The third week of testimony in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York opened Monday with Judge Juan Merchan fining Trump $1,000 for a new violation of the court-imposed gag order limiting Trump’s public speech regarding individuals involved in the court case. Then, the court turned to testimony regarding the Trump Organization’s internal financial procedures, where Trump’s defense attorneys attempted to situate payments to former Trump attorney Michael Cohen as one of many regular accounts paid by the Organization.
Witness Testimonies Begin
Jeffrey McConney, former controller for the Trump Organization, was called as the first witness in the third week of testimony. McConney discussed internal financial procedures, including the upheaval and changes in procedures resulting from Trump’s election to President in 2016. McConney’s testimony highlighted the disorganization and difficulties of managing Trump’s personal and business expenses during that transitional period.
Focus on Michael Cohen’s Payments
A large focus of the testimony was on the payments to Michael Cohen, who served as Trump’s former lawyer. These payments are under scrutiny as allegedly falsified business records. The prosecution claims that while these payments were recorded as legal expenses paid out to Cohen, they were in fact intended to conceal hush money payments Cohen had paid to silence an alleged affair.
Legal Arguments and Cross-Examinations
The payments to Cohen became the focus of legal arguments throughout the morning court session, as the defense framed the payments as routine legal expenses. Prosecutors continue to contest the legitimacy of the payments. The lawyers pressed into the question of whether legal retainers could be verbal in the arrangement.
Lunch Break and Informal Interactions
Trump stayed engaged with the public during the mid-day break for lunch. During his interaction with reporters and cameras, Trump signaled “thumbs up” to the media and smiled in the midst of court proceedings, signaling his participation and engagement in his legal cases.
Afternoon Session – Tarasoff’s Testimony
After the lunch break, the prosecution called Deborah Tarasoff to the witness stand. Tarasoff was the accounts payable supervisor at the Trump Organization. She shed light on the daily financial operations at the organization as well as described her responsibility handling checks, including the checks from the Trump Organization to Cohen.
Detailed Financial Discussions
The defense focused its cross-examination on the routine and regular nature of the checks Tarasoff prepared to be paid to Cohen. They drew out descriptions of the process and permissions involved in the accounts payable process. The effect of this line of questioning was to place the payments made to Cohen within the context of other payments made to individuals from the Trump Organization.
Trump’s Reactions and Interactions
Trump remained alert and reactive to testimonies throughout the day in court, communicating with his attorneys and showing expressions and casual gestures that could be construed as reactions to witness testimony.
Day Concludes Early
The day in court ended in the early afternoon, earlier than was expected. The earlier court day was filled with intense argumentation and legal back and forth.
Trump’s Defiant Exit
When questioned at the end of the day by the media waiting outside the courthouse, Trump stated that he would be willing to face jail time to be able to express his freedom of speech. He was alluding to Judge Marchan’s threat of jail time for further infringements on the court’s gag order.
Reflections on the Day
Overall, the day focused on the context in which the Trump Organization executed its accounts payable obligations and wrote checks to employees and for services. Two key figures explained the complications of executing the financial obligations once Trump was elected and he was both a business executive and a public official.
Media and Public Attention
Just like Trump as a businessman and Trump as an elected official have different interests and obligations in the service of each office, the same tensions can be seen in this court case writ large. On the one hand, Trump, the individual, is on trial, and on the other hand, he is running for national political office at the highest level. His time in court, required by law without reprieve from the judge, takes away from his ability to campaign, which some Trump supporters see as “election interference.”
Juxtaposition of Private v Public Life In Regard to Freedom of Speech
Moreover, Trump, as a private citizen, is not allowed to engage the media in regard to many topics due to a restrictive gag order, but on the other hand, Trump has a right to free speech and an interest in defending himself and responding swiftly to accusations against him as a candidate running for President.
Overall Implications
Following the close investigation of the financial mechanisms at play in the Trump Organization’s accounts payable office as well as the larger financial procedures in the company, the next line of questioning is expected to involve Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, herself on the witness stand.
