Court reporters now read the 4th & final portion of #testimony that jurors asked to hear: #MichaelCohen’s recounting of that same #TrumpTowerMeeting.
Cohen’s testimony matches Pecker’s account closely. #Pecker testified that he had said he would be #Trump’s “eyes & ears” & watch out for negative stories. Cohen recalls him saying he would “keep an eye out for anything negative.”
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#Pecker testified on cross-examination that the phrase “#CatchAndKill” was not used at the Aug 2015 #TrumpTowerMeeting — & that there was no financial agreement made in concert w/the plan for him to supress negative stories about #Trump AT THAT MEETING.
The defense has argued that both of those data points should cast doubt on the prosecution’s theory.
#Pecker’s #testimony here is key to prosecution's case. Jurors also asked to hear MichaelCohen’s testimony about the #TrumpTowerMeeting. They will hear that next.
One of the major arguments the defense made during closings also pertained to this meeting, & concerned the idea that the phrase #CatchAndKill was not used during it.
(It’s not used in the charges either. It’s just a characterization not a legal term.)
#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#Jurors hear #Pecker recall that after he said he wasn’t going to go thru w/the agreement w/ #MichaelCohen, who was to pay him for the rights to #KarenMcDougal’s story using an LLC, Cohen told him: “The boss is going to be very angry at you.”
Court reporters read the 3rd portion of Pecker’s testimony. This part pertains to the Aug 2015 #TrumpTowerMeeting in which Pecker, Michael Cohen & #Trump entered a #conspiracy to suppress negative news about Trump during the #2016election.
Yes, this just happened, court is still very much in session. Only the jury was dismissed.
There’s agreement on the jurors’ 1st, 2nd & 4th requests.
1st was #Pecker’s testimony about a call he had w/ #Trump in June 2016.
2nd was Pecker’s testimony on financial arrangements for #KarenMcDougal’s #HushMoney.
4th was #MichaelCohen’s testimony on the Aug 2015 #TrumpTowerMeeting w/ Pecker & Trump.
The only portion that is disputed involves Pecker's testimony about the same meeting.
Justice #Merchan is back on the bench. He asks the attys, “Where do we stand?”
Prosecutor #Steinglass says that while they have “made a lot of progress,” they need his help to sort out which portions of the #transcript should be read back to the #jury.
Jurors asked for 4 portions — 3 from #Pecker’s testimony & 1 from #MichaelCohen.
Defense & prosecution aren’t agreeing on Pecker's #TrumpTowerMeeting testimony.
Steinglass: "We disagree about where it ends."
The start of #MichaelCohen’s testimony on the #TrumpTowerMeeting:
The phone call #jurors asked for from David Pecker’s testimony was call he testified he had w/ #Trump during an investor meeting, in June 2016, during which Trump acknowledged that he knew #KarenMcDougal.
Jurors may also be looking at the part of the #TrumpTowerMeeting when #Pecker testified that he decided to not collect reimbursement from Trump for his #HushMoney deal w/ McDougal. The wording from the jurors is slightly unclear.
Here’s the start of my posts on #Pecker's testimony regarding the #TrumpTowerMeeting:
https://masto.ai/@Nonilex/112321674831674806
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #CathAndKill #conspiracy
The #jury’s specific requests:
1. David Pecker's testimony regarding the phone conversation w/ #Trump while #Pecker was in the investor meeting
2. Pecker's testimony regarding life rights for #KarenMcDougal
3. Pecker's testimony regarding the Trump Tower meeting
4. #MichaelCohen's testimony regarding the #TrumpTowerMeeting
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #CathAndKill #conspiracy
The #jurors want to hear both men’s #testimony about the #TrumpTowerMeeting where #Pecker testified that the 2 men reached that agreement w/ #Trump himself.
#Pecker gave damning testimony against Trump, jurors may want to compare Pecker’s testimony to the testimony of #MichaelCohen, who the defense sought to tar as a vengeful liar.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #CathAndKill #conspiracy
