Trump’s history-making hush-money trial begins ...

Is that a yes or a no? And if I searched back will I find you making the same claim about the Mueller investigation?

Do you agree that had Mueller found Trump had committed crimes he could have brought those charges in his report and recommendations requesting prosecution?

 

And to avoid embarrassment both business and family like all such NDA's. Perfectly legal and not a campaign finance issue.

 

No. Quote me saying they are REQUIRED. Else admit I have never indicated any such "ok with Trump having a gag order ? Because that would benefit him, right ?" and that was YOUR dodge.

 

So can any of you anti-Trumpers yet tell us what is this underlying crime yet?

 

In plain English.

"Pecker confirms he bought McDougal story to influence 2016 election"

 

5 min ago
Prosecutor now shifts questioning to Pecker's 2018 FBI interview


Steinglass is now shifting to Pecker's 2018 FBI interview, where Pecker earlier disputed the FBI notes saying that Trump didn't thank him during a January 2017 meeting.

He asked Pecker about a subsequent interview with the FBI one week after the meeting Bove highlighted.

Steinglass is quoting from notes from that meeting that say, "At that time Trump told Pecker in sum and susbstance that he, Trump, wanted to thank him, Pecker, for handling the Karen and doorman stories because they would have been very damaging to him."

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

The notes from that interview confirm that Pecker told the FBI that when he visited Trump at Trump Tower in January 2017, Trump thanked Pecker for handling the doorman and McDougal stories.

Steinglass asked Pecker if he told the FBI that Trump thanked him.

"Yes I did," Pecker testified.

6 min ago
Pecker testifies again about call with Michael Cohen about Stormy Daniels story
Pecker testified again that he called Michael Cohen with then-editor-in-chief Dylan Howard encouraging him to buy Stormy Daniels’ story.

On the call, Pecker says he told Cohen that if the story gets out through another media outlet:

“The boss is going to be very, very, very angry with you.”

 

3 min ago
Bove is now back at the lectern


Steinglass just wrapped up his questioning. Emil Bove is back at the lectern and is starting his line of questioning.

3 min ago
Steinglass reads more records from Pecker's testimony to a federal grand jury in 2018
Steinglass read more records from Pecker's testimony to a federal grand jury in 2018 in which the publisher also relayed the story of that January 2017 meeting at Trump Tower.

Per the transcript, Pecker told the grand jury at the time that during that conversation with Trump, Trump said that "Karen is a good girl," a reference to Karen McDougal.

Pecker also confirmed that in his 2018 grand jury testimony, he testified that Trump told him the McDougal and doorman stories could have been damaging.

Pecker said that Trump thought they "would be very damaging to his campaign and his election."

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

 

1 min ago
Prosecution has Graff walk through her duties at the Trump organization


Rhona Graff, Trump's former longtime assistant, is testifying pursuant to a subpoena.

The assistant district attorney started her questions for Graff by asking her about her time with the Trump organization.

Graff said she worked for Trump for 34 years at the Trump Organization, sitting outside his office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower. She was in control of his calendar and in charge of maintaining Trump's contacts at the organization

"For the most part it was me," Graff says, when asked if she was in control of Trump's calendar.



4 min ago
Graff is being questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger
Assistant District Attorney Susan Hoffinger is handling the direct examination of Rhona Graff.

3 min ago
Prosecutors call witness Rhona Graff, Trump's long-time assistant, to the stand
Prosecutors have called witness Rhona Graff to the stand.

Graff is Trump's former long-time assistant.

As she entered the courtroom, Trump looked over at her. She did not appear to glance at his table on her walk to the witness stand.



1 min ago
David Pecker has ended his testimony
From CNN's Elizabeth Hartfield

The first witness for the prosecution, David Pecker, is off the stand.

Pecker testified for a little over 10 hours across four days.


https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

 

2m ago / 2:51 PM EDT
Graff says Trump Organization is paying for her lawyers


Adam Reiss and Rebecca Shabad
Graff, a former executive assistant for Trump, said that the Trump Organization is paying for her two attorneys.


https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/do...-money-case-live-updates-rcna149466#rcrd40232

 

1m ago / 2:53 PM EDT
Analysis: Bove misjudged in the questions about McDougal's brand

Lisa Rubin

Bove miscalculated in trying to get Pecker to agree that McDougal was a celebrity or a brand; this is a person with precise knowledge of who and what sold in the time frame at issue — and McDougal, Playmate of the Year or not, did not meet Enquirer celebrity criteria.

It was also a tactical error to re-use Steinglass’ best phrase of the day: "Enquirer gold."

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/do...-money-case-live-updates-rcna149466#rcrd40232

 

Rhona Graff is up as the next witness. I expect her to not be overly cooperative.

 

min ago
Analysis: Why Rhona Graff is a "valuable" witness

From CNN's Kaanita Iyer and Ramishah Maruf

Prosecutors have called Rhona Graff, Donald Trump's former longtime assistant, to the witness stand.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker in his testimony Tuesday described sitting in Trump's office Graff walked in and gave him invoices and checks to sign.

CNN previously reported in 2022 that Graff was subpoenaed as part of the separate New York attorney general's investigation into the Trump Organization’s finances.

CNN analyst Gloria Borger said that Graff was very close to Trump.

"She could be quite a valuable witness in terms of talking about how much attention he paid to detail, whom he was talking with, what his relationship with Michael Cohen was," Borger said.
Graff can also reveal how the Trump organization worked, Borger said, and even provide a glimpse into Trump's life and speak on the relationships between Trump and his children.

Assistants also make powerful witnesses because they can see who is coming in out of the office.

2 min ago
Prosecutors ask Graff about emails she exchanged with an official at the Trump White House
Prosecutors asked Graff to verify several exhibits that are emails she exchanged with Madeleine Westerhout, who worked in the Trump White House.

As we get into the minutiae of emails sent between Trump's White House and Trump Organization assistants, Trump has sat back in his chair and closed his eyes again.

4 min ago
Trump never used email to communicate as far as Graff can remember
Under direct examination, Graff said that Trump never used email to communicate as far as she can remember.

A court security officer also handed Graff a thumb drive.



https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/do...-money-case-live-updates-rcna149466#rcrd40232

 

3 min ago
Graff recalls seeing Stormy Daniels in the reception area at Trump Tower before Trump ran for office


Graff recalls seeing Stormy Daniels in the reception area at Trump Tower before Trump ran for president.



2 min ago
Graff confirms she kept contact info for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels
Graff confirms that two contacts she maintained at the Trump Organization were for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels.

Partially redacted exhibits in court show a contact entry in the organization's system for Karen McDougal, with a phone number, email address and two addresses.

Graff confirms she believes she created the contact for Trump.

The next contact Hoffinger shows in the Trump Org system is listed as "Stormy." It just lists a cell phone number.

Graff confirms that the Stormy contact was Stormy Daniels.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

 

Anyone know who the defense's witnesses are?

 

2 min ago
Trump attorney Susan Necheles is now asking questions


The prosecutor has wrapped her direct examination of Graff.

Trump attorney Susan Necheles is now beginning her cross examination.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

 

From who and how did Graff get the 2 women's contacts?

"Graff confirms she believes she created the contact for Trump."

 

It means do as you like.

I disagree, Muller did find tRaitor tRump committed “Obstruction”; but it was against DOJ Policy to prosecute.

 

2 min ago
Jurors are seeing who Trump met with over 3 days in January 2017, according to his calendar


Hoffinger shows calendar entries for Trump from January 16 to January 19, 2017, from the Trump Organization appointment calendar, including an entry for a "teleprompter practice session" on the 25th floor of Trump Tower on January 16, 2017.

Another entry shows Trump had an appointment with Ainsley Earhardt from Fox and Friends on January 17, 2017.

On the same day, he also had an appointment for a photo shoot for Mike Allen for the Washington Post.

Graff confirms that the entries show Trump was working at Trump Tower at that time.

According to the calendar, Trump was expected to be wheels up from LGA to DCA on Jan 19, 2017, the day before the inauguration.


https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

 

1 min ago
Trump is smiling as Graff describes working with him


Trump is smiling and watching Graff speak as his attorneys begin to ask questions of his former longtime assistant.

"I never had the same day twice in all that time," Graff says, as she describes her time at the Trump organization. "It was a very stimulating, exciting, fascinating place to be."

Asked if Trump respected her intelligence, Graff says she wouldn't have worked there for 34 years if he didn't. Trump laughed at the comment.

Asked if Trump was a good boss, Graff says, "I think that he was fair, and, what’s the word I’m looking for, respectful boss to me."

"Sometimes he would peek his head in and say go home to your family, which I thought was very thoughtful of him," Graff testifies.

Graff says Trump invited her to the inauguration and she got to sit up close. She says it was a "unique" experience to sit on the platform at the inauguration with her husband.

She testified that "The Apprentice" elevated Trump to "rock star status."

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

 

1 min ago
After questions about Trump's interest in the casting of "Celebrity Apprentice," prosecutors object


After a series of questions about Trump's interest in the casting of "Celebrity Apprentice," prosecutors object. Lawyers are at the bench.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

 

min ago
After questions about Trump's interest in the casting of "Celebrity Apprentice," prosecutors object


After a series of questions about Trump's interest in the casting of "Celebrity Apprentice," prosecutors object. Lawyers are at the bench.

Necheles next brought up Graff's mention of seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower.

"I vaguely recall hearing him say that she was one of the people that may be an interesting contestant on the show," Graff testified.
Trump's attorney went into a line of questioning about how Trump was very involved in finding contestants for the "Celebrity Apprentice," confirming with Graff that Trump looked for "colorful" or "interesting" candidates to cast.

"He would vocalize" sometimes people Trump was interested in having as "Apprentice" contestants to members of his staff, she said.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

 

- NEWSMAKERS
Stormy Daniels describes her alleged affair with Donald Trump



August 22, 2018 / 5:56 PM EDT / CBS News


Stormy Daniels: Yeah. He was like, "Wow, you-- you are special. You remind me of my daughter." You know-- he was like, "You're smart and beautiful, and a woman to be reckoned with, and I like you. I like you."

Anderson Cooper: At this point was he doing The Apprentice?


Stormy Daniels: Yes. And he goes, "Got an idea, honeybunch. Would you ever consider going on and-- and being a contestant?" And I laughed and-- and said, "NBC's never gonna let, you know, an adult film star be on." It's, you know, he goes, "No, no," he goes, "That's why I want you. You're gonna shock a lotta people, you're smart and they won't know what to expect"

Anderson Cooper: Did you think he was serious, or did you think he was kind of dangling to get you to wanna be involved him?

Stormy Daniels: Both.


cont
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stormy...ffair-with-donald-trump-60-minutes-interview/

 

8 min ago
Trump moved toward Graff as she walked out of the courtroom. It's unclear if they exchanged words


Trump stood and moved toward Graff as she walked out of the courtroom. It wasn't clear if they exchanged words as she left the stand.

Trump is walking out with a stern expression, clutching his stack of documents, as he continues to scan both sides of the courtroom.

7 min ago
Analysis: Trump's long-term assistant was an opportunity for defense to humanize the former president
From CNN's Elise Hammond

In its cross-examination of Donald Trump’s long-time assistant, the defense is looking for another opportunity to humanize the former president, according to CNN anchor and chief legal analyst Laura Coates.

Rhona Graff testified that she worked for Trump for 34 years at the Trump Organization, sitting outside his office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower.

“This is not a time to, as a cross-examiner, to attack her as if she is out to get Donald Trump. You’re going to see a softer touch for this particular witness,” Coates said.

That’s compared to the cross-examination of the last witness, former tabloid publisher David Pecker, who testified about the National Enquirer’s efforts to suppress negative stories that could have harmed Trump's 2016 campaign.

Still, the defense ended the questioning of Pecker with a question also aimed at humanizing the former president. Defense attorney Emil Bove asked Pecker if he believed Trump cares about his family. He replied, “Of course I do.”

Graff is another opportunity for the defense to continue to tell that story about Trump to the jury, Coates said.

“You hear a lot about the myth of Donald Trump and of course, all the bravado, what you think might happen in Trump Tower. Her role is to demystify all of that and portray him as somebody who is approachable,” Coates said.
10 min ago
The judge is excusing the jury for a recess
Judge Juan Merchan is excusing the jury for an afternoon recess.

The break will last 15 minutes.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html

 

No he did not find that nor made such a charge, so you are asserting Mueller stated Presidents cannot be charged with crimes they commit. So why does that not apply now?

 

2 min ago
Gary Farro is the next witness


Gary Farro is the prosecution's next witness. He worked at First Republic bank for 15 years.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-26-24/index.html