NEW YORK — Donald Trump returned Monday to the Manhattan criminal courthouse on Monday, where his historic hush money trial proceeded with opening statements and the prosecution’s first witness.

The former president had a difficult first week in court as jury selection got underway. He apparently fell asleep at the defense table, was forced to listen to how potential jurors dragged him online, railed against officials outside the courtroom doors and was threatened with a fresh round of sanctions. His fourth bid to delay the case in two weeks failed Friday.

Here’s what happened Monday:

David Pecker, the former CEO of American Media, took his seat as the first witness in the historic trial.

“I was chairman, president and CEO,” said the 72-year-old, who is testifying for the prosecution.

In his opening arguments, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo explained that the “catch and kill” conspiracy started with an August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower between Trump, Michael Cohen, and Pecker and that they would follow “through on every aspect of this scheme.”

Pecker would be the Trump campaign’s “eyes and ears,” using his tabloids and magazines to post flattering stories about the then-candidate and damaging ones about his competitors,” Colangelo said.

Pecker testified as to how American Media functioned.

“I had the final say on the celebrity side of the industry, at least with the tabloids,” Pecker said. “We used checkbook journalism and paid for stories.”

Editors had to clear expenses of more than $10,000 with him.

...continued

©2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.