Reviewing a Week in the Trump Hush Money Trial

In the second week of testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, crucial witnesses took the stand, shedding light on the deals at the heart of the case. A California lawyer who negotiated the deals and a longtime adviser to the former president were among those who testified.

Jurors were presented with a 2016 recording of Trump discussing a plan to buy a Playboy model’s silence, as well as testimony about Hulk Hogan and hurricanes. Outside the jury’s presence, Trump was fined for violating a judge’s gag order, with additional sanctions looming.

One key witness, Hicks, testified about her concerns when a reporter reached out to her before breaking the story. The recording made public just days before a debate with Hillary Clinton was said to explain the frenetic efforts by Trump and allies to suppress harmful stories.

Another interesting revelation came when one of Trump’s lawyers suggested that Trump might have been a victim of extortion. The defense highlighted instances where celebrities were coerced into paying large sums to suppress damaging stories.

The prosecution’s key witness, Cohen, has yet to testify, but a recording of him briefing Trump on a plan to buy McDougal’s silence was played in court. The recording, along with other evidence, aimed to establish that the hush money payment was made with Trump’s knowledge.

The trial also delved into Trump’s outside-of-court comments, leading to fines for violating the gag order. The possibility of jail time for Trump was raised, but for now, prosecutors are focused on addressing future violations. The trial continues to captivate with its twists and turns, as the case unfolds.