前总统唐纳德·特朗普是受审在纽约市，他面临与2016年封口费支付给成人电影女演员斯托米·丹尼尔斯有关的重罪指控。这是历史上第一次美国前总统因刑事指控而受审。
特朗普去年4月不服罪一份34项罪名的起诉书指控他伪造商业记录以隐瞒一笔封口费付款他当时的律师迈克尔·科恩为了在2016年总统大选中提升他的选举前景而对丹尼尔斯做出的决定。
关于封口费的案子，你知道些什么
4月25日，早上5点17分
迈克尔·科恩说他将停止评论川普
唐纳德·特朗普(Donald Trump)的前律师迈克尔·科恩发誓，在他可能在特朗普的纽约州封口费案中作证之前，将停止对这位前总统发表公开评论。
在他的播客和社交媒体上，科恩经常评论前总统的法律纠纷。特朗普的律师辩称，前总统关于科恩的评论——检察官指控这些评论违反了该案的有限禁言令——是回应政治攻击作者科恩。
“尽管我不是被堵住嘴的被告，但出于对法官和检察官的尊重，我将停止在我的X(前Twitter)账户或Mea Culpa播客上发布任何关于唐纳德的信息，直到我的庭审证词结束。一个月后(或更久)再见，”科恩周三下午在社交媒体上说。
特朗普的律师托德·布兰奇(Todd Blanche)在周一的开场陈述中花了一部分时间攻击科恩的可信度，将这位前律师描述为“被定罪的伪证者”和“被承认的骗子”，他“痴迷于获得特朗普”。
科恩的证词预计将成为该州针对特朗普的案件的关键部分，因为检察官试图证明特朗普伪造商业记录，因为他、科恩和前《国家询问报》出版商大卫·派克(David Pecker)参与了一项通过压制有关特朗普的负面报道来影响2016年大选的阴谋。
4月24日凌晨2点34分
特朗普再次抨击法官限制言论自由令
前总统特朗普在法庭休庭后对记者发表讲话，愤怒地批评了法官马科姆和限制言论自由令，这是今天早上的话题藐视法庭听证会.
“我们有禁言令，这对我来说是完全违反宪法的。我不允许说话，但人们可以谈论我，”特朗普说。“所以，他们可以谈论我，他们可以说任何他们想说的话，他们可以撒谎。但是我不允许这么说。我只能坐下来想想为什么一个矛盾的法官会判我禁言令。我想没有人见过这样的东西。”
特朗普说，这是过去一天半的新闻文章，这位前总统继续他的批评。
“所以，我在上面放了一篇文章，然后有人的名字在文章深处被提及，我最终违反了禁言令，”他说。“我认为这是一种耻辱。这完全违反宪法。”
检察官今天早上要求法官对特朗普罚款1万美元，理由是他最近违反了限制言论自由令。限制言论自由令禁止特朗普就此案中除曼哈顿地方检察官·阿尔文·布拉格以外的证人、陪审员和律师发表言论。
法官尚未做出裁决。
迈克尔·帕帕诺
4月24日凌晨2点16分
派克在法庭结束前为凯伦·麦克道戈作证
“凯伦·麦克道戈是一个花花公子模特，”前《国家询问报》出版商大卫·派克说，他回忆起自己在2016年6月得知“有一个花花公子模特正试图出售一篇关于她与唐纳德·特朗普一年恋情的报道。”
派克说，他立即打电话给特朗普当时的律师迈克尔·科恩，通知了他。那时，他与科恩“每周交谈几次”，但这种情况很快就改变了。派克说，他和科恩“更频繁地”谈论麦克道戈尔的说法。
”迈克尔非常激动。佩克说:“看起来他受到了很大的压力，必须马上得到答案。”“他不停地打电话，每次打电话他都显得更加焦虑。“
派克说，他认为“川普先生是在问迈克尔·科恩，‘我们听到什么了吗?’”佩克说。
“你有没有想过迈克尔·科恩和川普先生谈过麦克杜格尔的说法?”检察官乔什·斯坦格拉斯问道。
“是的，我做了，”派克回应道，然后他讲述了他自己与特朗普的一次电话交谈。
“我说我认为这个故事应该被购买，我们应该购买它，”佩克回忆起对特朗普说的话。“特朗普对我说，‘我不买故事。每当你做这样的事情时，它总是会泄露出去。"
最终，麦克道戈尔获得了15万美元的报酬，并承诺在出版物上发表一系列锻炼文章。
作证后，法庭休庭。
预计周四法庭复会时，佩克回到证人席后，陪审团将听到更多关于麦克杜格尔的情况。
4月24日凌晨2点05分
派克与看门人签了合同，直到选举结束
根据前《国家询问报》出版商大卫·派克的说法，迈克尔·科恩推动《国家询问报》将看门人迪诺·萨朱丁的合同锁定到2016年大选之后，尽管萨朱丁购买的关于川普有一个爱的孩子的故事是不真实的。
“我告诉迈克尔·科恩这个故事不是真的。我告诉他看门人很难对付，”派克作证说。
科恩早些时候曾鼓励佩克在萨朱丁的合同中增加100万美元的罚款，如果他违反协议并试图绕开故事。
“他将违反这项协议，欠美国媒体100万美元，”派克说。“这基本上是对他的一种控制，以确保这种情况不会发生。“
据这位前出版商称，科恩鼓励佩克继续锁定萨朱丁。
“我会以某种方式释放他，”派克说他告诉科恩关于萨朱丁的情况。“他说，‘不，在选举后释放他。’"
“他什么时候被释放的?”检察官约书亚·斯坦格拉斯问佩克。
“2016年12月9日，”派克说。
“总统选举后?”斯坦格拉斯问道。
“是的，”派克回应道。
Trump trial updates: Michael Cohen says he'll stop commenting about Trump
Former President Donald Trump ison trialin New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.
Trump last Aprilpleaded not guiltyto a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records to hide the reimbursement of ahush money paymenthis then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
Apr 22, 5:51 PM
What to know about the hush money case
Apr 25, 5:17 AM
Michael Cohen says he'll stop commenting about Trump
Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen vowed to stop making public comments about the former president ahead of his likely testimony in Trump's New York hush money case.
On his podcast and on social media, Cohen has frequently commented about the former president's legal troubles. Trump's lawyers have argued that the former president's comments about Cohen -- which prosecutors allege were in violation of the case's limited gag order -- werein response to political attacksby Cohen.
"Despite not being the gagged defendant, out of respect for Judge Merchan and the prosecutors, I will cease posting anything about Donald on my X (formerly Twitter) account or on the Mea Culpa Podcast until after my trial testimony. See you all in a month (or more)," Cohen said on social media on Wednesday afternoon.
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche devoted a portion of his opening statement on Monday toattacking Cohen's credibility, describing the former lawyer as a "convicted perjurer" and "admitted liar" who has an "obsession with getting Trump."
Cohen's testimony is expected to be a key part of the state's case against Trump, as prosecutors attempt to prove that Trump falsified business records as he, Cohen and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker engaged in a conspiracy to influence the 2016 election by suppressing negative stories about Trump.
Apr 24, 2:34 AM
Trump again assails judge for limited gag order
Former President Trump, addressing reporters after court was adjourned for the day, angrily criticized Judge Merchan and the limited gag order that was the topic of this morning'scontempt hearing.
"We have a gag order, which to me is totally unconstitutional. I'm not allowed to talk but people are allowed to talk about me," Trump said. "So, they can talk about me, they can say whatever they want, they can lie. But I'm not allowed to say that. I just have to sit back and look at why a conflicted judge has ordered for me to have a gag order. I don't think anybody's ever seen anything like this."
Shuffling through a thick stack of papers, which Trump said were news articles from the past day and a half, the former president continued his criticism.
"So, I put an article on it and then somebody's name is mentioned somewhere deep in the article and I ended up in violation of the gag order," he said. "I think it's a disgrace. It's totally unconstitutional."
Prosecutors this morning asked the judge to fine Trump $10,000 for what the say are 10 recent violations of the limited gag order, which prohibits Trump from making statements about witnesses, jurors, and lawyers in the case other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The judge has yet to issue a ruling.
-Michael Pappano
Apr 24, 2:16 AM
Pecker testifies about Karen McDougal before court ends for day
"Karen McDougal was a Playboy model," former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker said, recalling how he learned in June 2016 "that there's a Playboy model who is trying to sell a story about a relationship that she had with Donald Trump for a year."
Pecker said he immediately called Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen to inform him. By then, he was speaking to Cohen "a couple times a week," but that soon changed. Pecker said he and Cohen spoke "much more frequently" about McDougal's claims.
"Michael was very agitated. It looked like he was getting a lot of pressure to get the answer right away," Pecker said. "He kept on calling, and each time he called he seemed more anxious."
Pecker said he assumed "Mr. Trump was asking Michael Cohen, 'Did we hear anything yet?'" Pecker said.
"Did you ever come to believe that Michael Cohen had spoken with Mr. Trump about McDougal's claims?" prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked.
"Yes I did," Pecker responded before recounting a phone conversation Pecker said he himself had with Trump.
"I said I think the story should be purchased and we should buy it," Pecker recalled telling Trump. "Mr. Trump said to me, 'I don't buy stories. Anytime you do anything like this, it always gets out.'"
Ultimately, McDougal was paid $150,000 and promised a series of exercise articles in the publication.
Following that testimony, court was adjourned.
It's expected the jury will hear more on McDougal upon Pecker's return to the witness stand, when court resumes on Thursday.
Apr 24, 2:05 AM
Pecker kept doorman under contract until after election
According to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, Michael Cohen pushed for the National Enquirer to keep doorman Dino Sajudin locked into a contract until after the 2016 election, even though the story Sajudin was shopping about Trump having a love child were untrue.
"I told Michael Cohen the story was not true. I told him that the doorman is very difficult to deal with," Pecker testified.
Cohen had earlier encouraged Pecker to add a $1 million penalty to Sajudin's contract if he broke the agreement and tried to shop around the story.
"He would breach this agreement and owe American Media a million dollars," Pecker said. "It was basically a lever over him to make sure that wouldn't happen."
Cohen encouraged Pecker to keep Sajudin locked in, according to the former publisher.
"I am going release him one way or the other," Pecker said he told Cohen regarding Sajudin. "He said, 'No, release him after the election.'"
"When was he released?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Pecker.
"December 9, 2016," Pecker said.
"After the presidential election?" Steinglass asked.
"Yes," Pecker responded.
