Trump lawyers grill witness

By OC Tribune Staff on April 26, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP (Shutterstock).

Lawyers for former president Donald Trump worked Friday to discredit the prosecution’s first witness in the “hush money” case in which Trump is accused of trying to prevent negative news coverage during his 2016 presidential campaign.

David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid, has testified that Trump was involved in a “catch and bury” arrangement in which he allegedly paid the magazine to buy up the rights to potentially scandalous stories and suppress them.

Trump’s facing criminal charges because he is accused of falsifying business records by reporting any “hush money” as legal expenses.

Under cross-examination, Pecker conceded that he never used the term “catch and bury” in a meeting with Trump and that money terms were not discussed.

The trial will resume on Tuesday.

Biden vs. Trump debate: is it on?

JOE BIDEN and DONALD TRUMP will be their party’s nominees again in 2024 (Shutterstock).

Responding to an earlier challenge from former president Donald Trump to debate, President Joe Biden on Friday said he would.

“I am, somewhere, I don’t know when,” said Biden. “But I’m happy to debate him.”

Trump replied “everyone knows he doesn’t really mean it.”

Traditionally the televised debates are between the official nominees of the major political parties. But although both Biden and Trump have won enough delegates to win their party’s nomination, the process is completed at national conventions.

The Democrats will convene in Chicago Aug. 19-22 and the Republicans in Milwaukee on July 15-18.

Russia reacts to U.S. military aid

In an apparent attempt to slow the impact of recently authorized American military aid, Russia on Thursday night launched strikes at railways at three locations in Ukraine.

RUSSIA VS. UKRAINE (Shutterstock).

Officials in Ukraine reported at least six civilians were killed and 31 others wounded.

On Tuesday, the Russian defense minister said “We will increase the intensity of strikes on logistics centers and storage bases of Western weapons.”

In a related story, the U.S. will send an additional $6 billion to Ukraine to enable its military to buy weapons and ammunition directly from American arms manufacturers.

The U.S. is also planning to send a $1 billion package of military stores, including rockets, antiaircraft missiles and artillery ammunition.

King Charles III to be back in public

British King Charles III will be returning to his public duties after receiving treatment for cancer.

KING CHARLES III (Wikipedia).

The king, crowned almost a year ago, issued a news release stating that he and wife Camilla will visit a cancer treatment center on Tuesday.

“As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year,” the palace said.

Charles’ medical team is “sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties.”

Weather: We’re warming up

Time to put away your jackets for a while … or least that’s what the forecasts say for our West Orange County area. The next four days are predicted to be partly cloudy, but daytime highs are expected to be in the mid-70s. Saturday should be 72 (with overnight low of 54), followed by Sunday at 74 (55), Monday at 76 (56) and Tuesday at 74 (56).