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.
Top headlines:
- Banker says he set up LLC, which Cohen used to pay Daniels
- 'Thank you for handling' McDougal, Pecker says Trump told him
- 'This story is true,' Pecker recounts being told of Stormy Daniels
- Pecker describes $150,000 negotiations for McDougal's story
- Secret Service has plans if Trump is confined for contempt: Sources
What to know about the hush money case
READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.
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.
Trump calls trial 'assault on America'
Former President Trump arrived at the courtroom at 9:32 a.m. flanked by members of his legal team.
In brief remarks to reporters on the way in, he called his criminal trial an "assault on America."
"Nothing like this has ever happened before," Trump said, marking his first comments of the day as he becomes the first former American president to face criminal charges.
"There is no case," he said. "This is political persecution."
Trump also attacked President Joe Biden and said the case should not go forward.
Upon entering the courtroom, he sat at the defendant's table as his lawyers and court officers buzzed around him.