WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The New York criminal trial of former president Donald Trump resumes Tuesday.
A key witness is expected to take the stand. David Pecker is the former publisher of the National Enquirer.
Pecker was known for getting rid of unfavorable stories about the former president.
Trump railed against the proceedings following opening statements Monday.
“This is a witch hunt and it’s a shame. And it comes out of Washington,” said Trump.
Monday, Trump and his lawyers claimed that the former president is unfairly accused of illegally hiding hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
“Where you pay a lawyer, it’s a lawyer, and they call it a legal expense. That’s the exact time they is legal expense in the books,” said Trump.
During opening statements prosecutors argued that in 2015, Pecker met with Trump and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to work out a scheme to buy and conceal negative stories about Trump ahead of the 2016 election.
Alina Habba, one of Trump’s lawyers, calls the trial a waste of time.
“He should not even be here today because he did nothing wrong,” said Habba.
The judge will also hear arguments on whether to hold Trump in contempt for allegedly violating a gag order over his social media posts criticizing the trial.
