Trump trial live updates: Ex-Oval Office aide who testified on checks returns to stand

Former White House aide Madeleine Westerhout finished her testimony Friday in former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial after describing her role in helping Trump sign his checks and praising the boss who fired her.

Westerhout broke down crying Thursday as she described being forced out of the White House for off-the-record comments she made about Trump's children to reporters. She said she doesn't think Trump is "treated fairly," while also confirming details for prosecutors about how Trump signed checks and paid attention to his financial affairs.

That followed a fiery cross-examination between porn star Stormy Daniels and Trump lawyer Susan Necheles, and a second failed bid by Trump for a mistrial.

Keep up with USA TODAY's live updates from inside and outside the Manhattan courtroom:

Georgia Longstreet, Manhattan DA paralegal, testifying

Georgia Longstreet, a paralegal in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office, has taken the stand for the second time in this trial. She testified earlier about several Trump social media posts.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

– Aysha Bagchi

Judge sides with Trump on excluding 1999 campaign finance comments

After a short morning break, Judge Merchan said he's siding with the defense team over whether the prosecution can show jurors a video of Trump commenting in 1999 on his knowledge about campaign finance laws. Merchan expressed concerns about how old the comments are, saying they ask a jury to draw an inference about Trump's knowledge many years later, and "that's a lot of speculation."

– Aysha Bagchi

Trump wants his old comments on campaign finance laws kept out of trial

Just before a short morning break was taken, Trump lawyer Emil Bove asked Judge Merchan about excluding from evidence a 1999 video of Trump commenting on campaign finance laws. Bove argued that, whatever Trump said in 1999 about his knowledge of campaign finance laws doesn't prove something relevant about his knowledge in 2017, because there were extensive changes to those laws in the interim.

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold responded that the corporate contribution ban, which she said is the relevant legal provision when it comes to the video, has been part of campaign finance law since 1907. She added that's close to 100 years before Trump's "admission in that video."

Merchan said he will rule later.

– Aysha Bagchi

Allen Weisselberg phone records introduced

The prosecution got phone records introduced into the evidence through their latest witness, Verizon employee Jennie Tomalin. The records state that they are associated with Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. Weisselberg is currently incarcerated for committing perjury during Trump's New York civil fraud trial

The prosecution and defense only had brief questions for Tomalin, focused on how to read the records. She has now left the witness stand.

– Aysha Bagchi

Who is Jennie Tomalin?

Jennie Tomalin has been called to the witness stand. She is a Verizon employee who also appears to have been brought to testify so the prosecution can introduce phone records into evidence.

– Aysha Bagchi

Rick Scott defends Donald Trump outside the courtroom 

Rick Scott, a Republican senator up for reelection in Florida, attended the trial Thursday. While Trump remains under a gag order, his allies in the GOP do not face the same restrictions. Scott stood by Trump as he addressed reporters outside Manhattan criminal court, suggesting the lead prosecutor has political motivations. 

“I’m here because I’ve known Donald Trump a long time. I knew him before I was governor. I consider him a friend. And what he is going through is just despicable,” Scott said– Rachel Barber

Dixon confirms phone records don't show who did the talking, if call was pocket dial

Asked by Trump lawyer Emil Bove if the AT&T records show who was speaking during a phone call, Dixon confirmed they don't. Dixon also agreed they don't show if a call was an unintended "pocket dial."

Bove ended his cross-examination soon after that, and the prosecution had no further questions for Dixon.

– Aysha Bagchi

Stormy Daniels knocks Trump on X, saying real men take a stand in court

Porn star Stormy Daniels, who gave riveting testimony this week about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in his hush money trial, fired back at the former president on X, formerly Twitter, after his legal team’s request for a mistrial based on her testimony was denied twice

“Real men respond to testimony by being sworn in and taking the stand in court. Oh…wait.  Nevermind,” Daniels wrote on X.

The tweet also comes after Trump lawyer Todd Blanche asked Judge Juan Merchan to modify Trump’s gag order so he could respond to Daniels’ testimony. Merchan also denied that request. 

Trump has previously attacked Daniels, calling her “horseface” and a “sleaze bag.”

– Sudiksha Kochi 

Trump lawyer Emil Bove questioning AT&T witness

Trump lawyer Emil Bove is now asking Dixon questions on cross-examination.

– Aysha Bagchi

AT&T witness helps prosecutors introduce phone records

The prosecution quickly ended its questions for Dixon, which appear geared toward getting evidence of phone records admitted. The phone records involve former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who the prosecution indicated in opening statements will be testifying in the trial Aysha Bagchi

Who is Daniel Dixon?

A new witness, Daniel Dixon, has been called to the witness stand. He is a lead compliance analyst who helps with complying with legal demands at AT&T.

– Aysha Bagchi

Westerhout talked with Trump's lawyer Wednesday night

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles ended her cross-examination and prosecutor Rebecca Mangold noted Necheles hadn't asked Westerhout if she had spoken with Necheles before. Mangold then posed that question to Westerhout, who said she spoke with Necheles once before, on Wednesday night.

That question may have been designed to plant the idea in the jury's mind that Westerhout is friendly with the defense team, including in the run-up to her testimony, even though she is a witness called by the prosecutionWhen Mangold finished her brief follow-up questions for Westerhout, Necheles asked Westerhout whether she had met with the prosecution previously. Westerhout said she has met with the prosecution three times, has met with them for hours, and the most recent meeting was Wednesday morning.

– Aysha Bagchi

Westerhout statement about Stormy Daniels and Trump's concern for family stricken from court record

Westerhout testified that her memory of Trump's reaction to a story that Stormy Daniels got a hush money deal concerning him is "that he was very upset by it." Westerhout added: "He knew it would be hurtful to his family."

However, Westerhout also said: "I don't believe he specifically said that, but I could just tell the whole situation was very unpleasant." Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold then objected to Westerhout's testimony, likely based on her not having a proper foundation to say Trump was upset because he knew the story was hurtful to his family. Judge Merchan sustained the objection and struck Westerhout's answer from the court record.

Westerhout says long-time Trump Organization assistant careful with Trump's money

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles asked Westerhout whether it was true that Rhona Graff, Trump's long-time assistant at the Trump Organization, was "very careful about not wanting to spend the president's money without his approval." Westerhout agreed that was true, and that Trump would often times approve expenses for Graff simply by writing "Pay."

– Aysha Bagchi

Westerhout's lawyer showed her materials this morning that Trump lawyer is asking about

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles is asking Westerhout about some materials that haven't been shown to the jury. Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold interjected to ask about Westerhout's familiarity with them. Westerhout said she was familiar and, on further questioning, explained that her lawyer showed them to her this morning. Yesterday, Westerhout said she has counsel who is representing her for free in this triaIt's unclear why Westerhout's lawyer reviewed materials with her this morning that Trump's defense is now asking her about.

Following Westerhout's statement about the review this morning, Mangold objected to Trump's team introducing the evidence. After a private conversation between the lawyers and Judge Merchan at the bench, Merchan said he was denying Trump's motion to introduce the evidence.

Questioning has now moved on.

– Aysha Bagchi

Lawyers in lengthy private conversation with judge

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles has begun cross-examining Madeleine Westerhout again today, but the lawyers just had a lengthy private conversation with the judge at his bench.

The conversation followed prosecutor Rebecca Mangold making an objection, after Necheles and Westerhout were talking about Trump sending a photo to Allen Weisselberg of Trump boarding Air Force One for the first time. Weisselberg is the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, and is currently incarcerated for committing perjury in Trump's New York civil fraud trial that began in the fall

The Air Force One photo was discussed yesterday when the prosecution was asking questions.

– Aysha Bagchi

Trump ignores questions about whether he will testify

Former President Donald Trump ignored shouted questions from reporters outside the courtroom about whether he would testify at his New York hush money trial.

But he promoted a Saturday political rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, where he said he would be able to campaign for president despite the “horrible gag order” that prevents him from commenting on witnesses or jurors participating in the case.

– Bart Jansen

Merchan rejects Trump subpoena request for former prosecutor as ‘fishing expedition’

Judge Juan Merchan rejected a request from Trump’s defense team to subpoena Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor who criticized District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s handling of the investigation, calling it an illegitimate “fishing expedition.”

Pomerantz complained that Bragg was reluctant to pursue charges, although a grand jury eventually indicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Trump has argued that other investigators, including Bragg’s predecessor as district attorney and the Justice Department, declined to press charges after reviewing the same evidence.

Merchan ruled that Trump’s request was too broad and sought evidence that he’s not allowed to have about how prosecutors prepared their case.

“Defendant's Second and Third Requests are far too broad and amount to an improper fishing expedition into general discovery,” Merchan ruled.

– Bart Jansen

Will Karen McDougal testify?

The prosecution said Thursday that Karen McDougal won't testify. McDougal is a former Playboy model who was paid $150,000 from the parent company of the National Enquirer, in a deal to stay quiet ahead of the 2016 election about an alleged Trump affair.

– Aysha Bagchi

Americans views on sex work could affect Stormy Daniels’ credibility 

American society’s strong puritanical roots have long kept sex and sex work taboo subjects, despite a widespread use of pornography. However, experts say Americans’ perceptions are beginning to change, which could make a difference in how credible they view Stormy Daniels. 

The percentage of Americans who found pornography morally acceptable jumped from 36% in 2017 to 43% in 2018, according to a Gallup poll. That number remained relatively flat at 41% in 2022. 

The New York Times reported that Trump’s lawyer Susan Necheles referenced Daniels’ occupation to challenge her credibility. “You have a lot of experience in making phony stories about sex appear to be real,” Necheles said. 

“That’s not how I would put it,” Daniels replied. “The sex in the films is very much real, just like what happened to me in that room.” 

– Charles Trepany and Rachel Barber 

Who is Susan Necheles?

Susan Necheles is a seasoned New York criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor. She cross-examined Stormy Daniels earlier this week, and she is also due to continue cross-examining former White House aide Madeleine Westerhout later today.

– Aysha Bagchi

Is Trump on trial today?

Yes. Proceedings in Trump's trial are scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. EDT. Madeleine Westerhout, a former White House aide, is slated to re-take the witness stand for more cross-examination by Trump lawyer Susan Necheles.

– Aysha Bagchi

What is Stormy Daniels' real name? Stephanie Clifford.

Stormy Daniels' real name is Stephanie Clifford. When she introduced herself in court earlier this week, as all witnesses do when they take the stand, she called herself Stormy Daniels. On questioning by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, she acknowledged that her real name is Stephanie Clifford, but said she prefers to go by Stormy Daniels at the proceedings.

– Aysha Bagchi

Why does Stormy Daniels owe Trump money?

A California judge ordered Stormy Daniels to pay Trump's legal fees after she filed a defamation lawsuit against him. She testified that her former lawyer, Michael Avenatti, wanted to file the lawsuit. He is now in prison for embezzlement and other crimes.

The defamation claim Daniels made wasn't based on her and Trump's dispute over whether they had sex in 2006. It had to do with a Trump tweet about a sketch of a different man who Daniels said threatened her in a parking lot in 2011 to keep quiet about Trump.

Trump has sued Daniels in Florida to get the money, but she still hasn't paid, she testified.

– Aysha Bagchi

Who is Madeleine Westerhout?

Madeleine Westerhout served as an assistant to Donald Trump during the beginning of his presidency before becoming director of Oval Office operations.

Westerhout broke down crying on the witness stand Thursday as she described being fired from her last role in the White House. Westerhout got in trouble for making off-the-record comments to reporters about Trump's children that the then-president described as "hurtful."

The prosecution had Westerhout show jurors where she used to work on a map of the White House – she sat in a room adjacent to the Oval Office. She testified Thursday that she was involved in the process of receiving checks from the Trump Organization that required Trump's signature. Some of the allegedly falsified records in Trump's hush money case are checks prosecutors say Trump signed as he paid his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, while he allegedly misdescribed what the checks were for.

– Aysha Bagchi

Stormy Daniels’ depiction in courtroom sketches captures attention

Stormy Daniels' testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money trial Tuesday included plenty of details but it was the court artist's sketch of the former adult film star that captured the internet's attention.

Many agreed that she looked older in the drawing than she actually looked, while others poked fun at Daniels outright.

There seemed to be a difference between the way the sketch artist thought Daniels looked and how everyone else saw her, a difference noted by several people across multiple posts on X, formerly Twitter.

– Amaris Encinas, Sudiksha Kochi

Why did Trump ask for a mistrial and to change the gag order?

On Thursday, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche made zealous pleas for a mistrial and for a modified gag order based on Stormy Daniels' testimony. He said that some of her testimony was basically a "dog whistle for rape" – even though Daniels insisted she hadn't been physically threatened.

Blanche pointed to portions of Daniels' testimony where she described feeling light-headed, being aware of a power imbalance, and knowing Trump's bodyguard was nearby.

Blanche also characterized parts of Daniels' story as "completely different in kind" from earlier accounts – a claim the prosecution disputed.

Judge Juan Merchan said he wouldn't modify the gag order because he's concerned not just about witnesses who have already testified, but also about potential witnesses who could see Trump's attacks on others and be impacted. He described Trump's comments about people tied to his legal cases as "vitriol," adding: "Your client's track record speaks for itself."

Merchan also said Blanche made Daniels' credibility an issue when he called her claims about a sexual encounter false during his opening statement. The prosecution had the right to rehabilitate her credibility by going into her story after Blanche had "immediately attacked it," Merchan said.

– Aysha Bagchi

What did Stormy Daniels say in court?

Stormy Daniels showed Thursday that she's no shrinking violet, even as she was hammered by an aggressive cross-examination. Trump lawyer Susan Necheles tried to portray Daniels' story as changing between iterations, and portray Daniels herself as money-grubbing.

Daniels pushed back as Necheles raised possible inconsistencies in her story, such as Daniels saying Trump approached her about dinner in one telling, and that Trump's bodyguard approached her on Trump's behalf in another. Daniels replied that Trump and his bodyguard are a unit.

When Daniels characterized her decision to participate in a hush money deal in 2016 as about staying safe, Necheles said it was really about Daniels' bottom line.

"You chose to make money, right?" Necheles said.

"I chose to take the non-disclosure," Daniels responded.