NY v. Trump: Hope Hicks testifies, prosecutors refer to 'Access Hollywood' tape

Former President Donald Trump has paid the $9,000 worth of fines he received early this week after the presiding judge ruled he violated his gag order multiple times.

The fines were paid through the use of cashier's checks on Thursday, a source confirmed to Fox News Digital.

"The defense paid the contempt fine yesterday. They used cashier's checks. They paid one amount of $2000 and one amount of $7000," the source said.

Judge Juan Merchan fined Trump $9,000 on Tuesday for violating a gag order that bans him from speaking publicly about witnesses and family members of court officials. The judge found he violated the order on nine separate occasions, with each violation resulting in a $1,000 fine.

The judge detailed in the order that if Trump carries out "continued willful violations" of the gag order, he could face "incarceratory punishment" if "necessary and appropriate."

Trump attorneys argue the gag order is a violation of the former president’s First Amendment rights. District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his office alleged Trump violated the order at least more than a dozen times, as of last week. The gag order was imposed on Trump in the lead up to the trial last month.

Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this update.

Former President Donald Trump took aim at "Soros-backed" Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg while giving remarks to reporters after he left court on Friday.

"Lately, this office of DA, which is letting crime, violent crime run rampant all over our city," Trump said. "What they've done to people in my company, they've been after us for years. You take a look at what's happened, years, the Democrats, the radical left, they've been after us for years and they've destroyed people's lives. They've gone out, hired lawyers, they've been with lawyers for years, being sucked dry. And it's a shame. It's a shame what they've done to this country and it's a shame what they've done to a lot of great people that have been absolutely ruined and destroyed, not only here, all over."

"These are vicious, vicious, radical left lunatics. The DA here is sort of Soros backed. They shouldn't be wasting time on this," he added. "In the meantime, you can't do anything in the country. The country is going to hell."

Former President Donald Trump talks to reporters, alongside attorney Todd Blanche (R) at the end of today's proceedings in his criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York City, on May 3, 2024. (DOUG MILLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump also touted this year's upcoming presidential election, where he and incumbent President Biden will likely face off in a political rematch.

"Hopefully November 5th, the most important day in the history of our country, in my opinion, that's called Election Day, hopefully it's going to change because these people are destroying our country," he said.

Trump's remarks came after another day of court on Friday - the final day of the third week of his trial.

Judge Juan Merchan has rejected a request by prosecutors to question former President Donald Trump about his gag order violations.

Merchan denied the prosecution’s application, saying it would be prejudicial for the jury to hear about gag order violations against Trump from the same judge hearing this case.

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo argued that Trump intentionally violated the court order, and the violations go to Trump’s credibility.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche objected to Trump being cross-examined about the gag order violations in this case, saying it could be a sideshow.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this update.

Hope Hicks told the court Friday that Donald Trump was concerned over how the allegations levied against him of extramarital affairs would impact his family and didn't want them to be "hurt or embarrassed".

Hicks, Trump’s 2016 campaign press secretary who went on to serve as his White House communications director, said Trump was concerned about the stories regarding the affair allegations and how they would specifically be viewed by his wife, Melania Trump.

Asked by Trump defense attorney Emile Bove about the impact on his family and whether he expressed concern over it, Hicks responded, “Absolutely ... I don’t think he wanted anyone in his family to be hurt or embarrassed about anything on the campaign. He wanted them to be proud of him.”

Hicks noted earlier in her testimony that Trump wanted her to make sure the newspapers weren’t delivered to their residence.

Hope Hicks testified Friday that she agreed with the defense's argument that there were times former Trump attorney Michael Cohen would do things that were frustrating to the campaign staff.

Hicks said Cohen "used to like to call himself Mr. Fix it, but it was only because he first broke it."

Noting that he was not part of the campaign, Hicks said Cohen would try to insert himself at certain moments. She told the court he would do things at a voluntary capacity, but was not looped in on the day-to-day campaign strategy.

The campaign counsel had separate lawyers. Cohen was instructed to focus on Trump’s business credentials.

Fox News' Kerri Kupec contributed to this report.

Hope Hicks, then-senior adviser to President Donald Trump, attends event at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, on July 3, 2020. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Hope Hicks, former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign press secretary who went on to serve as his White House communications director, told the court Friday that Trump told her the claims of him having an affair with former Playboy model Karen McDougal were "unequivocally untrue."

Hicks' comments on the matter came as she offered testimony to the court about a Wall Street Journal article that discussed the alleged affair and included comments from her.

In the article, Hicks is quoted saying "we have no knowledge of any of this” and that McDougal’s claim of an affair with Trump was “totally untrue”.

Hicks didn't say whether Trump directed her to say that, but noted that he denied the affair in general. She also couldn't remember Trump directing her to specifically state, “We have no knowledge of any of this.”

Hicks said Trump did tell her to say that it was “absolutely, unequivocally untrue".

Fox News' Grace Taggart contributed to this update.

Hope Hicks, former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign press secretary and White House communications director, resumed her testimony in court Friday evening.

Hicks, who is testifying under subpoena, also offered testimony to the court before an hour-long lunch break.

Prior to the break, Hicks testified that she has not communicated with former President Donald Trump since the summer or fall of 2022.

She also described the former president's relationships with those who worked closely with him leading up to the 2016 presidential election, as well as the campaign's reaction to the "Access Hollywood" tape in 2016.

"It’s hard to describe, but yeah, it was definitely concerning. I had a good sense this was going to be a massive story and dominate the news cycle for the next several days at least," she said of the tape being released at the time.

The 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape came to light ahead of the 2016 election and showed Trump boasting to host Billy Bush that he could kiss and grope women due to his star power.

Judge Juan Merchan previously denied the prosecution from showing the tape to jurors, saying in March, "it is not necessary that the tape itself be introduced into evidence or that it be played for the jury."

Fox News' Maria Paronich and Emma Colton contributed to this update.

Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Friday amid his criminal trial in New York City to take aim at those involved in what he called a "WITCH HUNT."

"This isn’t a trial, it’s a political campaign, a witch hunt, just like the highly conflicted and biased judge, Juan Merchan, wanted it to be. I’m sure his political friends and allies, and crooked Joe Biden, in particular, will be thrilled that they are getting away with this corrupt, 'ancient,' and highly political attack on his 2024 presidential opponent," Trump wrote in all caps in the post.

He added, "These eight year old stories, which came out prior to the 2016 election (the voters have already, and loudly, spoken!), and have nothing to do with this fake case, brought by a crooked, Soros backed New York City D.A., Alvin Bragg, should not have been allowed to be used. Virtually every legal scholar and expert call it a sham and disgrace, election interference. It is an insult to American justice!"

Trump’s unprecedented trial in Manhattan resumed for its 11th day on Friday.

The former president and the Republican presidential candidate is charged with 34 felony counts filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg involving the falsification of business records. The charges are related to $130,000 in payments of hush money to former porn star Stormy Daniels.

The payments were made by former Trump adviser Michael Cohen, who was then paid by Trump for what were listed as legal expenses but which the prosecution alleges were reimbursement for the payments for Daniels.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Former President Donald Trump did not speak to reporters on his way out from the courtroom amid the court's break for lunch.

The former president didn't look toward the cameras, but he gave a thumbs up as he walked past.

Court is slated to resume at 2:15 ET.

Hope Hicks, then-senior adviser to the president, attends services with President Donald Trump at the International Church of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 18, 2020. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Hope Hicks, former President Donald Trump’s former press secretary and White House communications director, told the court Friday that she was "very concerned" and "stunned" when she, Trump, and other campaign members found out about the "Access Hollywood" tape featuring controversial comments from Trump.

Asked about the tape by prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, a former attorney with President Biden's Justice Department, Hicks confirmed that she had heard and seen the clip.

Asked about her reaction to a Washington Post press inquiry sent via email about the comments Trump made in the clip, Hicks said, “I was concerned, very concerned ... I was concerned about the contents of the email, concerned about the lack of time to respond, concerned about having a transcript and not a tape.”

Upon being made aware of the clip, Hicks forwarded the email to other campaign leadership, including David Bossie, Jason Miller, Kellyanne Conway, and Steve Bannon. In emails presented in court, she said she needed to hear tape to be sure, and “deny, deny, deny.”

After she sent the email, she found the members of the campaign and spoke with them in person about the email from Trump Tower.

When she convened with members of the campaign about the email she received, Hicks said Trump asked them what they were discussing. She said she verbally shared the email with Trump. At the time, they were trying to get a copy of the audio of the tape to assess the situation further.

Trump, according to Hicks, said the remarks outlined in the email regarding the tape didn't sound like something that he would say. She also noted that they saw the video within the matter of minutes, but could not recall if it was before or after it was publicly published. Hicks recalled Trump being upset.

Recalling her learning about the tape, Hicks said she was “a little stunned."

"It’s hard to describe, but yeah, it was definitely concerning. I had a good sense this was going to be a massive story and dominate the news cycle for the next several days at least," she said Friday.

Adding to that, she called the tape's revelation "a damaging development" and insisted that it "obviously wasn’t helpful."

Hicks said Trump felt like the tape wasn’t a good look, but noted it was two guys talking privately and insisted it was locker room talk that wasn't meant to upset anyone. Hicks said Trump “always liked to weigh in on responses." She could not remember who prepared the response to the tape, but assured the court that Trump had input.

The 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape came to light ahead of the 2016 election and showed Trump boasting to host Billy Bush that he could kiss and grope women due to his star power.

Judge Juan Merchan previously denied the prosecution from showing the tape to jurors, saying in March, "it is not necessary that the tape itself be introduced into evidence or that it be played for the jury."

Fox News' Maria Paronich and Emma Colton contributed to this update.

Then-White House advisor Hope Hicks is seen after President Donald Trump arrived to the Senate Republican Policy Luncheon in Hart Building on May 19, 2020. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Hope Hicks, who served as Trump's press secretary for his 2016 campaign, praised the former president's ability to lead on messaging while making a run for the White House.

Hicks, who went on to serve as a political advisor to President Donald Trump during his tenure in the White House, told the court Friday, "He knew what he wanted to say and how to say it and we were all just following his lead ... he deserves the credit for the agenda."

A rising star among those in Trump's orbit after she joined the Trump organization, Hicks said Friday that she said she went from speaking to Trump regularly in Jan. 2015 to every day in June 2015.

Hicks served as the White House director of strategic communications from Jan. to Sept. 2017, as White House communications director from 2017 to 2018, and as a counselor to the president from 2020 to 2021.

Then-President Donald Trump shakes hands with Hope Hicks, outgoing White House communications director, right, outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 29, 2018. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Hope Hicks, who previously served as Trump's press secretary during the 2016 presidential campaign, testified in court Friday that she has not communicated with former President Donald Trump since the summer or fall of 2022.

Additionally, she told the court she does not currently have a professional relationship with Trump and went on to describe the former president's relationships with those who worked closely with him leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

Hicks, who previously worked for the Trump Organization, was asked Friday about her role with the company and how she came to work for the campaign.

Shortly after she joined the company, Hicks said, Trump launched an exploaratory committee for president. She said she went from speaking to Trump regularly in Jan. 2015 to every day in June 2015.

Hicks was also asked about Trump's relationship with Keith Schiller, Trump's longtime bodyguard. She described their relationship as "close."

Hicks also described Rhonna Graff as Trump’s executive assistant, saying their relationship was “one of mutual respect."

She went on to discuss Trump's relationship with former Trump Org. CFO Allen Weisselberg, who assisted Trump with financial matters pertaining to his campaign.

Hicks said Trump and Weisselberg had "mutual respect" for one another and that "he was a trusted person there.”

Hope Hicks has been called to the stand as the prosecution's next witness in NY v. Trump.

Hicks, who was once considered a close Trump ally, appeared before a grand jury last year prior to Trump being indicted.

Hicks previously served as Trump's press secretary during the 2016 presidential campaign and could potentially provide insight as to what took place in the lead-up to the election amid an alleged hush money payment to Stormy Daniels by Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorny.

Hicks, who is testifying under subpoena, told the court she is "really nervous” as she took to the stand.

Fox News' Grace Taggart contributed to this update.

Prosecutors in the case of NY v. Trump showed jurors an array of posts former President Donald Trump shared, including one "horseface" insult directed at Stormy Daniels, who is central to the prosecution's case.

“I did NOTHING wrong in the ‘Horseface’ case. I see she showed up in New York today trying to drum up some publicity for herself. I haven’t seen or spoken to her since I took a picture with her on a golf course, in full golf gear including a hat, close to 18 years ago. She knows nothing about me other than her conman lawyer, Avanatti, and convicted liar and felon, jailbird Michael Cohen," Trump wrote in a March 2023 post to Truth Social, which was presented to jurors.

Prosecutors also showed a post from Trump to Truth Social in August 2023, which read, “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, IM COMING AFTER YOU".

Additionally, the prosecutors played a video for jurors on Friday that showed Trump's response, which was posted to Twitter at the time, to the "Access Hollywood" tape.

"Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am. I said it. I was wrong and I apologize," Trump said in the clip.

The next witness on the stand in Trump's trial on criminal charges from DA Bragg's office is Georgia Longstreet, a paralegal in the prosecutor's office.

Longstreet testified she has worked on the Trump case for a year and a half. She reviewed and saved social media posts and articles that could be relevant to the case.  

She monitored Instagram, Twitter and Truth Social every day, multiple times a day. She said she has reviewed anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 posts over the past year and a half, saving around 1,500 of them. She uses an app called Snagit to save posts with the date, preserving the content’s data.

Fox News' Grace Taggart contributed reporting

Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, appears outside federal court in New York on Dec. 14, 2023. (Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Doug Daus, a computer forensic analyst with the Manhattan District Attorney's office who examined two cell phones that belonged to Michael Cohen, took the stand Friday as the prosecution's seventh witness in NY v. Trump.

During his testimony, Daus was asked numerous questions by the defense and prosecutors about his work examining the phones that belonged to Cohen, Trump's former attorney. He was also asked about certain applications on his phones, including those that have the ability to send and receive disappearing messages.

During Daus' testimony on Thursday, the jury heard an audio recording from Cohen's phone. In the recording, Cohen told Trump that he (Cohen) has to open up a company to transfer funds to “our friend David.”

Trump defense attorney Emil Bove cross examined Daus on Friday.

Daus agreed with Bove that while there was not direct evidence of tampering, there are gaps in time that could leave room for tampering.

Daus said there’s no record of a call on the device itself. Additionally, Daus agreed that he don’t know how the incoming call interacted with the voice note app used to document the call.

Facing questions during a redirect from prosecutor Christopher Conroy, Daus said it was not unusual for a phone to be used to make recordings. He also testified that he wouldn't expect record of a call from seven years ago to remain on a device.

Asked by Conroy whether he was working with the full forensic extraction and if that’s the gold standard, he replied, “Yes.”

Conroy also asked Daus if he saw any evidence of tampering. Daus replied, “I did not.”

However, Trump's attorneys also asked Daus if he agreed that there were questions about how the phone was handled. Bove ended cross by saying, “in many ways, we’re just going to have to take Michael Cohen’s word for it.” Daus agrees.

Fox News' Maria Paronich and Grace Taggart contributed to this update.

Judge Juan Merchan reiterated Friday the "Access Hollywood" tape, in which Donald Trump described forcibly groping women, should not come into evidence in the case of NY v. Trump.

Prosecutors argued that while it was previously ruled the entire "Access Hollywood" tape couldn’t come into evidence, they want the Washington Post article that originally discussed the footage to come in to establish the date that the article was posted.

Merchan said once more Friday that he doesn’t want the video to be shown because it’s too powerful of evidence to have Trump’s voice and face associated with the words.

Merchan said prosecutors should introduce the date of the tape, but he does not want the picture included from the article.

The 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape came to light ahead of the 2016 election and showed Trump boasting to host Billy Bush that he could kiss and grope women due to his star power.

Merchan had previously denied the prosecution from showing the tape to jurors, saying in March, "it is not necessary that the tape itself be introduced into evidence or that it be played for the jury."

Fox News' Grace Taggart and Emma Colton contributed to this update.

Former President Trump called Friday's jobs numbers "horrible" after the Labor Department reported an unexpected increase in unemployment.

Employers added 175,000 jobs in April, the Labor Department said in its monthly payroll report released Friday, missing the 243,000 gain forecast by LSEG economists. It marked the worst month for job creation since October. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, inched higher to 3.9%.

Trump spoke to reporters ahead of his appearance in court for his New York criminal trial, calling the numbers "really low, really bad." 

"Our economy's bad, and now it's starting to show," Trump said. "And it'll only get worse. It'll only get worse. We're only going one way with the so-called leadership." 

Wage growth was also more subdued last month, with average hourly earnings – a key measure of inflation – rising 0.2%, less than expected. On an annual basis, wages increased 3.9% in April.

The surprisingly weak report paints a picture of a job market that is beginning to sputter as the result of the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest-rate hike campaign, and boosts the odds of rate cuts sooner rather than later. Wall Street welcomed the news, with all three major stock indices soaring in pre-trading Friday morning.

Asked what his jobs plan is, Trump gave a direct answer.

"My plan for jobs is to drill, baby, drill. To bring energy down, to close up the border, to get rid of all the criminals that are being allowed in our country," he said.

Fox Business' Megan Henney contributed to this update.

U.S. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump walk across the South Lawn before leaving the White House on board Marine One November 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former President Trump will be allowed to attend his son Barron's high school graduation in person despite his ongoing criminal trial, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Trump's son, Barron, is expected to graduate from his Florida high school in May, but since the event falls on a Friday, it was unknown whether the former president would be allowed to attend as he faces 34 charges of falsifying business records. Trump is required in court Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday for the next several weeks unless granted otherwise by Judge Juan Merchan. 

As he awaited a decision on whether he would be able to attend the event in person, Trump slammed the judge in posts on his TruthSocial page.

In court on Tuesday, Merchan said, "I don’t think the May 17 date is a problem," meaning Trump is permitted to attend the graduation in person.

Trump departed for court from Trump Tower at 8:37 a.m. Friday. 

Fox News Digital's Aubry Spady contributed to this update.

Former President Trump was fined $9,000 by New York Judge Juan M. Merchan for the violation of a gag order barring him from making public statements about witnesses and jurors. He was charged $1,000 for each violation and was warned by Merchan that further violations could result in potential jail time. 

“It is critically important that defendant’s legitimate free speech rights not be curtailed, that he be able to fully campaign for the office which he seeks and that he be able to respond and defend himself against political attacks,” Merchan wrote in his decision. “Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment.”

In accordance with the gag order, Trump is barred from making public statements about witnesses’ involvement in his case, as well as comments about the jurors. Trump also cannot comment on court staff, prosecutors, or the family members of any of the above parties. 

Fox News Digital's Matteo Cina contributed to this update.

Former President Trump's criminal trial is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. Friday morning with the prosecution's seventh witness, Doug Daus, to take the stand.

Daus is a computer forensic analyst with the district attorney's office. Yesterday, he testified about examining two cell phones that belonged to Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen.  

During Daus' testimony, an audio recording was played former Trump attorney Michael Cohen could be heard telling Trump that he (Cohen) has to open up a company to transfer funds to “our friend David.”  Cross-examination began towards the end of the day, and the defense was asking about the chain of custody of the phone.  

Before Daus, Keith Davidson, an attorney who once represented both Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, completed his testimony. He testified about various interactions with Cohen before and after the 2016 election. 

Davidson said Daniels’ denial of an affair with Trump was technically true because he wouldn’t characterize the interaction between Trump and Stormy as romantic. He also said the money Cohen paid Stormy was not a payoff, but rather a “consideration.” The defense played audio recordings of Davidson where he can be heard admitting Cohen didn’t need authority from Trump to make the payment to Stormy. 

Court will end early today at 3:45 p.m. to accommodate a juror's appointment. 

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this update.

Former President Donald Trump moves from the courtroom in New York City to the banquet rooms in South Florida on Friday, as he headlines a gathering of top Republican donors and teams up with potential running mates.

Trump starts his day in a Manhattan courtroom, where the former president is being tried on nearly three-dozen state felony charges for falsifying business records in relation to hush-money payments during the 2016 election he made to Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about his alleged affair with the adult film actress.

Trump has repeatedly denied falsifying business records as well as the alleged sexual encounter with Daniels.

But the conclusion of court on Friday will free the former president to travel home to Palm Beach, Florida, where he'll be the main attraction at the Republican National Committee's (RNC) Spring Donor Retreat.

The closed-to press gathering - held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palm Beach and at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club a few miles north - comes as he aims to close his fundraising gap with President Biden in their 2024 election rematch.

And listed as "special guests" at the confab are a number of Republican politicians considered to be on Trump's shortlist for running mate, according to an agenda of the weekend's events obtained by Fox News.

"This event takes on even greater significance in light of the fact that the President is constrained from travel due to his trial. While at the same time, Biden can travel all over the country to raise money," Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks told Fox News

Brooks, who has close ties to the GOP donor class, said that "major donors are stepping up now in a big way as we watch in horror the nightly images on TV of our country spiraling out of control." 

And he predicted that "this weekend will be a huge success."

Among those listed as "special guests" are possible running mates Sens. Tim Scott of South Carolina, JD Vance of Ohio, and Marco Rubio of Florida. So are Govs,. Doug Burgum of North Dakota and Kristi Noem from South Dakota. Two top Trump supporters in the House - Reps. Elise Seefanik of New York and Byron Donalds of Florida - will also be there, as will entrepreneur and former 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this update.

Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump poses for photos with members of the FDNY Engine 2, Battalion 8 firehouse on May 02, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump is expected to visit a fire department in midtown Manhattan on Thursday evening to honor first responders following hours in court for his unprecedented criminal trial. 

The former president and presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee arrived with pizza to the same New York City fire department he visited in 2021 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Sept. 11, 2021. 

Trump spent the day in a Manhattan courtroom to witness testimony and cross-examination on criminal charges against him. The judge also heard arguments from prosecutors and Trump's defense team on allegations the former president violating the gag order imposed upon him.

The FDNY, which has hosted leaders of nearly every political affiliation, said it appreciates anyone who supports first responders.

"We appreciate whoever supports our members at the FDNY, no matter their political affiliation," the department said in a statement.

The former president has blasted the criminal trial and case brought against him as "election interference." He says prosecutors are working in coordination with the Biden White House to prosecute their political opponent, and says Democrats are trying to keep him confined to a courtroom and off the campaign trail. 

Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this update.

Former President Donald Trump spoke to reporters Thursday after exiting the Manhattan courtroom following the 10th day of the criminal trial in the case N.Y. v. Trump.

The 2024 GOP presumptive nominee said he was "very happy" with how things were going in the courtroom despite calling the trial "ridiculous" and "election interference at the highest level."

"We're seeing all of the crime that's going on outside, and to be sitting in this courtroom is just ridiculous. It is election interference at the highest level that's never been done before in our country. And I shouldn't be campaigning right now," Trump said.

Trump continued to express frustrations with Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the criminal case, calling him "totally conflicted" after holding another hearing earlier this morning on 4 additional gag order violations. Trump said he would appeal the gag order, which he said prevents him from testifying in the case.

"He has me under an unconstitutional gag order. Nobody's ever had that before. And we don't like it, and it's not fair. Other people are allowed to do whatever they want to us, and I'm not allowed as...the Republican Party nominee, and the one who's leading Biden by a lot, I'm not allowed to talk," Trump said.

"So I'm not allowed to testify because of an unconstitutional gag order. We're appealing the gag order. And let's see what happens," Trump added.

The trial will resume Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court during his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 2, 2024 in New York City. (Jeenah Moon-Pool/Getty Images)

The ex-lawyer of adult film actress Stormy Daniels testified Thursday that he thought Donald Trump was "going to lose" the 2016 presidential election, and pressed trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen to settle the payment before losing "leverage."

During the final rounds of questioning to Daniel's lawyer, Keith Davidson, he admitted he spoke to Cohen, pressing him to settle the $130,000 payment to Daniels to quiet her claims of an alleged extramarital affair she had with Trump in 2006, before the 2016 election. He said Trump "will lose", and subsequently his client would lose her leverage. Trump has denied every having the affair.

That phone call was described as intense and full of expletives. Trump's defense team is hoping to connect that call with Davidson’s alleged pattern of squeezing people for money during vulnerable times.

Earlier this week, Davison testified about his work for another client, former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who has also said she had an affair with Trump. American Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer, paid McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story as part of a "catch and kill" scheme prosecutors allege was used to bolster Trump's presidential campaign. 

Fox News' Kerri Kupec Urbahn contributed to this update.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 2, 2024 in New York City. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Thursday that -- despite reports from "FAKE NEWS MEDIA" that he fell asleep in court -- he was simply closing his "beautiful blue eyes" briefly.

"Contrary to the FAKE NEWS MEDIA, I don’t fall asleep during the Crooked D.A.’s Witch Hunt, especially not today. I simply close my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes, listen intensely, and take it ALL in!!!" Trump stated in a post.

The trial of N.Y. v. Trump resumed Thursday afternoon after a short break. Keith Davidson, attorney for adult film actress Stormy Daniels, took the witness stand again for cross-examination from defense attorney Emil Bove.

Before Davidson took the stand again, defense attorney Susan Necheles asked for a stack of articles that Trump wishes to post on Truth Social to be reviewed for gag order violations because they discuss the case. She asked review to avoid any ambiguity.

Manhattan attorney Matthew Colangelo said he needed to review the articles, adding that he understands there is a political campaign, but there is also a criminal trial.

But Judge Juan Merchan said he would not give an advance rulings on the articles, adding that there is no ambiguity in the gag order.  He told the defense team that if there is doubt to “steer clear.”  

When Necheles tried to bring up another point, Merchan cut her off, saying, “I’m not going to argue with you.”

Fox News' Maria Parnovich contributed to this update.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 2, 2024 in New York City. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Thursday that — despite reports from "FAKE NEWS MEDIA" that he fell asleep in court — he was simply closing his "beautiful blue eyes" briefly.

"Contrary to the FAKE NEWS MEDIA, I don’t fall asleep during the Crooked D.A.’s Witch Hunt, especially not today. I simply close my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes, listen intensely, and take it ALL in!!!" Trump stated in a post.

The trial of N.Y. v. Trump resumed Thursday afternoon after a short break. Keith Davidson, attorney for adult film actress Stormy Daniels, took the witness stand again for cross-examination from defense attorney Emil Bove.

Before Davidson took the stand again, defense attorney Susan Necheles asked for a stack of articles that Trump wishes to post on Truth Social to be reviewed for gag order violations because they discuss the case. She asked review to avoid any ambiguity.

Manhattan attorney Matthew Colangelo said he needed to review the articles, adding that he understands there is a political campaign, but there is also a criminal trial.

But Judge Juan Merchan said he would not give an advance rulings on the articles, adding that there is no ambiguity in the gag order.  He told the defense team that if there is doubt to “steer clear.”  

When Necheles tried to bring up another point, Merchan cut her off, saying, “I’m not going to argue with you.”

Fox News' Maria Parnovich contributed to this update.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 2, 2024 in New York City. (Mark Peterson-Pool/Getty Images)

Keith Davidson, lawyer for adult film actress Stormy Daniels, said in court Thursday that the $130,000 payment to Daniels was not “hush money,” but a “consideration” payment.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Johsua Steinglass pressed Davidson on the witness stand about Daniels’ statement in January 2018, which Davidson prepared for his client, that denied any relationship with Trump and said that her only interaction with Trump was “a few public appearances and nothing more.”

“Rumors that I have received hush money from Donald Trump are completely false,” the statement says. “I don’t believe that Stormy ever alleged that any interaction with Trump was ‘romantic,‘” Davidson testified Thursday. But it is his understanding that Daniels had a sexual encounter with Trump.

He also said the payment “wasn’t a payoff.” 

“It wasn’t a payoff. And it wasn’t hush money. It was consideration,” Davidson said, adding that he would never use “hush money” to describe the money exchange. He would only refer to it as “consideration.” 

“Consideration” is a contractual legal term for what someone gives in return for the promise to abide by a contract; in this case, money. The payment was labeled "legal fees" in Trump's accounting, which prosecutors allege amounted to fraud.

Steinglass asked about the truthfulness of the Daniels’ statement. Davidson replied, “I think it’s technically true.”

He continues that he doesn’t believe anyone alleged of a relationship between Daniels and Trump -- it was an interaction. Davidson said he believes a “relationship” to be an ongoing occurrence.

Fox News' Grace Taggart and Kerri Kupec Urbahn as well as Fox News Digital's Brianna Herlihy contributed to this update.

Michael Cohen returns to the courthouse after a break to resume trial where he is testifying against former US President Donald Trump in New York City on October 24, 2023. (ALEX KENT/AFP via Getty Images)

A witness in the NY v. Trump case in Manhattan testified that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen wanted a job in the 45th president’s administration, despite previously denying wanting a White House role during congressional testimony. 

Keith Davidson, an attorney who represented former pornographic actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, continued his testimony before the court Thursday, when he said that Cohen had been hopeful that he would land a position as White House chief of staff or attorney general in the lead-up to Trump’s inauguration. 

Davidson also recounted that Cohen had been upset he was "not going to Washington" following Trump’s win in 2016. 

"Can you f---ing believe I’m not going to Washington after everything I’ve done for that guy? I can’t believe I’m not going to Washington… I’ve saved his a--…," Davidson recounted of a conversation he had had with a "despondent and saddened Michael Cohen" in December following the 2016 election. 

Davidson testified that Cohen had called him while shopping in a California store memorably decorated with an "Alice in Wonderland"-type theme. 

The NY v. Trump case focuses on Cohen paying Daniels $130,000 to allegedly quiet her claims of an alleged extramarital affair she had with Trump in 2006. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels.

Cohen lamented to Davidson in the December call that he had not yet been reimbursed for the sum he had paid Daniels, according to Davidson’s testimony. 

Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen and fraudulently logged the payments as legal expenses. Prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified records with the intent to commit or conceal a second crime, which is a felony, in violation of a New York law called "conspiracy to promote or prevent election."

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. 

Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this update.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he returns to the courtroom after a break in his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 2, 2024 in New York City. (Charly Triballeau-Pool/Getty Images)

Former President Trump’s unprecedented trial in Manhattan resumes for its 11th day on Friday, when the presiding judge could rule on the former president's remaining alleged gag order violations, and the court is expected to hear continued testimony from a computer forensics expert.

Trump is expected back in court at 9:30 a.m. Friday for the final day of the third week of his trial.

Judge Juan Merchan held a hearing Thursday morning to consider the remaining alleged gag order violations against Trump. The 45th president was fined $9,000 on Tuesday for violating the order — which bans him from speaking publicly about witnesses and family members of court officials — on nine separate occasions. The district attorney's office argued Trump violated the gag order on 14 separate occasions.

Merchan did not deliver a ruling on the remaining alleged violations Thursday but could issue a decision Friday. In his initial gag order ruling, Merchan warned that Trump could face jail time if there are "continued willful violations" of the order.

Trump said he would appeal the gag order during remarks after the trial adjourned Thursday evening.

Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this update.