Donald Trump trial LIVE: Ex-president makes very risky move as his longtime assistant Rhona Graff testifies about working for him for 34 years and how she saw Stormy Daniels in the Trump Tower rececption
By Daniel Bates In New York For Dailymail.com and Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior Political Reporter In Washington D.C. For Dailymail.com
Revealed: | Up to date:
Commercial
Donald Trump returned to court docket on Friday for the eighth day of the hush cash trial to observe his attorneys cross-examine former Nationwide Enquirer writer David Pecker and his longtime assistant Rhona Graff.
Tabloid govt Pecker informed the court docket on Thursday how he negotiated a number of offers to kill tales for celebrities together with Mark Wahlberg, Tiger Woods and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Comply with all of the protection from DailyMail.com’s reporters within the New York court docket.
Trump marketing campaign is raking in $1 MILLION per day throughout his historic trial
New RNC Chairman Michael Whatley disclosed the eye-popping amount of cash that the Trump marketing campaign is raking in on every day of his historic trial.
‘I believe that what we’re doing is we’re opening up the map. President Biden proper now’s enjoying protection all throughout the nation. And President Trump is enjoying offense all throughout the nation,’ he stated Friday.
‘We’re main within the nationwide polls. We’re main on the problems, and we’re main on the polls in each single battleground state,’ stated Whatley.
He went on to say that though Democrats are going to have ‘a ton’ of cash heading into 2024, Trump’s court docket appearances are boosting his coffers.
‘What we have seen, although, is that daily that President Trump has been in court docket, we have been getting, he is been getting $1 million or extra in small-dollar donations which can be coming in on-line.’
Subsequent witness to testify is Gary Farro
Gary Farro was a senior managing director at First Republic Financial institution in 2016.
Michael Cohen allegedly wired hush cash funds to Stormy Daniels, aka Stephanie Clifford, utilizing the financial institution.
Somebody on the financial institution reported the wire transaction as suspicious to the Treasury Division.
On October 26, 2016, an worker of the financial institution whose identify is publicly redacted confirmed to Cohen his wire to Daniels’ lawyer was profitable.
First Republic Financial institution was seized and bought by regulators final yr.
Trump tries to shake Rhona Graff’s hand as she exits after testifying
Donald Trump tried to shake Rhona Graff’s hand along with his finger because the jury appeared on.
She appeared uneasy and not sure how you can reply and walked out after her testimony.
Throughout her cross-examination, Graff stated she liked working for Trump.
‘I neve had the identical day twice in on a regular basis. Very stimulating, thrilling, fascinating place to be,’ she recalled.
She known as Trump ‘honest and respectful’ to her as a boss and famous he gave her promotions.
Graff stated ‘I’d prefer to assume’ Trump revered her and stated that if he didn’t respect her intelligence ‘I don’t assume I might have been there 34 years.’
Graff additionally testified about seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower earlier than Trump ran for president and recalled having heard Trump say Daniels could be a ‘good contestant’ for The Apprentice.
‘You had heard President Trump say that he thought she could be an attention-grabbing addition to The Apprentice?’ Trump’s lawyer requested.
Graff stated it was ‘a part of the workplace chatter.’
‘When Stormy Daniels confirmed up at Trump Tower to satisfy President Trump, she was there to debate being forged for The Apprentice?’ Trump’s lawyer requested.
‘I assumed that,’ Graff stated.
Trump lawyer now cross-examining Graff
Trump lawyer Susan Neheles is now asking former Trump govt assistant Rhona Graff questions.
Rhona Graff testifies about holding Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal contact information
Rhona Graff confirms she stored contact information for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels whereas working for the Trump Group.
Partially redacted displays in court docket present info within the group’s system for each ladies.
Graff confirms she believes she created the contact for Trump for McDougal.
The identify ‘Stormy’ can be proven which Graff confirms was Stormy Daniels.
Who’s Rhona Graff? What to know in regards to the Trump assistant testifying in opposition to him
Graf was one of many few individuals who had entry to Donald Trump, and has been described as his ‘gatekeeper’ and ‘proper hand’.
The manager assistant and senior vice chairman labored for him for 34 years and had an workplace proper exterior his door at Trump Tower.
When he was elected president, she continued to work for the household enterprise and dealt with any preparations exterior his official duties.
She sometimes acted as his spokesperson and in addition appeared alongside him on The Apprentice and was a choose on Miss Teen USA.
In a 2004 interview with Actual Property Weekly, Graff stated: ‘All people is aware of so as to get by way of to him they must undergo me, so they’re all the time on their greatest conduct.
Trump’s former govt assistant testifies subsequent in hush cash case
Prosecutors name Rhona Graff, who served as Trump’s govt assistant for a few years, to testify subsequent in hush cash case.
As she entered the courtroom, Trump appeared over at her, in accordance with reporters within the room.
She didn’t seem to look at him as she walked to the witness stand.
Graff labored for the Trump Group for 34 years.
The court docket heard that she is testifying underneath subpoena and her former employer is paying her authorized charges.
Pecker testimony concludes
Pecker’s testimony within the Trump hush cash trial has wrapped up.
Rhona Graff, who served as Trump’s govt assistant for years, will testify subsequent.
Pecker testifies about name with Cohen on Stormy Daniels story
Pecker remembers once more his name with Michael Cohen in regards to the Stormy Daniiels story.
Peckers says he informed Cohen if the story will get out by way of one other media outlet ‘the boss’ shall be very, very indignant with him.
Courtroom is again in session
Courtroom is again in session after a lunch break. Trump didn’t say something when he walked again into the courtroom however he did wave on the cameras.
David Pecker returns to the witness stand.
He’s dealing with re-direct from prosectuors, after which Trump’s attorneys will get to ask questions.
‘I’ve been truthful to the perfect of my recollection’: Defiant David Pecker slaps again at Trump’s protection attorneys
Donald Trump’s protection attorneys questioned whether or not former Nationwide Enquirer writer David Pecker was being truthful throughout tense cross-examination on Friday.
Lawyer Emil Bove was confrontational as he drained to point out the jury hush-money offers have been regular apply on the tabloid and poke holes in Pecker’s story.
Bove had been principally cordial with Pecker throughout his two days of cross examination.
However then he questioned if Pecker had an obligation to cooperate with the prosecution.
To be truthful,’ he fired again.
‘I’ve been truthful to the perfect of my recollection.’
Pecker testified on Thursday that Trump thanked him for his assist in suppressing an unsubstantiated story a couple of lovechild.
However Bove then talked about notes that present beforehand informed federal authorities that the previous president didn’t specific any gratitude.
Pecker once more insisted he was being truthful.
Alina Habba says Trump would ‘100%’ win hush cash case on attraction as a result of he has achieved ‘completely nothing improper’
Alina Habba slammed the continued ‘witch hunt’ into Donald Trump at Manhattan court docket throughout a Fox Information interview Friday afternoon.
She says that the trial is simply showcasing that Trump has achieved ‘completely nothing improper.’
Habba added that if he’s convicted, it might ‘one hundred pc’ be overturned on attraction.
‘We’ve judges not permitting proof that needs to be permitted,’ she acknowledged.
‘All of these transcripts are examined intently by the appellate court docket.’
This can be a ‘long-game trial,’ Habba added.
Trump urges Biden to debate him TONIGHT on the courthouse
Donald Trump known as on President Biden to debate him ‘on the Courthouse tonight’ and says he’ll ‘wait round’ after the president informed Howard Stern he would debate the ex-president.
In a submit on Reality Social, Trump wrote ‘Everybody is aware of he doesn’t actually imply it, however in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an previous expression utilized by Fighters.’
The ex-president went on to ‘recommend Monday Night, Tuesday Night, or Wednesday Night at my Rally in Michigan.’
Biden was in New York on Friday for his interview with Stern which Trump additionally famous ‘so am I, caught in one of many many Courtroom instances that he instigated.’
Nationwide Enquirer paid Arnold Schwarzenegger accusers as little as $500 to kill tales, court docket hears
The Nationwide Enqurier paid ladies as little as $500 to kill tales about Arnold Schwarzenegger, the hush cash trial heard on Friday.
Prosecutor Joshua Steiunglass questioned the journal’s former writer David Pecker in regards to the ’30 or 40′ ladies who got here ahead when the actor introduced he was working for California governor.
On the time, Schwarzenegger was the frontman for 2 American Media Inc publications.
‘You paid lots of of hundreds to kill these tales?’ Steinglass requested Pecker.
Pecker then stated the most important cost was $20,000, however the others have been between $500 to $2,000.
Trump is accused of facilitating a $130,000 cost to cease Stormy Daniels speaking about their alleged affair.
Requested why he silenced the accusers, Pecker stated Schwarzenegger was ‘vital to the bodybuilding trade in addition to the complement trade in addition to two publications’.
Courtroom breaks for lunch
Pecker is anticipated to return and end his testimony after lunch.
Pecker cross-examination has concluded and re-direct begins
The protection has completed questioning Pecker and the proseuctors have begun their re-direct.
Pecker says Cohen informed him in 2018 Trump has the Legal professional Common ‘in his pocket’
Tensions flared in court docket as Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove requested Pecker about his declare Cohen informed him Trump had ‘Jeff Classes in his pocket.’
Cohen reportedly made the declare in 2018 as American Media Inc was being investigated by the Federal Election Fee.
On the time, Classes was Legal professional Common of america and Trump was president.
Bove requested Pecker if he was ‘optimistic’ Cohen stated it.
Pecker responded that he was and added he was ‘involved and fearful’ in regards to the investigation.
‘You have been involved as a result of Michael Cohen stated one thing that wasn’t true?’ Bove requested.
‘Appropriate,’ replied Pecker.
Bove requested if it was actually the case that Trump ‘didn’t have Jeff Classes in his pocket’ however moved on after an objection.
‘Michael Cohen is susceptible to exaggeration?’ Bove amended.
David Pecker and Donald Trump pictured after White Home ‘thanks dinner’ to have fun killing Karen McDougal story
An image of David Pecker and then-President Donald Trump in July 2017 was entered into court docket proof.
The picture snapshot exhibits the 2 males locked in dialog whereas strolling by way of the White Home’s signature portico flanked by columns.
They emerged from a now-infamous ‘thanks dinner’ on the White Home after Pecker agreed to pay Karen McDougal $150,000 to kill her affair story.
Pecker testified Thursday he was invited to the White Home for a ‘thanks dinner’ and as they walked out collectively he requested about Karen McDougal.
‘As we walked out, President Trump requested me “How’s Karen doing, how’s Karen doing?” So I stated “She’s doing properly, she’s quiet, all the things’s going good.”‘
Pecker stated he replied: ‘She’s doing properly, she’s quiet, all the things’s going good.’
Pecker described the dinner as a ‘thanks dinner’ for all the things he had achieved for the president.
The 81-year-old confirmed he’s ‘comfortable’ to take the stage along with his 77-year-old rival in a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning.
The White Home and marketing campaign have danced across the query for months.
‘I’m, someplace,’ he stated when requested if he’s keen to debate Trump.
‘I don’t know when. I’m comfortable to debate him.’
Trump returns to courtroom from quick break
Trump walked again into the courtroom from a brief break.
He waved to the cameras however didn’t reply shouted questions from reporters.
Courtroom is on a brief break
The court docket is on a brief break.
Trump has left the courtroom, however the attorneys stay within the courtroom.
Trump joked David Pecker knew greater than James Comey and Mike Pompeo
Pecker recalled Trump as soon as made a joke about Pecker understanding ‘extra about info’ than his personal FBI Director and Secretary of State.
Bove requested a couple of assembly the place Trump had officers gathered round his Oval Workplace desk together with James Comey and Mike Pompeo.
Pecker stated that Trump joked that he knew extra info than the officers.
It got here whereas they have been discussing a capturing that had taken place on the Fort Lauderdale airport.
Pecker informed the jury that Michael Cohen informed him that at one level Cohen was speaking to Mark Cuban about working with him.
Trump’s lawyer Bove requested if Cohen requested Pecker to ship photographers to get images of the assembly between him and Cuban.
Bove requested if the images would ‘put stress on Trump to deal with Cohen in another way?’
Decide Merchan strikes date for gag order listening to to Might 2
The listening to on Trump’s alleged 14 violations of the gag order has been moved to Thursday, Might 2 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
It’s a change since Decide Merchan had stated Thursday night that the listening to would happen subsequent Wednesday.
He scheduled one other listening to after the prosecution added 4 extra violations to the listing of Trump’s alleged offenses.
Prosecutor objects to Donald being known as ‘President Trump’ by his lawyer throughout questioning
Prosecutor Josh Steinglass repeatedly objected to Bove referring to Trump as ‘President Trump’ when asking Pecker a couple of June 2016 telephone name that they had collectively.
Steinglass stated: ‘He wasn’t President Trump in June of 2016!’
Decide Juan Merchan sustained the objection and moved on.
Pecker is being pressed over the Clintons, Hope Hicks in cross-examination
David Pecker is again on the witness stand for cross-examination the place Donald Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove prompt articles about Trump’s rivals ‘made sense from a enterprise perspective.’
Bove requested about tales working within the Nationwide Enquirer on Invoice and Hillary Clinton and whether or not it was a very good enterprise resolution to run them.
Pecker stated it was. He additionally confirmed AMI was working articles on the Clintons earlier than the August 2015 assembly.
Bove additionally requested a line of questions on former Trump aide Hope Hicks.
He pressed for inconsistencies in Pecker’s testimony over Hicks presence on the 2015 Trump Tower assembly.
Pecker conceded that Hicks didn’t take part or communicate throughout that assembly.
Trump rails at ‘Fort Knox’ degree safety in Manhattan court docket
“I’m on the closely guarded Courthouse. Safety is that of Fort Knox, all in order that MAGA will be unable to attend this trial, presided over by a extremely conflicted pawn of the Democrat Occasion. It’s a sight to behold! On the brink of do my Courthouse presser. Two minutes!” Trump wrote in a submit to Reality Social.
What’s within the paperwork Trump has delivered to court docket?
Trump has in entrance of him on the desk a big stack of papers.
The entrance web page exhibits the date ‘1813’.
It says: ‘An anatomy of Poltical Prosecution: The Manhattan District Legal professional’s Workplace’s Vendetta Towards President Donald Trump’
Trump says he listened to the Supreme Courtroom listening to on immunity
Donald Trump says he listened to the Supreme Courtroom arguments on immunity which occurred on Thursday whereas Trump was in New York on trial.
‘I heard the argument was good,’ Trump stated after strolling into court docket Friday morning.
He says he listened to it final evening and he thought it was ‘actually nice’ and the ‘judges’ questions have been nice.’
‘All presidents must have immunity,’ Trump stated. ‘It has nothing to do with me, completely nothing. All presidents must have immunity.’
He added that he believes yesterday went ‘very properly’ within the New York courtroom as properly.
‘It needs to be over,’ Trump stated and attacked the choose has ‘extremely conflicted.’
Trump additionally complained in regards to the ‘freezing courthouse.’
‘It is very chilly in there on objective I imagine,’ stated Trump.
Trump snarls on the digital camera as he enters packed courtroom on Day 8 of his legal trial
Trump entered the packed courtroom pursing his lips and sporting a navy go well with and shiny blue tie.
He sat on the protection bench along with his attorneys. His lawyer Todd Blanche has been benched once more and is sitting on Trump’s left.
Emil Bove, who was cross-examining David Pecker on Thursday, is to Trump’s proper which means he’ll proceed the questioning.
Donald Trump arrived on the Manhattan legal court docket the place he wished spouse Melania Trump a cheerful birthday.
‘I wish to begin by wishing my spouse Melania a really comfortable birthday,’ he stated.
‘It would be greatest to be together with her, however I am at a courthouse for a rigged trial,’ he added.
Trump stated the previous first girl is in Florida, and he shall be heading there Friday night.
The ex-president is in court docket for his hush cash trial over funds to a porn star.
They have been the untouchables, who used their cash, affect and flattery to get into former firm CEO David Pecker’s good graces – thus avoiding having their rubbish surveyed, their lovers adopted, and their peccadillos uncovered.
However if you happen to weren’t a buddy, then all bets have been off. There was nothing – throughout the regulation and generally skirting it– that would not be achieved to usher in a narrative.
‘He is the largest star f***er you have ever met,’ a former staffer who labored on the tabloid for greater than 20 years informed DailyMail.com.
‘He is a failed Donald Trump. He picks the improper folks and very similar to Trump, he is loyal to nobody.’
Pecker and his shut friendship with Trump has been again within the headlines this week because of the previous writer’s scene-stealing look on the forty fifth President’s ongoing hush cash trial.
However whereas that friendship uncovered the tabloid apply of ‘catch and kill’ – shopping for up a narrative solely to maintain it quiet for the good thing about a Pecker pal – insiders say that was simply the tip of the iceberg.
‘What’s shameful is plenty of what we did was simply good old school reporting however these items with Trump has smeared it,’ one other insider stated.
Trump leaves Trump Tower for day eight of the trial
Donald Trump’s motorcade is on the way in which to court docket in Manhattan.
His press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared video footage of his SUV and police escort leaving his residence on Friday morning.
Attorneys for Donald Trump and particular counsel Jack Smith made their instances earlier than the Supreme Courtroom on Thursday within the monumental case over whether or not a president has absolute immunity from prosecution.
There have been many blockbuster moments all through the three-hour listening to because the liberal justices fretted over the rise of Trump as a king if given complete immunity.
In the meantime, the conservative justices stated they wish to present some authorized safeguards to guard Trump and future presidents from political prosecution.
And there have been no scarcity of loopy hypotheticals raised about what might occur if a president staged a army coup or dedicated homicide whereas in workplace.
The choice within the case could have a sweeping impression not simply on the previous president for presidential powers in america.
The arguments come as former President Donald Trump is dealing with legal fees in 4 instances. He’s the primary former president ever to face legal fees.
A choice is anticipated by the top of June earlier than the Supreme Courtroom recesses for the summer season however they might transfer sooner.
DailyMail.com breaks down the main takeaways:
President Joe Biden informed a glitzy fundraiser on Thursday evening that he’s too busy to observe Donald Trump’s hush cash trial.
Biden has stored his ideas on the trial principally to himself because it started.
However he has fired a number of jokes at his adversary and mocked his hair.
He additionally additionally had battles of his personal, together with with the teleprompter and struggling over the date of January 6.
One of many lots of of building employees who turned out to help Donald Trump in New York has captured the guts of the nation along with his savage takedown of Joe Biden.
The unknown employee had been a part of the crowds gathered as the previous president made a go to to a building website in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday morning.
Crowds of building employees and supporters lined up by way of the evening as they anxiously waited to catch a glimpse of their beloved former president in what is generally Liberal heartland.
He’s now being hailed as a hero on social media.
‘That is just about the sentiment of all blue collar laborious working Individuals. Actually any American for that matter. Effectively stated sir.’
Melania Trump’s former spokesperson stated Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders would examine in together with her to see how the primary girl was ‘dealing’ with the Karen McDougal affair rumors – however did not share the small print of a ‘deal’ with the Nationwide Enquirer.
The revelation got here as former Nationwide Enquirer CEO David Pecker testified in Donald Trump’s case involving hush cash paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, whose actual identify is Stephanie Clifford.
Pecker was talking a couple of joint name with Hicks, who served as White Home communications director, and Sanders, who was White Home press secretary on the time and is now governor of Arkansas, a couple of ‘catch-and-kill’ contract given to McDougal.
Welcome to DailyMail.com’s dwell protection of day eight of Donald Trump’s hush cash trial
Donald Trump returns to court docket on Friday for the hush cash trial to observe his attorneys cross-examine former Nationwide Enquirer writer David Pecker.
Throughout cross-examination earlier than the court docket wrapped up for the day, Pecker ran by way of a collection of high-profile preparations he claimed he got here to with celebrities and highly effective males.
Pecker additionally claimed he helped bury tales about Mark Wahlberg and his spouse having an argument and Rahm Emanuel having an affair after he left the Obama White Home.
Pecker confirmed that he bought the rights to pictures of Tiger Woods assembly a girl at a car parking zone in Florida as a part of one other deal.
He agreed that they have been used as ‘leverage’ to get Woods to look on the quilt of Males’s Health journal.
It got here out in court docket that Pecker additionally gave Trump the heads up about unfavorable tales for years, and Pecker agreed.
Among the many different high-powered males that Pecker did comparable favors for was billionaire Ron Perelman, the proprietor of cosmetics big Revlon.
Schwarzenegger bought $50 million along with posts as editor at massive of two AMI muscle-building magazines as a part of a deal for AMI to purchase them, the court docket heard.
Bove stated that ‘30 or 40 ladies got here to you and AMI’ when Schwarzenegger declared his candidacy. Pecker agreed.
‘Not that top. A whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars},’ Pecker stated.
Pecker confirmed that Schwarzenegger didn’t pay him again.
Share or touch upon this text:
Donald Trump trial LIVE: Ex-president makes very dangerous transfer as his longtime assistant Rhona Graff testifies about working for him for 34 years and the way she noticed Stormy Daniels within the Trump Tower rececption