Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial has resumed at Manhattan Criminal Court with Judge Juan Merchan finding the former president in contempt of court for a tenth time, fining him another $1,000 and warning the next violation of his gag order will result in jail time.
Last week’s session ended with emotional testimony from the former president’s one-time White House communication director Hope Hicks, who recounted her experiences serving his presidential campaign in October 2016 when the notorious Access Hollywood tape emerged and said Mr Trump “knew” Michael Cohen had paid off adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Over the weekend, the GOP 2024 contender returned to Florida to attend the Republican National Committee’s Spring Donor Retreat at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palm Beach, where he hobnobbed with influential conservatives, including many in contention to be his running mate, and delivered a scathing speech saying Joe Biden’s cabinet was running a “Gestapo administration.”
The White House accused Mr Trump of “echoing the appalling rhetoric of fascists, lunching with neo-Nazis, and fanning debunked conspiracy theories”.
The Independent’s Alex Woodward is covering the trial at Manhattan Criminal Court.
ADA Christopher Conroy asks whether the dollar amount would impact who could approve it payments.
“If it was under a certain amount, Allen [Weisselberg] would approve, and it was over, it would have to be someone higher up.”
That meant Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr or Donald Trump himself.
What happens once a check is printed out?
“Before he was president or after?”
Tarasoff would cut the check, “put the check on top of the invoice, staple it and bring it over” to Rhona Graff, Trump’s executive assistant. Then it would be signed by Trump and returned to her with the check still stapled on top of the invoice.
Alex Woodward6 May 2024 19:45
Tarasoff is wearing a loose blue and white plaid shirt. She has white hair and glasses.
She still works with the Trump Organization. She’s been there for 24 years.
Like McConney, she is here under a subpoena and the company is paying for her legal representation.
She is the Trump Organization’s accounts payable supervisor. She started as accounts payable 24 years ago.
Asked who is the owner of the company, she said: “Correct me if I’m wrong but Mr Trump.”
Here’s what Tarasoff does: “I get approved bills, I enter them into the system, and I cut the checks.”
What was Allen Weisselberg’s management style?
“He had his hands in everything.”
She did not interact with Trump at all, though she recalls seeing him around the office in 2016-2017.
Alex Woodward6 May 2024 19:38
New witness: Deb Tarasoff
The next witness up on the stand is Deb Tarasoff.
Ms Tarasoff was mentioned during this morning’s testimony regarding her role at the Trump Organization as an accounts payable supervisor and how Michael Cohen was paid.
This underlines that at the heart of this case is paperwork and not an alleged affair with a porn star as it is often framed.
Ms Tarasoff also testified at the civil fraud trial.
Oliver O’Connell6 May 2024 19:25
Court resumes after lunch
Court is getting back underway after lunch.
Per the pool report: “Trump did not speak when he walked back into the courtroom moments ago. He looked in the direction of the cameras and gave a thumbs up.”
Judge Merchan has returned to the bench.
Oliver O’Connell6 May 2024 19:16
Oliver O’Connell6 May 2024 19:12
Trump responds to Columbia University canceling commencement: ‘That shouldn’t happen’
Outside the New York court where Donald Trump is on trial for a hush money case, the former president addressed Columbia University’s announcement that commencement has been canceled due to ongoing student protests. Trump spoke to the press while holding printed articles on the matter. “That shouldn’t happen,” he said. He went on to mention that some of President Biden’s donors have also contributed to supporting the pro-Palestine student protesters. The Columbia student protests began 17 April when an encampment was established on campus in an attempt to urge the school to divest from Israel.
Oliver O’Connell6 May 2024 19:05
What happened in court this morning?
Alex Woodward summarises what we learned from this morning in court:
For the first time, jurors got to see the Trump Organization’s paper trail behind the 34 falsified records related to paying back Michael Cohen for paying off Stormy Daniels, including invoices and ledger entries that prosecutors say Trump had falsely approved as “legal expenses”.
In a remarkable moment at the very end of the prosecution’s questions, former Trump Organization comptroller Jeffrey McConney confirmed that he was “in the dark” about arrangements between Trump, Cohen and former CFO Allen Weisselberg.
“This was all happening above your head?” ADA Matthew Colangelo asked: “You were told to do something and you did it?”
McConney said yes to both.
We still don’t know who is left on the witness list. But as I mentioned before, the star of this trial, other than Trump, has been Michael Cohen, whose name and actions are central to nearly every witness’s testimony.
McConney was the trial’s 10th. We’ll find out who is No 11 when the trial resumes at 2.15pm.
Trump also has to delete any Truth Social content related to his gag-violating comments about the jury by then.
Oliver O’Connell6 May 2024 18:29
Leaked audio reveals Trump discussing his possible running mates
Oliver O’Connell6 May 2024 18:25
Court will resume at 2.15pm.
Expect a new witness to take the stand…
Oliver O’Connell6 May 2024 18:03
Assistant District Attorney Colangelo is back for a few questions in redirect.
Did McConney later become aware that there were “conversations that Weisselberg left you in the dark about?” Yes.
“This was all happening above your head?” Yes.
“You were told to do something and you did it?” Yes.
That’s it for McConney as a witness.
Judge Merchan excuses the jurors for lunch.
Alex Woodward6 May 2024 17:55
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