{"id":2227597,"date":"2024-04-22T19:22:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T23:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/legal-expert-says-alvin-braggs-first-choice-of-witness-in-trump-trial-is-very-telling\/"},"modified":"2024-04-22T19:24:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T23:24:46","slug":"legal-expert-says-alvin-braggs-first-choice-of-witness-in-trump-trial-is-very-telling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/legal-expert-says-alvin-braggs-first-choice-of-witness-in-trump-trial-is-very-telling\/","title":{"rendered":"Legal Analyst Highlights Significance of Alvin Bragg&#8217;s Primary Witness Selection in Trump Trial"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flegal-expert-says-alvin-braggs-first-choice-of-witness-in-trump-trial-is-very-telling%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2227597&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Samuel Short&#8217;s commentary on the ongoing\u2062 trial of former President Trump discusses the \u200ccontroversial choice of\u2064 the prosecution&#8217;s first witness, \u2063David Pecker,\u2063 the former\u2063 CEO of American Media Inc. Critics question the relevance of Pecker&#8217;s testimony to Trump&#8217;s alleged document falsification charges. \u2063Turley\u200d and political figures criticize the Bragg-led prosecution&#8217;s strategy as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-supports-not-guilty-verdict-calls-for-investigation-over-potentially-politically-motivated-charges-rittenhouse\/\" title=\"Democrat Supports Not Guilty Verdict, Calls For Investigation Over Potentially Politically Motivated Charges: Rittenhouse\">potentially politically motivated<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/sshort\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/sshort\/%20\"><span>Samuel Short<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   April 22, 2024 at 3:15pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>As the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump enters its second week, the prosecution\u2019s first witness is drawing criticism.<\/p>\n<p>Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying documents. If convicted, he faces four years in prison.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, Manhattan District Attorney <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-turns-tables-alvin-bragg-brilliant-bodega-move-day-2-trial\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alvin Bragg<\/a> called former CEO American Media Inc David Pecker to the stand. American Media Inc., now called A360 Media, is the parent company of tabloid newspaper, \u201cNational Inquirer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jonathan Turley, an attorney and Professor of Law of George Washington University, called the choice of Pecker \u201ctelling.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The fact that Bragg is starting with David Pecker to discuss an affair not directly involved in the alleged crimes is telling. With a dubious criminal theory, defuse facts, and delayed charges, the case will focus on a different alleged affair and hush money payment\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JonathanTurley\/status\/1782368725804487110?\">April 22, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Why is Turley so critical of Bragg\u2019s choice of Pecker as his first witness?<\/p>\n<p>Pecker\u2019s involvement with Trump is not directly related to the 34 felony counts of falsifying documents he\u2019s being charged with.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Pecker\u2019s testimony is supposed to convince the jury of the prosecution\u2019s charge that Trump\u2019s former lawyer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/federal-judge-slaps-michael-cohens-attempt-sue-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michael Cohen<\/a> paid adult film star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/not-a-joke-trump-will-be-convicted-in-hush-money-case-stormy-daniels-disgraced-ex-lawyer-says-from-behind-bars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stormy Daniels<\/a>\u2018 hush money regarding a one-night stand from 2006.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Will Trump be found innocent in this case?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Trump has denied these allegations.<\/p>\n<p>Pecker promised Trump he would be his \u201ceyes and ears\u201d after his campaign bid for the presidency was launched in 2015, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/saradorn\/2024\/04\/22\/who-is-david-pecker-why-hes-testifying-against-trump-in-hush-money-trial\/?sh=1107fe19392b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forbes<\/a>. Pecker explained that AMI used \u201ccheckbook journalism\u201d for stories in which they would pay for information that could prove potentially harmful to Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors are alleging, \u201cAMI paid a doorman at a building owned by the Trump Organization $30,000 in exchange for information about allegations Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock (claims the Enquirer ultimately deemed were untrue), and also paid former Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 for rights to her story that she had an affair with Trump, also in 2006, but never published \u2014 what\u2019s known as a \u2018catch and kill\u2019 scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Simply put, Pecker as Bragg\u2019s first witness doesn\u2019t relate directly to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-trial-end-early-day-opening-statements-due-jurors-emergency-medical-appointment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trump\u2019s case<\/a>. The payments made to the doorman and McDougal aren\u2019t part of the charges against him.<\/p>\n<p>Granted, Forbes reported that Pecker alerted Cohen to Daniels\u2019 trying to sell her story of the one-night stand, but this still doesn\u2019t seem like a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-audio-think-tanks-star-lawsuit-witness-admits-to-tommy-robinson-that-they-bribed-him-for-testimony-against-us-congressional-staffer\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: Think Tank\u2019s Star Lawsuit Witness Admits to Tommy Robinson That They Bribed Him For Testimony Against US Congressional Staffer\">star witness<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bragg\u2019s case against Trump has been mired in criticism.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Sen. Mitt Romney <a href=\"https:\/\/www.romney.senate.gov\/romney-statement-on-indictment-announcement\/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20believe%20President%20Trump's%20character,equal%20treatment%20under%20the%20law.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stated<\/a>, \u201cI believe President Trump\u2019s character and conduct make him unfit for office. Even so, I believe the New York prosecutor has stretched to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/donald-trump-arrest-romney-says-new-york-prosecutor-stretched-to-reach-felony-criminal-charges\/\" title=\"Donald Trump arrest: Romney says \u2018New York prosecutor stretched to reach felony criminal charges\u2019\">reach felony criminal charges<\/a> in order to fit a political agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who has been critical of Trump, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NancyMace\/status\/1643651145594728448\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrote on X<\/a>, \u201cYou\u2019ve got to work hard to make President Trump a martyr,\u201d quipping, \u201cCongratulations to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-manhattan-da-demands-gag-order-trump-ahead-upcoming-trial\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Manhattan<\/a> DA, Alvin Bragg, who has managed to do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It seems Bragg\u2019s strategy is to use Pecker to say, \u201cTrump did something, so he definitely did the thing I\u2019m accusing him of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Turley\u2019s post on X says it all. \u201cWith a dubious criminal theory, defuse facts, and delayed charges, the case will focus on a different alleged affair and hush money payment \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If Bragg\u2019s case against Trump is anything other than political persecution, he isn\u2019t proving it early on.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>In just a few months, the world is going to change forever. The 2024 election is the single most important election of our lifetime. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We here at The Western Journal are committed to covering it in a way the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/caitlin-clark-lands-historic-nike-shoe-deal-worth-millions-just-before-her-rookie-season-kicks-off\/\" title=\"Caitlin Clark Secures Multi-Million Dollar Nike Deal Ahead of Rookie Season Kickoff\">establishment media simply<\/a> will not: We will tell the truth, and they will lie.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>But Big Tech and the elites don\u2019t want the truth out. That\u2019s why they have cut us off from 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone cut your monthly income by 90%. That\u2019s what they\u2019ve done to people like us. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>As a staff, we are asking you to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to fight this once-in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-forced-to-cancel-rally-devastated-by-whats-coming-im-so-sorry-god-be-with-you\/\" title=\"Trump expresses deep regret and cancels rally, sending heartfelt apologies and prayers\">-a-lifetime fight<\/a>. Without you not only will The Western Journal fail, but America will fail also. As Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Will you support The Western Journal today and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>become a member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A Western Journal <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>This is the time. America will live or die based on what happens this year. Please <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to get the real truth out and to fight the elites, Big Tech, and the people who want America to fail. Together, we really can save the country.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Thank you for your support!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Please stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45824\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/sshort\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45824\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45824\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45824\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>  Sam Short is an Instructor of History with Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tennessee. He holds a BA in History from Middle Tennessee State University and an MA in History from University College London. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a commentary dated April 22, 2024, at 3:15 pm, Samuel Short scrutinizes the choice of the prosecution&#8217;s initial witness in the ongoing criminal trial of former President Trump. Trump faces 34 felony charges of document falsification, potentially leading to a four-year prison sentence if found guilty. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg initiated the trial by<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2984,"featured_media":2227598,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Alvin-Bragg.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2227597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Alvin-Bragg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2984"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2227597"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227597\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2227598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2227597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2227597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2227597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}