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, 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.

May 06, 2024, 10:48 AM EDT

McConney's notes show Cohen's repayment schedule

Former Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney's handwritten notes from a conversation with then-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg memorialize a monthly reimbursement schedule to Michael Cohen that prosecutors allege was ultimately falsified to keep voters in the dark about the hush payment to Stormy Daniels.

"We were going to wire the funds monthly from Mr. Trump's personal account," McConney said.

Cohen was to be paid $35,000 each month for twelve months. "That was just math," McConney said.

McConney calculated the monthly payment based the $130,000 wire to Keith Davidson, Daniels' attorney, plus $50,000 to the IT consulting company Red Finch.

Cohen doubled the $180,000 total.

"Michael recorded $360,000 for tax purposes," McConney said. There was an addition $60,000 to be paid as a bonus after "Michael was complaining his bonus wasn't large enough."

May 06, 2024, 10:34 AM EDT

McConney says Weisselberg told him about reimbursing Cohen

Former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney testified about how he learned about the need to reimburse Michael Cohen in 2017.

"Allen said, 'We have to get some money to Michael -- reimburse Michael," McConney said, referring to then-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. "He tossed a pad toward me and I started taking notes on what he said. That's how I found out about it."

McConney said that the money included Cohen's bonus for the year and "some other money he was owed." Prosecutors allege that the payment reimbursed Cohen in part for his $130,000 hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

Asked to describe Cohen's role in the company, McConney responded, "He said he was a lawyer."

May 06, 2024, 10:27 AM EDT

McConney says only Trump could sign personal checks

Former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney testified that Donald Trump was the only one who could sign checks that were cut from his personal checking account.

"Who had signature authority for checks from the DJT account?," he was asked.

"Just President Trump," McConney responded.

But McConney also testified that in 2017 there were multiple individuals who could have signed checks that cut from the revocable trust, including Eric Trump and then-CFO Allan Weisselberg.

"For checks under $10,000 any of them [could sign]," McConney said. "Over $10,000 needed two signatures"

Eric Trump, who is seated in the first row, did not react when his name was repeatedly mentioned from the witness stand. He continued staring at the monitor to his left.

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