The first week of testimony in former President Trump’s hush money trial has wrapped Friday in Manhattan.
The trial so far has been dominated by splashy testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who spent much of this week divulging seedy details of media agreements he entered into with Trump and ex-lawyer Michael Cohen to keep negative stories about Trump out of the news while he mounted his 2016 campaign.
Pecker, the prosecution’s first witness, was on the stand all four days of the trial this week. On Friday afternoon, the prosecution called its second witness, Trump’s longtime executive assistant Rhona Graff, who took the stand for just a few minutes. Next came banker Gary Farro, who detailed financial dealings he had with Cohen.
The trial resumes Tuesday.
Follow below for a recap from New York.
Judge Juan Merchan adjourned court proceedings for the weekend, sending jurors off with a reminder not to speak about the case or research it.
The week was defined by splashy testimony from ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who revealed the inner workings of backroom deals the tabloid made with Trump and other celebrities.
His testimony largely bolstered the state’s theory of the case, that the tabloid assisted Trump and his campaign in quieting bad press about the then-candidate while amplifying negative stories about his opponents.
In the last few hours of the day, Trump’s longtime assistant testified to her knowledge of his calendar and contacts, and a banker who worked with Michael Cohen began his testimony.
The trial will resume on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
— Ella Lee
Farro walked jurors through how Cohen in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign looked to set up two bank accounts for shell companies.
Cohen originally wanted to set up an account for Resolution Consultants LLC, but never funded it, Farro testified. Prosecutors have said the entity was formed amid the National Enquirer’s efforts to seek reimbursements from Cohen for burying Karen McDougal’s story. No reimbursement was ever made.
Next, Farro said, Cohen shifted and instead set up an account at First Republic for Essential Consultants LLC. The entity was ultimately utilized in the payoff to Stormy Daniels, according to the indictment.
— Zach Schonfeld
After multiple days of salacious testimony from David Pecker, the first witness and ex-publisher of the National Enquirer, the testimony from witnesses Friday afternoon has been more dull.
Rhona Graff, Trump’s ex-assistant who spent years sitting just outside his New York office, got on the stand to primarily confirm calendar records and other documents. Banker Gary Farro has similarly spent much of his time confirming documents, also explaining in detail how wealthy individuals utilize the private banking system.
The shift in storyline is representative of the broader mixing of sex, politics and paperwork that makes up the historic trial.
— Zach Schonfeld
After prosecutor Becky Mangold had Farro walk through his background and role at First Republic, Farro confirmed that Trump’s then-fixer who made the hush payment, Michael Cohen, became his client in 2015.
The banker said he was selected to manage Cohen’s account because he has an ability to handle clients “who may be a little challenging.”
Farro later added he didn’t find Cohen to be that difficult.
— Zach Schonfeld
The district attorney’s third witness in Trump’s hush money criminal case is Gary Farro, former senior managing director at First Republic Bank. He now works at a different bank.
The $130,000 hush money payment at the center of the case was allegedly wired through First Republic, and the bank reportedly flagged it as suspicious at the time.
— Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee
Susan Necheles, Trump’s attorney, similarly concluded her cross-examination of Graff in just minutes. Prosecutors did not have any questions for redirect, and the witness was excused.
As Graff got off the stand, the former president stood to greet her, appearing to try to shake her hand and say something to her.
The court will now take a brief break.
— Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee
Graff confirmed that Trump at one point considered putting porn actress Stormy Daniels on his TV show, “The Apprentice,” indicating Trump said Daniels “may be interesting on the show.”
That’s why Daniels was present that day at Trump Tower, Graff testified.
Daniels has long claimed Trump considered her for the show after they allegedly had sex in 2006, but he stopped talking to Daniels once she declined to have sex with him again.
Trump denies any sexual encounter with her.
— Zach Schonfeld
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger concluded direct examination of longtime Trump secretary Rhona Graff after just a matter of minutes.
After looking at the contact listings for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, Graff confirmed the authenticity of various calendar entries showing Trump was working out of Trump Tower in New York in the final days before he took office in 2017.
Trump attorney Susan Necheles is now questioning Graff on cross-examination.
The former president is smiling and chuckling at Graff as she spoke positively of her former boss, calling him “fair and respectful.”
— Zach Schonfeld
Graff confirmed prosecutors’ exhibits showing she had contacts for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, the two women paid off who alleged having sex with Trump. Trump denies any sexual encounter with either woman.
Graff also said she vaguely remembered seeing Daniels once in Trump Tower on the floor of Trump’s office.
— Zach Schonfeld
Rhona Graff is Trump’s former longtime secretary, having joined the Trump Organization in 1987. She also held the title of senior vice president in the company.
Graff was in Trump’s close orbit during his 2016 campaign when the hush money deals were arranged, and after he entered the White House, she still reportedly served as a go-between for Trump’s friends and associates.
— Zach Schonfeld
Pecker has finished his testimony as the state’s lead witness in its hush money case against Trump.
The ex-National Enquirer publisher laid bare seedy dealings between the tabloid and then-candidate Trump as he mounted his 2016 White House bid.
The state’s next witness is Rhona Graff, Trump’s longtime assistant.
— Ella Lee
Proceedings are back underway around 2:15 p.m. EDT after court took a lunch break.
The trial will continue with further testimony from Pecker, who is being questioned under redirect by the prosecution.
Pecker testified on redirect questioning by the prosecution that choosing not to publish Karen McDougal’s story was an unusual decision in his position as publisher of the National Enquirer.
“Had you published a story about a Playboy model having a yearlong sexual affair, while he was married, with a presidential candidate — would that have sold magazines, do you think?” Joshua Steinglass asked.
Pecker agreed it would, confirming the prosecutor’s assertion the story would have been “National Enquirer gold.”
“But you had zero intention of publishing that story,” Steinglass said. “You killed that story because it helped candidate Donald Trump.”
“Yes,” Pecker replied.
— Ella Lee
The district attorney’s office asked questions of Pecker during its redirect that reaffirmed his previous testimony.
“Did you suppress the stories to help a presidential candidate?” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked bluntly.
“Yes I did,” Pecker replied.
Asked about American Media Inc.’s nonprosecution agreement with the government, Pecker said it was his understanding that when the company signed the deal, it acknowledged violating federal election law.
Emil Bove, Trump’s attorney, sought to paint Pecker’s comment that he admitted to violating the law as a misstatement of the agreement, which promised no prosecution would occur. But the DA’s office attempted to show that Pecker’s remarks aligned with the language of the agreement.
And Steinglass took aim at the defense narrative that it was “standard operating procedure” for Pecker’s company to squash stories for celebrities and other politicians.
“Is it standard for AMI to be consulting with a presidential candidate’s fixer about amendments to a source agreement?” he asked.
Pecker said it was not.
— Ella Lee
Trump’s lawyers have finished their cross-examination of Pecker.
Prosecutors will now have an opportunity to question their witness again in redirect examination.
— Zach Schonfeld