Donald Trump and his entourage, including his son Eric and Republican congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, were present in court on Monday for the 16th day of his criminal hush-money trial. The trial, which revolves around accusations that Trump paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to maintain silence about an alleged sexual encounter, is anticipated to soon include testimony from Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer turned prosecution witness.
Prosecutors contend that Trump's reimbursement of Cohen in 2017, recorded as legal expenses in financial documents, was unlawful. They also assert that Trump, Cohen, and tabloid executive David Pecker convened at Trump Tower in 2015 to discuss any potentially damaging information about Trump that Pecker's tabloid might possess.
Cohen's forthcoming testimony follows Daniels' testimony, in which she detailed a meeting with Trump in his hotel room. Daniels claimed that Trump made inappropriate remarks about her and implied career advancement in exchange for sexual favors. Daniels stated that they engaged in sexual activity, and she recounted Trump likening her to his daughter Ivanka.
Trump appeared visibly frustrated in court, particularly due to his inability to comment on witness testimony as a result of a gag order. Despite his frustrations, the trial is progressing rapidly, with prosecutors expecting to present two more witnesses and possibly conclude their case by the end of the following week.