In the ongoing legal proceedings around the alleged "hush-money" scandal involving the former president of the United States, the prosecution summoned a former aide to Trump on Friday.
Prosecutors have referred to Rhona Graff, who began working for President Trump in 1987 and departed the Trump Organization in April 2021, as a gatekeeper. Officials added that she was one of numerous persons who were reportedly engaged in maintaining his documents.
Susan Necheles, a defense attorney, questioned Ms. Graff on President Trump's suitability as a manager. She said, "I think he was a fair and, I am looking for the right word, respectful boss to me."
She said in court that "he would occasionally poke his head in and say, 'Go home to your family,' which I thought was very thoughtful of him."
In response to inquiries from the prosecution, Ms. Graff said that she had two connections at the Trump Organization: Stormy Daniels, whose actual name is Stephanie Clifford, and Karen McDougal, a former model. President Trump has refuted the two women's accusations that they had relationships with him.
The former assistant noted that Ms. Clifford may have been considered for President Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" television program. Ms. Graff said, "I kind of remember him saying that she was one of the people who might be an interesting contestant on the show."
Defense lawyers contend that President Trump did nothing unlawful and that his actions were "standard practice" for politicians and the legal community. They also drew attention to what they saw as discrepancies in Mr. Pecker's evidence, pointing out that he gave contradictory testimony on a number of issues during his court appearance this week.
Prosecutors claim that since the start of the trial, President Trump has disregarded a prior gag order that Merchan imposed, which forbade him from discussing specific trial participants with anybody outside of the courtroom. They requested the court to find him in contempt, claiming he had already accumulated thousands of dollars in penalties.
The former president attacked the gag rule one again on Truth Social Friday.
"He has no right to reply; his opponents are free to ask as many questions as they choose. He said on social media, "A Candidate not being permitted to answer questions is a first in the history of our country. "Even Crooked Joe Biden is discussing the Sham Case and other cases that his administration has inspired."
He requested once again that Judge Merchan "immediately LIFT THE GAG ORDER, so that President Trump is able to freely state his views, feelings, and policies." He is requesting his right to free speech under the constitution. Should it not be approved, this turns into another rigged election.
Speaking to reporters on Friday from Manhattan's courtroom, the former president said that he was compelled to attend the trial instead of spending his wife Melania's birthday with him.
"Let me begin by sending my wife, Melania, my best wishes on her birthday. Although being with her would be lovely, I am in a courtroom due to a rigged trial. This is a manipulated trial. Horrible, said President Trump.
The former president went on to say that he will be joining Melania, who is celebrating her 54th birthday, in Florida later on Friday. She has not shown up for the trial yet.
"After this matter is resolved this evening, I will be heading there. When this awful, unconstitutional lawsuit is over, he told reporters.
During the jury selection process last week, Judge Juan Merchan warned President Trump that he would be subject to "an arrest" if he fails to appear in court each day the trial is in session. The court turned down his attorneys' request for him to attend a Supreme Court hearing about his presidential immunity issue.
Additionally, the president's lawyers urged court Merchan to let President Trump to attend his son Barron's high school graduation in the near future. The court responded that he will decide on the matter later. We anticipate that the experiment will run for around another month.
Prosecutors have referred to Rhona Graff, who began working for President Trump in 1987 and departed the Trump Organization in April 2021, as a gatekeeper. Officials added that she was one of numerous persons who were reportedly engaged in maintaining his documents.
Susan Necheles, a defense attorney, questioned Ms. Graff on President Trump's suitability as a manager. She said, "I think he was a fair and, I am looking for the right word, respectful boss to me."
She said in court that "he would occasionally poke his head in and say, 'Go home to your family,' which I thought was very thoughtful of him."
In response to inquiries from the prosecution, Ms. Graff said that she had two connections at the Trump Organization: Stormy Daniels, whose actual name is Stephanie Clifford, and Karen McDougal, a former model. President Trump has refuted the two women's accusations that they had relationships with him.
The former assistant noted that Ms. Clifford may have been considered for President Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" television program. Ms. Graff said, "I kind of remember him saying that she was one of the people who might be an interesting contestant on the show."
Defense lawyers contend that President Trump did nothing unlawful and that his actions were "standard practice" for politicians and the legal community. They also drew attention to what they saw as discrepancies in Mr. Pecker's evidence, pointing out that he gave contradictory testimony on a number of issues during his court appearance this week.
Prosecutors claim that since the start of the trial, President Trump has disregarded a prior gag order that Merchan imposed, which forbade him from discussing specific trial participants with anybody outside of the courtroom. They requested the court to find him in contempt, claiming he had already accumulated thousands of dollars in penalties.
The former president attacked the gag rule one again on Truth Social Friday.
"He has no right to reply; his opponents are free to ask as many questions as they choose. He said on social media, "A Candidate not being permitted to answer questions is a first in the history of our country. "Even Crooked Joe Biden is discussing the Sham Case and other cases that his administration has inspired."
He requested once again that Judge Merchan "immediately LIFT THE GAG ORDER, so that President Trump is able to freely state his views, feelings, and policies." He is requesting his right to free speech under the constitution. Should it not be approved, this turns into another rigged election.
Speaking to reporters on Friday from Manhattan's courtroom, the former president said that he was compelled to attend the trial instead of spending his wife Melania's birthday with him.
"Let me begin by sending my wife, Melania, my best wishes on her birthday. Although being with her would be lovely, I am in a courtroom due to a rigged trial. This is a manipulated trial. Horrible, said President Trump.
The former president went on to say that he will be joining Melania, who is celebrating her 54th birthday, in Florida later on Friday. She has not shown up for the trial yet.
"After this matter is resolved this evening, I will be heading there. When this awful, unconstitutional lawsuit is over, he told reporters.
During the jury selection process last week, Judge Juan Merchan warned President Trump that he would be subject to "an arrest" if he fails to appear in court each day the trial is in session. The court turned down his attorneys' request for him to attend a Supreme Court hearing about his presidential immunity issue.
Additionally, the president's lawyers urged court Merchan to let President Trump to attend his son Barron's high school graduation in the near future. The court responded that he will decide on the matter later. We anticipate that the experiment will run for around another month.
