| 04:44:49 PM
Bove begins pushing Pecker on why he now recalls White House aide Hope Hicks was present at the key August 2015 Trump Tower meeting, but did not tell that to federal prosecutors and FBI agents back in 2018.
“At no point in that document does it indicate that you told the government that Hope Hicks was at the meeting,” Bove says, referring to a report on the meeting with prosecutors. After some initial resistance, Pecker confirms.
The government objects to a similar question regarding a subsequent meeting with the feds. After a brief bench conference, the jurors are excused for the day about 10 minutes early.
After a few minutes of argument, the judge chastises Bove for misleading the jury about what was in the record of the government’s second meeting with Pecker.
“There wasn't anything in that document, and therefore it’s misleading, so we’re going to correct this in the presence of the jury” tomorrow, the judge rules. “I’m not accusing you of doing anything deliberately, but it still left the jury with the misimpression” that Pecker had been asked about the 2015 meeting again and omitted Hicks’ presence.
Bove protests.
“Mr. Bove, are you missing my point?” Justice Merchan interrupts. “What I’m saying is [Pecker] asked the question, you gave him the document in response” which gave “everyone the impression that what he was looking for was in that document.”
The judge also notes that the hearing on the additional gag order violations will be argued next Wednesday afternoon.
We are adjourned until tomorrow.