Six Bombshells in Donald Trump Hush Money Trial

Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to resume on Thursday, having already heard a number of revelations and potentially significant moments.

The former president has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to money he arranged for his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep an alleged affair she had with Trump a secret in the run-up to the 2016 election.

The $130,000 sum was listed in Trump's company records as Cohen's "legal fees," which prosecutors suggest was part of an unlawful attempt to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential race.

Trump denies having sex with Daniels in 2006, and that the money was paid to her to protect his marriage and reputation, rather than help his White House bid.

The trial in New York has heard testimony from several people connected to the Trump Organization, where the $130,000 was recorded, as well as Daniels. The trial will resume on Thursday with cross-examination of Cohen, the prosecution's star witnesses.

Below, Newsweek has highlighted some of the key moments from the hush money trial so far.

Cohen's Secret Recording of Trump

On Monday, Cohen testified to the jury that he made a secret recording of Trump in order to prove to National Enquirer publisher David Pecker that the former president would repay him the $150,000 he paid in order carry out a so-called "catch-and-kill" on a story about an alleged affair the Republican had with model Karen McDougal.

The audio, which was recorded in September 2016, was then played to the jury.

The recording featured Cohen telling Trump he had spoken with Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg about "how to set the whole thing up with funding."

"So, what do we got to pay for this? 150?" Trump can be heard asking in the recording, as well as suggesting the money should be paid in cash.

Prosecutors are attempting to argue that Trump was fully part of the plans to pay hush money to Daniels and McDougal ahead of the 2016 election.

'Pardoned for Electoral Fraud' Text

During proceedings on April 25, the court heard about text messages sent from editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer Dylan Howard which discussed how Trump could pardon him for crimes if he won the 2016 election.

The message was sent from Howard to a family member while discussing how he was meeting with McDougal, even though he was planning on burying the story about her alleged affair with Trump.

"At least if he wins, I'll be pardoned for electoral fraud," Howard wrote in one text in what appeared to be an offhand remark.

However, the texts were read aloud while the jury were out of the room. Judge Juan Merchan ruled that the texts cannot be presented as evidence for the time being as they were private messages and not official records.

Cohen Wants Trump Convicted

During cross-examination, Cohen admitted that he wanted to see Trump found guilty of the charges he faces.

"I would like to see accountability; it's not for me, it's for this jury or this court."

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche continued: "I'm just asking you, yes or no: Do you want to see President Trump get convicted in this case?"

Cohen replied: "Sure."

As well as trying to suggest Cohen is an unreliable witness due his history of lying, Trump's legal team was also hoping the attorney is merely seeking revenge against his former employer and exploiting it for financial gain.

Melania Trump 'Locker Room' Claim

Elsewhere during his testimony, Cohen claimed that Trump's "locker room" talk defense regarding his infamous Access Hollywood tape where he boasted of sexually assaulting women actually came from his wife, former first lady Melania Trump.

Cohen said Trump knew how damaging the tape, released just ahead of the 2016 election, could be for his White House hopes.

Cohen also claimed that the former president told him the "locker room talk" defense was "something that Melania" recommended they use "in order to get control over the story and minimize its impact on him and his campaign."

In a 2016 interview with CNN, Melania Trump claimed her husband was "egged on" into making the lewd comments, and described the tone as "boy talk."

Weisselberg 'Grossed Up' Payments

The jury has twice heard how Weisselberg bumped up the $130,000 payment to Cohen in Trump Organization records so that the lawyer would be covered by tax when he was reimbursed the hush money.

Former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney testified that he spoke with Weisselberg about "grossing up" the payment for Cohen to cover taxes.

The jury later showed handwritten bank statements detailing a $130,000 wire transfer to Cohen. The note featured Weisselberg's handwriting showing the sum had been "grossed up" to $360,000 so Cohen would avoid federal taxes.

Prosecutors claim this move was part of the attempts to conceal the hush money payment to Cohen in order to avoid campaign donation violations.

Stormy Daniels' Salacious Testimony

The adult film star testified about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, providing at times explicit detail.

Daniels appeared to suggest that the sex was not consensual, but she did not resist the former president.

Daniels also testified under oath her previous claims about how she spanked Trump with a magazine during a sexual encounter, and that the former president did not wear a condom.

While Daniels' testimony was often salacious, it was considered largely irrelevant to the criminal case, with the former president's lawyers calling for a mistrial due to the nature of her answers.

Merchan rejected the mistrial request, but suggested Trump's lawyers should have objected more while Daniels was answering questions.

Update 5/16/24, 10:10 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.