Summary

  • David Pecker, former publisher of the tabloid National Enquirer, has testified at Donald Trump's hush-money trial in New York

  • He details a "catch-and-kill" strategy, where damaging news was bought and buried ahead of the 2016 election, calling it an "agreement between friends"

  • Trump is accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 (£104,500) payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before he won the 2016 election

  • He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and also denies having an alleged sexual encounter with Daniels

  • Earlier on Tuesday, the judge held a fiery hearing to determine if Trump violated a gag order imposed to stop verbal attacks on witnesses

  • The prosecution says Trump "knows about the order... but he he does it anyway." They want him fined $1,000 for each of 10 violations

  • The defence says Trump is merely defending himself from political attacks - but judge warns lawyer he is "losing all credibility with the court"

Live Reporting

Edited by Brandon Livesay and Tiffany Wertheimer

  1. Trump’s hush-money trial enters next stage

    Hello. Thanks for re-joining our live coverage of Donald Trump’s hush-money trial in New York City.

    We’re expecting things to ramp up today, as lawyers on both sides provide their opening arguments.

    Last week was all about selecting a jury for this historic trial, the first criminal trial for a former or current US president.

    Many potential jurors were rejected, saying they could not be fair or impartial in a case that involved the former American leader.

    But now that 12 jurors (and six reserves) have been selected, it’s time for them to listen to what the prosecution and defence have to say at the start of the trial.

    It's Sophie Abdulla and James FitzGerald in London for now - and later you'll be hearing from our court-based reporters in New York.