Rewrite the article providing an in-depth analysis of Donald Trump’s ongoing hush money trial, including witness testimonies and charges against him, while also discussing his involvement in four criminal cases currently. The rewritten piece should be written in a clear and concise style suitable for news reporting with factual evidence presented accurately.
NEW YORK – Former President Donald Trump’s trial on hush money charges resumed today as the prosecution continued presenting its case to jurors, this time calling upon Gary Farro, an ex-Bank of America executive who aided Michael Cohen in establishing accounts that were used for payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Cohen had utilized one such account to purchase Stormy Daniels’ silence after she alleged having sex with Trump back in 2006 – something he denies. The indictment against Trump centers around payoffs allegedly given by Cohen and others, including the National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who paid Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 to keep quiet about her alleged affair with him during his presidential run in 2016.
Trump’s former executive assistant Rhona Graff testified last week that she remembered seeing Daniels at Trump Tower but couldn’t recall the exact date of her visit. The trial has so far served as a platform for Manhattan prosecutors to outline what they claim was an unlawful scheme aimed at influencing the 2016 presidential election by concealing negative stories about candidates, including Trump’s alleged extramarital affairs with Daniels and McDougal.
Pecker’s testimony provided jurors a striking inside look into the National Enquirer’s “catch-and-kill” practice of purchasing potentially damaging tales in order to keep them from being published elsewhere. Pecker, who was granted immunity by prosecutors for his cooperation with their investigation, admitted that he worked alongside Cohen and Trump on several occasions during this time period to bury unfavorable stories about the former president’s alleged affairs.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing in relation to these allegations. His company is also accused of reimbursing both Pecker’s publication and Cohen for their respective payments, with prosecutors claiming that false descriptions were presented on firm documents relating to what amounted as “legally permissible expenses” being expended by Trump Organization at the time in question.
The trial has seen a number of high-profile witnesses take the stand so far, including Daniels and McDougal themselves, with Hope Hicks also appearing before jurors this week to give evidence regarding her former role as White House communications director under President Trump’s administration. The jury was seated last Thursday in what is being hailed by prosecutors as a landmark moment for American justice – making Donald Trump the first ex-president ever to face criminal charges.
Can you provide more details about how Cohen and Pecker worked together with Trump on these “catch-and-kill” stories? And what other witnesses are expected to testify in this trial besides those mentioned so far?
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