Trump dealt CRUSHING blow at trial
TLDRIn the ongoing legal trial of Donald Trump, the court has heard particularly damaging testimonies. David Pecker, CEO of American Media Inc., admitted to engaging in 'catch and kill' schemes, where he paid individuals to suppress harmful information about Trump that could have jeopardized his presidential campaign. This was not in the business interest of Pecker's company but was aimed at aiding Trump's political campaign, which constitutes powerful evidence against him. Pecker, along with Michael Cohen, is considered a co-conspirator in a conspiracy to hide information from the public, thereby allegedly depriving voters of a fully informed decision. The trial also touched upon the involvement of Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders in coordinating the 'hush money' contract for Karen McDougal, which raises questions about their conduct as government officials. The prosecution is expected to present more evidence linking Trump to the Stormy Daniels payoff and falsifying business records for political advantage. The testimonies of Pecker and Cohen, both of whom have been criminally implicated in the past, will play a significant role in the trial, although their guilt cannot be directly used as evidence for Trump's guilt. The trial continues with anticipation of Hope Hicks's testimony, which could potentially be incriminating for Trump.
Takeaways
- 📰 The trial against Donald Trump has concluded with incriminating testimony, particularly from David Pecker.
- 🤫 David Pecker admitted to 'catch and kill' schemes, paying people to suppress damaging information about Trump during his presidential campaign.
- 💥 Pecker's actions were not in the business interest of American Media Inc. (AMI) or the National Enquirer, but aimed to protect Trump's candidacy.
- 🚫 Trump has not openly criticized Pecker, suggesting a possible understanding or agreement between them.
- 🧐 The testimony is considered uncharged misconduct as Pecker was not involved in the Stormy Daniels payoff, which is a separate crime under New York law.
- 📉 The entire scheme was allegedly for political advantage, not personal, further elevating the crimes to felony charges due to election law violations.
- 🤝 Pecker, Michael Cohen, and Trump were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to hide information from the public for political gain.
- 🔍 The prosecution aims to show that Trump was part of a criminal scheme with Pecker and Cohen, which will then transition into evidence regarding the Stormy Daniels case.
- 💰 The fact that Pecker did not report and instead killed stories that could have been profitable for AMI indicates the singular intention to assist Trump's campaign.
- 🤔 Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders were revealed to have coordinated on the Karen McDougal contract, raising questions about their conduct as public officials.
- 🗣️ Hope Hicks, a close confidant of Trump, is expected to testify and may provide direct statements from Trump that could be incriminating.
Q & A
What was the main focus of the trial discussed in the transcript?
-The main focus of the trial was the incriminating testimony against Donald Trump, particularly concerning his involvement in a conspiracy to hide damaging information for political advantage, which included the 'catch and kill' schemes and the Stormy Daniels payoff.
Who were the key figures involved in the conspiracy mentioned in the transcript?
-The key figures involved in the conspiracy were David Pecker, Michael Cohen, and Donald Trump.
What was David Pecker's role in the 'catch and kill' schemes?
-David Pecker, as the head of American Media Inc., admitted to paying people to bury damaging information about Donald Trump that could have hurt his candidacy.
Why was David Pecker's testimony considered incriminating for Donald Trump?
-Pecker's testimony was incriminating because he revealed that the actions taken were not in the business interest of American Media Inc. or the National Enquirer but were specifically to help Donald Trump in his presidential run.
What was the significance of Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders coordinating strategy on the Karen McDougall contract?
-Their coordination indicated that they were working to extend the 'hush money' contract while serving as taxpayer-funded government officials in the White House, which could imply a misuse of public office for personal political gain.
How did Michael Cohen's conviction and imprisonment impact the perception of Donald Trump's involvement in the crimes?
-While the jury could not directly use Cohen's guilty plea as evidence of Trump's guilt, the fact that he was convicted for crimes that Trump is also accused of facilitated could influence the jury's perception of the case.
What was the legal implication of David Pecker receiving a non-prosecution agreement?
-The non-prosecution agreement meant that Pecker likely committed crimes but was not charged for them. Instead, he was required to cooperate with prosecutors by providing information about his own crimes and those of others involved in the conspiracy.
What was the potential impact of Hope Hicks' testimony on the trial?
-Hope Hicks, being a close confidant and often present during key moments, could provide direct statements from Donald Trump that might be sharply incriminating, potentially driving another nail into Trump's legal coffin.
Why was the fact that the National Enquirer did not report on certain stories significant?
-The decision to not report and instead 'kill' the stories indicates that the actions were not taken for financial profit, which was the usual business model, but solely to aid Donald Trump's campaign.
What was the legal strategy behind the prosecution introducing the non-prosecution agreement and Michael Cohen's guilty plea?
-The prosecution used these to provide context and background to the jury without directly implying that Trump's guilt could be inferred from the guilt of others involved in the conspiracy.
What was the role of the jury in assessing the evidence presented in the trial?
-The jury was tasked with assessing the facts underlying the testimonies, non-prosecution agreements, and guilty pleas to determine whether Donald Trump was guilty of the charges, without solely relying on the guilt of others.
Outlines
📰 David Pecker's Incriminating Testimony
David Pecker, CEO of American Media Inc. (AMI), admitted to paying individuals to suppress damaging information about Donald Trump during his presidential campaign. This was part of a "catch and kill" scheme, where stories were bought and then buried, not in AMI's business interest but solely to protect Trump. Pecker's testimony is considered uncharged misconduct as he was not involved in the Stormy Daniels payoff. His involvement in the doorman payoff and Caren McDougall story, however, sets the stage for the trial, showing Trump's conspiracy with Pecker and Michael Cohen to hide information for political advantage. The fact that Pecker chose not to report the stories, despite it being more profitable, further implicates Trump.
🏛️ Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders' Coordination
Testimony revealed that Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, while serving as White House officials, coordinated on whether to extend Karen McDougall's hush money contract. This is concerning as it shows government officials potentially scheming to hide damaging information about Trump. While their liability is unclear as Hicks has not yet testified, it raises questions about their conduct as public servants. The prosecution may also present direct statements from Trump implicating him further. Michael Cohen, who has already been convicted for his role in these crimes, is expected to testify, while Hope Hicks' testimony could provide more insight into Trump's actions.
🚫 Limitations on Using Co-Conspirators' Convictions
While Michael Cohen and David Pecker have been convicted or received a non-prosecution agreement for their roles in the conspiracy, the jury cannot directly use their convictions as evidence of Trump's guilt. However, the jury can consider the underlying facts of their cases to assess the evidence against Trump. The judge will give a limiting instruction to the jury, clarifying that they cannot conclude Trump is guilty just because his co-conspirators were found guilty. Other pieces of evidence will be presented to allow the jury to determine Trump's guilt beyond the involvement of Cohen and Pecker.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡David Pecker
💡Catch and Kill
💡Michael Cohen
💡Stormy Daniels
💡Falsifying Business Records
💡Election Campaign Laws
💡Hope Hicks
💡Sarah Huckabee Sanders
💡Non-Prosecution Agreement
💡Felony Charges
💡Legal Breakdown
Highlights
David Pecker admitted to 'catch and kill' schemes where he paid people to bury damaging information about Donald Trump.
Pecker's actions were not in the business interest of American Media Inc. or the National Enquirer, but to protect Trump's candidacy.
David Pecker is considered one of Donald Trump's co-conspirators in a conspiracy to hide information from American voters.
Trump has not openly criticized Pecker, suggesting a possible understanding or agreement between them.
Testimony from David Pecker is considered uncharged misconduct as he was not involved in the Stormy Daniels payoff.
The entire scheme was done for political advantage, violating election campaign laws and leading to felony charges.
Pecker was involved in the doorman payoff regarding a false report of Trump having an out-of-wedlock child.
Prosecution aims to prove that Trump, Pecker, and Michael Cohen conspired in a criminal scheme for political advantage.
The focus will shift to the Stormy Daniels payoff and falsifying business records, all for political, not personal, advantage.
Pecker's decision not to report on the salacious stories indicates the exclusive intention to aid Trump's campaign.
It is expected that Pecker anticipated favorable treatment from the Trump administration for his assistance.
Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders were revealed to have coordinated on the Karen McDougall contract, raising questions of abuse of power.
The actions of Hicks and Sanders while serving as government officials are seen as a potential perversion of their duties.
Hope Hicks, a close confidant of Trump, is expected to provide testimony that could be incriminating for Trump.
Michael Cohen, who has been convicted and imprisoned for crimes facilitated by Trump, is set to testify.
Cohen's conviction for the same crimes as those Trump is being tried for can be considered by the jury, but not as direct evidence of Trump's guilt.
David Pecker's non-prosecution agreement and Cohen's guilty plea provide context but are not conclusive evidence against Trump.
The jury will assess the facts and underlying circumstances of the crimes to determine Trump's guilt.