Trump trial: 1st week of testimony ends with testimony from Michael Cohen's former banker

Banker Gary Farro testified in Donald Trump's hush money 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 to hide the reimbursement of 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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Trump greets longtime assistant after she steps off stand

Former President Trump appeared to have a visible reaction when the DA's office called his longtime executive assistant to the stand, and he craned his chin up as she stepped up. He half-smiled, almost sadly.

When exhibits were put on the screen during Graff's brief testimony, Trump leaned entirely forward toward the monitor on his table, squinting to see the documents.

When Trump's attorney said to Graff, "You don't want to be here, do you?" Graff responded, "That's correct." Trump attorney Todd Blanche laughed, but Trump did not.

At the end of Graff's testimony, when she got off the stand and made her way past Trump, he did something he hasn't done yet: He stood up from his seat to greet her, appearing to try to shake her hand.


Graff says Daniels was possibly in Trump Tower for 'The Apprentice'

After longtime Trump assistant Rhona Graff testified that she vaguely recalled seeing Stormy Daniels on in the reception area on the 26th floor of Trump Tower, defense attorney Trump sought to reframe Graff's testimony as innocuous -- suggesting to Graff that Daniels was spotted in Trump Tower because she was being considered for a role on Trump's TV show, "The Apprentice."

Graff, from the witness stand, confirmed that she was aware through "office chatter" that Daniels was being considered for the show. She said that Trump was frequently on the hunt for "celebrities who were colorful, or interesting" to "bring new juice to the show."

As part of those musings, Graff said she became aware that Daniels was being considered.

"I vaguely recall hearing him say that she may be one of the interesting people who could be on the show," Graff testified.


Graff says Trump's contact entries included McDougal, Daniels

Donald Trump kept contact information for two women who alleged they had sexual relationships with him, his longtime executive assistant testified Friday as the trial's second witness.

After former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker concluded his historic testimony as the first witness in the first criminal trial of a former president, Graff, entered the courtroom with a cane. Trump turned to see her as she entered, but the two did not appear to make eye contact.

Graff's testimony appeared to be a pick-me-up for jurors, who had been listening to the same voice on the witness stand for the better part of four days.

Graff worked for the Trump Organization for 34 years, beginning in October 1987, and testified that she was responsible for keeping Trump's contacts and calendars. Graff said those contacts included Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels

Graff testified that she created the contact entry for Karen McDougal that included two addresses, a cell phone number, and an email address.

Under questioning from prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, Graff testified she had also entered a contact for Stormy Daniels.

"It contains her mobile phone number," Graff said. "I have a vague recollection of seeing her in the reception area on the 26th floor."

Graff said she also knew Daniels was a porn star.


Prosecutors call longtime Trump assistant Rhona Graff

Prosecutors have called Donald Trump's longtime executive assistant Rhona Graff as their next witness.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker stepped down from the witness stand after a brief re-cross examination.


Prosecutors want to question Trump about civil cases

If former President Trump opts to testify in the trial, prosecutors want to question him about all the times he has been held liable in civil court, according to a new court filing in the case.

Prosecutors have asked Judge Juan Merchan to hold a hearing, known as a Sandoval hearing, to determine the scope of what they can ask Trump on cross-examination.

"We are prepared to do a Sandoval hearing now, later or whenever the court desires," Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said on Monday.

The judge has not set a date for the hearing but suggested it could be Friday.

In their filing, prosecutors outlined the civil cases they'd like to bring up during the criminal trial, including the $464 million judgment in Trump's civil fraud case, the defamation and battery cases brought by E. Jean Carroll and a lawsuit Trump filed against Hillary Clinton claiming she conspired to rig the 2016 election, for which Trump and his lawyers faced legal sanctions after the case was thrown out as frivolous.

Prosecutors also want to question Trump about a criminal case his company lost in 2022, when the Trump Organization was convicted of tax evasion by providing non-cash compensation to top executives.

They also want to bring up a civil case the New York attorney general won against the Trump Foundation for misusing charitable donations.