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We begin.
Adam Klasfeld: Trump's attorney Susan Necheles resumes her cross:
Westerhout speaks about her work with the RNC during Trump's campaign, and she agrees with Necheles' characterization that Trump and the party worked together as "one unit."
Adam Klasfeld: Trump's attorney Susan Necheles resumes her cross:
Westerhout speaks about her work with the RNC during Trump's campaign, and she agrees with Necheles' characterization that Trump and the party worked together as "one unit."
09:43 AM - May 10, 2024
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On Thursday, Westerhout said the RNC considered plans to replace Trump after the "Access Hollywood" tape landed.
"It's my recollection that there were conversations about how to, if it was needed, how it would be possible to replace him as the candidate if it came to that."
"It's my recollection that there were conversations about how to, if it was needed, how it would be possible to replace him as the candidate if it came to that."
09:45 AM - May 10, 2024
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It seemed that cross-examination was headed toward mitigating the blow of that testimony, but Necheles quickly pivoted to another subject following her questions about the RNC.
09:46 AM - May 10, 2024
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There's an objection by thew prosecution and the parties approach the bench. Sidebar.
While we wait, peruse Trump's pre-White House frequent contact list here:
It includes, among others, Serena Williams, Lorne Michaels, Jerry Falwell, Sean Hannity...
While we wait, peruse Trump's pre-White House frequent contact list here:
It includes, among others, Serena Williams, Lorne Michaels, Jerry Falwell, Sean Hannity...
09:55 AM - May 10, 2024
09:55 AM - May 10, 2024
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innercitypress
[Long sidebar. Then:] Trump's lawyer Necheles: Do you recognize this travel schedule?
Westerhout: I saw them when I was at RNC.
Necheles: They were created and kept in the ordinary court of the RNC's business, right?
Westerhout: Yes.
Prosecutor: May I voir dire?
[Long sidebar. Then:] Trump's lawyer Necheles: Do you recognize this travel schedule?
Westerhout: I saw them when I was at RNC.
Necheles: They were created and kept in the ordinary court of the RNC's business, right?
Westerhout: Yes.
Prosecutor: May I voir dire?
09:58 AM - May 10, 2024
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When the parties return, Justice Merchan announces that the motion to introduce the documents into evidence is DENIED.
09:59 AM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: Now Necheles asks Westerhout about the process of getting the checks to Trump. Sending things to the White House were slow, right? Yes. There was lots of security? Yes. You found out that some of his personal items sent to the White House were never received? Yes.
10:04 AM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: With this line of questioning, Necheles is trying to tell the jurors that there are other reasons why Trump's personal mail--the checks--would be sent to Keith Schiller or John McEntee instead of the White House.
10:06 AM - May 10, 2024
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innercitypress: Trump's lawyer Necheles: You sent out this photo of the first time President Trump boarded Air Force One - he was proud, right? Westerhout: Yes, he was proud. Necheles: He often sent newspaper clippings to people? Westerhout: He did.
10:10 AM - May 10, 2024
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Trump's lawyer Necheles: President Trump was upset because he thought it was disrespectful if he didn't respond promptly?
Westerhout: Definitely.
Necheles: So things would be sent to Keith Schiller, right?
Westerhout: Right.
Westerhout: Definitely.
Necheles: So things would be sent to Keith Schiller, right?
Westerhout: Right.
10:12 AM - May 10, 2024
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Trump's lawyer Necheles: He was a person who multi-tasked, right?
Westerhout: Definitely.
Necheles: People's 75 [Email of Rhona Graff asking about buying photo frame at TIffany's] You said you made the executive decision to spend the money because he was busy?
Yes
Westerhout: Definitely.
Necheles: People's 75 [Email of Rhona Graff asking about buying photo frame at TIffany's] You said you made the executive decision to spend the money because he was busy?
Yes
10:13 AM - May 10, 2024
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Trump's lawyer Necheles: You were working in the White House when Stormy Daniels' story came out?
Westerhout: Yes.
Necheles: He was upset?
Westerhout: Yes. He was concerned his family would see it.
Justice Merchan: Sustained. The answer is stricken. Any redirect?
Westerhout: Yes.
Necheles: He was upset?
Westerhout: Yes. He was concerned his family would see it.
Justice Merchan: Sustained. The answer is stricken. Any redirect?
10:16 AM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: Not a great note for Necheles to end on, but she's done with cross.
Mangold pops up for re-direct.
You've met Ms. Necheles before? Yes.
When is the last time you spoke to her? Two nights ago.
Mangold pops up for re-direct.
You've met Ms. Necheles before? Yes.
When is the last time you spoke to her? Two nights ago.
10:18 AM - May 10, 2024
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Mangold moves on to the checks.
Your testimony is that you are the chief of staff for the chairman of a consulting firm? Yes.
And the chairman is? Robert O'Brien
And he was Trump's national security adviser? Yes.
Your testimony is that you are the chief of staff for the chairman of a consulting firm? Yes.
And the chairman is? Robert O'Brien
And he was Trump's national security adviser? Yes.
10:19 AM - May 10, 2024
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During a brief re-cross, Necheles establishes that Westerhout previously met with prosecutors three times before testifying today.
And now Westerhout is done.
The People call their next witness: Daniel Dixon.
And now Westerhout is done.
The People call their next witness: Daniel Dixon.
10:20 AM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: Dixon (witness) works at AT&T. He's a compliance analyst, meaning he assists the company w/ responding to subpoenas.
He's almost certainly a "documents witness"--one the prosecution needs to elicit testimony from in order to get certain phone records into evidence.
He's almost certainly a "documents witness"--one the prosecution needs to elicit testimony from in order to get certain phone records into evidence.
10:25 AM - May 10, 2024
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After proceeding through the necessary questions to establish that the records are business records, the prosecution moves to admit the phone records--subscriber information and call detail logs--into evidence.
No objection. The records are admitted.
No objection. The records are admitted.
10:28 AM - May 10, 2024
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innercitypress
Prosecutor: What do you do there?
Dixon: Respond to legal demands, help law enforcement interpretate [sic] call records.
Prosecutor: Did you review this thumb drive?
Dixon: Yes. There are 6 AT&T numbers & 11 others.
Prosecutor: PX 400. Subject to sealing order
Prosecutor: What do you do there?
Dixon: Respond to legal demands, help law enforcement interpretate [sic] call records.
Prosecutor: Did you review this thumb drive?
Dixon: Yes. There are 6 AT&T numbers & 11 others.
Prosecutor: PX 400. Subject to sealing order
10:31 AM - May 10, 2024
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[On the screen: A Michael Cohen account report, with a dot DonaldTrump dot com email address. fwiw this witness Dixon is wearing a hat]
Prosecutor: What is a mobility report?
Dixon: Cell phone to cell phone.
Prosecutor: What is a mobility report?
Dixon: Cell phone to cell phone.
10:34 AM - May 10, 2024
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Adam Klasfeld: Why are phone records important to this case? It's been clear since the case has been charged.
On Oct. 26, 2016, Michael Cohen opened his shell company to funnel a $130,000 home equity loan to Stormy Daniels' lawyer — "shortly after speaking on the phone" with Trump.
On Oct. 26, 2016, Michael Cohen opened his shell company to funnel a $130,000 home equity loan to Stormy Daniels' lawyer — "shortly after speaking on the phone" with Trump.
10:37 AM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: Conroy walks through a few basics about the call logs with the witness. He displays a Michael Cohen account report. We talk about times zones and technical terms on the reports. Basically, the call detail records show calls Cohen made from his phone to other phones.
10:39 AM - May 10, 2024
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Adam Klasfeld: On cross, Trump's lawyer Emil Bove presses the witness on alternative explanations for the records.
Q: You're familiar with the concept of a pocket dial, right?
A: Correct.
Q: There's a lot of data here, but the data has limits, right?
The witness says they are logs.
Q: You're familiar with the concept of a pocket dial, right?
A: Correct.
Q: There's a lot of data here, but the data has limits, right?
The witness says they are logs.
10:42 AM - May 10, 2024
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innercitypress: Trump's lawyer Bove: You're aware of pocket dialing, yes?
Dixon: I am...
Bove: Nothing further.
Justice Merchan: Next witness.
Prosecutor: The People call Jenny Tomalin - of Verizon...
Dixon: I am...
Bove: Nothing further.
Justice Merchan: Next witness.
Prosecutor: The People call Jenny Tomalin - of Verizon...
10:44 AM - May 10, 2024
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current witness: Jenny Tomalin documents witness to get phone records into evidence
Anna Bower: Tomalin explains what each column on the call log reflects. It shows the date and time of the call. It also shows the city and state where the call originated and approximate duration of the call.
Anna Bower: Tomalin explains what each column on the call log reflects. It shows the date and time of the call. It also shows the city and state where the call originated and approximate duration of the call.
10:54 AM - May 10, 2024
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Conroy is done, and Bove is up for cross examination. Verizon rounds up in the "duration" field of the call log?
Yes, she replies.
So if a call lasts 15 seconds, that rounds up to 1 minute?
Yes.
And then Bove is done. We're taking a morning break.
Yes, she replies.
So if a call lasts 15 seconds, that rounds up to 1 minute?
Yes.
And then Bove is done. We're taking a morning break.
10:56 AM - May 10, 2024
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break
Bove explains that one objection relates to a clip the prosecution intends to admit into evidence. It's a clip of TFG on Larry King in 1999, talking about campaign finance law.
Defense: a video from 1999 can speak to TFG's state of mind related to campaign finance laws nearly 20 years later.
Bove explains that one objection relates to a clip the prosecution intends to admit into evidence. It's a clip of TFG on Larry King in 1999, talking about campaign finance law.
Defense: a video from 1999 can speak to TFG's state of mind related to campaign finance laws nearly 20 years later.
11:06 AM - May 10, 2024
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Mangold, for the prosecution, says that the prosecution disagrees. She says that the relevant corp contribution limits pertinent to this case were enacted in 1907. So TFG saying to King that "nobody knows more about campaign finance than I do" in 1999 is relevant.
Merchan will rule after the break.
Merchan will rule after the break.
11:08 AM - May 10, 2024
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also today
https://nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/DM-PomerantzSubpoena.pdf
Judge Merchan enters this order quashing the defense’s subpoena directed to former Special ADA Mark Pomerantz.
https://nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/DM-PomerantzSubpoena.pdf
Judge Merchan enters this order quashing the defense’s subpoena directed to former Special ADA Mark Pomerantz.
11:13 AM - May 10, 2024
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The prosecution says it only has two more witnesses today, and they will be relatively brief. So we expect to wrap up with today's witness testimony by lunchtime (around 1 pm).
11:16 AM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: The next witness is Georgia Longstreet, America's favorite paralegal, who is back to provide testimony on Donald Trump's social media usage.
11:19 AM - May 10, 2024
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We see a Trump post on Twitter form April 21, 2018, in which he says that a "third rate reporter named Maggie Haberman, known as a Crooked H flunky who don't speak to," is going out of her way to destroy Michael Cohen in the hopes that he will "flip."
11:23 AM - May 10, 2024
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Another Trump tweet from August 22, 2018 (after Cohen pleaded guilty to federal charges):
"If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!"
"If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!"
11:27 AM - May 10, 2024
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More Trump tweets about Cohen. This one is from May 3, 2018, and it's the tweet in which Trump specifically concedes that Cohen was "reimbursed" for the Daniels payment.
11:33 AM - May 10, 2024
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innercitypress: Prosecutor [after showing a tweet praising Paul Manafort for, by contrast, not flipping] Is this a three tweet thread?
Longstreet: Yes. May 3, 2018.
[Thread about NDA payment, "campaign contributions played no part in this transaction"]
Longstreet: Yes. May 3, 2018.
[Thread about NDA payment, "campaign contributions played no part in this transaction"]
11:35 AM - May 10, 2024
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Prosecutor: Who redacted these text messages?
Longstreet: I did.
Prosecutor: Please read them?
Longstreet: This is from Gina Rodriguez to Dylan Howard: Stormy Daniels was his mistress... She will talk under two conditions
Longstreet: I did.
Prosecutor: Please read them?
Longstreet: This is from Gina Rodriguez to Dylan Howard: Stormy Daniels was his mistress... She will talk under two conditions
11:37 AM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: The prosecution now instructs Longstreet to read a series of text messages into the record. They are messages between Stormy Daniels' manager, Gina Rodriguez, and the National Enquirer's Dylan Howard.
The texts were previously admitted into evidence:
The texts were previously admitted into evidence:
11:46 AM - May 10, 2024
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Adam Klasfeld
Recall:
During opening statements, Trump's lead attorney Todd Blanche explicitly denied his client reimbursed Michael Cohen.
He claimed they were legal fees.
"President Trump did not pay Mr. Cohen back $130,000. President Trump paid Michael Cohen $420,000."
Recall:
During opening statements, Trump's lead attorney Todd Blanche explicitly denied his client reimbursed Michael Cohen.
He claimed they were legal fees.
"President Trump did not pay Mr. Cohen back $130,000. President Trump paid Michael Cohen $420,000."
11:53 AM - May 10, 2024
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Adam Klasfeld
Now, the jury has at least three of Trump's admissions to the contrary before them: (1) this tweet, (2) a conflict-of-interest form, and (3) testimony about a court document with such an admission
Now, the jury has at least three of Trump's admissions to the contrary before them: (1) this tweet, (2) a conflict-of-interest form, and (3) testimony about a court document with such an admission
11:54 AM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: Todd Blanche is up for cross examination on behalf of Trump. You testified that you review thousands of tweets during your social media review?
Longstreet: Yes.
Have you done any additional review recently?
No.
So you're reviewing Michael Cohen's TikTok?
I am not.
Longstreet: Yes.
Have you done any additional review recently?
No.
So you're reviewing Michael Cohen's TikTok?
I am not.
11:57 AM - May 10, 2024
43/55
computer crash. ugh
Anna Bower: He moves to the Howard-Rodriguez texts.
You don't know if what they said is true? No.
You just read what was written on the exhibit? Yes.
Longstreet, a 20-something paralegal, frowns disapprovingly at the former President's lawyer as she responds to his questions.
Anna Bower: He moves to the Howard-Rodriguez texts.
You don't know if what they said is true? No.
You just read what was written on the exhibit? Yes.
Longstreet, a 20-something paralegal, frowns disapprovingly at the former President's lawyer as she responds to his questions.
12:04 PM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: Blanche is done with his cross examination.
The next witness: Another paralegal! The competition heats up for the title of America's Favorite Paralegal. Will David Jarmel-Schneider outshine Georgia Longstreet on the witness stand? Stay tuned.
The next witness: Another paralegal! The competition heats up for the title of America's Favorite Paralegal. Will David Jarmel-Schneider outshine Georgia Longstreet on the witness stand? Stay tuned.
12:06 PM - May 10, 2024
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Jaden Jarmel-Schneider is a paralegal in the NYAD's office assigned to TFG's case. He testified that he helps w/setting up subpoenas & analyzing records for the case.
Prosecution is asking him about records that he reviewed 4 TFG's case: records from Cohen's phone calls, emails & calendar invites.
Prosecution is asking him about records that he reviewed 4 TFG's case: records from Cohen's phone calls, emails & calendar invites.
12:12 PM - May 10, 2024
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innercitypress:
Prosecutor: Is People's 340 calls between Michael Cohen and David Pecker?
Paralegal: Yes.
Prosecutor: Is People's 349 calls between the Defendant and Michael Cohen?
Paralegal: Yes.
Prosecutor: Move to admit.
Trump's lawyer Blanche: No objection. Admitted
Prosecutor: Is People's 340 calls between Michael Cohen and David Pecker?
Paralegal: Yes.
Prosecutor: Is People's 349 calls between the Defendant and Michael Cohen?
Paralegal: Yes.
Prosecutor: Move to admit.
Trump's lawyer Blanche: No objection. Admitted
12:15 PM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower:
Schneider talks about excel spreadsheets. And time zones. And how prepared his summaries of the cell records.
As he testifies, Trump sits at the defense table, reading documents, which he occasionally marks with yellow highlighter.
Schneider talks about excel spreadsheets. And time zones. And how prepared his summaries of the cell records.
As he testifies, Trump sits at the defense table, reading documents, which he occasionally marks with yellow highlighter.
12:17 PM - May 10, 2024
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Now the prosecution pulls up one of the summaries created by Schneider.
It's calls between Cohen and Weisselberg.
It shows a series of call between the two, including calls on Oct. 23, 2016, and Oct. 25, 2016.
(The full exhibit will be released sometime later today)
It's calls between Cohen and Weisselberg.
It shows a series of call between the two, including calls on Oct. 23, 2016, and Oct. 25, 2016.
(The full exhibit will be released sometime later today)
12:18 PM - May 10, 2024
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Adam Klasfeld: Trump's lawyer Emil Bove cross-examines the witness, asking whether the rather painstaking work of putting vast reams of data together was tedious.
"Honestly, I kind of enjoyed it," the witness says, to laughter.
Bove: "I hear that. Respect." (laughter)
"Honestly, I kind of enjoyed it," the witness says, to laughter.
Bove: "I hear that. Respect." (laughter)
12:29 PM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower: Bove questions Schneider about his summaries and the underlying data.
He asks if Schneider recalls the "IMEI number" of a particular phone.
Schneider smiles again, but this time his expression seems to say "Are you kidding me?"
"It's like a 20-digit code..." he replies.
He asks if Schneider recalls the "IMEI number" of a particular phone.
Schneider smiles again, but this time his expression seems to say "Are you kidding me?"
"It's like a 20-digit code..." he replies.
12:42 PM - May 10, 2024
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Anna Bower:
Bove: There are no calls between Hope Hicks and David Pecker reflected in these records, right?
Schneider: I'm don't think that's correct, but I would need to look at the logs.
Bove: There are no calls between Hope Hicks and David Pecker reflected in these records, right?
Schneider: I'm don't think that's correct, but I would need to look at the logs.
12:44 PM - May 10, 2024
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At one point, Bove pulls up an exhibit showing a series of IMEI numbers of various phones.
IMEI numbers are associated with a physical phone, right?
I think you're displaying the wrong column, Schneider says. But yes, that's right.
Laughs in the overflow room.
IMEI numbers are associated with a physical phone, right?
I think you're displaying the wrong column, Schneider says. But yes, that's right.
Laughs in the overflow room.
12:45 PM - May 10, 2024
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Jaden Jarmel-Schneider is off the witness stand.
Adam Klasfeld: Assistant DA Joshua Steinglass says he plans to call two more witnesses: "I think it's entirely possible that we will rest by the end of next week."
Adam Klasfeld: Assistant DA Joshua Steinglass says he plans to call two more witnesses: "I think it's entirely possible that we will rest by the end of next week."
12:51 PM - May 10, 2024
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Trump's attorney Emil Bove notes that one of them isn't Allen Weisselberg, whose "absence" from this trial raises a "very complicated" question.
12:55 PM - May 10, 2024
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Bove wants to keep out their separation agreement as prejudicial hearsay.
Prosecutor Christopher Conroy says it's needed to show: "Mr. Weisselberg’s interests here are very aligned with the defendant’s."
Prosecutor Christopher Conroy says it's needed to show: "Mr. Weisselberg’s interests here are very aligned with the defendant’s."
12:58 PM - May 10, 2024
