NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial is turning into an audition hall of sorts, as potential running to the presumptive Republican nominee show up each day.
Former presidential candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum attended Tuesday with Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, an outspoken Trump ally. They sat in the front row, directly behind Mr. Trump. Rep. Cory Mills of Florida also attended Tuesday’s proceedings.
House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana was seen with Mr. Trump in the courthouse hallway but did not enter the courtroom with the others.
Mr. Burgum ran in the GOP presidential primary, citing his pro-energy and pro-business record, but he failed to gain traction.
Mr. Ramaswamy, a business entrepreneur, gained prominence as a hard-charger who floated big ideas and tended not to criticize Mr. Trump, even as others jabbed at the former president from the debate stage. He lasted longer than others but bowed to the reality that Republicans want Mr. Trump as their nominee.
The political guests watched the morning session with interest, either gazing at the front of the room or up at monitors that displayed evidence, such as emails.
SEE ALSO: Michael Cohen on hush money scheme: ‘Everything required Mr. Trump’s sign-off’
However, they did not return to the courtroom after a mid-morning break.
Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, a leading contender for the VP slot, attended court on Monday, and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida showed up earlier.
“I do have a lot of surrogates, and they are speaking very beautifully,” Mr. Trump said Tuesday in the courthouse hallway.
The Democratic National Committee mocked Mr. Trump for bringing in “emotional support.”
“Trump’s pathetic band of MAGA extremists seemingly have nothing better to do than echo Trump’s lies and nod approvingly in the background — because they certainly aren’t doing their day jobs of serving their constituents or running a functional political operation,” said Alex Floyd, the DNC’s director of rapid response.
Mr. Trump’s former lawyer-turned-accuser, Michael Cohen, was expected to finish his direct examination Tuesday morning before the defense batters him on cross-examination.
Mr. Trump’s lawyers want to undermine Mr. Cohen’s credibility because he is tying Mr. Trump directly to an alleged scheme to pay porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money before the 2016 election. Prosecutors say they concealed the payments as legal fees to Mr. Cohen.
Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and says the trial is designed to thwart his presidential campaign.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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