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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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 says only Trump could sign personal checks
Former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney testified that Donald Trump was the only one who could sign checks that were cut from his personal checking account.
"Who had signature authority for checks from the DJT account?," he was asked.
"Just President Trump," McConney responded.
But McConney also testified that in 2017 there were multiple individuals who could have signed checks that cut from the revocable trust, including Eric Trump and then-CFO Allan Weisselberg.
"For checks under $10,000 any of them [could sign]," McConney said. "Over $10,000 needed two signatures"
Eric Trump, who is seated in the first row, did not react when his name was repeatedly mentioned from the witness stand. He continued staring at the monitor to his left.
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.
McConney says he worked daily with CFO Allen Weisselberg
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo began his questioning of former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney, who is testifying under subpoena. McConney said the Trump Organization is paying for his attorneys in this matter.
McConney, who oversaw the company's general ledger and managed the accounting department, told jurors that he directly reported to Allen Weisselberg, the former Trump Organization CFO, from "the day I was hired until the day he left."
McConney told jurors that he interacted with Weisselberg on a daily basis.
"Other than having lunch everyday, whenever I needed to. His office was next to mine," McConney said.
Trump was 'cursing audibly' during Daniels' testimony
Former President Trump was "cursing audibly" at one point during today's direct examination of Stormy Daniels, according to a transcript of a sidebar conversation that was released following court.
"I understand that your client is upset at this point, but he is cursing audibly, and he is shaking his head visually and that's contemptuous.
It has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that," Judge Juan Merchan told Trump's attorney during the sidebar, according to the transcript.
"I will talk to him," said Trump attorney Todd Blanche.
"So, I am speaking to you here at the bench because I don't want to embarrass him," Merchan said. "You need to speak to him. I won't tolerate that."
"I will talk to him," Blanche replied.
Following a subsequent break, reporters heard Judge Merchan ask Blanche whether he had spoken to his client, but at the time it wasn't clear what the judge was referring to.
Daniels' testimony included a graphic description of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.