The second day of the oral hearing against former President Donald Trump began with tension, as expected. The prosecution demanded that Judge Juan Merchan strengthen the gag order on Trump speaking publicly about the trial and those involved. Trump had violated this order 10 times and had a heated exchange with the judge’s lawyer, Todd Blanche.
Despite not making an immediate decision, Judge Merchan was warned by the Manhattan assistant district attorney that incarceration was an option for Trump if he continued to violate the restrictions. Trump’s trial was not only taking place in Manhattan but also in the media.
The focus of the session shifted to the National Enquirer’s role in the Trump campaign. Owned by American Media Inc, the tabloid allegedly made a pact with the campaign to publish fake news that favored Trump and slandered his rivals. This included buying the silence of women who had relationships with Trump. The Enquirer protected Trump’s image by never publishing these stories.
David Pecker, head of AMI, confirmed these claims and revealed the details of the agreements made to silence Trump’s affairs. The case involved payments to multiple women and even a former Trump Tower doorman. Pecker’s testimony shed light on the lengths