Live Thread: Trump's hush money trial begins in NYC

[mystery-ak]

a few seconds ago
Weisselberg's assistant finishes testimony; new witness set to be called

Rebecca Manochio wrapped up her testimony in about four minutes of cross-examination after returning from the lunch break.

Donald Trump appeared to smile at her as she walked past him at the defense table and out of the courtroom.

[mystery-ak]

7 min(s) ago
Next witness called to stand in NY v. Trump trial

The defense's cross examination of Rebecca Manochio, the prosecution's 14th witness, has concluded and the next witness has been called to the stand.

The next witness is Tracey Menzies of Harper Collins. Manhattan Assistant DA Rebecca Mangold is handling direct examination.

Menzies is from Monmouth Count, New Jersey, and works for Harper Collins Book Publishing. She was compelled to testify on behalf of Harper Collins.

Menzies is testifying as a custodian of records for Harper Collins, which was subpoenaed.
Posted by Kyle Morris

[mystery-ak]

4 minutes ago
Witness testifies about excerpts from Trump's book on loyalty: "DO NOT TRUST ANYONE"

Here are a few of the excepts that were shown to jurors about loyalty from Donald Trump's book, “Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life."

    “DO NOT TRUST ANYONE”
    “I used to say, “Go out and get the best people, and trust them.” Over the years I have seen too many shenanigan, and now I say, “Get the best people, and don't trust them.” Do not trust them because if you don’t know what you are doing, they are going to rob you blind.’
    “I think the reason we have so many loyal people is that we reward loyalty, and everybody knows this... People like Allen Weisselberg and Matt Calamari are great and have proven themselves over many years.”
    I just can’t stomach disloyalty”
    “My motto is : always get even. When somebody screws you, screw them back in spades.

She is now on cross-examination with Trump attorney Todd Blanche.




11 minutes ago
Jurors shown book cover of Trump's book
By Kyle Schnitzer

The cover of Donald Trump's "Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life" was just shown to the jury.

Trump has his mouth open and is pointing in the direction of the reader.

The book was first published in 2007, according to witness Tracey Menzies.

[mystery-ak]

3 minutes ago
HarperCollins SVP done testifying

A brief cross-examination focusing on guest writers from Trump's book ends as a new witness has been called.

[mystery-ak]

13:45
Next witness called is Madeline Westerhout

Madeline Westerhout is the next question called by the prosecution.

She works in consulting but she worked as Donald Trump's executive assistant in the White House.

When asked if she's nervous to testify, she says 'I am now.'

[mystery-ak]

a minute ago
Westerhout: 'Access Hollywood' tape rattled RNC leadership

Madeleine Westerhout was asked about the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape and said it sent shock waves through the RNC.

"At the time I recall it rattling RNC leadership," she testified.

3 minutes ago
Trump watching ex-assistant testify very closely

Trump has his head aimed to the right as Madeline Westerhout, his former personal assistant at the White House, testifies.

Westerhout currently works as the chief of staff to the chairman at a geo-political consulting firm.

[mystery-ak]

5 minutes ago
Westerhout was really excited about working outside Oval Office: testimony
By Kyle Schnitzer

She said yes!

When Donald Trump offered Madeleine Westerhout a job at the White House, the former assistant said that she thought it was really cool even if her title wasn’t.

"Yes I do, that sounds like a really cool job,” Westerhout testified, recalling her former boss asking if she wanted a job sitting outside the Oval Office.

"I knew I was going to sit outside the Oval Office and I didn’t really care what my title was," she said.

[mystery-ak]

13:55
Westerhout identifies Michael Cohen as Trump's personal lawyer during 2016 transition

Westerhout was known as ‘greeter girl’ at Trump Tower after Trump won the election and before he took office. She came up to New York to help with scheduling.

She is asked about Michael Cohen and identifies him as Trump’s lawyer.

She describes him as ‘around’ at Trump Tower during that time.

[mystery-ak]

13:58
Prosecutor taking Westerhout through details of her job at White House

The prosecution is working to establish how closely Madeleine Westerhout worked near Donald Trump in the White House.

The jury is being shown a floorplan of the White House with the Oval Office listed as well as surrounding offices.

Prosecutor asks: 'Did anyone work closer to Trump than you did?’

‘Not in the first few months,' she says.

[mystery-ak]

a minute ago
Trump wanted to keep Resolute desk 'pristine,' did reading in dining room at WH: testimony
By kschnitzernyp and Kyle Schnitzer

We're getting a glimpse into what it was like to work closely with former president Donald Trump.

Madeline Westerhout said that Trump did liked to read at the White House but avoided using the Resolute desk after a few weeks because he wanted to keep it "pristine."

“He really wanted to keep the resolute desk really pristine and keep it more for meetings,” Westerhout testified, adding that eventually Trump did his reading in an adjacent dining room.

She also said that Trump typically used two pens — his black Sharpie and a "felt-tipped pen."

Trump also preferred hard copies of documents and did not use a computer or have an email address, according to the witness.

Westerhout testified that no one sat as close to Trump while he was president at the White House.

[catfish1957]

a minute ago
Trump wanted to keep Resolute desk 'pristine,'

Prisitine?  Good.

Versus one recent POTUS who tended to keep it stocked with pre-moistened cigars.

[mystery-ak]

4 minutes ago
Trump liked exclamation points, using the oxford comma at White House

Madeleine Westerhout testifies about some of Donald Trump's grammatical choices while in the White House — saying the former president likes to "capitalize [the word] country" and was loyal to the oxford comma.

“It’s my understanding he liked to use the oxford comma," she testified.

She added that Trump "liked to use exclamation points."

[mystery-ak]

Prisitine?  Good.

Versus one recent POTUS who tended to keep it stocked with pre-moistened cigars.

And O'Bama putting his feet on it...

[mystery-ak]

14:16
Jury is seeing emails between Madeleine Westerhout and Rhona Graff

Madeleine Westerhout testifies that her main point of contact at Trump Organization was Rhona Graff, his Trump Organization executive assistant.

When Trump had questions for Trump Organization employees, she recalls she would pass those along.

She says she would speak to Graff weekly if not daily early in the job but that tapered off as the work continued.

The first emails shown invovled an exchange about Westerhout getting contacts from Graff.

[libertybele]

...hmm.... interesting that she uses the word 'pristine'. That indicates to me that Trump is well organized, neat and tidy,  doesn't like clutter, and certainly doesn't like trash.

[bigheadfred]

When is the trial part of this Carney show supposed to start?

[libertybele]

When is the trial part of this Carney show supposed to start?

Better question: When is this Carney show going to end???

[mystery-ak]

To be fair after Googling the Resolute Desk I have found many past POTUS with their feet on the desk..

[mystery-ak]

14:23
Jury shown list of contacts Rhona Graff sent to Westerhout

The jury is shown a list of contacts provided by Graff to Westerhout.

She recalls it was a list of people Trump reached out to often or might want to speak to.

The list included the then-president’s family including daughter Tiffany, Allen Weisselberg, and David Pecker who Westerhout described as a ‘tabloid person.’

Michael Cohen is also listed.

When she received list she entered all the contacts into her contacts, Westerhout recalls.

If a name appeared on the list, she says ‘yes’ she was more likely to patch them through to the then-president.



Trump's contact list: The rich, the glamorous and the useful
Donald Trump's contacts list offers an unparalleled insight into how the former president moves through the world, rubbing shoulders with the rich, the glamorous and the useful.

[libertybele]

14:23
Jury shown list of contacts Rhona Graff sent to Westerhout

The jury is shown a list of contacts provided by Graff to Westerhout.

She recalls it was a list of people Trump reached out to often or might want to speak to.

The list included the then-president’s family including daughter Tiffany, Allen Weisselberg, and David Pecker who Westerhout described as a ‘tabloid person.’

Michael Cohen is also listed.

When she received list she entered all the contacts into her contacts, Westerhout recalls.

If a name appeared on the list, she says ‘yes’ she was more likely to patch them through to the then-president.



Trump's contact list: The rich, the glamorous and the useful
Donald Trump's contacts list offers an unparalleled insight into how the former president moves through the world, rubbing shoulders with the rich, the glamorous and the useful.

Sounds like a great title for a soap opera.

[corbe]

   No Surprise in that Call list.  He let a Kardasian administer Prison Policy.

[mystery-ak]

3 minutes ago
Trump was asked if he wanted to cancel golf club membership in invoice
By Kyle Schnitzer

An invoice from Winged Foot Golf Club

Donald Trump was asked whether he wanted to suspend his membership to Winged Foot Golf Club for "4 or 8 years" by his assistant while he was president, documents show.

Madeleine Westerhout testified about an invoice sent by Winged Foot Gold Club for the club's annual dues of $6,979.01 — which featured handwriting by Rhona Graff, Trump's assistant, asking whether he wanted to continue paying even if he couldn't play there often.

“Dear Mr. President! If Winged Foot will allow me to suspend your membership for 4 or 8 years, do you want me to looking into it or do you want to continue paying annual dues + food minimum?" the invoice reads.

Westerhout said that Graff was asking if he wanted to suspend his membership because he "wouldn't be able to use" it while in the White House.

Trump wrote in a bold black pen "PAY" next to Graff's note, and later initial "D" next to "ASAP OK" near the dollar amount of the invoice.

[bigheadfred]

3 minutes ago
Trump was asked if he wanted to cancel golf club membership in invoice
By Kyle Schnitzer

An invoice from Winged Foot Golf Club

Donald Trump was asked whether he wanted to suspend his membership to Winged Foot Golf Club for "4 or 8 years" by his assistant while he was president, documents show.

Madeleine Westerhout testified about an invoice sent by Winged Foot Gold Club for the club's annual dues of $6,979.01 — which featured handwriting by Rhona Graff, Trump's assistant, asking whether he wanted to continue paying even if he couldn't play there often.

“Dear Mr. President! If Winged Foot will allow me to suspend your membership for 4 or 8 years, do you want me to looking into it or do you want to continue paying annual dues + food minimum?" the invoice reads.

Westerhout said that Graff was asking if he wanted to suspend his membership because he "wouldn't be able to use" it while in the White House.

Trump wrote in a bold black pen "PAY" next to Graff's note, and later initial "D" next to "ASAP OK" near the dollar amount of the invoice.

Riveting.

[mystery-ak]

35 minutes ago
Trump's personal assistant cries while recounting her exit from White House
By Kyle Schnitzer

Madeleine Westerhout broke down in tears while on the witness stand while she recounted her exit from the White House.

She said she was "very regretful of my youthful indiscretion" and claimed to have "grown a lot" since her departure in 2019.

Justice Juan Merchan handed her a tissue after the moment.

Westerhout stepped down after she admitted to sharing information about Trump's family with the press.

33 minutes ago
Ex-Trump assistant now on cross-examination
By Kyle Schnitzer

Madeleine Westerhout is currently being pressed on cross-examination by Donald Trump attorney Susan Necheles

26 minutes ago
Trump was a 'really good boss,' WH assistant says; jury gets sent home early
By Kyle Schnitzer

Madeleine Westerhout, 33, called Trump a "really good boss" while on cross-examination.

"He never once made me feel that I didn’t deserve that job and that I didn’t belong there. Especially in an office filled with older men he never made me feel like I didn’t belong there. He was a really good boss," Westerhout said.

"I found him very enjoyable to work for."

Westerhout is done testifying for the day as the jury was sent home early today.

[mystery-ak]

23 minutes ago
Two men booted from courtroom

Two men were booted from the Trump courtroom around 4 p.m. Thursday. The members of the public were removed by security.

17 minutes ago
Prosecutors no longer calling Playboy model Karen McDougal to testify: Blanche
By Kyle Schnitzer

'The People informed me they no longer intend to call Ms McDougal," Trump lawyer Todd Blanche just said, referring to prosecutors.

13 minutes ago
Trump attorney asks judge to allow Trump to 'respond publicly' to Stormy Daniels' testimony
By Kyle Schnitzer

Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked the judge to allow the former president to "be allowed to respond publicly" to Stormy Daniels' testimony, in part to the response to the media coverage.

“There’s no doubt there will be a feature on political shows tonight and articles," Blanche said.

He later went on, "This isn’t the same story that has been going around for the past several years. It’s much different. We’d ask you to remove the gag order to Ms. Daniels."

10 minutes ago
Prosecutors respond: Trump's team 'almost lives in an alternate reality'

Responding to Trump attorney Todd Blanche's plea to ditch the gag order against Stormy Daniels, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Chris Conroy described the attempt as if "it seems as though the other side almost lives in an alternate reality."

“Modifying this gag order now in the middle of trial would signal to future witnesses they could be at risk as well," Conroy said.

Trump passes a note to Blanche after Conroy's comment. Blanche is now responding for a "narrowly tailored gag order."

a minute ago
Trump appears angry as judge denies attempt to rip Stormy Daniels

Donald Trump was hunched forward with a big red grimace on his face as Justice Merchan denied his team's motion for a modified gag order to rip Stormy Daniels.

Merchan said that Trump's "track record speaks for itself" when speaking about witnesses throughout the trial.

Merchan said "can't" take Blanche's word that Trump will curb his "attacks" on witnesses

“These were very real, very threatening attacks on potential witness. Your clients track record speaks for itself," the judge said.

He said earlier: "My concern is not just protecting Ms. Daniels or a witness who just testified. My concern is protecting these proceedings as a whole."