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1 Donald Trump Trial Day 5
The heart of former President Donald Trump's New York hush money trial, overseen by Judge Juan Merchan, kicked off on Monday with opening statements and witness testimony. Matthew Colangelo delivered the opening argument for the prosecution, alleging that the former president's actions were "election fraud, pure and simple." Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, criticized accounts from Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen and porn star Stormy Daniels, telling the jury "There's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election. Jurors are deciding whether Trump falsified business records to cover up a hush money payment from Cohen to Daniels. Trump authorized the payment in order to keep Daniels from hurting his 2016 presidential campaign by going public with her story that the pair had sex, according to the prosecutors. Trump denies Daniels' claim and has pleaded not guilty.
2 Arrests At Yale, Pro-Palestinian Protests Continue At Universities
Pro-Palestinian protests continued on the campus of Columbia University yesterday, but also spread to other colleges including Yale. Police officers arrested a group that was finishing its third day of camping out at Yale University around 7 am yesterday. Authorities reportedly approached Beinecke Plaza where the protesters were staying, flipped up the entrances to tents, and then issued a warning for students and journalists to leave or they’d be arrested, with arrests starting just a few minutes later. In total, 47 students were charged with first-degree criminal trespass in the incident. By 8 am, no students were left on the plaza. Columbia University held virtual classes yesterday after mass suspensions and arrests of pro-Palestinian protesters on its campus, and Harvard restricted access to Harvard Yard for the rest of the week “in apparent anticipation of student protests,” according to “The Harvard Crimson.” A notice posted on the Yard gates said that “structures, including tents and tables, are not permitted in the Yard without prior permission,” threatening disciplinary action for any students who violate the policies.
3 Trump's $175-Million Bond Stands
An agreement was reached yesterday that will let former President Donald Trump’s $175-million bond in his New York civil case stand. According to the terms of the agreement, the $175-million will stay in a money market account as cash; while Knight Specialty, the company that secured the bond, will have exclusive control of the account, it can only use the cash to pay for the bond if needed. The agreement can’t be amended without court approval. The hearing happened as Trump sat in a different courtroom just a block away listening to the opening statements by the Manhattan criminal prosecutor in his criminal “hush money” trial.