Secret call tapes, rally videos, and murky denials: See the evidence Trump trial jury sees
The witness list in Donald Trump's criminal trial is getting long, and the evidence list is even longer.
The former president is on trial for 34 counts of falsifying business records to disguise hush money payments issues by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, which prosecutors say constituted an illegal campaign contribution.
By time court was dismissed Friday, the second week of witness testimony, jurors heard from nine people. Some took the stand for just a few hours, others spanned days. Some testified on their involvement in the 2016 deals to keep porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal from speaking out about their alleged affairs with Trump. (He denies the allegations).
New York courts typically do not allow for audio or visual recording in the courtroom. But due to "unparalleled public interest" in the case, officials decided to post transcripts and evidence online, providing insight into what the jury is seeing and hearing.
Here are some key pieces of evidence the jury saw last week week in the first criminal trial of a former president in U.S. history.
Donald Trump trial live updates: Michael Cohen is back on the stand for more cross-examination
Video of Trump at North Carolina rally
Who introduced the evidence: Prosecution. As they set up in their opening arguments, prosecutors are trying to show Trump personally authorized the hush money payments to influence the election and covered up the payments in his business records.
Associated witness: Robert Browning, an executive director of C-SPAN's archives, and Hope Hicks, former Trump aide.
Testimony: Prosecutors introduced the North Carolina rally excerpts along with two additional videos of Trump at rallies and a press conference. One, on Oct. 22, 2016, showed Trump saying that women lied when they came forward, and the other complimented Cohen on being a good lawyer. Browning verified their origin. Hicks watched the video and confirmed that Trump was concerned that reports about his conduct with women could hurt his standing with voters.
Transcript excerpt: "I have no idea who these women are... now suddenly after many, many years, phony accusers come out less than a month before one of the most important elections in the history of our country," Trump said in Greensboro, North Carolina videos. "These are all horrible lies, all fabrications, and we can't let them change the most important election in our lifetime. If 5% of the people think it's true, and maybe 10% think ? we don't, we don't win."
Secretly recorded conversation between Michael Cohen and Donald Trump
Who introduced the evidence: Prosecution. This recording was teased in the opening arguments, as they hope the jury will believe it demonstrates Cohen and Trump discussing hush money payments.
Associated witness: Computer forensic analyst Douglas Daus.
Testimony: Prosecutors appeared to suggest the "David" mentioned in the recording refers to David Pecker, former head of the National Enquirer's parent company, who already testified to his involvement in the hush money deals. On cross-examination and re-direct, Daus testified he hadn't found evidence of tampering but agreed with the defense that the jury must trust Cohen in some ways.
Transcript excerpt: "I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend, David," Cohen said, and added he spoke to former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg about it. "So, what do we got to pay for this? One-fifty?" Trump asked.
A transcript of the secretly recorded conversation was also submitted by the prosecution.
Secretly recorded phone call between Cohen and Davidson
Who introduced the evidence: Defense.
Associated witness: Keith Davidson, the lawyer who represented Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal in their hush money deals.
Testimony: Trump layer Emil Bove questioned Davidson on previous deals he worked on that may have raised extortion concerns. He appeared to use the same line of questioning in regards to Stormy Daniels' deal, suggesting the 2016 election was used as leverage in the hush money deal.
Transcript excerpt: "Hypothetically speaking... sometimes people get settler's remorse," Davidson said on the call, which he testified was probably about Daniels. "People think 'Hey, I need to settle this case the most before this date's certain because after that date, I have no more leverage.'"
Denial statement from Stormy Daniels
Fact check: Trump falsely presents Stormy Daniels letter as new in Truth Social post
Who introduced the evidence: Prosecution.
Associated witness: Keith Davidson, the lawyer who represented Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal in their hush money deals.
Testimony: Davidson said this denial and another statement issued weeks earlier to the Wall Street Journal were both "technically" true when you hone in on the meaning of each word. In the statement, Daniels denied "an alleged sexual relationship" with Trump. Davidson didn't believe anyone alleged there was a "relationship" between Daniels and Trump, he said on the stand.
"I think it's technically true," Davidson testified, saying earlier that you have to go through a denial like this "word-by-word."
Correction: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized Cohen's recording with Trump. Since initial publication, Cohen testified he was in person with Trump when he made the recording.
Contributing: Aysha Bagchi
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See secret call tapes and rally videos used as evidence in Trump trial