Former President Trump was in court on Day 15 of his criminal trial in New York.
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.
Prosecutors have called their next big witness: Madeleine Westerhout, who was Trump's director of Oval Office operations in the White House.
Westerhout was subpoenaed to testify.
Asked if she is nervous to testify, she responded, "I am now." This is her first time in a courtroom, she said.
Trump leaned forward in her chair, watching her intently.
The prosecution has next called Tracy Menzies, a senior vice president at HarperCollins.
She is testifying about Donald Trump and Bill Zanker's 2007 book, "Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life."
Trump, at the defense table, tilted his head up at the large screen at the front of the courtroom and then leaned toward his monitor at the defense table as his image appeared on the cover jacket for the book.
Menzies testified about passages from the book, quoting Trump's approach to business and people management.
"As a matter of fact, I value loyalty above everything else -- more than brains, more than drive, more than energy," Trump wrote in one portion of the book, read aloud by Menzies. Another portion of the book noted that loyalty has become "part of the corporate culture of the Trump Organization."
"My motto is: Always get even. When somebody screws you, screw them back in spades," read another quote.
"When you are wronged, go after those people because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it."
Also: "Get the best people and don't trust them."
Defense attorney Susan Necheles conducted a short cross-examination of Trump Organization Rebecca Manochio about her time at the Trump Organization.
"Is it a nice place to work?" Necheles asked.
"Yes," Manochio said.
"You didn't really interact with President Trump?" Necheles asked.
"No," Manochio replied.
During her cross examination, Manochio also testified that then-CFO Allen Weisselberg rarely communicated with Trump once he took office.
"President Trump and Allen Weisselberg did not speak at all?" Susan Necheles asked.
"Correct," Manochio responded.
Necheles attempted to highlight that the checks made out to Michael Cohen, that were sent to Trump for his signature, were sent to Trump's bodyguard in Washington because they were for "personal bills" that needed to be quickly paid, and the White House delayed Trump's personal mail.
"These were all personal bills that had to be paid promptly?" Necheles asked.
"Yes," Manochio said.
Donald Trump has returned to the courtroom following the lunch break.
Trump surveyed the gallery as he got to the defense counsel table.
Judge Merchan is back on the bench and Trump Organization bookkeeper Rebecca Manochio has taken her seat on the witness stand to resume her testimony.
