OK - #TrumpTrial, 2d Stormy day, still on the cross. Inner City Press did booklet on Davidson and Hope Hicks
(support if you like & can Venmo: [at] Matthew-Lee-675
and will live tweet, thread belowamazon.com/dp/B0D39TBQ7R paypal.com/paypalme/matth…
Trump comes in, blue suit and blue tie, chats with Todd Blanche to his left. Susan Necheles, mid-cross of Stormy is in the lead counsel's chair today - Trump turns and talks to her, gesturing with his right hand. Waiting for Justice Merchan. Drum roll...
All rise!
Clerk: This is the People of the State of New York versus Donald J. Trump!
Justice Merchan: Good morning.
Prosecutor: There is a defendant exhibit, J26, an arrest record of Ms. Daniels. We move to preclude that.
Justice Merchan: No conviction?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: I plan to ask her about what her ex-husband accused her of -
Justice Merchan: No, it's not coming in. Where do you stand on a limiting instruction?
Necheles: Can we wait to the end of testmony?
Justice Merchan: Yes. Get the witness, please
[Stormy Daniels takes the stand]
Justice Merchan: Get the jury, please.
Clerk: All rise! Jury entering!
Trump's lawyer Susan Necheles: Ms. Daniels, you recall that President Trump was elected in November 2016?
Stormy Daniels: Correct
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You recall you did an interview and said the claims you had sex with President Trump was bullshit -
Prosecutor: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Sustained.
Necheles: But do you remember?
Justice Merchan: Sustained!
Trump's lawyer Necheles: In 2016, then, you wanted to sell you story. You -
Justice Merchan: Please approach.
[Whispered sidebar ensues - Blanche remains at defense table with Trump, also whispering]
Justice Merchan: The objection is sustained.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You wanted to sell your story to President Trump, right?
Stormy Daniels: No, I wanted to sell my story to the media, to get my story out.
Necheles: You made the decision for your lawyers to sell it - your choice, right?
Stormy Daniels: I wanted to do a press conference.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: But you didn't. You spoke to Slate's Weisberg about your supposed affair with President Trump, and that you were negotiating with Cohen, right?
Daniels: He was my back-up
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Look at this exhibit [not in evidence - yet?] you told Weisberg that as an alternative to being paid for your silence you wanted to be paid for your story, right?
Daniels: I don't remember saying that.
Necheles: But you told Weisberg that
Stormy Daniels: The better alternative was to get my story protected by a paper trial w/o putting my family at risk.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You told Weisberg that your motive was President Trump having come out against gay marriage and abortion?
Daniels: False
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Put up the transcript, already in evidence
[Voice of Keith Davidson, heard before in this trial]
Prosecutor: Objection.
Justice Merchan: Sustained. Please approach
[Sidebar]
[After sidebar, Necheles plays another clip in evidence]
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Let me show you the contract - you know it's a legal agreement, right?
Stormy Daniels: I'm not an attorney but yes.
Necheles: The recitals says, you had come into confidential info
Stormy Daniels: I signed this based on what my attorney said I should do.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: But you signed it, you released claims, right?
Daniels: Yes.
Necheles: Michael Cohen negotiated it, right?
Daniels: That's what I was led to believe
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Here is the WSJ article - you knew it was coming out, right?
Stormy Daniels: Keith Davidson told me something was coming out.
Necheles: And you put up a statement denying you had sex with President Trump, right? [Reads it]
Stormy Daniels: I didn't write it. I was told I had to sign it.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You denied the rumor-
Daniels: Because it wasn't a rumor. It was true.
Necheles: You signed this, too, on January 30, 2018, right?
Daniels: Yes.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Michael Cohen was pushing you to sign this?
Stormy Daniels: Though Keith Davidson. I did not speak with Michael Cohen directly.
Necheles: President Trump was denying the affair in 2018 - he was not running for office, right?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: President Trump was trying to protect his brand, right?
Stormy Daniels: I don't know what he was trying to protect.
Necheles: Then you said you had sex with him, to make money?
Daniels: I did some media for free. Anderson Cooper
Trump's lawyer Necheles: But after that you sold a book with your story for $800,000 right?
Stormy Daniels: Yes. But I also didn't receive the $800,000.
Necheles: But so far it came to $930,000, right?
Daniels: Minus what was stolen from me.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: After the book you went on a strip tour called "Make America Horny"?
Stormy Daniels: I did not name the tour. I fought it tooth and nail.
Necheles: You advertised your tour with the photo from the golf tournament, right?
Daniels: Not me
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Didn't you say the white men were gone, now your fan based as gay couples and the Resistance?
Stormy Daniels: It did change. But I was not selling myself.
Necheles: You were selling a story of supposedly have sex with Donald Trump, right?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You made $200,000 for appearing on The Surreal Life, right?
Stormy Daniels: Yes.
Necheles: And a documentary on TV? You were paid for the rights to your book, right?
Daniels: They didn't have to.
Necheles: You had sex with a cameraman?
Stormy Daniels: I started dating him and he became my husband.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: But you were married at the time, right?
Daniels: I was separated.
Necheles: Where did you deposit the money?
Daniels: Into my business account. It covers my security.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: At the viewing parties, you are treated like a hero? They say, you are saving America?
Stormy Daniels: That's in strip clubs. The viewing parties are polarizing.
Necheles: You said you'll be instrumental in putting President Trump in jail?
Stormy Daniels: Show me where I said instrumental.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Here's your tweet, "Making me the best person to flush the orange turd down."
Daniels: It doesn't say Trump, just orange turd. If you want to interpret it that way...
Trump's lawyer Necheles: I offer your tweet -
Stormy Daniels: It's to a suspended account, so I don't know.
Prosecutor: I object, your Honor. May we approach?
[Whispered sidebar; at defense table, again, Todd Blanche whispering to Trump]
Trump's lawyer Necheles: On Twitter you celebrated and tried to sell merchandise in your online store, right? You have a store?
Stormy Daniels: Sure.
Necheles: You wrote, Don't want to spill my champagne, merch orders pouring in, right
Daniels: Yes
Trump's lawyer Necheles: This was you shilling your merch, right?
Stormy Daniels: I am doing my job. Not unlike Mr. Trump.
Necheles: Your merchandise is you bragging getting President Trump indicted, right?
Daniels: *I* got President Trump indicted?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You're making $40 for every "Stormy Saint of Indictments" candle?
Stormy Daniels: I only make about $7 per.
Necheles: Here's the Stormy Daniels Political Power comic?
Daniels: I didn't write it
Necheles: But you're selling it?
Daniels: Yes
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You're writing two books - what are they about?
Stormy Daniels: Rock Star, Porn Star about my husband. And a novel about a girl from New Orleans.
Necheles: Does she have sex with a presidential candidate?
Daniels: No
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You said that you lived in a haunted house in New Orleans where a ghost held your husband under water?
Stormy Daniels: Some was a possum under the house.
Necheles: I ask to strike that
Justice Merchan: Overruled.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Didn't you attack your boyfriend?
Prosecutor: Objection - we talked about this.
Justice Merchan: Yes. Move on.
Necheles: But didn't your boyfriend question your sanity?
Prosecutor: Objection!
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You've been in over 200 sex films?
Stormy Daniels: Including comps.
Necheles: What?
Daniels: Compilations.
Necheles: So you have experience in making up fake stories about sex?
Daniels: The sex is real. That's why it's not a B movie.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Now you have a story about having sex with President Trump, right?
Stormy Daniels: If I was making it up it would have been a lot better.
Necheles: You make money working in the sex clubs-
Daniels: I work in strip clubs, big difference.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Remember Ms. Hoffinger asking if you remembered the black and white tiled floor, right?
Stormy Daniels: There is nothing wrong with preparing a witness. I would hope any lawyer would do that.
Necheles: It was to match your book, right?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: This supposed sex took place 18 years ago, right? And only you and President Trump were supposedly there?
Stormy Daniels: And his bodyguard, right at the door.
Necheles: You say you met in Lake Tahoe?
Daniels: Yes
Trump's lawyer Necheles: There were a lot celebrities at the golf tournament - Aaron Rogers, right?
Stormy Daniels: I don't know.
Necheles: Charles Barkley?
Daniels: Yes.
Necheles: Your picture with President Trump was one of dozens of photos you took, right?
Yes
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Your testimony is that you told Keith Schiller, F*ck no. But you gave him your number?
Stormy Daniels: Right
Necheles: But in 2011 you told InTouch magazine differently, didn't you? Show J-23. You said President Trump asked for your number
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You said you rode on a golf cart together & you gave your number to President Trump?
Stormy Daniels: I gave it to his bodyguard
Necheles: But you didn't mention his bodyguard to InTouch
Daniels: They tried to get me to not mention others
Trump's lawyer Necheles: But here in the story you do mention Keith Schiller... In 2011 you told the interviewer you said, to dinner, Yeah, of course.
Stormy Daniels: My publicist told me that. This is a frivolous entertainment magazine.
Necheles: So you lied
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You told Kimmel, We never had dinner, he lied to me. I stayed for the food. You said that?
Stormy Daniels: I was invited to dinner and I never got dinner. I am very food motivated.
Necheles: J-28, page 4.
Daniels: Where is this from? Oh
Trump's lawyer Necheles: On Anderson Cooper in 2018, you said you had dinner with President Trump?
Stormy Daniels: I'd like to be shown what I said.
Necheles: You remember the tiles on the floor but not this?
Prosecutor: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Sustained.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You said you had dinner but you didn't
Stormy Daniels: Where I come from having dinner doesn't necessarily mean putting food in your mouth
Necheles: You said President Trump sent a car
Daniels: I don't know who sent it. It was before Uber
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You told InTouch magazine that when you got to the hotel President Trump was sprawled out on the couch watching TV, right?
Stormy Daniels: I don't remember saying that.
Necheles: You said "sprawled out in pajama pants"
Daniels: He got up
Trump's lawyer Necheles: In your book you wrote that you had made him your bitch, right? Because you are powerful.
Stormy Daniels: I used to think so.
Necheles: This was not the first time someone made a pass at you?
Daniels: There was a bodyguard out there
Trump's lawyer Necheles: In 2011 you told InTouch that when you saw him on the bed you said, Oh, here we go and then started kissing and had sex, right?
Stormy Daniels: There are parts I don't remember in between.
[Trump is leaning forward, watching this closely]
Trump's lawyer Necheles: In InTouch it doesn't have him saying, If you want to get what you want, and trailer park
Stormy Daniels: They left out a lot of stuff.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You were interviews for Slate magazine in 2018 by Jacob Weisberg-
Stormy Daniels: I don't know if that was his name. That's what it says.
Necheles: You told Mr. Wiesberg there was no abuse, you were not a victim?
Daniels: Right
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You never told Wiesberg about blacking out
Stormy Daniels: No. Mr. Trump did not drug me. The worst thing he did was lie.
Necheles: In 2018, you said he didn't force you - but Tuesday you said he stood over you-
Daniels: In front of me
Trump's lawyer Necheles: In 2018 you told a reporter there was no pressure
Stormy Daniels: My own insecurities made me do it.
Necheles: The American Century Championship had parties and auctions
Daniels: There were a couple of auctions
Trump's lawyer Necheles: In your book you said at the nightclub you talked with President Trump for an hour
Stormy Daniels: He left first, after about 15 minutes
Necheles: In 2007 you took a selfie in Trump Tower, that's it?
Daniels: Also at the Trump Vodka party
They're back.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Do you recognize this Making American Horny tour flier from your Instagram?
Stormy Daniels: Yes
Necheles: At the golf tournament, President Trump was probably the biggest celebrity?
Daniels: Depends. People recognized me too
Trump's lawyer Necheles: When Vogue interviewed you in 2018 you said you never felt in danger, he wouldn't have run after you- you didn't mention the bodyguard?
Stormy Daniels: I don't control it. Vogue is a fashion magazine. Sometimes I give too much details.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Mr. Cohen paid you, not Mr. Trump, right?
Stormy Daniels: My lawyer Keith Davidson paid me.
Necheles: But the money was from Mr. Cohen
Daniels: I understand that, but I have no proof.
Necheles: You know this is a business records indictment?
Stormy Daniels: There are a lot of indictments.
Necheles: Move to strike
Justice Mershan: Overruled.
Necheles: No further questions.
Prosecutor: Can we have a sidebar?
Justice Merchan: Yes. Approach.
[This time it's Emil Bove who stays with Trump at defense table, chatting. On the witness stand, Stormy Daniels put his chin on her fist]
[They've back, for re-direct]
Prosecutor: You were asked if fear was part of your reason for signing the NDA
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Overruled
Prosecutor: Your lawyer advised you to sign it?
Stormy Daniels: He said, Get high, stay high
Prosecutor: There was no lawsuit pending when you signed the NDA, right?
Stormy Daniels: There was not
Prosecutor: Put up People's 171A [text messages] "Is she ready to talk?" Dylan said, "I thought she denounced it previously." She asked you to read that, right
Prosecutor: But she didn't ask you to read the very next box, where Gina's says she - you - never did, right?
Stormy Daniels: She didn't.
Prosecutor: And the InTouch says Lightly edited - did she ask you about that?
Daniels: No.
Prosecutor: You didn't tell every single detail to Anderson Cooper, did you?
Stormy Daniels: I did not.
[A sidebar is called, after which]
Justice Merchan: Ms. Hoffinger you may clarify to the extent we discussed.
Prosecutor Hoffinger: You told Anderson Cooper you had sex with Mr. Trump & what happened in the room
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Overruled. Please approach.
[Side bar, then]
Prosecutor: You told Anderson Cooper a lot
Stormy Daniels: I did
Prosecutor: When you said you would celebrate when Mr. Trump was selected, were you responding to being called disgusting prostitute?
Stormy Daniels: Yes
Prosecutor: When Mr. Trump posted If you go after me, I'm coming after you- was it you?
Daniels: I thought so
Prosecutor: You didn't testify to the grand jury in this case, did you?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Overruled.
Stormy Daniels: I did not.
Prosecutor: In Mr. Trump's lawyer's papers in 2017 he confirmed Michael Cohen was reimbursed?
A: Yes
Prosecutor: Has your telling the truth about what happened with Mr. Trump been net positive or net negative in your life?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Overruled.
Stormy Daniels: Net negative.
Prosecutor: Nothing further
Justice Merchan: Re-cross.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: These things happen on Twitter right, receiving nasty messages from your political opponents?
Stormy Daniels: Yes.
Necheles: You wrote that you'll dance down the street "when he is 'selected' to go to jail"
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You were called an aging harlot - nasty, right? And you jabbed back and said you made a million dollars and just paid for your new ranch
Stormy Daniels: Yes I defend myself on Twitter. And I pay my bills.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: When President Trump posted "I'm coming after you," there was a Republican PAC going after President Trump, right?
Stormy Daniels: I don't know.
Necheles: No further questions.
Justice Merchan: Nothing further? You may step down.
Prosecutor: The People call Rebecca Manochio... Where do you work?
Manochio: At the Trump Organization. For 11 years. I am a bookkeeper there. I worked at supermarket, then the Trump Organization.
Prosecutor: Who is the head of it?
Manochio: Donald Trump.
Prosecutor: Who is Jeff McConney?
Manochio: The controller.
Prosecutor: What is a controller?
Manochio: I don't really know.
Prosecutor: Did you also work for Mr. Weisselberg?
Manochio: Yes. I sat just outside his office. I handled invoices.
Prosecutor: Did Mr. Trump get a new job in 2016?
Manochio: Yes.
Prosecutor: Did he have to move?
Manochio: Yes.
Prosecutor: To where?
Manochio: The White House.
Prosecutor: How then did he get his checks to sign?
Manocio: Deb Terasoff gave to me, I FedExed them
Prosecutor: How many would you sent at one time?
Manochio: Between 10 and 20
Prosecutor: Did you ever send a single check?
Manochio: Yes.
Prosecutor: Did you include a return FedEx envelope, addressed to you?
Manochio: Yes.
Prosecutor: If a check was missing who would you contact?
Manocio: Madeleine Westerhout.
Prosecutor: Have you reviewed the documents on the thumb drive?
Manochio: Yes.
Prosecutor: Display PX 291 [FedEx invoice of May 29, 2017]
Prosecutor: Who did you send these checks to?
Manocio: Keith Schiller's home address in DC.
Prosecutor: Did there come a time Mr. Schiller left?
Manochio: Yes.
Prosecutor: Then you sent to John McEntee?
Manochio: Yes.
Interim programming note:
After jury left, Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche said they want to move again for a mistrial, and if that fails, to preclude the testimony of Karen McDougal.
Justice Merchan said that'll be at 4 pm.
Thread will resume 2:10 or so
They've back, Trump talking to Emil Bove while Blanche and Susan Necheles stand. Now the prosecutors arrive
All rise!
Justice Merchan: Let's get the witness please. And jury.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You also sent Ivanka Trump's checks?
Manochio: Yes. The same way
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Do you know if it took the White House a long time to process mail and get it to President Trump?
Manochio: I don't know.
Necheles: Do you know if that's why the checks were sent to people?
Prosecutor: Objection
Justice Merchan: Sustained
Trump's lawyer Necheles: By then, President Trump was not speaking with Allen Weisselberg at all?
Manochio: He was not.
Necheles: No further questions.
No re-direct
Justice Merchan: Next witness.
Tracy Menzies, of Harper Collins.
Prosecutor: At Harper Collins, how involved are authors in the production of their books?
Menzies: We work with them - they are fully engaged.
Prosecutor: Are you familiar with "Think Big" by Donald Trump and Bill Zanker?
Menzies: Yes.
Prosecutor: When was it first published?
Menzies: 2007. This edition is from 2021.
Prosecutor: Can you tell which author wrote which section?
Menzies: Yes. Different fonts.
[Half redacted page shown to jury]
Menzies: This is by Mr. Trump, "Don't Trust Anyone"
Prosecutor: What's this?
Menzies: Mr. Trump writes, I value loyalty, we reward it, people like Allen Weisselberg. "I just can't stomach disloyalty... When someone screw you, screw them back in spades. Getting even is part of doing business."
Prosecutor: No more Qs
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche: Those pages were redacted. The book is 300 pages, you were shown six, right?
Menzies: Right.
Blanche: Did President Trump thank Meredith McIver?
Menzies: Yes.
Blanche: Could each author have had help?
Menzies: Yes.
Next witness
Prosecutor: The People call Madeleine Westerhout. Where do you work?
Westerhout: A geo-political consulting firm. I work for the CEO.
Prosecutor: Whose paying for your lawyer?
Westerhout: He graciously agreed to do it pro bono.
Prosecutor: Where did you work?
Westerhout: The RNC.
Prosecutor: How long?
Westerhout: 2013 to 2017.
Prosecutor: Did you become aware of the Access Hollywood tape - what impact on RNC leadership?
Westerhout: There were conversations about replacing Mr. Trump as the candidate
Prosecutor: Did you spend time at Trump Tower?
Westerhout: Yes. On Jan 20, 2017, I was taken to my desk, right outside the Oval Office.
Prosecutor: Did anyone else sit closer to the President?
Westerhout: Hope Hicks. Also John McEntee and Keith Schiller
Prosecutor: How does someone call the President?
Westerhout: They might call me. Or the Situation Room. If it was John Smith off the street, there were screeners.
Prosecutor: Did Mr. Trump use a computer or have an email account?
Westerhout: Not to my knowledge.
Prosecutor: Would he pay attention to detail?
Westerhout: Yes. He signed things himself with a Sharpie.
Prosecutor: Did you use social media?
Westerhout: Twitter, now X. As RealDonaldTrump
Prosecutor: Did anyone else have access?
Westerhout: Dan Scavino
Westerhout: Sometime the President would dictate a Tweet to me, I'd type it up and print it out for him to review. There were certain works he liked to capitalize, like COUNTRY. And he used exclamation points and the Oxford comma.
Prosecutor: Did you coordinate with the Trump Organization?
Westerhout: Sometimes. With Rhona Graff.
Prosecutor: On his contacts and calendar and mail?
Westerhout: Yes.
[Trump is whispering to Susan Necheles. Looks like she'l cross examine]
Prosecutor: Please read this email.
Westerhout: I asked Rhona Graff, can the girls get together a list of people he usually speaks with... then smiley face.
Prosecutor: On this list, who is David Pecker?
Westerhout: A tabloid person
Prosecutor: Did you think Michael Cohen and Mr. Trump has a close relationship in 2017?
Westerhout: At that time they did.
Prosecutor: What's this?
Westerhout: An email I sent to Michael Cohen at Trump Org before he came to the White House.
Prosecutor: What's this?
Westerhout: My texts with Hope Hicks, I asked her "Hey the president want to know if you called David pecker again?"
Prosecutor: And this?
Westerhout: Mail between Rebecca Manochio and Keith Schiller.
Prosecutor: Do you know what the WInged Foot Golf Club is?
Westerhout: I believe it's a golf course. This is about his annual dues. President Trump wrote PAY ASAP.
Prosecutor: And this?
Westerhout: Rhona wrote to me about getting a frame from Tiffany's next door
Westerhout: Rhona Graff said the frame cost $650 minus a 15% discount and should she get it.
Prosecutor: Did Mr. Trump usually get involved in things like this?
Westerhout: Not usually. But this was a frame for a photo of his mother.
Prosecutor: Describe Melania's and Mr. Trump's relationship.
Westerhout: I thought it was special. He'd have me call her and say he was running late, just like any other marriage.
Prosecutor: How did you leave the White House?
Westerhout: I went to what I thought was an off the record dinner and said some things I shouldn't have and I lost my job, I regret my youthful indiscretion [sobs]
Prosecutor: Do you need a moment?
No
Prosecutor: Why did you write your book?
Westerhout: I wanted my family to know, and I wanted people to know the man I got to know, I don't think he is treated fairly [wipes eyes]
Prosecutor: Did you speak with him?
Westerhout: At a fundraiser in NJ
No more Qs
Trump's lawyer Necheles [at 3:48] Shall we break here?
Justice Merchan: No, we'll go to 4 pm.
Necheles: You thought President Trump was good President?
Westerhout: Yes.
Necheles: President Trump kept moving forward, didn't freak out, right?
Westerhout: He did.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: After he won he had to interview people - and you worked on the briefing papers?
Westerhout: I did.
Necheles: When they called you the greeter girl it was belittling by the press, right, as the prosecutor asked you?
Westerhout: Yes.
Westerhout: He never made me feel I didn't deserve to be in the White House.
Trump's lawyer Necheles: He had a close relationship with his wife?
Westerhout: I'd look into the Oval and see he was talking to Melania, he'd say, Some to the window and they'd wave
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Is this a good time to break?
Justice Merchan: Yes.
[Jurors leave. Then:] Let's take 10 min then pick it up
If like & can:
Venmo: [at] Matthew-Lee-675
They've back - with news:
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche: We have been informed the People no longer intend to call Karen McDougal as a witness.
Trump's lawyer Blanche: They now have only one major witness, Michael Cohen. We ask that the gag order be lifted as to Stormy Daniels. Her Lake Tahoe friend went on a political show. He needs to be able to respond.
Justice Merchan: Let me hear from the People
Prosecutor: The other side seems to be in an alternate reality. The gag order has been to protect this proceeding, and it has been working. This defendant mounts attacks, selfishly. There are safety concerns.
Prosecutor: Changing the gag order now could send a message to other witnesses. The DC Circuit said, "it is likely to impact other witnesses." I was speaking with a custodial witness who was afraid. His book said, attack to send a message.
Trump's lawyer Blanche: Ms. Daniels was allowed to recount a completely different set of events -
Justice Merchan: Such as?
Blanche: She said, I felt the room spin - what she had previously said "here we go, we started kissing, I hope he doesn't try to pay me."
Trump's lawyer Blanche: Now she said, I blacked out -
Justice Merchan: I don't see a new set of facts. Please have a seat. What Mr. Conroy said, it's interesting, I wrote down the same potion of the book, let others see
Justice Merchan: I can't take your word for it that it's just going to be a response, disputing the facts. That's not your client's track record. Your application to modify the gag order to allow your client to respond to Ms. Daniels is denied.
Trump's lawyer Blanche: The government got her to talk about spanking him - they did not move on. There was a question asked about what the inside of the bathroom looked like inside - why? And What was your reaction to seeing him like that? There was a long answer
Trump's lawyer Blanche: They asked her what was the difference in height - why? She said, There was an imbalance of power for sure - it doesn't go to motive, she wasn't saying it at the time. There was no basis to ask. We heard all this for the first time
Justice Mercha: I sustained some objections.
Trump's lawyer Blanche: But the jury still heard the question and often the answer. That's why this was so dangerous. This was a dog whistle for rape.
Prosecutor: So much is false
Prosecutor: The claim of ambush is nonsense. OK there were details omitted from InTouch, but in Anderson Cooper. This is not a change of story. Ms. Necheles' thorough but misleading cross tested it. That the sex happened increases the motivation to silence her
Prosecutor: We went out of our way to avoid some of the salacious details, to not embarrass the defendant with the details of the sexual act. At one point she was asked did you feel anything difference. She was going to say, I felt the skin of a 60 year old man
Prosecutor: We could put in an exparte submission of more embarrassing details we omitted, to not embarrass the defendant. Ms McDouglas was on our witness list but we never said we intended to call her
Justice Merchan: Mr. Blanche, sit down so I can render my ruling. You denied the sexual encounter in your opening - so more details were relevant. Ms. Necheles said she thought she couldn't object, under my ruling. But she could have and didn't.
Justice Merchan: I sua sponte objected to the trailer park - Ms. Necheles hadn't objected. She didn't object to the condom - I have no idea why. I wish that hadn't come in. Then you went into it all, about force, on cross. Drilling it into the jurors' ears.
Justice Merchan: Ms. Daniels said a movie about Roger Ailes made her remember things. I didn't allow that. I don't think there is a new story here. You attacked her credibility in opening - you didn't attack the business records issues. Your motion is denied.
Justice Merchan: I'll see you tomorrow.
Stories soon on
OK - now at Goldman Sachs v. Leissner et al - including Kimora Lee Simmons Leissner - she has two lawyers at the front table. Inner City Press covered the EDNY Jho Low / Leissner case (book
and will live tweet, thread belowamazon.com/gp/product/B09…
All rise!
Sullivan & Cromwell for Goldman Sachs: This was a grossly inadequate discovery production, about their claimed investment in Celsius through her Bank of America account
Judge: They only gave you material from the public docket?
S&C: Nothing of substance
S&C for Goldman: They supposedly sold $12 million of these shares. But we have no info. We subpoenaed Bank of America but they say counsel to Ms. Lee tells them no, it's private.
[Kimora Lee's two lawyers are whispering]
S&C: We litigated this before Judge Rochon
OK - now in trial for murder in Brazil of gallerist Brent Sikkema, defense closing argument then US rebuttal, deliberations. Inner City Press has covered the case since arrest of Daniel Sikkema and will live tweet, thread below matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/art-world-hi…
Defense: Brent descended into drug use - that is why Danny wanted to get a divorce. Jane Pearl said yesterday, it was drugs and Lucas' wellfare. In Grindr, Danny had produced an ad there- DX 701
AUSA Grosbard: Objection!
Judge Ramos: Overruled.
Defense: Danny put an ad on Grindr saying, No drugs. That was his priority... Lucas continued to connect to Brent, he told Jane he wanted to enforce that obligation. He didnt' want Brent dead. He wanted Brent to get help with his drug problem. They had a fight
OK - now at presser by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch and Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office James Barnacle "to brief the media on recent cases" - Inner City Press will live tweet, thread below
1:03 pm
Commish Tisch: I want to thank Jay Clayton... The extremist who moves to real-world danger, those cases demand more than one office. The World Cup and 250th Anniversary of our country is coming. We partner, as we'll discuss
Commish Tisch: NYPD does the work on the ground, SDNY prosecutes on Federal charges. We have acting on guns from South Carolina. I began my career building out the NYPD's counter-terrorism work. Just last week, the defendant brought in from Iraq...
OK - now in trial for murder in Brazil of gallerist Brent Sikkema, Daniel's divorce lawyer on the stand. Inner City Press has covered the case since arrest of Daniel Sikkema and will live tweet, thread below matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/art-world-hi…
Daniel's lawyer: Did you ask Brent Sikkema for funds for Daniel to buy a car to try to drive Uber?
Daniel's divorce lawyer: Yes. The TLC said it would be all electric cars going forward... Daniel told me that Brent had told him not to work but be available to him
Daniel's criminal lawyer: Did Brent ever make a settlement offer?
Daniel's divorce lawyer: Yes, one million dollars. Daniel was deeply hurt - that amount mirrored what Brent had given to a former boyfriend. We filled for in rem spousal support in November 2023
OK - now in trial for murder in Brazil of gallerist Brent Sikkema, testimony about Daniel's demand in divorce case. Inner City Press has covered the case since arrest of Daniel Sikkema and will live tweet, thread below matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/art-world-hi…
Brent's ex-lawyer: Daniel wrote he wanted the Fire Island house one week per summer with Lucas and alimony or Jane would keep suing.
Daniel's lawyer: You did not represent Brent until a year after Daniel filed for divorce?
Brent's ex-lawyer: Right.
Daniel's lawyer: Did he leave off his form his second home in Rio?
Brent's ex-lawyer: I didn't know when I filled the net worth statement.
Daniel's lawyer: So if he had it, he didn't tell you about it, correct?
Brent's ex-lawyer: Correct
OK - now presentment of MOHAMMAD BAQER SAAD DAWOOD AL-SAADI, subject of 29 page complaint complete with a quote about Mexico [!] and many photos with Soleimani, below. Inner City Press will live tweet, thread below
1:02 pm
Federal Defender Andrew Dalack going in and out of the holding cell. Al-Saadi may have to fill out the CJA financial affidavit to get appointed counsel.
1:15 pm
All rise!
Deputy: This is US v. Al-Saadi.
Defense: Andrew Dalack for Mr. Al-Saadi.
Judge: I am Judge Sarah Netburn [Chief Magistrate Judge]. Date and time of arrest?
AUSA: He arrived in SDNY last night at 11 pm