Former President Trump's motorcade arrived at the Manhattan courthouse for day 7 of his New York criminal trial on Thursday. The trial proceedings are expected to focus on continued witness testimony by former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Judge Juan Merchan may also issue a ruling on Trump's alleged gag order violations, which could result in a fine of up to $11,000 for the former President.
Pecker's testimony centers on the Enquirer's 'catch-and-kill' news operations and his efforts to assist Trump's presidential campaign prior to the 2016 election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has accused Trump of violating Merchan's gag order 11 times since April 1. The gag order prohibits Trump from speaking publicly about witnesses in the case.
Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, faced challenges when attempting to defend against the accusations on Tuesday. Prior to Trump's arrival at the courthouse, he met with supporters at a construction site in downtown Manhattan, one of the few campaigning opportunities he has had since the trial began.
