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Who is Keith Davidson, the lawyer who negotiated hush money payments from Trump?

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Who is Keith Davidson, the lawyer who negotiated hush money payments from Trump?


NEW YORK — Keith Davidson will be back on the stand Thursday morning to continue testifying against former President Donald Trump in a New York criminal trial.

Davidson, who had represented the two women at the center of the trial, began testifying Tuesday.

He is the sixth witness to testify against the former president in this case. Trump faces 34 felony counts alleging that he falsified New York business records in order to conceal damaging information to influence the 2016 presidential election. Trump claims the trial itself is “election interference” because of how it is disrupting his 2024 bid for president.

Who is Keith Davidson?

Davidson testified on Tuesday that he was at one point the lawyer for both Karen McDougal, a Playboy model, and Stormy Daniels, an adult film star. Both women alleged that they had affairs with Trump, stories that the prosecution argues Trump wanted to quash as he was running in the 2016 presidential election. He testified Tuesday afternoon before court adjourned until today.

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How does he fit in the prosecution’s case?

Davidson testified to negotiating the payments McDougal and Daniels received in exchange for selling their stories to the National Enquirer tabloid. Leadership at the National Enquirer promised Trump they’d help his campaign by finding stories that could be harmful and paying for the rights of the stories but never running them.

Jurors saw text exchanges between Davidson and National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard that showed Davidson negotiating dollar amounts for McDougal and Daniels. He also testified to knowing that the tabloid would not publish the stories. He said he was looking to get the biggest payout for his clients, and he knew this would benefit Trump’s election efforts, even though he did not know about the specific deal made between Trump and tabloid leadership.

The payments made constitute the 34 “falsified” business records the prosecution alleged Trump made. In opening statements, prosecutors argued that Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen submitted 11 “phony invoices” paid for by checks with “false entries” signed by Trump himself.

Trump has pleaded not guilty and argues that all he did was pay his lawyer.

Who else has the jury heard from so far?

Jurors have heard from five other witnesses including:

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  • David Pecker, former CEO of American Media Inc. He testified about making a deal with Trump and Cohen in 2015 to help Trump’s campaign by finding potentially damaging stories and helping to kill them.
  • Rhona Graff, a longtime executive assistant at the Trump Organization. She testified against her former boss about how she entered McDougal’s and Daniels’ contact information into the Trump Organization’s directory. Her testimony verified Trump’s contact lists.
  • Gary Farro, a former banker at First Republic Bank. He testified about opening accounts for Cohen that would eventually be used to pay Daniels. He said if he had known what the accounts would be used for they may not have ever been opened. 
  • Robert Browning, executive director for archives for C-SPAN. He verified two 2016 Trump campaign clips and one 2017 press conference clip where Trump called Cohen a talented lawyer and where Trump called allegations from women lies.
  • Phillip Thompson of Esquire Deposition Solutions. He verified video and transcript of a 2022 deposition Trump gave for his civil defamation lawsuit against writer E. Jean Carroll. In a video clip played from the deposition, Trump confirms his wife is Melania Trump and his Truth Social handle, among other things.

Copyright 2024 NPR





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South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Jan. 10, 2026

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South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Jan. 10, 2026


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The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:

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Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 3-5-2, FB: 0

Evening: 8-2-9, FB: 7

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 6-2-7-3, FB: 0

Evening: 9-6-9-4, FB: 7

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 05

Evening: 13

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Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

02-04-31-38-40

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

10-19-39-47-67, Powerball: 18

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

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P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

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Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Killer lawyer Alex Murdaugh works prison job as court weighs bid for new trial

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Killer lawyer Alex Murdaugh works prison job as court weighs bid for new trial


Nearly three years after disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh was convicted of slaughtering his wife and son, he is keeping his head down and nose clean while his lawyers craft an appeal.

The imprisoned scion of a South Carolina legal dynasty is working a prison job, staying largely out of trouble, and pressing forward with his case, according to a report.

Murdaugh, 57, is serving two life sentences without parole for the June 2021 killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. 

Alex Murdaugh is serving two life sentences without parole for the 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. AP

He is also serving concurrent 40-year federal and 27-year state sentences for financial crimes.

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South Carolina Department of Corrections records show Murdaugh has worked as a wardkeeper’s assistant since August 2023.

A wardkeeper’s assistant is responsible for day-to-day operations at a prison, such as helping manage the housing unit where inmates live.

That same month, he was disciplined for feeding information to a documentary crew and barred from phone use and canteen purchases for 30 days, according to his inmate record. He has remained infraction-free since.

His attorney, Dick Harpootlian, said Murdaugh spends much of his time focused on his appeal.

“You can talk to him, unlike normal clients who have no concept of the appellate process or how all this works,” Harpootlian told the Daily Mail. “He is interested because he is a lawyer, so we talk about where we’re at and what we think the grave issues are with the case and what our weaknesses are.”

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Harpootlian said they speak weekly and described his client as being in good spirits.

The South Carolina Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Feb. 11 on whether Murdaugh should receive a new trial in the double-murder case. Facebook

“I think Alex understands he did a bad thing in stealing all that money,” Harpootlian said. “He is adamant he didn’t kill Paul and Maggie. He always has been … and when we get a fair trial, I think the jury will determine he didn’t do it.”

Murdaugh is hopeful about a new trial, his attorney said, but cautioned the inmate is “not confident of anything.”

Behind the scenes, the family dynamic appears far more strained.

Murdaugh’s surviving son, Buster, and daughter-in-law, Brooklynn, have stayed away, a source told the outlet.

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A source close to the family says Murdaugh’s surviving son, Buster, has largely cut off contact with his father since the conviction. AP

The insider said Buster carries “a lot of anger about the loss of his mom and brother” and avoids discussing the case.

“Whether or not Alex killed them, he definitely did enough to tarnish Buster’s name forever, and he’s angry about that,” the source said.

Murdaugh’s appeal heads back to court Feb. 11, when his legal team and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will argue before the state Supreme Court in Columbia.

The appeal centers largely on allegations that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill tampered with the jury during Murdaugh’s murder trial.

Hill pleaded guilty in December to obstruction of justice, perjury, and two counts of misconduct in office after admitting she showed sealed crime scene photos to a reporter and lied about it. 

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Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian says Murdaugh remains closely involved in shaping his legal strategy despite serving his sentence behind bars. AP

She also admitted to promoting her book about the trial through her public office.

Hill was sentenced to probation. Prosecutors said they found insufficient evidence to prove jury tampering.

Attorneys for Murdaugh argue that Hill’s conduct tainted the trial and jurors should not have heard extensive testimony about his financial crimes.

“By the time the jury heard two-and-a-half weeks of testimony about him stealing $12 million from invalids and orphans, he was so vilified it didn’t matter what [Murdaugh] said on the stand,” Harpootlian said.

Prosecutors maintain the verdict was sound. 

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Former South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal previously ruled Hill’s conduct did not affect the outcome.

Harpootlian said he still believes two shooters carried out the killings.

“There is strategic evidence to indicate that’s correct,” he said. “Two different guns shooting two different people … The forensics supports two people [committing the crime].”



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South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Jan. 9, 2026

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South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Jan. 10, 2026


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The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 9, 2026, results for each game:

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Winning Mega Millions numbers from Jan. 9 drawing

12-30-36-42-47, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 9 drawing

Midday: 0-6-7, FB: 8

Evening: 2-9-5, FB: 0

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 9 drawing

Midday: 6-2-1-1, FB: 8

Evening: 7-6-1-0, FB: 0

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 9 drawing

Midday: 02

Evening: 12

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Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 9 drawing

04-11-26-33-37

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

Advertisement

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

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For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

Advertisement

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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