Ronan Farrow explains what he thinks is ‘a pivotal moment’ in Trump’s criminal case

Summary

In this transcript, Ronan Farrow discusses the significance of allowing certain stories and testimonies, including that of Karen McDougal, in a trial involving alleged hush payments during an election campaign. Farrow emphasizes the pivotal role of these narratives in establishing a conspiracy between Donald Trump, The National Enquirer, and others to influence the election. He also highlights the potential impact of this case on the ongoing legal proceedings against Trump and its possible effects on the upcoming election cycle.

Takeaways

• 📚 Ronan Farrow, a contributing writer for The New Yorker, authored the book 'Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators', which is highly relevant to the ongoing trial.
• 🔍 Several stories uncovered by Tyrone, including those involving Karen McDougal, will be admissible as evidence, highlighting the importance of these narratives in the trial.
• 👩 Karen McDougal's story is considered pivotal as it contributes to the narrative of a scheme between Donald Trump, The National Enquirer, and alleged payments with electoral intent.
• 💰 The existence of multiple payments, not only to Stormy Daniels but also to Karen McDougal and potentially others, forms the core of the case against the alleged conspiracy.
• 🏛️ Judge Mershon deems the mentioned stories as essential material for establishing the case, indicating their significance in the trial's outcome.
• 🗣️ McDougal's potential testimony is significant, though the judge considers its probative value against any potential prejudicial effect.
• 🤝 McDougal has expressed a sense of guilt and willingness to assist the prosecution, indicating her potential role as a whistleblower in the case.
• 🔎 David Pecker, associated with the National Enquirer's parent company, has been cooperating with prosecutors, suggesting a broader network of individuals who can testify to the conspiracy.
• 🏦 While the charges in this case are considered less severe by most legal experts, the case is consequential due to its potential impact on the media and the upcoming election.
• 👨‍⚖️ The judge's firm stance against the defense's tactics and Trump's social media attacks indicates a strong and impartial position in the proceedings.
• ⏳ The trial's outcome may have a significant influence on the election, especially if resolved before the voting takes place.

Q & A

Who is the author of the book 'Catch and Kill'?

Ronan Farrow is the author of the book 'Catch and Kill'.

What is the central theme of Ronan Farrow's book?

The central theme of the book is the exposure of a conspiracy involving lies, spies, and the protection of predators, with a focus on practices related to a high-profile trial.

What role does Karen McDougal's story play in the trial?

Karen McDougal's story is pivotal to the trial as it provides evidence of a scheme between Donald Trump and The National Enquirer, suggesting payments with an electoral intent.

What other individuals besides Stormy Daniels were involved in similar payment situations?

In addition to Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal and potentially the doorman at Trump Tower were involved in similar payment situations to silence them regarding alleged affairs and other rumors.

What was the significance of the doorman's payment from the National Enquirer?

The doorman's payment was significant as it was part of a series of payments to silence individuals and suppress stories that could have influenced the election.

How did Karen McDougal feel about her involvement in the scheme?

Karen McDougal expressed a sense of guilt about her involvement, as she was dragged into a scheme with electoral implications that was not her initial intention.

What is the current status of Karen McDougal's testimony in the trial?

While Karen McDougal's testimony was allowed theoretically, the judge also mentioned that its admissibility would depend on whether its probative value outweighs any potential prejudicial effect.

Which company is implicated in the case due to its connection with the National Enquirer?

Amy, the then parent company of the National Enquirer, is implicated in the case due to its involvement in the alleged scheme.

What is the role of David Pecker in this case?

David Pecker, associated with Amy, has met with prosecutors to assist in inquiries into Trump and the hush payments, indicating a willingness to help uncover the truth behind the alleged scheme.

What is the potential legal outcome for Trump in this case?

While the case is considered one of the thinner ones, any sentence could be served concurrently with other sentences. It's possible that Trump may not face jail time for this case, but other ongoing cases could be more severe.

How might this case impact the upcoming election?

The case could have a significant effect on the media cycle and the election, especially if it reaches resolution before the election takes place.

What is the judge's approach to the case so far?

The judge has shown a strong stance by pushing back against efforts to delay the case and refusing to recuse himself, despite attacks from Trump on social media.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Catch and Kill: The Role of Karen McDougal's Testimony

This paragraph discusses the significance of Karen McDougal's story and its admissibility in the trial. It highlights the pivotal role of her testimony in establishing a narrative of a scheme between Donald Trump and The National Enquirer, suggesting these payments had an electoral intent. The discussion includes the possibility of other payments beyond those to Stormy Daniels, such as those to a doorman at Trump Tower, and the legal implications of these transactions. Ronan Farrow, the author of 'Catch and Kill,' emphasizes the importance of McDougal's willingness to be a whistleblower and the potential support from figures like David Pecker, who met with prosecutors regarding the Trump hush payments. The paragraph also touches on the broader context of Trump's legal challenges and the unique nature of these charges, noting that while they may not result in jail time, they could have a significant impact on the media and the upcoming election due to their potential to be resolved before the voting takes place.

05:01

🔍 Judge's Firm Stance Amidst Trump's Defense Tactics

The second paragraph focuses on the judge's handling of the trial amidst the defense's tactics. It mentions a forthcoming hearing regarding the defense's efforts and the judge's clear intention not to yield under pressure. The paragraph underscores the judge's determination to maintain the trial's progress, as evidenced by his resistance to Trump's defense attempts to delay proceedings and to force the judge to recuse himself. The judge's evenhandedness is highlighted, despite facing criticism from Trump on social media, which might constitute a violation of a gag order. This section of the script underlines the judge's role as a key figure in ensuring a fair and rigorous trial process.

Keywords

💡Catch and Kill

The term 'Catch and Kill' refers to a journalistic practice where stories or information are obtained but not published, often to protect certain interests or individuals. In the context of the video, it is associated with a conspiracy to protect predators and is central to the trial involving a scheme between Donald Trump, The National Enquirer, and payments made with electoral intent.

💡Tyrone

Tyrone is likely a person involved in the discussion or the investigation related to the trial. His role is significant as he helped uncover stories that are being allowed to be taken into evidence in the trial, indicating his importance in the investigative process.

💡Karen McDougal

Karen McDougal is a key figure in the trial, as her story is considered pivotal to establishing the narrative of a conspiracy involving payments for silence, which had electoral implications. Her willingness to turn whistleblower and her feelings of guilt for being part of a scheme she did not initially intend to be involved in make her testimony potentially influential in the case.

💡Stormy Daniels

Stormy Daniels is another individual who was involved in a similar situation as Karen McDougal, where payments were made to her. The reference to her in the script indicates that the payments to her are the central transaction at issue in the trial, suggesting that her case is a significant part of the legal proceedings.

💡National Enquirer

The National Enquirer is a supermarket tabloid that is implicated in the trial for its alleged role in the 'Catch and Kill' practice. The newspaper's involvement is significant as it is believed to have been part of a scheme to protect certain individuals by suppressing stories that could have had electoral consequences.

💡Donald Trump

Donald Trump is a central figure in the trial, with the narrative suggesting a conspiracy involving him and The National Enquirer to make payments with electoral intent. The discussions in the video imply that these actions were taken to protect his image and political aspirations during the election campaign.

💡Electoral Intent

Electoral intent refers to the purposeful act of influencing the outcome of an election. In the context of the video, it is suggested that the payments made had this intent, meaning they were designed to affect the results of the presidential race.

💡Hush Payments

Hush payments are sums of money given to individuals to encourage them to keep quiet about certain information, often to protect someone's reputation or to prevent potential scandal. In the video, these payments are a significant part of the case against Donald Trump, with allegations that they were made to silence individuals and influence the election.

💡David Pecker

David Pecker is the former CEO of the National Enquirer's parent company, American Media, Inc. He is a significant figure in the trial as he has reportedly met with prosecutors regarding the inquiries into Trump and the hush payments, suggesting his cooperation with the investigation.

💡Concurrent Sentences

Concurrent sentences occur when two or more sentences are served at the same time, rather than one after another. In the context of the video, it is suggested that if Donald Trump were to be convicted, it is likely that any sentence would be served concurrently with other sentences from other ongoing cases.

💡Media Cycle

The media cycle refers to the period of time during which a particular news story is widely reported and discussed before it is replaced by another story. In the video, it is suggested that the resolution of the case could have a significant impact on the media cycle, particularly if it occurs before the election.

Highlights

Ronan Farrow, a New York-based contributing writer, has authored a book titled 'Catch and Kill Lie Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators', which is central to the ongoing trial.

Several stories uncovered by Tyrone, including those involving Karen McDougal, will be used as evidence in the trial.

Judge Mershon deems the stories, including McDougal's, as essential material to establish a narrative of a scheme between Donald Trump and The National Enquirer.

The narrative suggests that payments were made with an electoral intent, not only to Stormy Daniels but also to Karen McDougal and potentially others.

A doorman at Trump Tower was allegedly paid off by the National Enquirer for exclusive rights to a rumor about Trump having an affair and fathering a child with an employee.

McDougal was interviewed by Ronan Farrow in 2018, where she expressed guilt for being involved in a scheme with electoral implications.

McDougal believes that the deal with Amy, the National Enquirer's then parent company, would not have been made if Trump wasn't running for president.

The potential testimony of Karen McDougal is considered, but its admissibility is weighed against possible prejudicial effects.

David Pecker, associated with the National Enquirer, has met with prosecutors regarding inquiries into Trump and the hush payments.

Multiple individuals could testify that the payments were part of a scheme to influence the election, a claim denied by Trump's team.

Despite the case being regarded as one of the thinner ones, it could have a significant impact on the media cycle and the election.

Judge's determination to push back against Trump's defense indicates a strong stance and unwillingness to fold under pressure.

Trump's social media attacks on the judge could potentially violate a gag order, with a hearing on this matter scheduled in several weeks.

The trial is one of four ongoing cases against Trump, with most legal experts considering this case less severe but potentially influential due to its timing.

Even though sentences from these charges could be served concurrently, there is a possibility that Trump may not face jail time for this case.

Other ongoing cases against Trump could be more severe, but this case's resolution may come first before the election, impacting public perception and the election's outcome.

The judge's evenhandedness in the face of broadsides from Trump's team demonstrates a commitment to fairness and integrity in the judicial process.

Transcripts

Joining us now is New York

New Yorker

contributing writer

Ronan Farrow

has written

the definitive book on the practice

at the center of this trial, The title

Catch and Kill Lie Spies

and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators.

Tyrone,

you know,

we learned today that several stories

that you helped uncover

will be allowed

to be taken into evidence in the trial,

including allowing Karen

McDougal to testify.

How important

do you think her story

is to this trial, to the larger picture?

It's pivotal and it's a pivotal moment

in this case

that Judge Mershon is saying,

look, this is essential material

to establishing the narrative,

the narrative being

that there was indeed

a scheme between Donald Trump

and The National Enquirer

and that these payments

had an electoral intent

and the evidence of a series of payments

not just to Stormy Daniels,

which is the central transaction

at issue,

but also to Karen McDougal,

who you mentioned

potentially to the doorman at Trump Tower

who was paid off for exclusive

rights to a rumor he'd heard about

that Trump had an affair

and fathered a child with an employee.

We don't know

whether that rumor is accurate,

but we do know that there was a payment

from the National Enquirer

in order to lock up that doorman

and silence.

All of that has figured

in legal documents around this case

and the fact

that it's now going to figure in

front of jurors is significant.

It's the crux of it.

I spoke to McDougal in 2018,

and I want to play

some of what she had to say

once Donald Trump won

the Republican nomination.

KURTZ

You're saying

Amy suddenly came back to you

with interest?

Well, to Keith, yes, to us for the story.

Why do you think it was that it was after

Donald Trump

was the Republican nominee,

that they came back,

they wanted to squash the story.

You're saying they wanted to protect

Donald Trump?

I'm assuming so you.

If Donald Trump

hadn't been running for president,

do you believe this

deal would have been made with Amy?

Knowing what you know now? Probably not.

No, probably not.

You're pretty.

You're convinced now

this was an effort to do a favor

for Donald

Trump in the last few months

of the presidential race.

Unfortunate. Yes.

Pivotal.

Do you think

her actual testimony would be?

Well, we don't yet know

whether that testimony

will be a part of this trial.

It was let in theoretically,

but the judge also made

a hedging comment saying

we don't know

whether the probative value of

that would outweigh

the potential prejudicial effect of it.

So we'll see what we do know

from both of our interactions

with Karen McDougal

and the way she's behaved

with other journalists

as she's been willing

to turn whistleblower on this matter.

She expressed to me

multiple times in our interviews

that she felt a sense of guilt

about having been dragged into a scheme

with electoral implications,

which wasn't her intention

in the first place.

So we have a sense

that she's going to be willing

to help the prosecution in this case.

We also have a strong sense

that figure is at Amy,

the then parent company

of the National Enquirer,

are going to be willing to help.

David Pecker, for instance, has gone

in and met with prosecutors

around the inquiries into Trump

and the hush payments

from basically square one.

So there's a roster of individuals

who can speak to the fact

that this was a scheme

to influence the election,

something that the Trump folks

denied to me from the beginning

of this reporting.

And then gradually, I've had to admit to

we last time you and I

spoke, you said that you weren't sure

whether there's a strong case yet,

given where things stand after today.

What do you think, given the

you know, you'd said that

given sort

of the unique nature of these charges,

Trump is obviously facing a variety

of criminal proceedings

around the country.

There is four ongoing cases.

It is true that most legal experts

regard this as one of the thinner ones.

You know,

theoretically, each of these charges

in this case

could carry a multi-year sentence,

but more likely,

any sentence would be served

concurrently with any other sentence

in this case.

And it's very possible that Trump won't

get any jail time

for something of this severity.

There are other cases ongoing

that could be more severe.

However,

this case is consequential, in part

because it's the one

that we may see resolution

on first before the election.

So this is something

that is going to have a big effect

on the media cycle.

A big effect on the election.

And I will say that from what we've seen

in the early proceedings,

this judge pushing back

very hard

against efforts by Trump's

defense to delay things,

efforts to force the judge

to recuse himself.

All of that does suggest

that you have someone in that position

who is not a pushover

and who is going to go hard on this.

He did grant

at least one motion

that the defense brought forward today.

He's really making a great show

of being evenhanded in the face

of a lot of broadsides from Trump,

who's been attacking this judge

on social media,

potentially in violation of a gag order.

There'll be a hearing about that

in several weeks.

But he's also making it clear that he's

not going to fold.