Trump's trial features fierce debate over what he can say: 5 takeaways
Donald Trump's criminal trial began with a heated clash between Justice Juan M. Merchan and Trump's lead lawyer over a gag order. It ended with an insider's look into a tabloid newspaper practice known as «catch and kill.»
Prosecutors said Trump had «willfully and blatantly» violated a gag order barring him from attacking jurors and witnesses, among others. They said he had done so in comments outside the courtroom and online and should be found in contempt of court.
Trump's top lawyer said in response that Trump was simply defending himself from political attacks. Merchan did not rule, but he scolded the lawyer, Todd Blanche, saying, «you're losing all credibility with the court.»
A former ally of Trump, David Pecker, the ex-publisher of the National Enquirer, later testified to buying and burying unflattering stories about Trump during his 2016 run for president, an arrangement he called «highly, highly confidential.»
Trump, 77, faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide a payment to a pornographic film actor, Stormy Daniels, made to cover up a sex scandal that threatened to derail his campaign. Daniels, who may testify, has said that she and Trump had a brief sexual encounter in 2006, something the former president denies.
Trump has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, the former president — and presumptive Republican nominee — could face probation or up to four years in prison.
Here are five takeaways from Trump's sixth day on trial:
