Judge holds Donald Trump in contempt as new Dylan Howard texts revealed

An explosive new text exchange has been revealed as Donald Trump was held in contempt of court for violating a gag order.

When former US President Donald Trump made his infamous “grab them by the p***y” comment on a hot mic, porn star Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Keith Davidson texted Australian journalist turned National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard.

“Trump is f***ed,” read the message according to evidence presented in Trump’s New York criminal trial.

“Wave the white flag. It’s over people!” Howard responded, according to a text Mr Davidson read out in court.

Trump is on trial on charges of falsifying business records to pay hush money to Stormy Daniels, with whom he allegedly had an affair.

Earlier, the New York judge presiding over the trial fined the former president for defying a gag order and warned that further violations could result in jail time.

Judge Juan Merchan held the 77-year-old in contempt of court for breaching an order that he not publicly attack witnesses, jurors or court staff and their relatives.

Judge Merchan fined Trump $US1000 each for nine specific violations of the gag order totalling $A13,900 and instructed him to remove seven “offending posts” from his Truth Social account and two from a campaign website by that afternoon.

The judge also warned the former president that he could be sent to jail if he continues to violate the gag order.

Donald Trump's criminal trial resumed with Judge Juan Merchan threatening to jail the former president if he violates the gag order. Picture: AFP

“Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued wilful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment,” Judge Merchan said.

Trump removed the offending social media posts almost immediately and later, when he passed by court reporters in the hallway for lunch break, did not make any remarks.

Mr Davidson testified for about an hour prior to lunch break that he signed a contract to represent the actress and model Karen McDougal in her claim that she had a romantic affair with Trump.

On the stand, Davidson went over his text exchange with National Enquirer editor, Australian Dylan Howard, whose many texts have been submitted as evidence in the trial.

Howard negotiated the rights to McDougal’s story in June 2016 amid the presidential race.

“I have a blockbuster Trump story,” Davidson wrote to Howard, according to texts read out in court.

“Talk 1st thing. I will get you more than ANYONE for it. You know why …” Howard answered.

Davidson said “if Karen did this deal for AMI, that it would help Donald Trump’s candidacy.”

Davidson testified he received 45 per cent of the US$150,000 deal.

Adult film actress/director Stormy Daniels (L); and Karen McDougal. Both allegedly received hush money from Trump for extramarital affairs. Picture: AFP

Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges, and his required attendance in court is limiting his time on the campaign trail less than seven months before his likely election rematch with President Joe Biden.

The Republican is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, for the US$130,000 funnelled to Daniels just days ahead of the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton.

Daniels, 45, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was threatening at the time to go public with her story about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump that could have potentially derailed his White House campaign.

Trump denies having sex with Daniels and has used appearances outside the Manhattan courtroom to rail against his indictment, claiming it is a “witch hunt” brought by Democrats to torpedo his bid to recapture the White House in November.

Cohen’s former banker Gary Farro, who provided details about paperwork tied to the US$130,000 payment to Daniels, also gave evidence.

Trump, 77, is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton. Picture: AFP

Last week, David Pecker, 72, outlined to the court a scheme known as “catch and kill,” which involved buying and then burying salacious stories that could have been embarrassing to Trump and harmed his campaign.

The former National Enquirer publisher told the court he paid $US30,000 to kill a story from a Trump Tower doorman peddling an apparently false claim that Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock.

The case, heard by 12 jurors and six alternates, is expected to last between six and eight weeks.

In addition, Trump has been indicted in Washington and Georgia on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

He also faces charges in Florida of allegedly mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House.

– with AFP