 5/16/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Cohen sat for a third day of testimony in Donald Trump’s ongoing criminal hush-money trial on Thursday. The attorney and former fixer sat for rigorous cross-examination by Trump’s lawyers, who attempted to poke holes in Cohen’s previous testimony and cast doubt on his credibility given his past conviction on charges of perjury.
Trump’s attorneys pressed Cohen on his personal feelings regarding the trial, and the possibility that Trump might be convicted. At one point, the jury heard a recording of Cohen discussing the news of...
Trump’s attorneys pressed Cohen on his personal feelings regarding the trial, and the possibility that Trump might be convicted. At one point, the jury heard a recording of Cohen discussing the news of...
- 5/16/2024
- by Catherina Gioino and Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
Donald Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, revealed that his ex-client was highly confident that he could replace Melania Trump if she discovered he had an affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels.
During court testimony on Tuesday, Cohen made this claim as he testified on the witness stand during Trump’s New York hush money trial.
During his testimony, Cohen was asked about how the former president reacted when he found out Daniels was shopping around her story about him less than a month before Election Day in 2016.
Cohen recounted that when they had been dealing with the possibility that the former adult star could go public, he asked his ex-client how things had been going “upstairs” with Melania, to which Trump implied that he would not be single long after.
“‘Don’t worry,’ he goes, ‘how long do you think I’ll be on the market for,'” Trump allegedly said to Cohen.
During court testimony on Tuesday, Cohen made this claim as he testified on the witness stand during Trump’s New York hush money trial.
During his testimony, Cohen was asked about how the former president reacted when he found out Daniels was shopping around her story about him less than a month before Election Day in 2016.
Cohen recounted that when they had been dealing with the possibility that the former adult star could go public, he asked his ex-client how things had been going “upstairs” with Melania, to which Trump implied that he would not be single long after.
“‘Don’t worry,’ he goes, ‘how long do you think I’ll be on the market for,'” Trump allegedly said to Cohen.
- 5/15/2024
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
Missed Tuesday’s late-night monologues? We’ve got you covered with our round-up of the night’s best laughs from across the dial.
When the Cohen Gets Rough
Former Donald Trump pal and legal “fixer” Michael Cohen continued to undergo cross examination in a New York courtroom on Tuesday, as Trump’s current lawyers attempted to paint the former lawyer/henchman as a crude, self-promoting narcissist—apparently after forgetting who they’re representing. Cohen persisted in delivering the damning goods in Trump’s business/election fraud hush money trial, providing a fetid trove of incriminating texts, recollections, and documents that paint his former best buddy as, well, a crude, self-promoting narcissist.
For late-night hosts, these daily court rundowns are likewise a mixed blessing of sordid insider details and present-day GOP monkeyshines. Or, as Stephen Colbert put it, “It’s been a real case of déjà ewwww.”
“Former President Trump appeared...
When the Cohen Gets Rough
Former Donald Trump pal and legal “fixer” Michael Cohen continued to undergo cross examination in a New York courtroom on Tuesday, as Trump’s current lawyers attempted to paint the former lawyer/henchman as a crude, self-promoting narcissist—apparently after forgetting who they’re representing. Cohen persisted in delivering the damning goods in Trump’s business/election fraud hush money trial, providing a fetid trove of incriminating texts, recollections, and documents that paint his former best buddy as, well, a crude, self-promoting narcissist.
For late-night hosts, these daily court rundowns are likewise a mixed blessing of sordid insider details and present-day GOP monkeyshines. Or, as Stephen Colbert put it, “It’s been a real case of déjà ewwww.”
“Former President Trump appeared...
- 5/15/2024
- by Dennis Perkins
- LateNighter
Updated: Donald Trump’s attorney in the former president’s hush money trial went straight at the prosecution’s star witness, Michael Cohen, kicking off a profanity-laced cross examination.
To start off, Todd Blanche introduced himself to Cohen, saying that although they’d never met “you went on TikTok and called me a crying little s—t” after the trial started.
“Sounds like something I would say,” Cohen deadpanned before a prosecutor could finish objecting to the question.
So it went for much of the next two hours in a Manhattan courtroom: Blanche confronting Cohen with insults he’s lobbed mainly at Trump on his podcasts and social media, including a TikTok account he signed up for about six weeks ago to live-stream chats, and Cohen allowing that he had probably said those things.
“Dictator d—bag,” “boorish cartoon misogynist” and “Cheetoh-dusted cartoon villain” were a few of the slurs that Cohen admitted to.
To start off, Todd Blanche introduced himself to Cohen, saying that although they’d never met “you went on TikTok and called me a crying little s—t” after the trial started.
“Sounds like something I would say,” Cohen deadpanned before a prosecutor could finish objecting to the question.
So it went for much of the next two hours in a Manhattan courtroom: Blanche confronting Cohen with insults he’s lobbed mainly at Trump on his podcasts and social media, including a TikTok account he signed up for about six weeks ago to live-stream chats, and Cohen allowing that he had probably said those things.
“Dictator d—bag,” “boorish cartoon misogynist” and “Cheetoh-dusted cartoon villain” were a few of the slurs that Cohen admitted to.
- 5/14/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
In court testimony on Monday, Michael Cohen, the former attorney and key witness in the Manhattan trial against Donald Trump, claimed that Melania Trump, then-candidate Trump’s wife in 2016, referred to his controversial comments on the infamous Access Hollywood tape as “locker room talk” after it leaked before the election.
Cohen, who played a pivotal role in Trump’s alleged hush money scheme, stated that he became aware of the tape, which features Trump making inappropriate remarks about touching women without their consent, when he received a call from the campaign’s press secretary, Hope Hicks, during the 2016 campaign.
The former president’s ex-fixer expressed concern about the tape and promptly sent emails to the campaign manager at the time, Steve Bannon, to safeguard Trump’s interests.
After multiple conversations with Trump and other campaign staff members, Cohen revealed that there was a concerted effort to “spin” the narrative around the tape.
Cohen, who played a pivotal role in Trump’s alleged hush money scheme, stated that he became aware of the tape, which features Trump making inappropriate remarks about touching women without their consent, when he received a call from the campaign’s press secretary, Hope Hicks, during the 2016 campaign.
The former president’s ex-fixer expressed concern about the tape and promptly sent emails to the campaign manager at the time, Steve Bannon, to safeguard Trump’s interests.
After multiple conversations with Trump and other campaign staff members, Cohen revealed that there was a concerted effort to “spin” the narrative around the tape.
- 5/14/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to his criminal hush-money trial as a “witch hunt” and a “show trial,” and if the former president wanted to make a spectacle of the court’s proceeding, he now has quite the supporting cast.
In the last several days of courtroom drama, Trump has been accompanied by an entourage of prominent Republican lawmakers eager to be seen offering their public support to the indicted former president. Not only is their presence an act of theatrical solidarity, they have been acting as mouthpieces for Trump,...
In the last several days of courtroom drama, Trump has been accompanied by an entourage of prominent Republican lawmakers eager to be seen offering their public support to the indicted former president. Not only is their presence an act of theatrical solidarity, they have been acting as mouthpieces for Trump,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
Michael Cohen is back in court Tuesday for a second day of testimony in Donald Trump’s criminal trial, detailing to the jury how he repeatedly lied about his role in orchestrating hush money payments to “protect” the former president.
In 2018, when the public learned that Cohen had arranged a $130,000 payment in 2016 to porn star Stormy Daniels in order to buy her silence about an alleged affair with the former president, the lawyer denied that Trump’s campaign or company had anything to do with the arrangement.
Cohen said that “while crafting the statement,...
In 2018, when the public learned that Cohen had arranged a $130,000 payment in 2016 to porn star Stormy Daniels in order to buy her silence about an alleged affair with the former president, the lawyer denied that Trump’s campaign or company had anything to do with the arrangement.
Cohen said that “while crafting the statement,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
Updated: House Speaker Mike Johnson is the latest figure to lend his support to Donald Trump and his claim that the New York hush money trial is a “sham.”
Johnson was in the background as Trump made his regular morning statement to the press in the hallway just outside the courtroom, and the speaker nodded at the former president as he made his way in.
Also joining Trump were other supporters, including Vivek Ramaswamy, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-fl) and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. Ramaswamy and Burgum are among a number of vice presidential contenders to visit the courthouse to show their fealty to Trump, on trial for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
In sharp contrast to the start of the proceedings, when it was just Trump and his legal team, he has lately been joined by a gallery of political backers and aides,...
Johnson was in the background as Trump made his regular morning statement to the press in the hallway just outside the courtroom, and the speaker nodded at the former president as he made his way in.
Also joining Trump were other supporters, including Vivek Ramaswamy, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-fl) and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. Ramaswamy and Burgum are among a number of vice presidential contenders to visit the courthouse to show their fealty to Trump, on trial for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
In sharp contrast to the start of the proceedings, when it was just Trump and his legal team, he has lately been joined by a gallery of political backers and aides,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
If you’re a Republican politician looking to score points with Donald Trump, there’s a decent chance you’ve been spotted recently in or outside Manhattan Criminal Court. U.S. senators, House members, state attorneys general, and former GOP presidential primary opponents have all traveled to New York to support the former president during his criminal trial.
Trump has publicly complained that the Maga faithful haven’t descended on the court in droves, blaming law enforcement for restricting access to the area for blocks, which is false. Privately, he...
Trump has publicly complained that the Maga faithful haven’t descended on the court in droves, blaming law enforcement for restricting access to the area for blocks, which is false. Privately, he...
- 5/14/2024
- by Catherina Gioino, Asawin Suebsaeng and Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
Update: Donald Trump approved a plan to repay hush money for Stormy Daniels to his lawyer Michael Cohen in a meeting at Trump Tower days before his inauguration as president, Cohen told jurors today.
As part of the package, Trump raised Cohen’s holiday bonus after Cohen complained bitterly that he’d been shorted, the lawyer testified.
Trump then said, “This is going to be one heck of a ride in D.C.,” Cohen recalled. The so-called “fixer” for Trump took the stand this morning as the prosecution’s key witness in their case against the former president.
The meeting was also attended by Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer, who brought with him a bank statement that had the financial arrangement scrawled on it in Weisselberg’s handwriting, Cohen testified, saying, “He showed the document to Mr. Trump.”
Cohen couldn’t give an exact date for the meeting,...
As part of the package, Trump raised Cohen’s holiday bonus after Cohen complained bitterly that he’d been shorted, the lawyer testified.
Trump then said, “This is going to be one heck of a ride in D.C.,” Cohen recalled. The so-called “fixer” for Trump took the stand this morning as the prosecution’s key witness in their case against the former president.
The meeting was also attended by Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer, who brought with him a bank statement that had the financial arrangement scrawled on it in Weisselberg’s handwriting, Cohen testified, saying, “He showed the document to Mr. Trump.”
Cohen couldn’t give an exact date for the meeting,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
The most anticipated showdown of Donald Trump’s hush money trial began Monday as Michael Cohen — the former president’s ex-fixer and lawyer —- took the stand to detail his close relationship with Trump, and how he craved his validation by consistently updating Trump on his efforts to stifle Karen McDougal’s and Stormy Daniels’ stories.
Cohen testified that when he got wind of Daniels’ story potentially going public, he felt it would have been “catastrophic” for Trump’s campaign. “I immediately went to Mr. Trump’s office, knocked on the door.
Cohen testified that when he got wind of Daniels’ story potentially going public, he felt it would have been “catastrophic” for Trump’s campaign. “I immediately went to Mr. Trump’s office, knocked on the door.
- 5/13/2024
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez and Catherina Gioino
- Rollingstone.com
Donald Trump’s former executive assistant, Madeleine Westerhout, broke down crying on the witness stand while she was testifying in his New York hush money trial. On Thursday, Westerhout, a Trump loyalist, was called to the stand.
Westerhout was forced out of the Trump administration for revealing personal information about Trump’s family to the press.
Westerhout was fired from the White House after allegedly bragged to journalists at an off-the-record dinner that she had a better relationship with Trump than his daughters, Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump Boulos.
She told journalists that the former president disliked being photographed with Tiffany because he viewed her as overweight. On August 30, 2019, she formally resigned as the former president’s executive assistant.
When the prosecution had asked the former executive assistant about the dinner with reporters, she began crying while talking about her “youthful indiscretion.”
Westerhout said that she had learned a great...
Westerhout was forced out of the Trump administration for revealing personal information about Trump’s family to the press.
Westerhout was fired from the White House after allegedly bragged to journalists at an off-the-record dinner that she had a better relationship with Trump than his daughters, Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump Boulos.
She told journalists that the former president disliked being photographed with Tiffany because he viewed her as overweight. On August 30, 2019, she formally resigned as the former president’s executive assistant.
When the prosecution had asked the former executive assistant about the dinner with reporters, she began crying while talking about her “youthful indiscretion.”
Westerhout said that she had learned a great...
- 5/12/2024
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
Update: Judge Juan Merchan told the prosecutors in Donald Trump’s hush money trial to pass along a message to one of their likely witnesses, lawyer Michael Cohen: Please stop talking or posting on social media about the case.
Moments before the day in court ended early around lunchtime, Judge Merchan took up a request from defense lawyer Todd Blanche, who said, “Mr. Cohen continues to speak publicly about this trial.”
Blanche cited a TikTok post this week by Cohen wearing a white t-shirt with a picture of Trump behind bars. He asked that Cohen — the lawyer whose $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels in 2016 triggered the Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation — be ordered to not talk about Trump or the criminal proceedings against him.
Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass replied, “We have repeatedly asked the witnesses not to do that. And not just Mr. Cohen. All the witnesses.”
“We have no remedy,...
Moments before the day in court ended early around lunchtime, Judge Merchan took up a request from defense lawyer Todd Blanche, who said, “Mr. Cohen continues to speak publicly about this trial.”
Blanche cited a TikTok post this week by Cohen wearing a white t-shirt with a picture of Trump behind bars. He asked that Cohen — the lawyer whose $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels in 2016 triggered the Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation — be ordered to not talk about Trump or the criminal proceedings against him.
Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass replied, “We have repeatedly asked the witnesses not to do that. And not just Mr. Cohen. All the witnesses.”
“We have no remedy,...
- 5/10/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Donald Trump’s hush money trial once again veered into uncharted waters on Thursday, this time in the form of a debate over who’s an “orange turd.” The answer, according to Stormy Daniels is Trump, which may partially explain why at the end of the day Trump’s team requested Judge Juan Merchan amend his gag order to allow the former president to comment on the adult film actress as the center of the trial.
Merchan denied the request.
Trump’s team also requested, for the second time, a mistrial,...
Merchan denied the request.
Trump’s team also requested, for the second time, a mistrial,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Catherina Gioino and Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
Donald Trump’s hush money trial resumes today with one of his chief antagonists, Stormy Daniels, returning to the stand and court observers wondering if the former and possible future president is close to being thrown into jail.
Whatever happens inside the courtroom, there may no longer be photographers to document it.
Judge Juan Merchan has barred photography inside the courtroom for the remainder of the trial after one of the pool photographers reportedly violated the judge’s rules by taking a picture of Trump from the side, as he walked into the well, instead of waiting for him to be seated with his lawyers, according to a dispatch this morning from pool reporters stationed in the hallway who said they received the news from a court officer.
It wasn’t immediately clear when the offending photo was snapped, since Trump had not yet arrived this morning when word of...
Whatever happens inside the courtroom, there may no longer be photographers to document it.
Judge Juan Merchan has barred photography inside the courtroom for the remainder of the trial after one of the pool photographers reportedly violated the judge’s rules by taking a picture of Trump from the side, as he walked into the well, instead of waiting for him to be seated with his lawyers, according to a dispatch this morning from pool reporters stationed in the hallway who said they received the news from a court officer.
It wasn’t immediately clear when the offending photo was snapped, since Trump had not yet arrived this morning when word of...
- 5/9/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Update: Stormy Daniels faced a contentious cross examination today over her claim that she had sex with Donald Trump in 2006 and that, five years later, a stranger threatened her in a Las Vegas parking lot to not talk about the sexual encounter publicly.
Susan Necheles, a lawyer for Trump, questioned Daniels’ motivations and tried to cast doubt on her story. She also highlighted the fact that Daniels owes more than $500,000 in legal fees from a failed defamation lawsuit against Trump.
Necheles argued that as far back as 2011, Daniels was alternately confirming or denying sex with Trump depending on whether she was being paid for her story.
A $130,000 payment to Daniels in 2016 from Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, is the centerpiece of the Manhattan District Attorney’s case against Trump, for allegedly falsifying business records to conceal a reimbursement of the money to Cohen. Daniels, a key prosecution witness, spent more...
Susan Necheles, a lawyer for Trump, questioned Daniels’ motivations and tried to cast doubt on her story. She also highlighted the fact that Daniels owes more than $500,000 in legal fees from a failed defamation lawsuit against Trump.
Necheles argued that as far back as 2011, Daniels was alternately confirming or denying sex with Trump depending on whether she was being paid for her story.
A $130,000 payment to Daniels in 2016 from Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, is the centerpiece of the Manhattan District Attorney’s case against Trump, for allegedly falsifying business records to conceal a reimbursement of the money to Cohen. Daniels, a key prosecution witness, spent more...
- 5/7/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
The offices of Jimmy Kimmel Live! must be abuzz today.
For the second time in less than a week, Jimmy Kimmel and his late-night show were brought up in former President Donald Trump’s ongoing hush money trial.
Stormy Daniels took the stand at Trump’s trial today, where she was asked during her testimony about her January 2018 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
It was in that interview that Kimmel brought up a letter Daniels had allegedly signed denying she had an affair with Trump. When Kimmel asked whether the signature was authentic, Daniels gave a cagey reply that implied that it wasn’t.
Kimmel’s interview was first brought up in court on May 2nd when the prosecution entered into evidence text messages that Trump’s then-attorney Michael Cohen sent to Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Keith Davidson. In the texts, Cohen reacted with concern to Daniels’ appearance on Kimmel’s show.
For the second time in less than a week, Jimmy Kimmel and his late-night show were brought up in former President Donald Trump’s ongoing hush money trial.
Stormy Daniels took the stand at Trump’s trial today, where she was asked during her testimony about her January 2018 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
It was in that interview that Kimmel brought up a letter Daniels had allegedly signed denying she had an affair with Trump. When Kimmel asked whether the signature was authentic, Daniels gave a cagey reply that implied that it wasn’t.
Kimmel’s interview was first brought up in court on May 2nd when the prosecution entered into evidence text messages that Trump’s then-attorney Michael Cohen sent to Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Keith Davidson. In the texts, Cohen reacted with concern to Daniels’ appearance on Kimmel’s show.
- 5/7/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
Updated, 3:04 Pm: The judge in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial hasn’t tossed the ex-president behind bars yet for violating a gag order, but the former Celebrity Apprentice host won’t be getting out of the courtroom anytime soon either.
On a dry day in front of Judge Juan Merchan, the jury on Monday saw prosecutors put another Trump Organization accounting employee on the stand in the start of the third week of Trump’s trial to walk jurors through the gritty details and record-keeping behind checks signed by the Art of the Deal author to his fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen.
Deborah Tarasoff, who still works for Trump as an accounts payable supervisor, followed her former boss, the company’s retired comptroller Jeffrey McConney on the stand today in the Manhattan courtroom.
With cable news jumping to a possible ceasefire in Gaza for parts of the day, Tarasoff...
On a dry day in front of Judge Juan Merchan, the jury on Monday saw prosecutors put another Trump Organization accounting employee on the stand in the start of the third week of Trump’s trial to walk jurors through the gritty details and record-keeping behind checks signed by the Art of the Deal author to his fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen.
Deborah Tarasoff, who still works for Trump as an accounts payable supervisor, followed her former boss, the company’s retired comptroller Jeffrey McConney on the stand today in the Manhattan courtroom.
With cable news jumping to a possible ceasefire in Gaza for parts of the day, Tarasoff...
- 5/6/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
“I find you in criminal contempt for the 10th time.”
The fourth week of Trump’s hush-money trial kicked off on Monday with Judge Juan Merchan once again ruling that the former president violated his court-imposed gag order, fining him $1,000 and warning him that continued violations could result in jail time. Merchan first found Trump in contempt of court last week, fining him $9,000 for nine gag-order violations flagged by prosecutors.
“It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent,” Merchan told Trump on Monday. “The last thing I...
The fourth week of Trump’s hush-money trial kicked off on Monday with Judge Juan Merchan once again ruling that the former president violated his court-imposed gag order, fining him $1,000 and warning him that continued violations could result in jail time. Merchan first found Trump in contempt of court last week, fining him $9,000 for nine gag-order violations flagged by prosecutors.
“It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent,” Merchan told Trump on Monday. “The last thing I...
- 5/6/2024
- by Catherina Gioino and Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
2nd Update 1:56 Pm: Not for the first time, Donald Trump made someone cry today.
Hope Hicks wept on the stand today in the hush money trial of her former boss moments after a prosecutor had finished questioning her about her dealings with Trump and Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen. Finished talking to Assistant D.A. Matthew Coloangela on the stand in Manhattan, the former White House Communications Director had just begun taking questions from a defense lawyer when she turned her head away from the courtroom gallery and, crying audibly, reached for a tissue to dab away tears.
“Ms. Hicks, do you need a break?” Judge Juan Merchan asked of the much anticipated witness. “Yes,” she replied in a shaky voice.
The court recessed for about 10 minutes, and Ms. Hicks returned to the stand. “Sorry about that,” she said.
Earlier, Hicks discussed the Trump campaign’s decision to deny...
Hope Hicks wept on the stand today in the hush money trial of her former boss moments after a prosecutor had finished questioning her about her dealings with Trump and Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen. Finished talking to Assistant D.A. Matthew Coloangela on the stand in Manhattan, the former White House Communications Director had just begun taking questions from a defense lawyer when she turned her head away from the courtroom gallery and, crying audibly, reached for a tissue to dab away tears.
“Ms. Hicks, do you need a break?” Judge Juan Merchan asked of the much anticipated witness. “Yes,” she replied in a shaky voice.
The court recessed for about 10 minutes, and Ms. Hicks returned to the stand. “Sorry about that,” she said.
Earlier, Hicks discussed the Trump campaign’s decision to deny...
- 5/3/2024
- by Sean Piccoli and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks took the stand in Manhattan court Friday to testify in the criminal trial of her ex-boss, Donald Trump.
Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The case, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg last year, revolves around allegations that a 2016 hush-money payment made at Trump’s direction to adult film actress Stormy Daniels violated campaign finance laws.
Hicks, who left the White House alongside the former president in 2021, was a central figure in Trump’s 2016 campaign and subsequent...
Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The case, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg last year, revolves around allegations that a 2016 hush-money payment made at Trump’s direction to adult film actress Stormy Daniels violated campaign finance laws.
Hicks, who left the White House alongside the former president in 2021, was a central figure in Trump’s 2016 campaign and subsequent...
- 5/3/2024
- by Catherina Gioino and Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
Jimmy Kimmel could hardly contain himself Thursday night, opening his monologue by jumping right into the news that he was mentioned in the ongoing criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.
“I am very excited, I am very proud, I’m exhilarated even,” Kimmel told his audience. “Because from here on, we aren’t just following the Donald Trump drama in New York. We are part of it.”
Text messages entered into evidence by the prosecution yesterday showed a 2018 exchange between Trump’s then-attorney Michael Cohen and Keith Davidson, who represented Stormy Daniels in the hush money payment, discussing an interview with Daniels on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The interview in question took place on January 30, 2018, following the State of the Union. In it, Kimmel brought up a letter Daniels had allegedly signed denying she had an affair with Trump, pressing Daniels on whether the signature was authentic.
Continue reading Jimmy...
“I am very excited, I am very proud, I’m exhilarated even,” Kimmel told his audience. “Because from here on, we aren’t just following the Donald Trump drama in New York. We are part of it.”
Text messages entered into evidence by the prosecution yesterday showed a 2018 exchange between Trump’s then-attorney Michael Cohen and Keith Davidson, who represented Stormy Daniels in the hush money payment, discussing an interview with Daniels on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The interview in question took place on January 30, 2018, following the State of the Union. In it, Kimmel brought up a letter Daniels had allegedly signed denying she had an affair with Trump, pressing Daniels on whether the signature was authentic.
Continue reading Jimmy...
- 5/3/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
Prosecutors Play Recording Of Donald Trump And Michael Cohen Discussing Hush Money Payments — Update
Update: Jurors today heard a recording in which Donald Trump and his then-lawyer and “fixer,” Michael Cohen, discuss payments to Karen McDougal, the former Playboy model who claimed to have had an affair with The Apprentice host.
The recording was made by Cohen in September of 2016 — and first reported on by CNN in 2018. In it, Trump and Cohen discussed buying the rights to McDougal’s story.
“I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David,” Cohen said, referring to David Pecker, then-ceo of American Media, the tabloid publisher that bought McDougal’s story for $150,000 with the intention of burying it.
When Cohen turned to the subject of “financing,” Trump asked, “What financing?”
“We’ll have to pay,” Cohen said. It wasn’t clear from the garbled audio at that point whether Trump agreed. Pecker, a prosecution witness last week, said...
The recording was made by Cohen in September of 2016 — and first reported on by CNN in 2018. In it, Trump and Cohen discussed buying the rights to McDougal’s story.
“I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David,” Cohen said, referring to David Pecker, then-ceo of American Media, the tabloid publisher that bought McDougal’s story for $150,000 with the intention of burying it.
When Cohen turned to the subject of “financing,” Trump asked, “What financing?”
“We’ll have to pay,” Cohen said. It wasn’t clear from the garbled audio at that point whether Trump agreed. Pecker, a prosecution witness last week, said...
- 5/2/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Judge Juan Merchan found Donald Trump in contempt of court on Tuesday for repeatedly violating the gag order in the former president’s New York hush-money case. Merchan fined Trump a total of $9,000 for bucking the order against publicly commenting on court staff, prosecutors, prospective jurors, or the judge’s family — and lamented that New York state law prevented him from laying down a steeper penalty.
Penalizing Trump $1,000 for each infraction “unfortunately will not achieve the desired result,” the judge said, adding that the court “must therefore consider whether in...
Penalizing Trump $1,000 for each infraction “unfortunately will not achieve the desired result,” the judge said, adding that the court “must therefore consider whether in...
- 5/1/2024
- by Ryan Bort and Asawin Suebsaeng
- Rollingstone.com
Update: The lawyer for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels further outlined the hush money deals made to his clients, including his suspicion that Donald Trump was “the one” who ultimately funded the Daniels payoff.
Lawyer Keith Davidson said on Tuesday that he did not enjoy having to deal with Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen.
The tension went back to a hostile phone call in 2011 after a gossip site called TheDirty blogged about rumors of a sexual liaison between adult film star Daniels and Trump. “Before I could barely get my name out, I was met with a hostile barrage of insults and allegations,” Davidson testified in Trump’s hush-money trial in Manhattan.
Cohen was “just screaming,” Davidson said, and he accused Davidson’s clients, Daniels and her manager, Gina Rodriguez, of leaking the claim to TheDirty. “Finally, after he finished,” Davidson recalled, he assured Cohen that Daniels didn’t want the story publicized.
Lawyer Keith Davidson said on Tuesday that he did not enjoy having to deal with Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen.
The tension went back to a hostile phone call in 2011 after a gossip site called TheDirty blogged about rumors of a sexual liaison between adult film star Daniels and Trump. “Before I could barely get my name out, I was met with a hostile barrage of insults and allegations,” Davidson testified in Trump’s hush-money trial in Manhattan.
Cohen was “just screaming,” Davidson said, and he accused Davidson’s clients, Daniels and her manager, Gina Rodriguez, of leaking the claim to TheDirty. “Finally, after he finished,” Davidson recalled, he assured Cohen that Daniels didn’t want the story publicized.
- 4/30/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
The Judge in Donald Trump’s hush money trial has found the former president in contempt of court for repeatedly violating a gag order, and fining him $9,000 — $1,000 for nine separate violations.
Judge Juan Merchan determined on Tuesday that Trump had breached a court order barring him from publicly commenting on court staff, prosecutors, prospective jurors, or their families in 9 out of 10 instances alleged by Manhattan prosecutors. Merchan is expected to hear arguments regarding four more additional violations in a hearing on Thursday.
Merchan also warned Trump that “the Court will...
Judge Juan Merchan determined on Tuesday that Trump had breached a court order barring him from publicly commenting on court staff, prosecutors, prospective jurors, or their families in 9 out of 10 instances alleged by Manhattan prosecutors. Merchan is expected to hear arguments regarding four more additional violations in a hearing on Thursday.
Merchan also warned Trump that “the Court will...
- 4/30/2024
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez and Catherina Gioino
- Rollingstone.com
Update: Donald Trump deleted a series of Truth Social posts that were the subject of a judge’s contempt order today.
Trump had until 2:15 p.m. to remove the posts.
Trump also slammed the judge for the order. In a new Truth Social post, written during a break in the trial, he said, “This Judge has taken away my Constitutional Right to Free Speech. I am the only Presidential Candidate in History to be Gagged.”
Previously: Former President Donald Trump was found in contempt of court and fined $9,000 today for violating a judge’s partial gag order.
Trump also was ordered to remove seven posts from his Truth Social account and two posts from a campaign website by 2:15 p.m. today.
The judge, Juan Merchan, also warned Trump that he could face “incarceratory punishment” for further violations.
Read Merchan’s ruling.
The gag order restricts Trump from commenting on potential witnesses,...
Trump had until 2:15 p.m. to remove the posts.
Trump also slammed the judge for the order. In a new Truth Social post, written during a break in the trial, he said, “This Judge has taken away my Constitutional Right to Free Speech. I am the only Presidential Candidate in History to be Gagged.”
Previously: Former President Donald Trump was found in contempt of court and fined $9,000 today for violating a judge’s partial gag order.
Trump also was ordered to remove seven posts from his Truth Social account and two posts from a campaign website by 2:15 p.m. today.
The judge, Juan Merchan, also warned Trump that he could face “incarceratory punishment” for further violations.
Read Merchan’s ruling.
The gag order restricts Trump from commenting on potential witnesses,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
One America News Network has retracted a story that claimed Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen had an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels.
Cohen, who is expected to be a key witness at Trump’s hush money trial, had hired Justin Nelson of Susman Godfrey Llp, the lead attorney in Dominion Voting Systems’ lawsuit and $787.5 million settlement with Fox News.
On its website, Oan said that “today has retracted its March 27 article entitled ‘Whistleblower: Avenatti Alleged Cohen Daniels Affair Since 2006, Pre-2016 Trump Extortion Plan,’ and is taking it down from all sites and removing it from all social media. This retraction is part of a settlement reached with Michael Cohen. Mr. Avenatti has denied making the allegations. Oan apologizes to Mr. Cohen for any harm the publication may have caused him.”
Nelson worked with Cohen’s lawyer Danya Perry in seeking the Oan retraction and settlement.
“Today’s...
Cohen, who is expected to be a key witness at Trump’s hush money trial, had hired Justin Nelson of Susman Godfrey Llp, the lead attorney in Dominion Voting Systems’ lawsuit and $787.5 million settlement with Fox News.
On its website, Oan said that “today has retracted its March 27 article entitled ‘Whistleblower: Avenatti Alleged Cohen Daniels Affair Since 2006, Pre-2016 Trump Extortion Plan,’ and is taking it down from all sites and removing it from all social media. This retraction is part of a settlement reached with Michael Cohen. Mr. Avenatti has denied making the allegations. Oan apologizes to Mr. Cohen for any harm the publication may have caused him.”
Nelson worked with Cohen’s lawyer Danya Perry in seeking the Oan retraction and settlement.
“Today’s...
- 4/29/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial kicked off this week with witness testimony from media honcho David Pecker, who said that the former president was well aware of the catch-and-kill scheme and even thanked Pecker for his help in hiding two potentially “damaging” stories. The former American Media Inc. Chairman and CEO set the stage for the rest of the trial, giving a chronological overview of how he was brought into a meeting with Trump and his former fixer Michael Cohen at Trump Tower in August 2015, two months after...
- 4/27/2024
- by Catherina Gioino
- Rollingstone.com
Former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial reached the end of its second week as the prosecution’s first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, returned to the stand on Friday.
Defense attorneys sought to challenge Pecker’s narrative of Trump’s alleged involvement in suppressing “embarrassing” stories in the 2016 campaign.
Throughout the week, Pecker testified that Trump and his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, had requested him to serve as their “eyes and ears” and uncover whatever salacious stories could harm Trump’s candidacy. Pecker also said that he was asked to publish negative stories about Trump’s opponents. In cross-examination, Trump’s attorney, Emil Bove, aimed to undermine Pecker’s credibility and highlighted instances in which he had mixed up dates and suggested that the passage of time could affect his memory.
Pecker admitted that he had killed over 30 stories about women who claimed Arnold Schwarzenegger had harassed...
Defense attorneys sought to challenge Pecker’s narrative of Trump’s alleged involvement in suppressing “embarrassing” stories in the 2016 campaign.
Throughout the week, Pecker testified that Trump and his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, had requested him to serve as their “eyes and ears” and uncover whatever salacious stories could harm Trump’s candidacy. Pecker also said that he was asked to publish negative stories about Trump’s opponents. In cross-examination, Trump’s attorney, Emil Bove, aimed to undermine Pecker’s credibility and highlighted instances in which he had mixed up dates and suggested that the passage of time could affect his memory.
Pecker admitted that he had killed over 30 stories about women who claimed Arnold Schwarzenegger had harassed...
- 4/26/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Updated: After David Pecker finished his fourth day of testimony, the next prosecution witness in Donald Trump’s hush money trial Friday was Rhona Graff, Trump’s longtime assistant.
Graff was a Trump Organization employee who, while there, kept contacts for both Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal in the company’s computer system. She testified today that she had a “vague recollection” of once seeing Daniels in an office reception area of Trump Tower, and “assumed” it was because Trump was considering her as a contestant on his Celebrity Apprentice reality TV show.
“He thought that she would be an interesting addition,” she testified, citing “office chatter” as the basis for her opinion. Graff said she was aware that Daniels was an adult film performer.
Graff worked for Trump for 34 years, rising from his executive assistant beginning in 1987 to senior vice president until her departure in 2021. She testified under subpoena on Friday,...
Graff was a Trump Organization employee who, while there, kept contacts for both Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal in the company’s computer system. She testified today that she had a “vague recollection” of once seeing Daniels in an office reception area of Trump Tower, and “assumed” it was because Trump was considering her as a contestant on his Celebrity Apprentice reality TV show.
“He thought that she would be an interesting addition,” she testified, citing “office chatter” as the basis for her opinion. Graff said she was aware that Daniels was an adult film performer.
Graff worked for Trump for 34 years, rising from his executive assistant beginning in 1987 to senior vice president until her departure in 2021. She testified under subpoena on Friday,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s been Donald Trump’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week.
The past and potentially future leader of the free world spent most of it in a dingy Manhattan courtroom, no longer the master of his domain. It’s a place where he dutifully sits down when the judge tells him to sit, where he’s unable to say whatever he wants, where he’s not allowed to use his phone. And worst of all, where there’s no red button for him to push when he wants a Diet Coke. And according to him, it was bitterly cold — “freezing,” in fact, sounding like your elderly uncle at Thanksgiving. Forget a legal defense; someone needs to give him a sweater.
The criminal hearing in which he’s facing 34 felony counts is not the trial we deserve. That would be either the Georgia election interference case, the federal classified...
The past and potentially future leader of the free world spent most of it in a dingy Manhattan courtroom, no longer the master of his domain. It’s a place where he dutifully sits down when the judge tells him to sit, where he’s unable to say whatever he wants, where he’s not allowed to use his phone. And worst of all, where there’s no red button for him to push when he wants a Diet Coke. And according to him, it was bitterly cold — “freezing,” in fact, sounding like your elderly uncle at Thanksgiving. Forget a legal defense; someone needs to give him a sweater.
The criminal hearing in which he’s facing 34 felony counts is not the trial we deserve. That would be either the Georgia election interference case, the federal classified...
- 4/26/2024
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Over three days of testimony this week, Donald Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan has spawned subplots inside and outside the courtroom.
With a decision on one contempt motion pending, Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled a hearing on Thursday for prosecutors to argue that Trump has committed more violations of the judge’s gag order against disparaging or intimidating witnesses, jurors and other trial participants.
At the first contempt hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors sought fines for ten Trump online posts blasting witnesses Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen and calling prospective jurors “liberal activists.” Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Chris Conroy said that next week’s hearing will cover four more alleged gag-order violations.
The last was at a construction site in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday where Trump visited with workers before heading to court. There, Trump talked about the prosecution’s first witness, David Pecker, the former CEO of National Enquirer publisher American Media,...
With a decision on one contempt motion pending, Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled a hearing on Thursday for prosecutors to argue that Trump has committed more violations of the judge’s gag order against disparaging or intimidating witnesses, jurors and other trial participants.
At the first contempt hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors sought fines for ten Trump online posts blasting witnesses Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen and calling prospective jurors “liberal activists.” Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Chris Conroy said that next week’s hearing will cover four more alleged gag-order violations.
The last was at a construction site in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday where Trump visited with workers before heading to court. There, Trump talked about the prosecution’s first witness, David Pecker, the former CEO of National Enquirer publisher American Media,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Donald Trump was back in court on Thursday for the seventh day of his criminal hush money trial. The court heard a third day of testimony from David Pecker — the former National Enquirer boss who used the publication to buoy Trump ahead of the 2016 election. While Pecker’s testimony earlier this week contained plenty of damning evidence, the former tabloid boss dropped an under-oath bombshell when he recalled that Trump complained to him that Stormy Daniels had breached the hush-money deal she’d made with Trump fixer Michael Cohen after...
- 4/25/2024
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez and Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
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