Trump’s Hush Money Trial Continues with Banker Testimony in NYC Amidst Multiple Criminal Charges

The trial of former President Donald Trump for alleged hush money payments is continuing in New York City today with testimony from banker Gary Farro, who helped Michael Cohen open accounts used to pay off women allegedly involved in extramarital affairs. The first week of the trial saw prosecutors outline what they say was a campaign-financing scheme to hide negative stories ahead of Trump’s election victory in 2016. Witnesses at the trial so far have included former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who described his publication’s “catch and kill” tactic for purchasing potentially damaging material about political figures before burying it; Stormy Daniels herself, who alleged a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 (which he denies); Playboy model Karen McDougal; Hope Hicks, Trump’s former White House communications director; and Cohen. A jury of twelve was seated last Thursday after one juror had to be replaced due to scheduling issues caused by personal injury or disability that came about afterward her empanelment, although this incident does not meet the traditional requirements for “impanellement prejudice,” said the judge before going forward with a process intended mainly to keep extra alternatives on hand in case of unforeseen circumstances. The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks, during which time Trump will be required to attend court each day; however, it won’t be televised – instead reporters and producers can sit inside the courthouse for live updates throughout proceedings. Alongside this New York City case, Trump currently faces three other criminal charges: a scheme in Georgia accused of attempting to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss; another charge in Washington D.C., related to allegedly conspiring to overturn the results of that same contest on January 6th, 2021; and an accusation involving classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago after he left office as President.