“The people call #StormyDaniels,” Susan #Hoffinger says. She takes the stand & is sworn in with her hand raised.

Daniels sounds nervous as she spells her name.

Several members of the jury noticeably perked up when Stormy Daniels's name was called as a #witness.

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney

The first #witness today is #SallyFranklin, who works at Penguin Random House, a publisher.

[#StormyDaniels is the 2nd]

Franklin is a #CustodialWitness — here to verify facts that Trump's lawyers have not agreed to — she will testify about 2 books that #Trump wrote, including “Trump: How to Get Rich” & “Trump: Think Like a Billionaire,” both published by Ballantine, a Penguin Random House imprint.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney

After Justice #Merchan explained #Trump’s freedom to speak as a #witness, he concluded, “please let your attorney know” if you have any more questions. Note that Todd #Blanche, the lead defense #lawyer, nodded along when Trump made the comments in question outside the courtroom yesterday.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics #NodFarter #GagOrder #StormyDaniels #KarenMcDougal

#Blanche discusses #MichaelCohen’s Tik-Tok videos, saying, “This is not a man that needs protection from the gag order.”

This is a serious concern for prosecutors. Their #witness, who had said that he would be silent after having attacked #Trump, has not. + Justice #Merchan has already written that he is somewhat sympathetic to the defense’s argument here.

#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #MobTactics #GagOrder #TrumpTrial

But the judge asks, isn’t it possible to respond to #Biden without actually mentioning #StormyDaniels, a potential #witness?

[also Biden isn’t under a #GagOrder, threatening any #witnesses or facing multiple #criminal charges]

#Trump appeared to get frustrated during this exchange & motioned w/his hands.

#law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #MobTactics #TrumpTrial

#MichaelCohen, who was then #Trump's #fixer, would later set up a similarly named company, #EssentialConsultants, to #payoff #StormyDaniels.

Lots of evidence per the disguised monetary transactions related to the #KarenMcDougal deal. But most of the #jurors are still paying close attention, turning their heads from the prosecutor, Joshua #Steinglass, to the #witness, #Pecker, & back again.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #GagOrder #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney