Trump trial: Judge rebukes Michael Cohen ahead of expected testimony Monday

Former President Trump was in court on Day 15 of his criminal trial in New York.

Last Updated: May 10, 2024, 1:54 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 09, 2024, 3:27 PM EDT

Westerhout had list of people who got patched through to Trump

Prosecutors showed jurors a contact list for Trump that Trump Organization executive assistant Rhona Graff passed along to White House aide Madeleine Westerhout in 2017.

Among the names listed were Tom Brady, Bret Baier, Sean Hannity, Jerry Falwell, Bill O'Reilly, and Joe Scarborough.

Michael Cohen, David Pecker, and Allen Weisselberg were also included on the list.

Westerhout said the list included the names of people Trump spoke to often or might want to speak with.

Westerhout said if someone called the White House who was included on the list, she would try to patch them through to Trump directly.

May 09, 2024, 3:09 PM EDT

Westerhout testifies that Trump didn't use computer, email

Trump White House aide Madeleine Westerhout testified that Trump did not use email or a computer.

"What is Mr. Trump's preferred method of communications?" prosecutor Becky Mangold asked.

"He liked speaking to people in person or over the phone," Westerhout said.

"Did Mr. Trump use a computer?" Mangold asked.

"Not to my knowledge," Westerhout said, adding Trump did not use email.

"He liked hard-copy documents," Westerhout said.

Westerhout testified that Trump paid attention to details and signed things himself, preferably with a Sharpie.

"He preferred to sign things himself," Westerhout said.

"Did he typically read things before signing them?" Mangold asked.

"Yes," Westerhout said.

May 09, 2024, 3:05 PM EDT

No one sat closer to Trump in White House, Westerhout says

Jurors saw a map of the West Wing of the White House to demonstrate where Madeleine Westerhout's desk was in relation to the Oval Office.

"That is the area known as the outer oval office -- that is where the presidential secretaries or assistants sat," Westerhout told the jurors, highlighting the location of her desk.

Westerhout said she sat near John McEntee, Hope Hicks, and Keith Schiller, but no one sat closer to Trump's desk in the Oval Office than she did in the early days of the Trump administration.

"Who was the focus of your job?" prosecutor Becky Mangold asked.

"The president," Westerhout responded.

May 09, 2024, 2:58 PM EDT

Westerhout testifies about 'Access Hollywood' fallout

Before she worked in the White House, witness Madeleine Westerhout worked at the Republican National Committee.

On the stand, she testified about the aftermath of the release of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape.

"It was a tape of Mr. Trump and Billy Bush," she said. "At the time I recall it rattling RNC leadership."

Prosecutor Becky Mangold asked, "Did the RNC consider replacing Mr. Trump as a candidate?"

Westerhout told the jury, "It's my recollection there were conversations how it would be possible to replace him as the candidate if it came to that."

Westerhout testified that after Trump won the election, she helped with the presidential transition.

She said she earned the nickname "Greeter Girl" in the media after she helped coordinate meetings at Trump Tower, appearing in videos and photos accompanying potential Trump appointees in the Trump Tower lobby.

Related Topics