NEW YORK (AP) – Even in that of Donald Trump standards, it was a dizzying week.
The first one lawsuits of a former president began in earnest with opening statements and testimony in a Lower Manhattan courtroom. But the action quickly spread to more than half a dozen cases in four states and the nation’s capital. Twice during the week, Trump’s lawyers appeared simultaneously in different courtrooms.
The collision of so many cases in the span of five days underscores the challenges Trump will face as he campaigns for the White House again while his legal affairs intensify. As the presumptive Republican nominee sought to talk about the economy and other issues, his message was repeatedly overshadowed by the latest developments across the country.
Here’s how the week went and what awaits us:
MONDAY
The week began with a moment for the history books, with prosecutors for the first time presentation of a jury with a criminal case against a former US president. In opening statements, prosecutors told jurors that secret payments to an adult film actor constituted “a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election,” while Trump’s lawyers argued that the case was unfounded. The testimony then begins with the former National investigator Editor David Pecker gives the public the most tangible look yet at the allegations.
It also gives the clearest picture yet of Trump’s defense and how he mixes his roles as candidate and criminal defendant. Trump begins and ends the day by appearing before waiting reporters at the courthouse, complaining about having to be present and commenting on the cold in the courtroom or making remarks about national news without report.
In a separate but neighboring courthouse, one of Trump’s lawyers made an agreement with New York state lawyers over a $175 million bond Trump posted to stay a major civil fraud judgment he is appealing in a separate case.
TUESDAY
Asset returned to court where prosecutors began by urging the judge to convict Trump of contempt for social media posts that they said violated a gag order this prohibits him from attacking witnesses, jurors and others involved. The judge did not immediately rule on the request but appeared skeptical of the defense’s arguments that Trump was merely responding to others’ attacks.
Pecker, a longtime friend of Trump, testified the rest of the day and said he was committed to helping suppress damaging stories about Trump during the 2016 election.
WEDNESDAY
With the trial not scheduled for Wednesday, Trump did not travel to the Manhattan courthouse from his eponymous tower. But he posted a message at 2 a.m. on Truth Social, his social media platform, criticizing the judge and did it again later that day in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Meanwhile, more court documents have been unsealed in Florida in another criminal case in which federal prosecutors accused Trump and two of his employees of mishandling classified documents…
