Date: 2024-12-26 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00026682
THE TRUMP SAGA
NY HUSH MONEY TRIAL
WP: Judge again finds Trump in contempt in hush money trial; Trump Org employees testify
NY HUSH MONEY TRIAL
WP: Judge again finds Trump in contempt in hush money trial; Trump Org employees testify
Original article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/06/trump-hush-money-trial-live-updates/
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
Peter Burgess
May 6, 2024 at 4:43 p.m. EDT1 hour ago
New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan ruled Monday that Donald Trump again violated his gag order in the New York hush money trial, and he warned that he would consider jailing the former president if the violations continue. After the ruling, testimony included retired Trump Organization comptroller Jeffrey McConney talking about business records and practices that are at the heart of the case. Merchan sent the jury home for the day shortly after 4 p.m.
Trump’s gag order prohibits him from commenting on jurors and witnesses in the case, among others. The judge previously found him in contempt for violating the order nine times, and prosecutors later accused Trump of violating the order four more times.
The trial is not being televised. The Washington Post has reporters in the courtroom and media overflow room who are posting live updates.
Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to his reimbursement of longtime lawyer Michael Cohen, who paid adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about allegations that she had a sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.
Trump: 'Our Constitution is much more important than jail'
On May 6 former president Donald Trump addressed being held in contempt for violating his gag order in the New York hush money trial. (Video: TWP) Trump spoke to reporters shortly before he left the courthouse, calling Justice Juan Merchan a “disaster” and addressing being held in contempt Monday morning for violating his gag order.
“This judge has given me a gag order and said, ‘You’ll go to jail if you violate it,’” Trump told reporters. “Frankly our Constitution is much more important than jail. I’ll do that sacrifice any day.”
Trump also complained about the trial’s timeline.
“We just found out the government just said they want two to three more weeks,” he said. “That means they want to keep me off the trail.” Trump has a rally scheduled this weekend in New Jersey.
Former Trump organization employee Deborah Tarasoff testifies Monday in Manhattan criminal court about writing checks to Michael Cohen. (Elizabeth Williams/AP) Longtime Trump Organization employee Deborah Tarasoff finished her testimony by confirming for the defense that she has not seen Donald Trump acting improperly in her 24 years at the company.
“You never had any reason to believe President Trump was hiding anything or anything like that, correct?” defense lawyer Todd Blanche asked.
“Correct,” Tarasoff said.
Her cross-examination was brief.
Justice Juan Merchan is sending the jury home for the day.