Donald Trump is back in a New York City courtroom for his business records trial, where testimony is expected from a lawyer representing women who claim to have had sexual encounters with him. The lawyer, Keith Davidson, is seen as a key player in the prosecution’s case that alleges Trump and his allies tried to bury unflattering stories before the 2016 presidential election. Davidson represented Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal in negotiations with the National Enquirer and Michael Cohen. Other key witnesses are expected to testify before Cohen, who is the star witness for the prosecution.
Despite the allegations, Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, claiming “election interference” as the reason for the legal challenges. The trial, now in its second week, has seen Judge Juan Merchan consider violations of Trump’s gag order, leading to fines and warnings of potential incarceration if the defendant continues to comment outside of court. Trump has complied with orders to remove certain posts from Truth Social, but continues to express his dissatisfaction with the trial.
Public opinion on the trial varies, with a majority of Americans doubting the fairness of the outcome. Many see the trial as irrelevant to Trump’s fitness for reelection, according to a CNN poll. A significant portion of the population believes Trump is not being treated the same as other criminal defendants. Overall, public sentiment remains divided on the legality of Trump’s actions in the case.
The trial, known as New York v. Trump, No. 71543-23, is taking place in the New York Supreme Court for New York County. You can watch the live coverage below or here if you’re on our app.
