Trump trial: Stormy Daniels tells (almost) all about alleged encounter with Trump

Donald Trump watched Stormy Daniels testify on Day 13 of his hush money trial.

Last Updated: May 7, 2024, 7:29 PM EDT

Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

Apr 22, 5:51 am

What to know about the hush money case

May 06, 2024, 11:25 AM EDT

Jury shown remaining invoices for Cohen repayment

In a dry, repetitive manner, jurors were shown the invoices that Michael Cohen sent to the Trump Organization to request payment for legal services pursuant to a retainer agreement, in order to repay the hush payment to Stormy Daniels.

The 11 invoices comprise 11 of the 34 criminal counts Trump faces.

Former Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney paged through exhibits showing emails and invoices for each month over the course of the repayment schedule.

Each of Cohen's 11 invoices read, "Pursuant to the retainer agreement, kindly remit payment for services rendered for the month of [name of month]."

McConney testified that he forwarded the invoices to Deborah Tarasoff, who worked in the Trump Organization's accounting department.

"Please pay from the Trust. Post to legal expenses," McConney wrote on February 14, 2017.

May 06, 2024, 11:15 AM EDT

McConney suggests Trump signed Cohen checks in White House

Former Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney testified that the Trump Organization switched from cutting Michael Cohen's checks from the company trust account to cutting them from Donald Trump's personal account when Trump was the president and living and in Washington, D.C. -- something that presented a challenge.

That led to testimony that suggested checks were sent to the White House while Trump was the sitting president.

"What did that mean?" the prosecutor asked McConney.

Former President Donald Trump attends trial at Manhattan Criminal court, May 6, 2024 in New York.
Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool

"Somehow we would have to get a package down to the White House," McConney responded, having testified earlier that Trump was the only person who could sign checks from his personal account.

"DJT needs to sign check," McConney wrote in one email that was shown to the jury.

"The check was drawn out of President Trump's personal account," McConney said. "We had to get it down to the White House for the president to sign it."

May 06, 2024, 11:07 AM EDT

Jurors see 1st invoice for Cohen's repayment

Former Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney testified that Michael Cohen emailed an invoice to McConney for payment, which was displayed on screen for the jurors, marking the first time the jurors have seen one of the 34 records charged in this case.

"Just a reminder to get me the invoices you spoke to Allan about," McConney had emailed Cohen.

"[Cohen] typed an invoice into his response email," McConney testified.

The invoice Cohen sent was ultimately sent to and approved by then-CFO Allan Weisselberg, McConney testified.

In an email shown to the jury, Weisslberg clearly wrote: "ok to pay as per agreement with Don and Eric."

Eric Trump, in the front row of the gallery, nodded yes repeatedly as the email flashed on screen.

May 06, 2024, 10:59 AM EDT

Jury sees paper trail detailing Cohen repayment plan

The jury was shown the paper trail of handwritten notes from both controller Jeff McConney McConney and CFO Allen Weisselberg memorializing the repayment to Michael Cohen for his handling of the Stormy Daniels payment.

First, the jury saw a paper statement from Essential Consultants LLC, the shell company Cohen created to pay Daniels. Weisselberg had marked up the account with handwritten notes to outline the repayment plan.

Jurors also saw McConney's notes on Trump-branded letterhead. They largely matched the repayment plan outlined by Weisselberg, with some additional reminders, such as " x2 for taxes" regarding the plan to double the repayment to compensate for the taxes Cohen would owed on the payment.

Last, jurors saw an email dated Feb. 6, 2017, from McConney to Cohen with the subject line "$$."

"Just a reminder to get me those invoices you spoke to Allen about," McConney wrote in the email.

"I sent Michael an email to send us the invoices -- at least the invoice for that month," McConney testified.

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