NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump entered court Tuesday joined by Donald Trump Jr., marking the first time his eldest son has attended the hush money trial in lower Manhattan.
Another of Mr. Trump’s sons, Eric, has been a fixture in the front row of the courtroom, though he didn’t attend Tuesday.
The testimony phase of the trial could wrap up Tuesday, setting the table for closing arguments on the Tuesday after Memorial Day.
Actor Joe Piscopo, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Mr. Trump’s former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, ex-Trump aide Sebastian Gorka, Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri and six House GOP lawmakers were among new guests.
The members of Congress who attended were Reps. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, Dale Strong of Alabama, Ronny Jackson and Troy Nehls, both of Texas, and Daniel Webster and Maria Salazar, both of Florida.
Some of the lawmakers sat in the front rows of the courtroom, but Mr. Trump’s entourage was so large that some were relegated to the back bench.
Prosecutors allege Mr. Trump, using his lawyer Michael Cohen, paid hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels near the 2016 election and concealed the payments with a criminal scheme in 2017.
Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and says the trial is a sham designed to stop his campaign against President Biden.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.