An Australian journalist has been named as a key figure in Donald Trump's criminal trial. Dylan Howard, the former editor of the National Enquirer in the U.S. accused of buying and burying negative stories as part of a deal to help him become President.

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The 2024 United States presidential election, expected to be between Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump is set to take place this November. 

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**The Australian Journalist Caught Up in Trump Trial**

An Australian journalist, Dylan Howard, has been identified as a significant figure in the criminal trial of Donald Trump, the former President of the United States. Howard, who formerly served as the editor of the National Enquirer, is accused of engaging in a scheme to suppress negative stories, ultimately aiding Trump's bid for the presidency.

During the trial, tabloid publisher David Pecker testified, revealing his collaboration with Trump to purchase and conceal detrimental stories throughout the 2016 presidential campaign. Specifically, Pecker's testimony included an account of how he and Howard sought to quash Stormy Daniels' allegations of an affair with Trump. According to Pecker, the duo decided not to fulfill Daniels' financial demands, instead instructing lawyer Michael Cohen to handle the situation. This strategy was implemented to avoid influencing the election, an action deemed illegal by the government.

Adding to the sequence of events, Howard reportedly sent a message to Pecker on the night of the 2016 election, humorously suggesting that a Trump victory might spare him from charges of electoral fraud. Despite the serious nature of the charges, which theoretically could result in over a decade of prison time for Trump, legal experts maintain that the former president is unlikely to face the maximum sentence. Predictions suggest that, if found guilty on all counts, Trump might receive a sentence capped at four years, with an appeal being probable.

The trial also touches on the broader implications of a pending federal election interference case against Trump. The Supreme Court's conservative majority seems inclined to recognize presidential immunity to some extent, a factor that could influence the outcome. Meanwhile, Trump continues to face legal challenges, including the obligation to pay almost $130 million to columnist E. Jean Carroll following the dismissal of his request for a new defamation trial.



The Australian journalist caught up in Trump trial

With a huge day of legal turmoil ahead, Donald Trump opted to start on friendly turf. But love quickly changed to legal jeopardy as tabloid publisher David Pecker confirmed he worked with Trump to buy damaging stories and quash them during the 2016 presidential race. Pecker testified that his Australian editor Dylan Howard told him Stormy Daniels' claims of an affair with Trump were true. But the paper's owner said he didn't have the money she wanted and instead told lawyer Michael Cohen to buy and bury the story. The reason the government says it's illegal was because it was done specifically to influence the 2016 election. On the night of that election, Howard also sent a message to Pecker saying, at least if he wins, I'll be pardoned for electoral fraud. Trump is technically facing more than a decade in prison for these charges, but most legal experts agree that scenario is unlikely. Even if the former president is found guilty on all charges, most expect the sentence to be capped at a maximum of four years and there'd likely be an appeal. A much bigger worry for Trump is the looming federal election interference case. The Supreme Court's conservative majority appears to be sympathetic to at least some presidential immunity. If you don't have immunity, you're not going to do anything, you're going to become a ceremonial president. But regardless of what the court decides, it's already given Trump what he wants, more delays. And while that's a win for the former president, he will have to pay almost $130 million to columnist E. Jean Carroll after his bid for a new defamation trial was thrown out. Catherine Firkin for 10 News First.

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