Trump’s Attorneys Portray Him as Victim of Extortion in Hush Money Trial
NEW YORK — One of former President Donald Trump’s attorneys implied Thursday in a New York courtroom that extortion appeared to be a motive behind accusations the former president paid hush money to two women who had sex with him.
Trump is charged by the state of New York with 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide the payments.
“What does the word extortion mean to you?” defense attorney Emil Bove asked during the 10th day of the trial.
He directed his question at Keith Davidson, the attorney for adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who said he arranged a $130,000 payment to his client. In exchange, she agreed not to tell anyone about her alleged relationship with Trump.
Trump has denied any affair with Daniels or his other accuser, former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Davidson also represented McDougal, for whom he said he arranged a $150,000 hush money payment from Trump. Both women signed nondisclosure agreements.
“Extortion is the attaining [of] property by fear or threat of force,” Davidson replied.
“By 2016, you were pretty well versed in getting right up to the line without committing extortion?” Bove asked.
“I don’t understand your question,” Davidson said.
Bove tried to portray Davidson as an attorney with a history of accusing celebrities of wrongdoing before extracting settlement money from them to cover up scandals. In one case, he was paid money by former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan to cover up a sex tape.
“I made no threats to anyone,” Davidson responded.
The testimony showed Davidson would receive 45% of the money paid to McDougal under the retainer agreement with him that she signed.
Davidson acknowledged under questioning that he never met Trump until the trial in New York started last week.
His attorneys asked about Davidson’s lack of acquaintance with Trump to demonstrate the former president was not involved in hush money payments. They described him as an innocent victim of scandalous accusations intended to extort money from him.
Prosecutors appeared to undercut Trump’s claims of innocence earlier this week by showing jurors copies of checks used to transfer money to Daniels and McDougal. They were signed by Trump.
Trump was represented in the alleged money transfers by attorney Michael Cohen.
Cohen, who has not yet testified, is expected to be the prosecution’s key witness.
Before the testimony, Judge Juan Merchan dealt with prosecutors’ allegations that Trump again violated the gag order against him with public comments and social media posts.
Merchan ordered Trump in March to cease public criticisms of witnesses and jurors that might intimidate them, possibly resulting in a trial reflecting their fear of reprisal instead of the evidence presented.
The judge fined Trump $9,000 for previous violations of the gag order and warned him that jail could be next. He did not rule on the prosecutors’ new allegations Thursday but again warned Trump.
“When in doubt, steer clear” of posts and comments that might violate the order, Merchan said.
Trump spoke to the media as he left the courthouse for the day.
“This conflicted judge ought to get out of this case,” he said.
He also said he did not plan to testify.
Trump still leads against President Joe Biden for reelection as president by a 49% to 43% margin in a CNN opinion poll released this week.
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