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Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker returned to the witness stand as the seventh day of former President Trump's New York criminal trial began Thursday.
Pecker testified on Tuesday that he entered into an agreement with Trump and his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to assist Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. He said he agreed to publish positive stories about Trump and attempt to kill negative stories about him, going so far as to purchase stories from sources and not publish them, a practice known as "catch and kill."
In one instance, a Trump Tower doorman claimed he had information that Trump had impregnated a maid employed in the building. Pecker said the Enquirer purchased the story for $30,000, with no plans to publish it before Election Day. Pecker went on to say that an investigation found the story to be "1000% false."
Pecker is expected to testify about further examples of his partnership with Cohen throughout Thursday's proceedings.
Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley joined 'Fox & Friends' on Thursday to discuss the presidential immunity case being taken up by the Supreme Court and the upcoming ruling on whether Trump violated his gag order.
"[The Supreme Court] have been avoiding this for decades. They did have a civil case in which they did say that a president needs immunity in order to function, including in those sort of outer parameters of his office. The question is whether that also extends to criminal charges," Turley said.
Turley went on to say that the court is unlikely to side unilaterally for or against Trump's position, and they are more likely to afford some immunities to the presidency while clarifying limits.
The Supreme Court's hearing will take place in tandem with the seventh day of the New York v. Trump trial in Manhattan, where Trump is attempting to fight off 34 charges of falsifying business records. Witness testimony is expected to continue throughout the day in that case.
Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Former President Trump blamed President Biden for a disappointing GDP growth report from the U.S. Commerce Department on Thursday.
The Commerce Department says the GDP grew by just 1.6% on an annualized basis in the three-month period from January through March. That is lower than the 2.4% increase forecast by LSEG economists and marks a sharp slowdown from the 4.9% pace seen during the fourth quarter.
Trump blasted Biden over the report, saying his presidency has been a disaster for the American economy.
"As you probably have heard, some very big things have happened. But the biggest seems to be that the GDP just announced to all the way down to 1.6% and it's heading south. It's going to get worse. Gas prices in California were just also announced at $7.60. Gasoline is going way up. Energy costs are going way up and the stock market is, in a sense crashing. And the numbers are very bad. This is Bidenomics. It's catching up with them," Trump said.
"We have a president who is the worst president in the history of our country," he added.
Thursday's proceedings in Trump's trial will focus on continued testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.
Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Former President Trump's motorcade arrived to the Manhattan courthouse for day 7 of his New York criminal trial on Thursday.
Thursday's trial proceedings are expected to focus on continued witness testimony by former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Judge Juan Merchan may also issue a ruling on Trump's alleged gag order violations, which could result in a fine of up to $11,000 for the former President.
Pecker's testimony centers on the Enquirer's "catch-and-kill" news operations and his efforts to assist Trump's presidential campaign prior to the 2016 election.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has also accused Trump of violating Merchan's gag order 11 times since April 1. The gag order prohibits Trump from speaking publicly about witnesses in the case. Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, made little headway with Merchan when attempting to defend against he accusations on Tuesday.
Prior to Trump's arrival at the courthouse, he met with supporters at a construction site in downtown Manhattan, one of the only campaigning opportunities he has had since the trial began.
In what may be the most closely watched case this term at the Supreme Court – involving the highest-profile appellant – former President Donald Trump has offered a sweeping argument for why he should not face trial for alleged election interference.
The high court will hold arguments Thursday morning in what could determine the former president's personal and political future. As the presumptive GOP nominee to retake the White House, Trump is betting that his constitutional assertions will lead to a legal reprieve from the court's 6-3 conservative majority – with three of its members appointed to the bench by the defendant himself.
The official question the justices will consider: Whether, and if so, to what extent does a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office?
This is new territory for the Supreme Court and the nation. No current or former president has ever been criminally indicted.
The stakes could not be higher – both for the immediate election prospects, and the long-term effect on the presidency itself and the rule of law. But it will be the second time this term the high court will hear a case directly involving the former president.
On March 4, the justices unanimously ruled that Trump could remain on the Colorado primary ballot over claims he committed insurrection in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots.
The decision to intervene at this stage in the immunity dispute is a mixed bag for both Trump and the Special Counsel. The defendant wanted to delay the process longer – ideally past the November election – and Jack Smith wanted the high court appeal dismissed immediately so any trial could get back on track quickly.
A federal appeals court had unanimously ruled against Trump on the immunity question.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Shannon Bream and Bill Mears
Fox News legal analyst Greg Jarrett joined 'Fox & Friends' on Thursday to discuss his take on presidential immunity for former President Trump as the Supreme Court hears arguments stemming from Jack Smith's charges.
"Presidents already have immunity from civil lawsuits so long as their actions fall into the outer perimeter of official duties," Jarrett said. "It's quite possible, I think, that the justices will extend that civil immunity protection to because the exact same reasoning applies. If there was no immunity, the chilling effect on presidential decision makings would trigger paralysis. America would be ruled by a committee of lawyers."
"If the Supreme Court does grant, lets call it 'immunity with conditions,' then they would have to remand Trump's case back to the trial court to decide whether those conditions have been met.
Jarrett predicted that the process will be time consuming if the court sides with Trump in any degree.
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