New York’s highest court has ruled against former President Donald Trump’s request to halt the ongoing criminal trial. Trump is being accused of falsifying business records to pay off former porn star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence regarding an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
The trial has already featured testimony from lawyer Keith Davidson, who worked for both Daniels and another woman named Karen McDougal, who also claims to have had an affair with Trump. Davidson was questioned about negotiations that led to an agreement for Michael Cohen, then-Trump’s lawyer, to make a cash payment to Daniels.
Davidson provided insight into the close affiliation between Trump and the former editor of the National Enquirer, David Pecker. He also testified about how Pecker’s company bought McDougal’s story during the 2016 presidential campaign to prevent it from being published.
On Thursday, the trial resumed with Trump being fined $9,000 for violating a gag order imposed by the judge. Trump argued that the gag order violated his constitutional rights as he left the courtroom.
The case continues, with more testimony and evidence expected to be presented in New York courts.