Week 3: The Trump Trial Continues, What's Next?

Opening Remarks

The third week of The State of New York v. Donald Trump kicked off with Judge Juan Merchan threatening to incarcerate Trump due to his social media activity. At the State's behest, Judge Merchan also imposed financial sanctions on Trump for his comments outside the court. Expressing his annoyance with Trump, Judge Merchan warned the former president that imprisonment is a very real possibility.

The Evidence and Witnesses

The week's proceedings began with the State further establishing the context for the Stormy Daniels non-disclosure agreement (NDA), Michael Cohen's role in the deal, and the compensation Cohen received afterwards. The first witness to take the stand was Jeffrey McConney, the former corporate controller of the Trump Organization. McConney detailed the payments made to Michael Cohen, which are alleged to be connected to the Stormy Daniels payoff.

Cross Examination

During the cross-examination, it was revealed that McConney instructed a colleague to record the payments to Cohen as "legal expenses", a standard procedure at the Trump Organization. McConney confirmed that he had never discussed the Cohen payments with Trump and was not given any instructions by Trump regarding the payments or their classification.

Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand

The much-anticipated testimony of Stormy Daniels began on Tuesday. Daniels detailed her background, her career in adult entertainment, and her 2006 encounter with Trump. Despite objections from Trump's attorneys, Judge Merchan allowed Daniels to testify about the alleged affair, stating that her testimony was necessary for the jury's understanding of events.

Continuing Examination and Cross Examination

Following Daniels' testimony, Trump's attorneys moved for a mistrial, arguing that Daniels' testimony was unfairly prejudicial and irrelevant to the case. Judge Merchan denied their request but did allow for a limiting instruction regarding the 2011 parking lot encounter. During the cross-examination, Daniels was portrayed as a money-driven liar with a strong desire to see Trump imprisoned.

Conclusion

As the third week of the Trump trial concludes, the proceedings have been marked by contentious testimonies and heated exchanges. With the trial set to continue into next week, it remains to be seen what new revelations will emerge. What are your thoughts on this ongoing trial? Do you think the testimonies so far have been fair and relevant? Share this article with your friends and let us know your thoughts. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered to your inbox every day at 6 pm.