Former President Donald Trump’s longtime assistant, Rhona Graff, took to the stand in a Manhattan courtroom, presenting a “vague recollection” of seeing adult film star Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower. This development arrives amid the high-profile trial where Trump is accused of falsifying 34 business records related to payments made to Daniels and another woman, Karen McDougal, as part of a scheme to suppress information about alleged affairs.
Graff, who served at the Trump Organization for over three decades, provided testimony that offered a glimpse into the inner workings of Trump’s office and the interactions surrounding the Stormy Daniels saga. In a significant juncture of the trial, Ms. Graff recalled seeing Daniels in the lobby of the 26th floor where Trump’s office was located, assuming she may have been there regarding a potential role on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” Trump’s former reality TV show.
“I can’t remember a specific incident when I heard it. It was part of the office chatter,” she stated, affirming the impression that Trump once believed Daniels would make a “good contestant” on the show. This detail adds a layer to the complex narrative of Trump’s interactions with Daniels, outside of the direct accusations related to hush money payments.
The trial also saw evidence in the form of contact information for McDougal, another figure at the center of the allegations, which was shown to the court during Ms. Graff’s testimony. The spotlight on these contact entries underscored the ties between Trump and the women he is alleged to have had affairs with, which his defense insists are unrelated to the charges he faces.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker also returned to testify, reinforcing his previous statements about his involvement in the “catch and kill” plot aimed at stifling stories that could damage Trump’s presidential campaign. Pecker’s prolonged testimony was a contrast to Ms. Graff’s brief half-hour on the stand, where she additionally confirmed that Trump Organization was paying for her legal representation without conditioning the payments on her testimony.
The proceedings are set to continue with Gary Farro, a banker from First Republic Bank, whose testimony is expected to further delve into the financial maneuvers, including the creation of an LLC and a wire transfer, that were part of the hush money arrangement with Daniels.
Relevant articles:
– Trump’s longtime assistant testifies to ‘vague’ memory of seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower, independent.co.uk, 04/28/2024
– Live updates: First week of testimony concludes in Trump hush money trial, The Independent, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 15:45:00 GMT
– Trump trial highlights: Former Trump assistant testifies about Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, NBC News, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:47:49 GMT
– Trump trial: Trump assistant recalls seeing Stormy Daniels in Trump Tower, ABC News, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 08:51:15 GMT
– Trump assistant’s hush-money trial testimony focuses on relationship with Stormy Daniels, The Guardian US, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:27:54 GMT