Trump trial: Stormy Daniels tells (almost) all about alleged sexual encounter with Trump
Donald Trump watched Stormy Daniels testify on Day 13 of his hush money trial.
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.
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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.
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.
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."
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."
McConney tells story of Trump saying, 'You're fired'
Trump once told McConney, "You're fired" -- but it was just a "teaching moment," the former Trump Organization controller testified.
McConney shared an anecdote from early in his tenure at the Trump Organization, in the late 1980s -- which might have foreshadowed the iconic catchphrase Trump later brandished on his reality TV show, The Apprentice.
"I would hand-deliver the [cash position] report to him once a week," McConney explained.
On one of those occasions, McConney said he entered Trump's office while Trump was on the phone. After he dropped off the report, McConney said he turned to leave. Trump asked whoever he was on the phone with to "hold on."
"Jeff, you're fired," he said Trump told him, before turning back to his conversation on the phone.
McConney said he waited until Trump rang off. When he did, he said, "Jeff, you're not fired. But my cash balances went down since last week."
"It was a teaching moment," McConney said. "Just because someone is asking for money, negotiate with 'em, talk to 'em -- don't just do it mindlessly."
Trump, sitting at the defense table, appeared to flash a smile as McConney relayed the anecdote.