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.


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AT&T analyst testifies about Cohen's phone records

Prosecutors called Daniel Dixon, who works as a lead compliance analyst at AT&T, to testify as a custodian of records about cell phone data.

Prosecutors used his testimony to enter into evidence phone records for Michael Cohen's company phone that jurors will likely see later when Cohen testifies.

As Dixon testified, Trump leaned forward in his chair with a yellow highlighter in hand, flipping through and marking up a stack of papers.

Defense attorney Emil Bove then did a detailed cross-examination of Dixon, as part of an effort to cast any possible doubt on records related to Cohen.

Dixon then stepped off the stand, with he and Trump exchanging tight smiles as he passed the defense table.


Westerhout exits with a quick word of thanks from Trump

During a short redirect examination, Trump White House aide Madeleine Westerhout confirmed that she currently works as the chief of staff for Robert C. O'Brien, who served as Trump's national security adviser from 2019 to 2021.

Westerhout then concluded her testimony.

She and Trump both smiled at each other as she stepped off the witness stand. As she passed by the defense table, Trump whispered what appeared to be a brief word of thanks to her.


Westerhout says Trump was 'very upset' by WSJ article

Defense attorney Necheles concluded her cross-examination of Trump White House aide Madeleine Westerhout by asking Westerhout about Trump's reaction to the 2018 Wall Street Journal story about the Stormy Daniels hush money payment.

Westerhout confirmed she spoke with Trump after the story came out and recalled that "he was very upset by it."

"Why?" Necheles asked.

"My understanding is he knew it would be hurtful to his family," Westerhout said.

Part of her testimony about Trump's response was struck from the record because Westerhout could not recall Trump specifically mentioning his family.

"I could just tell that the whole situation was unpleasant," Westerhout said.


Defense suggests avoiding White House mail is standard

Defense attorney Susan Necheles suggested that the practice of not mailing Trump's personal items directly to the White House -- including checks for him to sign -- was a standard practice used by past presidents to quickly get their personal mail.

"It was a way that items could be sent to you and you could get them promptly to President Trump?" Necheles asked Trump White House aide Madeleine Westerhout, suggesting that security practices delayed mail sent to the White House and that packages might get lost.

"That's right," Westerhout said.

"This was a problem [that] … exists for everybody who is in that office?" Necheles later asked, suggesting past administrations used a similar solution.

"I don't have any knowledge of what is was like in previous administrations, but I can't imagine it would have been any different," said Westerhout.

Necheles also sought to contradict the prosecution's contention that Trump personally reviewed every check he signed.

"You said he signed a tremendous amount of documents ... commissions, proclamations, executive orders, memos, letters ... hundreds of documents a day?" Necheles asked Westerhout.

"Not every day, but sometimes," Westerhout said.

"Sometimes he would sign checks without reviewing them?" Necheles asked.

"Yes," said Westerhout.


Prosecutors could rest their case by end of next week

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass indicted that the state's case could be headed into the home stretch.

"We expect to call potentially two witnesses" next week, Steinglass told Judge Merchan, saying it is "entirely possible" the state rests their case by the end of next week.

That will be followed by the presentation of the defense's case, then a prosecution rebuttal.

In another sign of how quickly the case is moving along, Merchan also invited the parties to begin submitting suggestions for the jury charge -- the instructions on the law delivered by the judge before the jury begins deliberating.