Donald Trump trial live updates: Former president says he knows the next witness and rages that his lawyers have had ‘no time to prepare’

Donald Trump claims he was just told the identity of today’s witness and claims his lawyers were ‘not given time to prepare’.

“This is unprecedented,” he railed against Truth Social.

The former president also risked violating the gag order again.

“No judge has ever conducted a trial in such a biased and partisan manner. He is crooked and deeply contradictory, even taking away my First Amendment rights.

‘Now he’s threatening me with JAIL, AND THEY HAVE NO CASE – This according to virtually all legal scholars and experts! Why doesn’t the Fake News Media report its Conflict?’

Prosecutors in Trump’s hush money case told Judge Merchan they could complete their case in two weeks starting tomorrow.

That would mean that the prosecution will rest on May 21. Merchan said he wouldn’t hold them to that.

Trump denounced it as a “political witch hunt” and a ploy to keep him out of the election trail for a few more weeks.

An excited Trump spoke to reporters before leaving the courthouse.

Trump denounced Judge Merchan’s latest violation of the silence order against him today.

He was threatened with prison time and a $10,000 fine for speaking out against the jury, witnesses and the judge.

But it didn’t seem to bother the former president, who told reporters as he left court that he would be willing to serve time to protect the First Amendment.

“I have to watch every word I say to you,” he complained.

‘Yes, we have questions, a simple question. “I would like to ask him, but I can’t talk about it because this judge has given me a gag order and said if you break the rules you will go to jail.”

“And honestly, you know what, our Constitution is way more important than prison. It’s not even close. I can make that sacrifice every day.”

Witnesses on Monday walked prosecutors step-by-step through the payments to Trump’s former Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen, as the prosecutor laid out his paper trail in the hush-money case against Donald Trump.

Two longtime employees of the Trump Organization were called to the stand to testify in the case: Jeff McConney, a former comptroller who retired last year, and Deborah Tarasoff, who works in accounting and issues checks.

During McConney’s testimony, the jury was shown a series of documents, including invoices, checks, spreadsheets and handwritten notes, as the witness walked through how Cohen was “repaid” for the alleged hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

In total, McConney testified that Cohen received $420,000, including money from Trump’s revocable trust and then from his personal account.

McConney recalled a conversation he had with Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg about being owed Cohen money.

Donald Trump returns to the hush-money trial on Tuesday after the judge warned he could face jail time if he violates the hush-hush order again.

The former president was found in contempt of court and fined $1,000 by Judge Juan Merchan, who admonished him for a “direct attack on the rule of law.”

The 77-year-old was warned he could face a prison sentence as he continues to ignore the laws of the court.

Trump ended his day in court by suggesting he was willing to go to jail to continue protesting his case.

Trump complained about the gag order that prohibits him from talking about jurors, witnesses and some others involved in the trial, telling reporters, “I have to watch every word I say to you people … because this judge has given me a gag order.” and said you will go to jail if you violate it.”

“And honestly, you know what? Our Constitution is much more important than prison,” he continued. ‘It’s not even close. I will make that sacrifice every day.”