Westerhout says Trump was ‘very upset’ by Stormy Daniels story
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles simply requested Madeleine Westerhout about her time on the White Home when the Stormy Daniels story got here up.
“Did you’ve gotten a dialog with President Trump about that?” Uh, sure I did.
Based mostly in your dialog, Necheles requested, “what was your impression of his response? Westerhout mentioned:
That he was very upset by it.
“And why?” Necheles pressed. Westerhout says:
In my understanding he knew it might be hurtful to his household.
Necheles requested: “That was based mostly on what was mentioned to you?” Westerhout mentioned:
Uhm, I don’t consider he particularly mentioned that, however I may simply inform that the entire state of affairs was very disagreeable.
Necheles’ cross has wrapped.
Key occasions
Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district lawyer who’s bringing this unprecedented case, has simply entered the courtroom.
Madeleine Westerhout, on the witness stand yesterday, testified that Donald Trump carefully scrutinized checks he signed whereas he was president, and that he would name Trump Group staff if he had questions concerning the checks.
The testimony on Thursday may very well be damaging for Trump insofar because it undercut the protection argument that Trump was indifferent from the scheme to reimburse his then fixer, Michael Cohen, for the hush cash, and was in a roundabout way conscious what the checks to Cohen have been for.
Underneath cross-examination this morning, Westerhout testified that Trump would generally signal checks with out reviewing them whereas he was juggling different duties.
Rebecca Manochio, a junior Trump Group bookkeeper, testified on Thursday that she would despatched checks Trump wanted to signal to not the White Home, however to Trump’s longtime bodyguard Keith Schiller at his residence.
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles tried to painting this as routine, asking Westerhout this morning if the association for Trump to obtain private mail by means of Schiller was in order that he may obtain them “promptly”. “I can’t think about it might have been any totally different [in previous administrations],” Westerhout mentioned.
The subsequent witness referred to as to the stand is Daniel Dixon, who works as a lead compliance analyst for AT&T.
Dixon is testifying below subpoena to AT&T as a data custodian.
Westerhout appears at Trump as she leaves the stand
And we’re achieved with re-direct, Trump lawyer Susan Necheles is returning to the lectern to conduct extra cross of Madeleine Westerhout.
“Did you meet the prosecutor earlier than this?” Westerhout says: “I did.”
What number of instances? Three. When did you final? “Wednesday morning.” Necheles asks:
Simply to reiterate, President Trump was very near his household, proper?
The prosecution objected, it was sustained.
Westerhout simply left the stand. As she walked out of the gallery to exit, she seemed to Donald Trump and raised her eyebrows, as a type of greeting.
The prosecutor questioning Madeleine Westerhout, Rebecca Mangold, requested whether or not she’d spoken to Trump lawyer Susan Necheles earlier than.
Westerhout mentioned sure, as soon as, two nights in the past.
It’s authorized for legal professionals to do this, however the prosecution is making an attempt to counsel that something good Westerhout may need mentioned about Donald Trump was influenced by the protection.
Westerhout says Trump was ‘very upset’ by Stormy Daniels story
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles simply requested Madeleine Westerhout about her time on the White Home when the Stormy Daniels story got here up.
“Did you’ve gotten a dialog with President Trump about that?” Uh, sure I did.
Based mostly in your dialog, Necheles requested, “what was your impression of his response? Westerhout mentioned:
That he was very upset by it.
“And why?” Necheles pressed. Westerhout says:
In my understanding he knew it might be hurtful to his household.
Necheles requested: “That was based mostly on what was mentioned to you?” Westerhout mentioned:
Uhm, I don’t consider he particularly mentioned that, however I may simply inform that the entire state of affairs was very disagreeable.
Necheles’ cross has wrapped.
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles is now displaying Madeleine Westerhout an bill that she’d despatched to longtime Trump assistant Rhona Graff.
In your expertise, Rhona Graff was very cautious about not desirous to spend President Trump’s cash with out his approval. Proper? She wished to test with him — it was his cash, proper?”
Westerhout answered within the affirmative. “He answered with one phrase – Pay.” Sure.
“One phrase, it was off his desk?” Westerhout mentioned sure.
All the testimony that Necheles is eliciting is to bolster the protection argument that Donald Trump was a slammed, distracted multitasker who signed issues with out paying consideration.
Westerhout testifies that Trump signed paperwork and checks with out reviewing them
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles is asking Madeleine Westerhout about Donald Trump’s habits on signing and reviewing paperwork.
Westerhout solutions within the affirmative when Necheles asks if Trump would signal a “super quantity” of things that might “take up many hours of his days”.
Necheles asks:
Would you say it was a whole lot of paperwork a day he was signing?
Westerhout solutions:
Not on daily basis however generally.
Necheles asks if she would see Trump signing issues with out reviewing them, and Westerhout replies: “Sure.”
“Would you see him signing checks with out reviewing them?” Sure.
“Would you see him signing checks when he was on the telephone?” Sure.
“When he was assembly with folks?” Sure.
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles, on her cross, is asking about Keith Schiller, the longtime Trump bodyguard, receiving Trump’s private mail when he acquired into the White Home.
Necheles asks:
It was a method that objects may very well be despatched them to you and you possibly can get them to President Trump?
Madeleine Westerhout answered within the affirmative.
Didn’t different presidents have hassle receiving necessary mail at The White Home? Westerhout replies:
I don’t have any information of what it was like in earlier administrations, however I can’t think about it might have been any totally different.
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles is making an attempt to counsel there have been issues occurring within the strategy of mail despatched to Donald Trump that might have been out of Madeleine Westerhout’s view.
Necheles asks Westerhout if she is aware of how Trump or his spouse, Melania, acquired private objects. Westerhout replies within the unfavorable.
Necheles, by means of cross, elicited testimony that getting necessary mail to Trump and Melania on the White Home acquired held up in shifting by means of numerous layers.
“President Trump instructed you that buddies of his felt he was being disrespectful of them?” Necheles requested.
Wasn’t that an issue, getting mail to President Trump by means of the White Home?
Westerhout responds: “Sure.”
President Trump preferred to return calls promptly, you testified yesterday.
“Sure.”
And also you testified yesterday that President Trump thought it was disrespectful to not return calls promptly?
Westerhout responds within the affirmative.
Was this the identical mail difficulty with Trump’s daughter, Ivanka? Westerhout mentioned she didn’t have direct information however, “most likely.”