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Court hears of Donald’s Trump’s ‘desperation’ over Playboy Playmate

A New York court has heard that Donald Trump “desperately” wanted a former Playboy Playmate to be silent over an alleged affair.

Opening statements heard in Donald Trump’s criminal trial

A court in New York has heard Donald Trump was allegedly “desperate” to stop a former “Playmate” from Playboy from revealing they had an affair.

They are accusations the former US President has denied as his hush money trial begins in earnest.

But the first major day of the case was derailed when a juror said they had to have an emergency dental appointment that afternoon. As such, the day wrapped at lunchtime with barely a witness called.

The world’s media, protesters and curious New Yorkers flocked to the Manhattan Criminal Court to see the first ever trial of a US President get underway.

Pro and anti-Trump banners fluttered outside the court which is close to the World Trade Centre. Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York mayor and Mr Trump’s former top lawyer Rudy Giuliani, was one of those lining up to watch the case.

Police were outside the court in droves, particularly since a man died after he set himself on fire in a park outside on Friday.

Media gathered outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 22, 2024. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)
Media gathered outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 22, 2024. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

The case itself, which is expected to last at least six weeks, is taking place in an unremarkable courtroom high up in the New York court building.

The trial officially began last week when a pool of 500 possible jurors was whittled down to 12 and six alternates.

But it was on Monday (local time) that the real action got underway with opening arguments from both the prosecution and defence.

Mr Trump had no family members in court.

He faces 34 counts of business fraud in a hush money scheme to pay $130,000 ($A202,000) to adult actor Stormy Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, to ensure an account of his alleged extramarital affair did not get published ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Mr Trump could face jail time in the current case, although a fine or probation is more likely, analysts have said.

Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, flanked by lawyer Todd Blanche (R) arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court. (Photo by Victor J. Blue / POOL / AFP)
Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, flanked by lawyer Todd Blanche (R) arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court. (Photo by Victor J. Blue / POOL / AFP)

More than payments to porn stars

Witnesses are expected to include Ms Daniels – who Mr Trump has denied he had an affair with – and his former fixer Michael Cohen.

On Monday, the prosecution attempted to frame the case as being about much more than payments to porn stars. While the defence downplayed many of the key likely witnesses and said Mr Trump was surrounded by a “cloak of innocence”.

Prosecution lawyer Matthew Colangelo claimed the payments were part of a Trump “criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidental election”.

“He then covered up that conspiracy by lying in his New York business records, by lying over and over again.”

The prosecution said it would present evidence that Mr Trump along with Mr Cohen and former publisher of the tabloid magazine National Enquirer David Pecker had a “catch and kill” plan.

That allegedly involved the National Enquirer buying the exclusive rights to stories that portrayed Mr Trump in a bad light, such as him having affairs, and then not publishing them effectively killing the story.

One such story, the prosecution alleged, was allegations from a doorman at New York’s Trump Tower that the developer had fathered a child with a former housekeeper. It was said that the doorman was paid $30,000 ($A47,000) by the National Enquirer which then did not publish the story.

Playboy Playmate

Mr Colangelo also claimed Mr Trump had wanted to stop Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal from going public about an alleged affair with the 77-year-old, reported the New York Post.

“Mr Trump desperately did not want this information about Karen McDougal to become public because he was concerned about its impact on the election,” said Mr Colangelo.

Mr Trump worked with Mr Cohen and Mr Pecker to pay Ms McDougal $150,000 ($A233,000) to keep quiet, the lawyer alleged.

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Trump was ‘desperate’ to silence Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, the court has heard. Picture: SplashNews.com
Trump was ‘desperate’ to silence Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, the court has heard. Picture: SplashNews.com

Defence hits back

Donald Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche had a simple pitch in his opening arguments. Mr Trump was innocent and didn’t do anything illegal.

“President Trump is innocent. President Trump did not commit any crimes. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office should never have brought this case,” he said.

Mr Blanche said there was no issue with Mr Trump and his associates trying to influence voters, after the prosecution's claims of a “criminal scheme,” and indeed it was undemocratic to rail against it.

“There’s nothing wrong with trying to influence an election,” he said.

“It’s called democracy. They put something sinister as if it was a crime.”

Mr Trump was “cloaked in innocence,” he added.

Donald Trump with Stephanie Clifford, whose stage name is Stormy Daniels, in a 2006 photo uploaded to her Myspace.com account.
Donald Trump with Stephanie Clifford, whose stage name is Stormy Daniels, in a 2006 photo uploaded to her Myspace.com account.

Mr Blanche said Mr Cohen had an “obsession with getting Trump”.

Mr Cohen served time in prison on tax evasion charges but also charges relating to alleged payments to women who wanted to speak publicly about Mr Trump.

From being Mr Trump’s fixer he is now a loud critic of his former boss.

It’s alleged Mr Pecker used Mr Cohen to work out a deal with Ms Daniels for the affair story that would then be killed.

Mr Blanche said Ms Daniels’ testimony would be “salacious” but in the end “does not matter,” as she did not know the details about any cash payments.

Former Trump Attorney Michael Cohen. Picture: Yuki Iwamura / AFP
Former Trump Attorney Michael Cohen. Picture: Yuki Iwamura / AFP

The first witness to take the stand was the National Enquirer’s David Packer regarding the “catch and kill” claims.

Any story that required payment of more than $10,000 required his approval, he said.

“We used cheque book journalism”.

“I had the final say on the celebrity side on the magazine,” Mr Pecker told the court.

He also said he used a private email for communications he didn’t want his assistant to see.

Mr Pecker has been granted immunity from prosecution for his testimony.

However, he will need to come back and testify some more as the case wrapped up early on Monday after the judge said a juror had to go and have emergency dental work.

Trump supporters rally outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 22. Picture: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP
Trump supporters rally outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 22. Picture: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP

Trump rants

Mr Trump has railed against the case, particularly what he calls the “very unfair” partial gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan to prevent him from using his media presence to attack witnesses, prosecutors and relatives of court staff.

A hearing also will be held Tuesday at which Judge Merchan will decide if Mr Trump is already in contempt of court due to his outbursts during jury selection.

He chastised Mr Trump for apparently muttering and gesturing within earshot of prospective jurors last week.

“I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom,” he said.

– with AFP.

Originally published as Court hears of Donald’s Trump’s ‘desperation’ over Playboy Playmate

Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/world/court-hears-of-donalds-trumps-desperation-over-playboy-playmate/news-story/b80625f999d01f8b78e4141c3929e12e