Trump Trial Watch

Former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial will resume Thursday as former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker returns to the stand.

On Thursday, Trump’s immunity claims will also come before the Supreme Court. The outcome could determine whether he’ll have to stand trial for his two federal cases, one in Florida and the other in D.C. He has also been charged in a RICO case in Fulton County, Georgia.

The overlap between the oral arguments and the hush money case is yet another example of how Trump’s various legal problems will present him with conflicting schedules during an election year. His trial in Manhattan, which requires his in-person attendance, has also kept him in New York four out of seven days in a week.

Trump railed against the court proceedings for keeping him off the campaign trial on Tuesday, telling reporters outside the courtroom, “They’re keeping me in a courtroom, that’s freezing by the way, in a courtroom all day long while [President Joe Biden] is out campaigning.”

“It’s a very unfair situation,” the presumptive Republican nominee said.

Court snapshot: Court is not in session on Wednesdays, per the judge’s orders. Court is also out next Monday, April 29 for the Passover holiday.

Katherine Fung is a Newsweek reporter based in New York City who focuses on U.S. and world politics. Get in touch with Katherine via email here.

THE HUSH MONEY CASE

The latest

Donald Trump Prosecution Appears Fatally Flawed—Legal Experts

We are well into the second week of Trump’s hush money case and legal experts have raised concerns about whether or not prosecutors can convince a jury to convict Donald Trump. Several experts have pointed to the lack of clear evidence that Trump was engaged in election fraud. Here’s why it matters.

Up next: Court resumes Thursday morning in Manhattan.

GET CAUGHT UP

SPOTLIGHT

Alina Habba Claims Judges Try to Make Trump's Attorneys Look Bad

Trump attorney Alina Habba called out judges presiding over the various cases against her boss. "I have never been treated the way I'm treated when I walk into court and I say I represent President Trump," Habba, currently Trump's legal spokesperson for his hush money trial, told Newsweek. Here’s what she said about how Trump’s attorneys are unfairly targeted.

LEGAL BRIEFS

News from Trump's court cases

Jack Smith 'Hypothetical' Could Turn Trump Immunity Claim Against SCOTUS

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday over whether Trump can be prosecuted over his alleged criminal attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Special Counsel Jack Smith's team should present an extreme "hypothetical" argument against absolute immunity for presidents accused of crimes by suggesting it could be used to target Supreme Court judges, a legal expert said. Read here.
The judge in Trump’s hush money case has not yet made a decision regarding a series of potential gag order violations. But a prosecutor in the case claimed the former president is trying to be jailed for contempt of court. Here’s what he said.
The question of whether former first lady Melania Trump will take the stand in the hush money case remains unanswered. However, one trial attorney tells Newsweek that it will be very difficult for Donald Trump to convince a jury that he was hiding payments to Stormy Daniels from his wife, and not the public. Here’s why.
In Georgia, Trump's attorneys asked Judge Scott McAfee to quash two more charges against the former president in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against him. The brief, filed Wednesday, asks for charges of filing false documents and conspiracy to commit filing false documents to be dropped. See what it says.
In election news: Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, said the Republican National Committee (RNC) wants to "physically handle the ballots" amid the 2024 election. The push comes amid the GOP’s growing criticism over electronic voting systems. Here’s what she said.

ON THE DOCKET

What’s up next

Trump Fears David Pecker's 'Power'

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker is set to resume testimony when court resumes Thursday. Among the expected witnesses Trump has spoken against publicly, Pecker is not one. So, why not? From Trump's vantage point, “Pecker has a lot of power,” attorney Asha Rangappa says.

HERE'S WHY

Before you go, get a brief evening recap of the day news.