Day 8 of Trump New York hush money trial

Trump attorney Emil Bove is asking David Pecker about an August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower that has become central to this case.

According to Pecker's testimony, the former National Enquirer publisher met with former President Donald Trump and Trump's then-personal attorney Michael Cohen shortly after Trump announced his candidacy.

During the meeting, Pecker agreed to be the “eyes and ears” for Trump’s campaign and flag any negative stories to Cohen.

CNN first reported that Trump was at that meeting in late 2018. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan mentioned the meeting when they charged Cohen that summer with two campaign finance violations.

Trump is once again sitting back in his chair with his eyes closed while witness Pecker is testifying about the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.

Bove is now asking about stories about Bill and Hillary Clinton stories in the National Enquirer, confirming with Pecker that AMI had decided to run negative stories before the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.

Bove asks, "Before August 2015 meeting you had decided it made sense for the business of AMI to run articles about Bill and Hillary Clinton? "Yes," Pecker replies as Bove continues to focus on this being in the interest of AMI

Pecker is reviewing a portion of a transcript of his grand jury testimony.

Bove is focusing on the August 2015 meeting.

Former President Donald Trump on Friday continued to make false claims about security and access at the Manhattan courthouse where his criminal hush money trial is taking place, saying “security is that of Fort Knox” and that “MAGA will not be able to attend this trial.” 

“I’m at the heavily guarded Courthouse. Security is that of Fort Knox, all so that MAGA will not be able to attend this trial, presided over by a highly conflicted pawn of the Democrat Party. It is a sight to behold! Getting ready to do my Courthouse presser. Two minutes!” Trump posted on Truth Social. 

While there are various security measures in place around the courthouse, including some street closures enforced by police officers and barricades, people are permitted to drive right up to the front of the courthouse and walk into the building, which remains open to the public. If people show up early enough in the morning, they can even get into the trial courtroom itself or the overflow room that shows near-live video of the proceedings. 

Trump has made several false claims about his supporters not being able to get near the courthouse. The designated protest zone for the trial is at a park directly across the street from the courthouse, and only a handful of Trump supporters have shown up to demonstrate near the building.

Former President Donald Trump spoke to reporters Friday ahead of the fourth day of testimony and complained about the temperature in the courtroom, which he speculated was intentional.

The former president also railed against Judge Juan Merchan, calling him "the most highly conflicted judge I've ever seen."

Bove begins by saying there was some "confusion" in the questioning on whether Hope Hicks had come up in his FBI interview in 2018.

"I wanted to apologize and move on from that," Bove says.

He added, "If I ask a bad question, Mr. Steinglass will probably tell me but you can as well," he says to Pecker.

The statement drew smiles from several members of the jury.

Bove notes that Hicks was in and out of the August 2015 meeting and did not speak at the meeting.

"That's absolutely correct," Pecker says.

Before Bove began, the judge read the jury instructions that a witness can meet with prosecutors and review prior testimony.

Trump's attorney Emil Bove is at the lectern and is beginning his cross examination of Pecker.

Witness David Pecker is back on the stand to continue to be cross-examined by the defense.

As he made his way to the witness stand, Pecker walked past Trump's table without glancing over.

The jury is entering the courtroom. Each juror walked to the jury box with their heads facing forward with no apparent glance at Trump.