What to know about the hush money trial
- The fourth witness to take the stand today was Keith Davidson, who worked as an attorney for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal — the Playboy playmate who accused Donald Trump of having a monthslong affair. Trump has denied affairs with both women.
- Earlier in the day, the jury heard from witnesses who authenticated videos of Trump, including on the campaign trail and during a deposition.
- Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, another woman who accused Trump of having an affair. He has pleaded not guilty and denied a relationship with her.
- Court proceedings are set to resume on Thursday.
Outside courtroom, Trump repeats claims that gag order is 'unconstitutional'
Speaking with reporters after leaving court this afternoon, Trump repeated earlier claims that Judge Merchan's gag order violates his constitutional rights.
"It’s totally unconstitutional," Trump said, adding that he was spending time in court instead of making trips to Georgia, New Hampshire, Ohio "and lots of other places" as part of his presidential campaign.
His comments come after he posted on Truth Social shortly before returning to court earlier this afternoon that Merchan "has taken away my Constitutional Right to FREE SPEECH."
Trump's legal team and prosecutors depart in contrasting fashion
As the Trump team strolled out, a single legal assistant struggled to exit under a pile of boxes and binders that everyone else left behind.
The district attorney's team left in a notably less glamorous fashion sharing the load, with even Steinglass, a two-decade plus veteran of the office, carrying his own bankers box and binder.
Court is done for the day, trial resumes Thursday
Trial proceedings are done for the day.
Court will be back in session Thursday, starting with a gag order hearing at 9:30 a.m. ET. The jury is set to return at 10 a.m.
Dylan Howard told Keith Davidson to 'push for the cash'
One text presented from former National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard to Davidson said, "Push for the cash. [David Pecker] and I just told him he has to pay the $150K."
Davidson said he thought that meant, “That I should try to get as much as I could, up to 150,000.”
Davidson said that the deal for Daniels changed from National Enquirer's parent company to Michael Cohen and his corporate entity.
"He says you are paying," Davidson texted Howard, referring to Cohen.
“Dylan tells me push for the cash, and then basically tells me to call Cohen. And then when I call Cohen he says I’m not paying anything," Davidson testified. "It's just one more snafu."
Prosecutors struggle to get Davidson to make direct Trump link to Cohen negotiations
Davidson could be a useful witness to prosecutors because he helps explain the motivation to bury Stormy Daniels' story, but the DA's office has struggled to get him to bring Trump directly into his protracted negotiations with Cohen for weeks leading up to the 2016 election.
Prosecutor tries to get at how Davidson understood Trump would be paying
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is having a hard time asking Keith Davidson a question that Judge Juan Merchan will allow about how and why he understood Trump would be paying for the deal.
Steinglass notes that at one point Davidson paused when he was asked who he understood would be responsible ultimately for paying Daniels. Davidson responded that he found the question confusing.
Steinglass then asked whether during his dealings with Michael Cohen, Davidson understood how the deal would be funded. Davidson responded that he “had an assumption,” and Trump attorney Emil Bove interjected an objection, which Judge Merchan honored.
Davidson said 'it would be a tornado' if Daniels story got out
More text messages between Keith Davidson and Dylan Howard presented during the trial this afternoon reflected Davidson's belief, he said, that if Stormy Daniels' story got out, "it would be a tornado."
The texts also corroborated Davidson's testimony that he walked away not only from Michael Cohen but also from representing Gina Rodriguez, Daniels' manager, and Daniels herself. Davidson said he expected "there would be tremendous media activity around this story."
Court has resumed
The trial is back and Davidson is on the stand.
Former Trump aide Carter Page is in the courtroom
Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page is in the courtroom, seated in the last row.
Page was the target of a secret national security surveillance warrant executed by the FBI during the Russia probe. He was never charged with a crime.
Trial takes a break
The trial has taken a break until 3:50 p.m.