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.

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.


What to know about the hush money case

READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.


0

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.


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.


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.


Prosecutors call White House aide Madeleine Westerhout

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.


Judge rebukes Cohen ahead of Monday's expected testimony

Judge Merchan communicated a bit of a warning to Michael Cohen ahead of his planned testimony next week, telling prosecutors to ask him to stop talking about the case after Trump's team brought up his continued out-of-court statements.

"I would direct the people to communicate to Mr. Cohen that the judge is asking him to refrain from making any more statements about this case," Merchan said.

"That comes from the bench and you are communicating that on behalf of the bench," said the judge.

Merchan's rebuke came after defense attorney Todd Blanche brought up recent statements by Cohen, including his appearing on TikTok this week wearing a shirt with a photo of Trump behind bars.

"It's becoming a problem every single day that President Trump is not allowed to respond to this witness," Blanche urged. "He has stated on social media that he is going to stop talking, and he doesn't," Blanche said of Cohen.

Prosecutors said they had already "repeatedly" asked Cohen and others not to post about the case, but claimed they had no control over the witnesses.

Trump, at the defense table, grinned broadly during the exchange regarding Cohen and his behavior on social media. But he shook his head and looked at Blanche, seemingly in disbelief, when Merchan -- instead of ordering Cohen to stop -- merely asked prosecutors to speak to him.

Court was subsequently adjourned for the week.