The second day of testimony in former President Trump‘s hush money trial has wrapped up for the day after a hearing on if Trump violated a gag order imposed on him, as well as hearing from a former National Enquirer publisher.
Tuesday began with Judge Juan Merchan hearing arguments over whether Trump violated a gag order. Prosecutors alleged he violated the order 10 times and asked that he be held in contempt on all counts. But the defense said there was “absolutely no willful violation” on Trump’s part.
There has been no ruling yet on this matter.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker in his second day of testimony detailed an “agreement among friends” and a “mutual benefit” with the former president and his then-fixer Michael Cohen, recounting how the duo instructed him to squash any unfavorable stories about Trump during the 2016 election and instead promote salacious stories on his opponents, such as:
- Allegations about Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) cheating on his wife
- Questions about Dr. Ben Carson‘s medical background
- Then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton‘s health
Other highlight’s from Pecker’s testimony:
- He claimed Trump as a businessman was “very knowledgeable,” “very detail-oriented” and a “micromanager.”
- Pecker received a personal invitation from Cohen to Trump’s 2016 presidential bid announcement.
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The National Enquirer bought and killed a story about a Trump Tower doorman alleging Trump had fathered an illegitimate child.
- Pecker discussed with Trump an affair the then-candidate allegedly had with an ex-Playboy model, Karen McDougal.
Court adjourned mid-afternoon, and Pecker’s testimony is set to resume Thursday. There will be no trial Wednesday.
Check out The Hill‘s full recap of updates from the courthouse, including what Trump said after adjournment.
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Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Liz Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.
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© Allison Robbert / The Hill
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Senate tees up Ukraine, Israel aid bill for final passage
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The Senate is preparing to pass a House-approved supplemental funding package to provide long-awaited aid to Ukraine, Israel and other allies, after advancing the bill in a bipartisan vote Tuesday.
The $95 billion foreign aid package covers $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid, and $8 billion for Taiwan. It also contains a slew of national security items including a possible ban on TikTok.
“The time has come to finish the job to help our friends abroad once and for all,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday morning on the floor. “I ask my colleagues to join together to pass the supplemental today as expeditiously as possible, send our friends abroad the aid they have long been waiting for. Let us not delay this. Let us not prolong this.”
“Let us not keep our friends around the world waiting for a moment longer,” he added.
The Hill’s Al Weaver has more details on the package and what to expect next. President Biden has vowed to quickly sign the legislation when it reaches his desk.
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Columbia president facing backlash amid pro-Palestinian protests at university
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Columbia President Minouche Shafik continues to face bipartisan backlash over the pro-Palestinian protests that have taken hold on campus and forced the rest of the semester into a hybrid in-person/online learning format out of safety concerns.
Republicans and Democrats, including President Biden, have called the protests “anti-Semitic,” and Jewish students have reported being intimidated by the growing number of Palestinian sympathizers.
“I fully agree with the White House—these ‘protests’ are antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous. Add some tiki torches and it’s Charlottesville for these Jewish students,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa) said on the social media platform X. “To @Columbia President Minouche Shafik: do your job or resign so Columbia can find someone who will.”
The Columbia “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” started Wednesday, with activists calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and for the U.S. to stop aiding Israel in its ongoing war against Hamas.
Antisemitism has soared globally since Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israeli civilians that prompted Israel’s retaliatory actions in Gaza. A poll in December found that 1 in 5 Americans ages 18-29 believe the Holocaust is a myth.
The presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard were ousted from their posts after a Congressional hearing in December during which they would not say definitively that calls for the genocide of Jews would constitute harassment. (The Hill)
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Gershkovich appeal rejected, ensuring detention into June
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A Moscow court has rejected the latest appeal from Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia, according to reports Tuesday.
Gershkovich will remain in pretrial detention in Russia until at least late June on espionage charges.
Gershkovich, 32, was arrested more than a year ago during a reporting trip. His detention has been internationally criticized, with press freedom groups, the U.S. government and the Journal all arguing that Gershkovich is being wrongfully held, possibly part of a Russian scheme for a prisoner swap.
The Associated Press reported Gershkovich appeared to be relaxed in court during Tuesday’s hearing, occasionally laughing and talking with his legal team. At one point, he smiled and gestured a heart and a thumbs up from the glass enclosure that he was held in at the hearing. (The Hill)
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Here’s what to know about the Pennsylvania primaries
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Pennsylvania voters are heading to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in several important primaries, including in the presidential race, a crucial Senate seat and several closely watched House races.
The Hill’s Caroline Vakil breaks down what to watch as the tallies roll in overnight. The Democratic nominations for President Biden and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) are expected to be cemented, as are the GOP nominations for former President Trump and Casey challenger David McCormick, in their respective races.
But the potential for protest votes and a fight over progressive politics could signal how the key battleground state’s voters are feeling heading into November.
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“Forced patriotism, whether in Hong Kong or Louisiana, is no patriotism at all” writes Sarah McLaughlin, senior scholar at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
“NPR gives a masterclass on how not to do damage control,” writes Becket Adams, program director for the National Journalism Center.
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82 days until the Republican National Convention.
117 days until the Democratic National Convention.
195 days until the 2024 general election.
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Wednesday: National Administrative Professionals’ Day, a.k.a. Secretaries Day. Be sure to recognize the pros who keep things running smoothly around the office.
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