Trump Faces Gag Order Violation Charge, Banker Testimony Resumes

Donald Trump will return to a New York criminal court on Tuesday as testimony resumes in his historic trial for falsifying business records. A banker who helped facilitate payments made during the 2016 election campaign is due back in court, where he may provide further details about links between Michael Cohen and former president’s ex-lawyer. Gary Farro will testify once again before Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg decides whether Trump should pay fines for violating a gag order that bars him from attacking witnesses or jurors during the trial. The hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels is at the centre of charges against Mr Trump, who has pleaded not guilty and denies an affair with her took place in 2006. Last week David Pecker, former CEO of American Media Inc., testified about his “catch-and-kill” practice that involved buying negative stories to keep them out of the media’s hands during elections. Mr Trump has used court appearances as a platform for political campaigning and criticism of Joe Biden’s administration but is facing possible fines over comments deemed to breach New York State’s gag order. He tweeted yesterday: “What Crooked Joe Biden is doing with all these ridiculous D.C.-inspired lawsuits against me is, and make no mistake about it, ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!! Drop the lawsuits, Joe, and maybe you’ll do better than you are doing now!!!” Mr Trump has not been jailed as a result of his indictment but could face up to four years in prison if found guilty.