Testimony in Trump Trial Continues After Witness Rejects ‘Hush Money’ Claims

The trial of former President Donald Trump continues, as the Manhattan District Attorney has charged him with 34 counts of falsifying business records, allegedly to cover up a scheme to influence the 2016 election.

At the center of the case is a $130,000 payment made by former attorney Michael Cohen to Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, an adult actress who alleged she had a sexual encounter with Donald Trump.

Keith Davidson, an attorney who represented Ms. Clifford for that deal, testified this week, pushing back on prosecutors' claims that the payment was "hush money," Mr. Davidson rejected the term and said it was "consideration" paid as part of a legal civil settlement.

During his days-long testimony, Mr. Davidson described Mr. Cohen as a "pants on fire" type of person who created "drama" and was "very aggressive."

He also testified that after President Trump took office, Mr. Cohen called him, seeming depressed during an hour-long call that left Mr. Davidson with the impression that Mr. Cohen was suicidal because he had believed he would get a job in Washington, which now seemed unlikely.

Read Full Article Here