In October 2016, lawyer Keith Davidson received a promise that he was about to work on “the easiest deal” of his career.
Fast forward to Tuesday, and he found himself testifying in the first criminal trial against a former US president, where he read out explicit text messages that led to that very deal.
Donald Trump is facing 34 felony charges related to business record falsifications, with prosecutors alleging that these falsifications were part of an effort to cover up a hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
This payment was intended to keep her silent about a supposed sexual encounter with Mr. Trump.
Trump has denied any sexual involvement with Daniels and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, arranged a $130,000 payment to Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election.
During Tuesday’s hearing, a series of text messages revealed how Cohen and Davidson negotiated the hush-money agreement, especially after the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape was released in October 2016.
The tape, recorded in 2006, featured Mr. Trump making offensive comments about women.
Prosecutors argue that the timing of the hush-money deal was crucial because Mr. Trump wanted to prevent another scandal that could jeopardize his presidential campaign.
As the prosecutor suggested, the cover-up could be seen as a form of election interference.
One notable text message that came up during testimony was sent by Davidson to National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard.
In it, Davidson stated that Daniels “talking…is the final nail in the coffin… but he really is f— already.”
Howard’s response emphasized the gravity of the situation: “Trump is f—. Wave the white flag. It’s over people!”
Davidson’s testimony also highlighted his role in coordinating with Gina Rodriguez, Daniels’ manager, who initially negotiated with the National Enquirer to sell Daniels’ story.
When that deal fell through, Cohen stepped in to complete the arrangement.
Ultimately, Davidson took over the negotiation for Daniels because Rodriguez found Cohen challenging to work with.
The paper trail presented by prosecutors also included a $130,000 wire transfer from Cohen to Davidson’s account, showing the culmination of the hush-money deal.
The case hinges on the accusation that Trump reimbursed Cohen for this payment and falsely recorded it as legal expenses, which prosecutors argue was intended to mislead the public and sway the 2016 election.
Davidson’s testimony wasn’t just about Stormy Daniels.
He had also been involved in a similar “catch-and-kill” arrangement with the National Enquirer for Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had an affair with Trump.
The evidence presented included text messages from June 2016, where Davidson informed Howard that he had a “blockbuster Trump story.”
This and other communications reveal the lengths to which Trump and his team allegedly went to control negative publicity.
Earlier in the trial, National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he, Trump, and Cohen had an agreement to use the tabloid to promote Trump’s presidential campaign and manage potentially damaging stories like those from McDougal and Daniels.
One of the most dramatic moments during the trial came when a text message from Davidson to Howard was presented from election night 2016 when Trump won the presidency. The message, sent at around 3 am, read:
“What have we done?” This reflects the shock and apprehension among those who were part of the scandal, knowing the weight of their actions as the political landscape dramatically changed.
