This marks the 1st time that sworn #testimony has been referenced in public court filings alleging that the #congress member attended one of the long-rumored parties tied to an alleged #underage #SexScandal. Previous reports have revealed details of ex-politician & #MattGaetz friend Joel Greenberg’s confession letter that was never made public, which described how #Gaetz would allegedly pay him to arrange several sexual encounters w/young women—incl a 17-yr-old girl.

Additionally, #MattGaetz’s own ex-girlfriend — who was present at the party — provided #testimony that lawyers say rebuts Dorworth’s claims that he was not there. NOTUS independently verified that Gaetz & one of the women who testified were previously involved in a relationship; she is only identified in the court filing by her initials, B.G.

“The #AssociatedPress doesn’t generally #identify #victims of #sexual #crimes. But #GiselePelicot’s lawyer, #StéphaneBabonneau, said she accepted that her name be #published in the same way that she #insisted that the #trial be held in #public.

She told the court that she hopes her #testimony might help spare other women from similar ordeals. She said she pushed for the trial in open court in #solidarity with other #women who go #unrecognized as #victims of #sexual #crimes.”

#Federal #judge #blocks #discriminatory #Florida #Law and #State #Rules #restricting #transgender #Healthcare.

The #ruling comes 6 months after a 3-day trial for #DoeVLadapo in which the #court heard #testimony from #experts in #psychiatry, #endocrinology, #medicalethics and #pediatric #medicine.

https://jaxtoday.org/2024/06/12/federal-judge-blocks-restrictions-on-transgender-care/

To prove #WitnessTampering, prosecutors would need to show that perks or punishments were intended to #influence #testimony.

White-collar defense #lawyers say the situation #Trump finds himself in—…defendant & boss of many of the …primary #witnesses to his alleged #crimes —is not uncommon. Their standard advice is not to provide any unusual benefits or penalties to such employees. Ideally, decisions about employees slated to give #evidence should be made by an independent body….

The #testimony readbacks are complete, & #jurors are excused to continue their #deliberations. They have asked to use both headphones & speakers to listen to #evidence that includes an audio portion.

Court reporters now read the 4th & final portion of #testimony that jurors asked to hear: #MichaelCohen’s recounting of that same #TrumpTowerMeeting.

Cohen’s testimony matches Pecker’s account closely. #Pecker testified that he had said he would be #Trump’s “eyes & ears” & watch out for negative stories. Cohen recalls him saying he would “keep an eye out for anything negative.”

The #jurors just again heard #Pecker’s #testimony that the reason he was purchasing negative stories on #Trump’s behalf was to benefit his presidential campaign.

Defense atty Emil #Bove cross-examined Pecker, & jurors are hearing part of that cross now. Bove elicited testimony that Pecker misremembered the exact date of the Aug 2015 meeting, & more generally that Pecker was testifying about events from a long time ago.

#Pecker’s #testimony here is key to prosecution's case. Jurors also asked to hear MichaelCohen’s testimony about the #TrumpTowerMeeting. They will hear that next.

One of the major arguments the defense made during closings also pertained to this meeting, & concerned the idea that the phrase #CatchAndKill was not used during it.
(It’s not used in the charges either. It’s just a characterization not a legal term.)

Next the court reporters read the second part of David #Pecker’s #testimony that the #jurors asked to hear, where he explains that he decided he did not want to be repaid for #KarenMcDougal’s story after purchasing it. The implication was that he was concerned about the #legal consequences of accepting a reimbursement - he testified that the concern was regarding FEC violations.

#Pecker testified that he recommended that #Trump buy #KarenMcDougal’s story. The portion of #testimony ends before the #jury hears what comes next. Pecker testified that #MichaelCohen called him back & told him to buy McDougal’s story on Trump's behalf.

Jurors heard the portion of Pecker's testimony when he said he believed the story of Trump having had an affair w/McDougal was true, & would be embarrassing to Trump.

This #testimony is good for the prosecution.

David #Pecker testified that #Trump acknowledged speaking to #MichaelCohen about the issue & acknowledged knowing #KarenMcDougal, one of the women who was eventually paid to keep quiet during the 2016 campaign about her story of having had an affair w/ Trump.

“Karen is a nice girl,” Trump said on this call, according to Pecker’s testimony.