Dozens of attorneys are introducing themselves to the court reporter.
The judge has not yet arrived.
Standby.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron has joined the call, and proceedings are about to begin.
Engoron notes that NYAG seeks to compel the respondents—Trump Org, Eric Trump and others—to be deposed.
Quoting Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Justice Engoron says: "Taxes are the price we pay for civilization."
He says the same is true of investigations, noting the principle of "every man's evidence."
The judge also noted that those being investigated also have certain rights.
These are all by way of introduction.
Up first for NYAG is Matthew Colangelo
Colangelo summarizes the attorney general’s monthslong probe. (previously known)
They have been investigating whether Trump and his business improperly inflated the president’s assets on annual financial statements to secure loans and obtain economic and tax benefits.
Colangelo notes that Eric Trump wants a two-month delay of his subpoena.
"There's just no reason, and Eric Trump's attorneys have not pointed to any authority. And we are not aware of any authority," allowing him to do that.
The typical period is five days, he notes.
Colangelo turns to the Trump Org, which he says is withholding dozens of records.
"Those documents fall into three categories."
The first is 42 records related to an easement for Seven Springs, a 212-acre mansion in Westchester.
There are also records related to Ralph Mastromonaco, an engineer who performed services in connection with the Seven Springs development plan, Colangelo says.
Colangelo says the AG is also seeking documents related to Trump National Golf Club – Los Angeles and the 40 Wall Street property.
Colangelo: "These are narrow, targeted requests."
Colangelo:
“There are several thousand records in issue that are being withheld on a claim of attorney-client privilege or work product protection.”
NYAG does not believe those protections apply.
Colangelo addresses claim of privilege based on settlement secrecy.
Even if a higher standard for disclosure applied, Colangelo says, the NYAG's office would meet it.
Lawrence Rosen is up for parties being investigated by the NYAG.
He claims that his clients have been cooperating in good faith and the disputes are over dozens of documents of a much larger probe.
Rosen says that the settlement related to Trump's property in Bedminster in 2005.
On Day 1 on the stand, David Pecker described how he turned his tabloid empire into the Trump campaign's "eyes and ears": promoting him, attacking his rivals, and silencing "women selling stories."
The ex-AMI chief's testimony resumes today. 🧵
Context for this testimony:
In 2018, the day of Michael Cohen's sentencing, SDNY revealed AMI entered into a non-prosecution deal resolving a campaign finance probe.
AMI admitted the purpose of the Karen McDougal hush money—and agreed to beef up campaign finance compliance.
The agreement also obligated AMI's officers and representatives to truthfully cooperate with law enforcement investigations, with penalties for false, incomplete or misleading testimony.
Some of the National Enquirer headlines that ex-AMI chief David Pecker testified were part of the behind-the-scenes scheme to prop up Trump and discredit his political rivals have been released by the court.
They were entered into evidence on Tuesday.
Behind-the-scenes:
David Pecker testified that Michael Cohen gave story ideas for negative headlines during phone calls, targeting rivals like Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, or Marco Rubio.
"That was the basis of our story, and then we would embellish it from there," Pecker said.
Inside catch-and-kill:
The $30,000 deal between the Enquirer's corp parent AMI and Dino Sajudin came into evidence, showing the doorman's payoff for "information regarding Donald Trump's illegitimate child."
Pecker said they paid to quash the story, even knowing it was bogus.
Before jurors hear a word of witness testimony this morning, the court has an unfinished order of business: Trump's contempt hearing over the gag order.
Trump has entered the courtroom and is seated at the defense table with his attorneys.
Trump's attorney Emil Bove begins his arguments in the so-called Sandoval hearing, seeking to prevent prosecutors from invoking other prior bad acts on cross-ex if his client takes the stand.