To listen over the next couple of days when you hear mr. Pecker testify. Catch and kill is not against the law. Todd blanche has wrapped up in fact his Opening Statements, guys. As we move on to see if were going to hear from the first witness, david pecker. Opening statement, 35 minutes and ten seconds for those of us keeping count. Certainly a lot longer than expected, but there were the interruptions. As we await what happens next, theyre supposed to wrap trial at 12 30 today because one of the jurors had an Emergency Dentist Appointment that came up. So theyre going to have a short Recess And Judge merchan is asking the jurors to step out. Well keep everybody posted here, but just that last part of the Opening Statement from the defense where he brings up stormy daniels and he says youre going to hear from her
Would be 10,000. Were talking here about payments of 130,000 stretched out to kill a story. So theyre establishing this was very unusual. Not only are they establishing its very unusual, andrea, part of the art, the skill of Trial Lawyers here including it is the way the prosecutors put out a very complicated case in 45 minutes told a story that captivates the jury. They know that they can continue, begin their opening witness, they can put mr. Pecker on the stand and it will likely not allow the defense the opportunity to begin their crossexamination until thursday. So the jurors are going to live with what they heard from mr. Pecker today, this afternoon. The court is going to be in recess. Tomorrow, there are different hearings. Wednesday, the courtroom is dark. They wont begin until thursday. It is smart. It is tactically astute to put mr. Pecker on the stand with these remaining minutes of court
Mr. Pecker. For whatever professional training you may not have, your keen observations and analytical skills are beyond intact. Rachel maddow, were a little jealous that you were there. Thank you so much for coming out and talking to us. I do want people to know theyre going to hear a whole lot more. I have literally set my alarm for 7 55 in case im having dinner or something. Tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern rachel will have special coverage of the trump criminal trial. Much more on what she saw in the courtroom today. Every Monday Night we get excited at 8 00 with Jen Psaki and 9 00 with rachel. Up next, well have more from the courthouse. Our legal experts are there. Their takeaways from todays historic opening statements. When our special coverage continues right here on msnbc. A continues right here on msnbc. You know, i spend a lot of time thinking about dirt. At three in the morning
He testified to here in new york state. Thats a legal function of the law in new york. But did mr. Pecker offer them numerous Practice Sessions as we know Michael Cohen has because weve seen him with our own eyes and cameras outside 1 Hogan Place here . My guess is no. Thats probably an explanation for why pecker didnt seem to get the gist of the prosecutor josh steinglass. His overall demeanor is sort of like Benevolent Grandma from boca. Hes friendly. Hes jovial. What he isnt, as rachel mentioned, is particularly direct. I would predict were here with mr. Pecker for at least another couple days. We should see him throughout tomorrow after the Gag Order Contempt hearing and possibly into thursday as well. As the prosecution told us at the beginning of their opening statement, this whole case is about a conspiracy between three
I know youre not a body language expert. Im asking about your observations about david pecker. Reporter its interesting. We didnt get a ton of testimony from mr. Pecker. The proceedings ended at 12 30est earn time. There was a long break, there was an interruption because the judge told the jurors they could have Writing Implements and pads of paper if they wanted. He forgot to ask them if they wanted them. There was another interruption where everyone got school supplies. That ate up a lot of time so we didnt get a lot from mr. Pecker. My impressions of him youll see it in the transcript later today. He described himself as 72 years old. Hes now selfemployed as a Consultant Including Consulting for the company that he used to run, but he doesnt run that company anymore. He did say he was at this proceeding under subpoena and he had a Lawyer Present in the