Creativeye99/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.Here's how the news is developing:May 29, 5:25 PMJudge to ponder dispute over requested testimonyProsecutor Josh Steinglass walked Judge Merchan through each of the disputed portions of the transcript regarding the 2016 Trump Tower meeting, detailing the page and line number for each disputed portion that the jury had requested be read back.For some of the portions, defense attorney Todd Blanche expressed concern about providing too much information -- not just regarding the topic of the meeting but its repercussions -- while Steinglass argued that some of the testimony could create confusion for the jury."This issue is both confusing and difficult to correct," Steinglass said.Merchan said that "for the sake of time," he would take the transcript with him after the proceedings conclude and make a decision.Told about about another dispute, Merchan said, "I will take this with me into chambers and let you know what I think."May 29, 5:12 PMMerchan returns to help sort out requested testimonyJudge Merchan returned to the bench to check on how the search for the jury's requested readback material was coming."Where do we stand?" the judge asked.Prosecutor Josh Steinglass said there were a "few outstanding issues" requiring Merchan's intervention.Steinglass said the parties were in agreement about three of the four requests, but disagreed over the relevant portion of the transcript regarding David's Pecker's testimony about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting.Steinglass said the lawyers disagreed over whether the jury should hear a portion of Pecker's testimony regarding what he relayed about the meeting to then-National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard."We tried to draw a line between the substance of the meeting and the execution," Steinglass told the judge."I can see why Mr. Blanche has some concerns about most of this," Merchan said after reviewing that portion of the transcript himself.May 29, 4:59 PMSearch for readback material continuesProsecutors Josh Steinglass and Susan Hoffinger, and defense attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove continued to hash out the relevant portion of the transcript for tomorrow's readback as requested by the jury.After spending about half an hour in his waiting area, Donald Trump returned to the courtroom.He entered alongside his son Don Jr. and took a seat at the defense table as the attorneys continued to pore over the material.May 29, 4:16 PMJudge confers with attorneys on readback materialAfter dismissing the jury for the day, Judge Merchan asked the lawyers not to leave the courtroom until they decide the portion for the jury's requested readback."Yes, your honor," defense attorney Todd Blanche responded.As the lawyers met with Merchan at the bench, Trump leaned back in his seat at the defense table, with his arm resting on the top of his chair.Blanche asked if Trump could return the his waiting area while the attorneys searched for the readback material.Merchan said he would allow it as long as Trump remained nearby in case he is needed.Trump slowly walked out of the courtroom, scowling as he left.May 29, 4:09 PMJudge says jury notes will be addressed tomorrowWith the just back in the courtroom, Judge Merchan told them the requested readback of testimony would will take at least half an hour, so announced he would dismiss the jury for the day and address both their notes when they return tomorrow.Before dismissing the jury for the day, the judge emphasized his standard instruction about the jury not looking up information related to the trial."You are at a critical point in the proceedings," Merchan said."See you tomorrow morning at 9:30," the judge said before the jury exited the courtroom.May 29, 3:59 PMJury asks to rehear judge's instructionsJudge Merchan, returning to the bench, announced, "We did just receive another note."The judge said the jury wants to rehear the judge's instructions.Merchan suggested bringing them back to clarify if they want the entire instructions or just a portion.May 29, 3:56 PMProsecutors said Trump Tower meeting was central to caseIn his closing argument yesterday, prosecutor Josh Steinglass framed the 2016 Trump Tower meeting, for which the jury requested the transcript, as central to the case."That was the whole purpose of the Trump Tower meeting, to get AMI to help [Trump] win the election," Steinglass told the jurors, claiming that "the Trump Tower conspiracy violated New York state election law."Defense attorney Todd Blanche, in his closing, pushed back on the significance of the meeting, saying it was AMI merely agreeing to do what it had done for decades."They had been doing it for President Trump since the Nineties," Blanche said of the arrangement to catch and kill unflattering stories. "Mr. Pecker told you that AMI purchases stories all the time."They purchased stories about Tiger Woods, Mark Wahlberg and other people. No crime," Blanche said.May 29, 3:42 PMRequested testimony centers on McDougal paymentThe phone call between Trump and then-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, which the jury requested be read back, involved an alleged discussion about Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged a year-long affair with Trump that Trump has denied."With all of the evidence and documents in this case, it's easy to lose sight of the significance of this phone call," prosecutor Josh Steinglass told jurors during his closing argument yesterday.Steinglass argued that the call proved that Trump "was overtly discussing purchasing [McDougal's] story to keep it from being published" -- and that it also proved that Michael Cohen was telling the truth when he said he was acting at the direction of Trump."This call makes it impossible for the defense to claim that Cohen was acting on his own, that he was taking it upon himself to work with AMI to purchase the McDougal story," Steinglass told the jurors.May 29, 3:24 PMCourt prepares for readback of requested testimony"I will be in the robing room -- let me know when you are ready for readback," Judge Merchan said after the jury requested a review of four pieces of testimony from Michael Cohen and David Pecker.Merchan then left the courtroom.A court reporter dropped a 12-inch stack of transcripts on the prosecution counsel table then handed an index to the prosecutors.Trump attorneys Emil Bove and and Todd Blanche appeared to be searching through papers on their table, while Trump sat motionless. Prosecutors were doing the same thing.May 29, 3:14 PMJury sends note with 4 requests for testimony"Good afternoon. We have received a note," Judge Merchan said after taking the bench.The jury has made four requests for testimony:- Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker's testimony about the phone conversation with Donald Trump- Pecker's testimony about the decision regarding the assignment of Playboy model Karen McDougal's life rights- Pecker's testimony about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting- Michael Cohen's testimony about the 2016 Trump Tower meetingMay 29, 3:09 PMParties return to the courtroomThe prosecution team has returned to the courtroom, with about seven members of the DA's office in the gallery.Trump has returned to the courtroom as well.He entered alongside his lawyer Todd Blanche, with his other lawyers and staff following behind.May 29, 1:09 PMTrump says he doesn't 'even know what the charges are'As the jury continues its deliberations, Donald Trump posted
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