Donald Trump || Photo Credit: Reuters
According to a report by Newsweek on Friday, April 26, 2024, Donald Trump has claimed that the legal case against him regarding hush money payments has “fallen apart” after the first witness testified in court.
In a post on Truth Social, the former president criticized the case led by Alvin Bragg and accused the judge of being biased.
Trump’s post on the social media platform read, “BIG DAY IN COURT(S) TODAY. The Soros backed Alvin Bragg case, presided over by a highly conflicted Judge, has completely fallen apart. Virtually every Legal Scholar and Expert has stated that there is no Crime, there never was. It is a complete HOAX, but the other side has a Judge who is fighting for them all the way! MAGA2024!”
This statement came after David Pecker, the former head of American Media, testified in court regarding his involvement with Trump and his lawyer Michael Cohen to suppress negative stories during the 2016 election campaign.
Pecker revealed that they worked together to prevent damaging stories from being published about Trump.
Trump is currently facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the payment made by Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep their alleged affair secret.
While Trump admits to reimbursing Cohen, he denies having engaged in any extramarital relationship with Daniels.
During Thursday’s court testimony, Pecker explained the practice of “catch and kill,” where he paid Playboy model Karen McDougal $180,000 for her story about her alleged affair with Trump, but did not publish it in the National Enquirer.
Pecker admitted that their intention was to avoid embarrassment or harm to Trump’s campaign.
He further noted that he refused to be involved in quashing a story about Daniels’ alleged affair with Trump, stating, “I said I am not purchasing this story.
I am not going to be involved with a porn star.” Nevertheless, Cohen ended up paying Daniels $130,000 shortly before the 2016 election to prevent her from discussing her alleged relationship with Trump publicly.
The latest developments in the trial have prompted Trump to assert that the case is baseless and built on a “complete HOAX.”
According to him, legal scholars and experts have expressed their opinion that no crime was committed.
The outcome of this trial remains uncertain, as both sides present their evidence and arguments in court.
However, Trump maintains his stance on innocence in relation to the charges pressed against him.
As the trial progresses, it will be essential to evaluate the witnesses’ testimonies and examine the evidence presented to form a clearer understanding of the case.