Testimony ends for the day in Trump hush money trial

Before leaving the bench, Judge Merchan reiterated that he signed the order to show cause regarding the prosecution's latest request to hold Trump in contempt for the four new violations of the gag order. It came after the prosecution filed a motion and argued in court that Trump violated the gag order four more times over the past few days.

There will be a hearing next Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. ET about that, he said.

Assistant District Attorney Chris Conroy addressed the additional violations in court Thursday morning, providing the judge with another proposed order to show cause, which Merchan signed.

At a hearing Tuesday morning, prosecutors had already asked Merchan to hold Trump in contempt for violating the gag order, citing 10 social media posts from before and during the trial. They also want the posts taken down. Merchan has yet to rule on these alleged violations.

Trump has two campaign events next Wednesday. He is required to be in court for the gag-order hearing unless the judge signs a waiver to excuse him.

What happened in the courtroom on Thursday was "breathtaking," former President Donald Trump said after court wrapped for the day.

He also described former tabloid boss David Pecker's testimony as "amazing."

"Open your eyes, we can't let this continue to happen to our country," he added, reiterating his complaint that this trial should have "never happened."

Trump also commented on the "monumental" US Supreme Court hearing on the matter of his immunity in the federal election subversion case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

"I hope it was made clear that a president has to have immunity or you don't have a president. Or at most you can say it would be a ceremonial president. That's not what the founders had in mind," he said, adding he heard that the hearing was "quite amazing" and that the justices "were on their game."

After the jury left the courtroom, Steinglass brought an objection, arguing that Bove's questions to Pecker about the FBI interview were "improper" and left the jury "with a misimpression."

Judge Juan Merchan sided with Steinglass and said they'll have to correct that in front of the jury on Friday.

The judge said Bove's actions left the jury with the impression that Pecker omitted information about Hope Hicks.

Bove said, "The point of my question was that she was not in the meeting."

Merchan said he wasn't accusing Bove of doing it intentionally, but said he should "be very careful of that."

Judge Juan Merchan is telling the jury court is wrapping up for the day. He's dismissing them for the day.

Only one juror appeared to look over at Trump at the defense table.

Prosecutors finished their direct questioning of David Pecker Thursday afternoon. He testified for just about six hours over three days for the prosecution.

Pecker, who is the former publisher of the National Enquirer, continued to give details of the repercussions of the “catch-and-kill” schemes to help Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Here’s a recap from this afternoon:

The attorneys are at the bench.

Steinglass asked to approach over an objection to Bove's series of questions about Pecker's past testimony relating to Hope Hicks' involvement in the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.

Bove asked Pecker whether he told agents at a July 2018 interview that Hope Hicks attended the August 2015 meeting with Cohen and Trump.

Steinglass objected to this question, and Judge Juan Merchan sustained the objection.

Bove then tries again. Pecker asks to see what Bove is referring to, where he didn't mention Hicks. Bove is trying to get Pecker to confirm that he did not mention Hicks when he first told prosecutors in 2018 about the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.

Meanwhile, Trump is sitting with his arms crossed. He and his other attorney Todd Blanche are leaning over to whisper to each other.

The judge, attorneys and Pecker are reviewing a report from a 2018 interview Pecker had with the government.

Bove again seeks to confirm the report does not indicate that Pecker told the government Hicks was at the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.

Pecker now confirms he didn't mention Hicks being at the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting in the government interview.

Bove asks Pecker to confirm his prior testimony that Michael Cohen was always angling for something for himself.

The former publisher confirmed that Cohen asked Pecker to promote personal business ventures for him and his family throughout the years.

Bove says that Pecker had been working with Cohen for at least 8 years before the August 2015 meeting with Cohen. "Yes," Pecker responds.

He confirmed that in 2015 and 2016, Cohen was always clear that he was Trump's personal attorney and he was not working for the campaign.

Pecker said the most recent meeting he had with prosecutors was a few weeks ago, and he's had about three to five meetings with prosecutors this year.

He said he remembered five to six meetings with federal prosecutors in June, July and August 2018.

Bove then asked a series of questions about how prosecutors prepared Pecker to give "consistent" testimony each time he's testified.