Comment on Takeaways from the start of week 2 of testimony in Trump’s hush money trial

By MICHAEL R. SISAK, JAKE OFFENHARTZ, COLLEEN LONG and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER (Associated Press) NEW YORK (AP) — The first week of testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money trial was the scene-setter for jurors. This week, prosecutors are working on filling in the details of how they say he pulled off a scheme to bury damaging stories to protect his 2016 presidential campaign. Related Articles National News | What marijuana reclassification means for the United States National News | DeSantis laughs at Democrats’ claims President Joe Biden could do well in Florida National News | FDA finalizes rule to increase oversight of lab tests National News | US poised to ease restrictions on marijuana in historic shift, but it’ll remain controlled substance National News | 5 takeaways from the global negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution Prosecutors are setting the stage for crucial testimony from Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, who arranged hush money payments on Trump’s behalf before going to prison for campaign finance violations and other crimes. Trump denies any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty. Here’s a look at how things are shaping up so far this week at the historic trial: JAIL THREAT Six months before the 2024 presidential election, the presumptive Republican nominee is being threatened with possible jail time — even before jurors decide whether he is guilty in the hush money case. Judge Juan Merchan raised the specter of time behind bars if Trump continues to violate a gag order barring him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected with the case. In a ruling Tuesday fining Trump $9,000 for repeated violations of the gag order, Merchan wrote that as a judge he was “keenly aware of, and protective of” Trump’s First Amendment rights, “particularly given his candidacy for the office of President of the United States.” Former President Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche return to the courtroom after a break for his trial at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024.