Donald Trump Trial: Judge Holds New Hearing Over Possible Gag Order Violations

A prosecution witness also returned to the stand Thursday morning

Former President Donald Trump's Hush Money Trial Continues In New York
Former President Donald Trump trial is continuing in a Manhattan federal courtroom. (Photo by Mark Peterson - Pool/Getty Images)

Donald Trump's hush money trial has resumed in Manhattan after a one-day break.

The day started with another contempt hearing over possible violations of a gag order in the case.

New York State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan said prosecutors have submitted four video clips of posible violations. One was a video outside the courtroom when Trump again attacked his former attorney, Michael Cohen, as a "liar."

Trump's lawyers have submitted nearly 500 pages of evidence in a bid to refute the alleged violations.

Judge Merchan grew impatient as one of Trump's lawyers tried to justify Trump's April 22 comments to the Real America's Voice TV network that the jury was "95% Democrats," "the area's mostly all Democrat," and, "It's a very unfair situation that I can tell you."

Prosecutors said they weren't yet seeking to have Trump jailed as punishment. They are asking for $1,000 fines for each vicoation.

There was no immediate decision from the judge on the four alleged gag order violations, the Associated Press reported.

Earlier this week the judge ruled that he had nine previous violations and fined him $9,000. New York State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan warned the former president that he could face jail time for continued violations.

Trump held a rally during the break in the case. He kept up his condemnation of the case, though stopped short of comments that might run violate the gag order.

"There is no crime," he told supporters in Waukesha, Wisconsin. "I have a crooked judge, is a totally conflicted judge."

A lawyer who represented two women who say they had sexual encounters with Trump was also on the stand.

Keith Davidson could be a vital prosecution witness to help build the case that Trump and his allies schemed to bury unflattering stories in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, according to the Associated Press.

As he returned to the stand Thursay the jury got a look at the confidential $130,000 settlement with Stormy Daniels, who said she had an affair with Trump.

The accounting of that payment is central to the prosecution.

Trump has admitted the payment was made but denied having an affair.

During cross-examination, Trump lawyer Emil Bove elicited testimony from Davidson that he'd never had any interactions with Trump and his only point-person was Cohen.

The lawyer testified that he never met Trump, nor had he ever been in the same room as him until he began testifying in court Tuesday.

Davidson is one of multiple key players expected to be called to the stand in advance of prosecutors' star witness, Michael Cohen.

Cohen is Trump's former lawyer and personal fixer but he is expected to be attacked by the defense as a convicted felon.

Cohen previously pleaded guilty to charges of tax evasion, making false statements to a federally insured bank and campaign finance violations. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.

Earlier this week, Merchan said Trump will be allowed to attend his youngest son Barron's high school graduation in June.

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