Gary Farro, set to resume testimony, previously detailed financial arrangements linked to an alleged catch-and-kill scheme.
Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial progresses into its third week with fresh testimony expected from a private banker. Last week, the banker outlined financial maneuvers connected to the former president’s purported catch-and-kill scheme.
The trial adjourned for the week on Friday following Gary Farro’s testimony. In 2015, Farro assumed the role of Michael Cohen’s contact at First Republic Bank, Cohen being Trump’s attorney at the time. Farro’s testimony provided insight into Cohen’s financial maneuvers aimed at shielding his then-boss.
Prosecutors claim that in the summer of 2015, Trump, Cohen, and tabloid executive David Pecker conspired to suppress damaging stories that could jeopardize Trump’s GOP presidential campaign. Cohen, alleged to have facilitated a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, purportedly attempted to open accounts for two new LLCs in October 2016.
These investigations were prompted by the publication on October 7, 2016, of a recording in which Trump boasted about sexually assaulting women. The day after, Cohen reportedly discovered that Daniels had emerged with allegations of an extramarital affair with Trump, according to prosecutors.
Cohen injected his personal funds into one of the LLCs, Essential Consultants, which then transferred money to Daniel’s attorney to prevent her from publicly disclosing her story. Allegedly, Cohen established LLCs to facilitate payments without direct ties to the candidate, as Trump’s campaign feared that further revelations of misconduct could damage his prospects in the general election, prosecutors claim.
Farro’s testimony followed that of Rhona Graff, a longtime assistant to Trump. Graff informed the jury that she had encountered Daniels in the reception area of Trump Tower’s 26th floor sometime before the 2016 election.
Prior to Graff’s brief testimony, David Pecker, former head of American Media Inc (AMI), took the stand. Over three days, Pecker outlined his agreement with Trump and Cohen to alert them to any negative stories before publication. Pecker testified that, as per their agreement since August 2015, he would immediately inform Michael Cohen of any potentially embarrassing stories involving Trump. Pecker stated in the final hours of his testimony, “If he heard it from somebody else, he would go ballistic.”
During his testimony, Pecker stated that AMI made a payment of $150,000 to Playboy model Karen McDougal in August 2016 to suppress her story about an alleged affair with Trump. When questioned by the prosecution about whether the purpose of paying for McDougal’s story was to “influence the election,” Pecker affirmed that it was.
