Perspective: A single conversation led to a concerning day in court for Trump.
Norm Eisen In the Manhattan trial of Donald Trump regarding election interference, the case is looking better than anticipated, and this is concerning for the former president.
A pivotal moment in Thursday's examination of Keith Davidson showcased his significance. Davidson is a lawyer who represented both Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels during negotiations for hush money payments with former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen - these payments were reportedly part of the alleged election manipulation scheme.
Though Davidson is simply a supporting character in this tale, his involvement in negotiations for Daniels' payment is crucial in establishing the fundamental facts of the supposed "catch and kill" plot and corroborating details that former American Media, Inc. CEO and National Enquirer publisher David Pecker established and Cohen will testify about.
One of the most memorable moments from Davidson's morning testimony was when he was questioned regarding a text message exchange with Dylan Howard, a former editor of the National Enquirer who played a part in the negotiations for the story. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass enquired about the meaning of a message Davidson had sent to Howard on election night in 2016. Just as the election was about to be called for Trump, Davidson sent a text to Howard asking, "What have we done?"
Steinglass inquired about the meaning of the words. Davidson said they meant "our efforts may have in some way - strike that - our activities may have in some way aided the presidential campaign of Donald Trump."
The commotion in the courtroom was instant as more than 60 journalists, seated in pew-like benches, furiously typed away on their keyboards. They were all listening intently as Davidson's words might have hinted at a significant manipulation of the election outcome.
The dramatic moment caught everyone's attention as it emphasizes the importance of the payment, even though there is no need to prove the alleged payment directly impacted the election in the courtroom. Joshua Steinglass emphasized that the office doesn't have to prove the result would have changed had the alleged scheme succeeded.
However, the very concept of the payment's intent makes it a felony rather than a misdemeanor. Trump is charged with this serious offense since the documents' falsification was allegedly done intentionally to cover up a campaign contribution limit violation done to affect the outcome of the election.
The most captivating part of the Davidson's testimony was that his words could have indicated a possible success in the manipulation attempt. The jury's attention was captured as Davidson addressed the court, with a reminder that what's currently on trial could have influenced our democratic process. It will be exciting to witness the jury's verdict once it is delivered.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
