Trump trial: Biden roasts Trump at White House Correspondents’ dinner as hush money testimony returns

Donald Trump and his Manhattan criminal trial were the butt of the jokes at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night with both host Colin Jost and President Joe Biden taking jabs.

“Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it Stormy weather,” Mr Biden quipped at the annual event.

He referred to his political opponent as “a six-year-old” and “Sleepy Don.”

Mr Jost joked about Mr Trump’s trial, saying: "Can we just acknowledge how refreshing it is to see a President of the United States at an event that doesn’t begin with a bailiff saying, ‘All rise?’”

Mr Trump is expected to return to court on Tuesday for the second week of testimony in the trial in which he’s accused of falsifying business records to conceal hush-money payments that were made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, just days before the 2016 presidential election.

Prosecutors allege it was part of a greater catch-and-kill scheme to influence the election.

This past week the jury heard from David Pecker, former National Enquirer publisher, who doubled down on his testimony that he bought and silenced the story of Playboy model Karen McDougal’s alleged affair with Mr Trump.

Key Points

• David Pecker testifies to Trump plan to bury Karen McDougal story

• Trump lashes out at White House Correspondents Dinner jokes

• Biden cracks Stormy Daniels joke aimed at Trump during White House dinner

• Trump to appear in Wisconsin and Michigan for rally this week

• Supreme Court justices appear poised to offer Trump some immunity

Friday 26 April 2024 19:44 , Alex Woodward

Bove mentions the anthrax incident at the AMI office in Florida, and how Pecker testified that Trump was one of the first people to reach out.

“Trump was one of the first people to reach out to see if you’re OK,” Bove says.

“You know he cares about people. ... He cares about his family. ... And you know that, right?” Bove says. “The types of stories you’re talking about today and in 2016 were things that were stressful.”

Pecker agrees.

Bove has no further questions and Pecker can step down.

Trump’s attorneys try to pick holes in David Pecker’s ‘catch and kill’ testimony

Friday 26 April 2024 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the courthouse:

Donald Trump’s defence attorneys have tried to undermine trial testimony from one of the alleged architects of a scheme to buy up politically damaging stories to boost Mr Trump’s 2016 election chances.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, the first witness in the historic trial in a Manhattan courtroom, answered a barrage of “yes” or “no” questions from Mr Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove on Thursday and Friday, hoping to poke holes in his week-long testimony that the former president and his then-attorney Michael Cohen conspired with him to influence the election.

At one point on Friday, Mr Bove tried to get Mr Pecker to admit that he either lied on the witness stand or to federal law enforcement about Mr Trump “thanking” him for his help burying stories of Mr Trump’s alleged affairs.

Continue reading...

Trump’s attorneys try to pick holes in David Pecker’s ‘catch and kill’ testimony

New witness: Rhona Graff

Friday 26 April 2024 19:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Rhona Graff is Donald Trump’s former long-time executive assistant, dubbed his “gatekeeper”.

She's on the stand wearing a black t-shirt and black cardigan with a large turquoise amulet.

Prosecution attorney Susan Hoffinger is up to begin questioning Graff.

She spent 37 years at the Trump Organization, first as an executive assistant all the way up to senior vice president.

Mr Trump was her boss.

Friday 26 April 2024 20:11 , Alex Woodward

After establishing the Trump Organization protocols for keeping and maintaining contact information and managing email communications, Hoffinger gets down to more pertinent questions.

We see an entry for Karen McDougal's contact information (including a Yahoo email account).

And another for Stormy Daniels, which includes her phone number. The name is simply "Stormy."

Graff has a "vague recollection" of seeing Stormy Daniels in the reception area at Trump Tower.

She knew she was an adult film actress.

We see a few appointment calendar entries for Jan 17 and Jan 18 2017, a few days before Trump was inaugurated.

He had an interview with Ainsley Erhardt, a couple of teleprompter practice sessions, and a meeting with “Mike Allen - per Hope” for a photo shoot with The Washington Post in the lobby area of the 25th floor.

He also had his "Wheels Up" time at LGA on Jan 19, one day before the inauguration.

...and that’s it for the prosecution.

Friday 26 April 2024 20:13 , Alex Woodward

Susan Necheles is now cross-examining Graff.

What was it like working for Trump?

I never had to do the same day twice. It was a very stimulating, exciting ... place to be.

Was he a good boss?

“I think he was fair, and what’s the word I’m looking for ... Respectful to me.”

Did he respect your intelligence?

“I don’t think I would have been there 34 years if he didn’t.”

What was a typical day?

“There was no typical day. I would usually get there early in the morning … see what was on the calendar and see what was happening … Those kinds of things.”

Friday 26 April 2024 20:14 , Alex Woodward

Graff agrees with Necheles that Trump “was actively involved” with The Apprentice, and that part of her job duties was to work with the show's producers.

“He was very hands-on, yes. … At the time it was probably the most popular TV show,” she says.

The series elevated him to “a whole other platform from being a businessman to … rock star status.”

Graff says she has some memory of Trump saying he thought Stormy might be a “good contestant” on the show.

“I can't remember a specific incident when I heard it. It was part of the office chatter.”

The celebrities dragged into Trump’s hush money trial

Friday 26 April 2024 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A string of famous names have been dragged into Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial, after four days of testimony from the former publisher of the supermarket tabloid The National Enquirer.

David Pecker became the first witness to take the stand in the former president’s New York hush money trial this week, laying out a so-called “catch-and-kill” scheme at the centre of the case.

Joe Sommerlad has the story...

The celebrities dragged into Trump’s hush money trial

Friday 26 April 2024 20:20 , Alex Woodward

We see an email from Graff to Madeleine Westerhout at the White House on April 6 2017:

Here is the Fed Ex label you requested. Hope it works ; )

Necheles asks: The only reason you’re testifying here today is because you worked at the Trump Organization?

Yes.

You don’t want to be here, do you?

"Correct."

Lawyers are expensive, aren’t they?

"I haven’t seen the bills but I assume they are."

The Trump Organization is paying bills for all employees?

Yes.

Is the payment of your legal fees conditioned on how you testify?

No.

No one from the Trump Organization has told you how to testify?

No.

No further questions and no follow-ups from the prosecution.

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche asks for a sidebar.

Kirsti Noem makes shocking admission she shot pet dog she 'hated'

Friday 26 April 2024 20:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Mike Bedigan reports:

One of the candidates in the running to be Donald Trump’s pick for Vice President has admitted that she once shot a pet puppy that she “hated”.

Kristi Noem wrote about an incident with the dog, named Cricket, who she called “untrainable” and “less than worthless”. She also claimed to have put down an unnamed, family-owned goat because he was “nasty and mean”.

Ms Noem, the Governor of South Dakota is seen as a leading contender to be Mr Trump’s running mate for the November presidential election.

Yikes...

Trump VP candidate Kristi Noem admits she shot pet dog she ‘hated’

Friday 26 April 2024 20:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Gary Farro is the next witness — the third of the trial — and was formerly a senior managing director at First Republic Bank. He says he's here voluntarily, but “I did receive a subpoena”.

He now works at Flagstar Bank but worked at First Republic Bank for 15 years, beginning in 2002.

It was there he allegedly set up the home equity line of credit through which Michael Cohen paid Stormy Daniels.

Friday 26 April 2024 21:01 , Alex Woodward

Farro: "Michael Cohen was assigned to me after a client left in 2015."

He said he believed he was given Cohen for “my knowledge and my ability to handle individuals who may be a little challenging”.

“Michael did a lot of his own business and frankly I didn’t find him difficult,” he said.

Friday 26 April 2024 21:05 , Alex Woodward

We see an email from October 11 2016 from Farro's assistant about a missed call from Michael Cohen.

She sent another email two days later asking him to please return his call “regarding an important matter”.

When he called back, Cohen said he wanted to open an LLC account.

This was all roughly three weeks before election day.

Friday 26 April 2024 21:09 , Alex Woodward

An email in the morning from October 13 2016.

The subject line is: FW: Message from "26-Copier-Pantry"

There's a PDF attachment.

Farro then emailed one of his coworkers about opening an account for Cohen “immediately”.

Full story: Trump’s longtime assistant testifies to ‘vague’ memory of seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower

Friday 26 April 2024 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the courthouse:

A former longtime assistant to Donald Trump at his Trump Organization testified that she has a “vague recollection” of seeing adult film star Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower before his 2016 presidential campaign.

Rhonna Graff, who worked at the Trump Organization for more than 30 years, testified on Friday at a criminal trial in Manhattan across from her former boss, who is charged with falsifying business records to cover up payments to Ms Daniels as part of a scheme to bury details of an alleged affair.

She testified that she saw Ms Daniels in the lobby of the 26th floor of Trump Tower, where Mr Trump’s office is located.

Continue reading...

Trump’s longtime assistant has ‘vague’ memory of seeing Stormy at Trump Tower

Friday 26 April 2024 21:24 , Alex Woodward

The LLC is Resolution Consultants LLC, the shell company that Cohen used to set up the McDougal transfer that Pecker ultimately backed out of.

The type of business on the First Republic Bank form to set up the LLC is listed as “MANAGEMENT CONSULTING”.

Cohen is the only listed officer for the LLC.

Cohen signed off on it on 13 October 2016, two days after calling Farro's office to try to set it up.

A question on the form asked “is the entity associated with political fundraising/political action committees?” The corresponding box was checked “no”.

On the morning of October 26, Farro's assistant emailed Farro asking him to return Cohen's call. He did.

“He said he was changing course, no longer wanted to open Resolution Consultants, and wanted to open a new account,” Farro says.

“Every time Michael Cohen spoke to me he gave me a sense of urgency ... This was one of those times.”

The account had never actually opened, because Cohen didn't pay for it, so there wasn't anything to do necessarily.

Friday 26 April 2024 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Cohen then applied for another LLC, Essential Consultants LLC, which was intended to “collect fees for investment consulting for real estate transactions,” according to a form.

The prosecution says they're at a stopping point for today.

Judge Merchan asks them to approach before excusing the jurors.

“We'll call it a week.”

Rooting for Trump to fail has made his stock shorters millions

Friday 26 April 2024 21:45 , AP

Rooting for Donald Trump to fail has rarely been this profitable.

Just ask a hardy band of mostly amateur Wall Street investors who have collectively made tens of millions of dollars over the past month by betting that the stock price of his social media business — Truth Social — will keep dropping despite massive buying by Trump loyalists and wild swings that often mirror the candidate’s latest polls, court trials and outbursts on Trump Social itself.

Several of these investors interviewed by The Associated Press say their bearish gambles using “put” options and other trading tools are driven less by their personal feelings about the former president (most don’t like him) than their faith in the woeful underlying financials of a company that made less money last year than the average Wendy’s hamburger franchise.

Read on...

Rooting for Trump to fail has made his stock shorters millions

Who’s going to tell him?

Friday 26 April 2024 21:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s invitation to an impromptu courthouse debate after trial proceedings ended today sadly went unanswered...

I’ve been waiting for Crooked Joe at the Courthouse, the Fake News Media was there also — HE DIDN’T SHOW! ANY WHERE, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE!

After telling Howard Stern he would be happy to debate Mr Trump, the president returned to Washington, DC.

Friday 26 April 2024 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Oh wait, he invited himself to the White House to debate the president.

Don’t hold your breath...

Trump posts ‘Happy Birthday Melania!’ message

Friday 26 April 2024 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell

How do Americans feel about how fairly Trump is being treated in his trial?

Friday 26 April 2024 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Kelly Rissman reports:

The first criminal trial of a former US president is underway — and most Americans believe that Donald Trump is not being treated equally to other criminal defendants.

A poll conducted last week shows the country is decisively split over whether Mr Trump is being treated more leniently or more harshly.

Some 34 per cent say they believe the former president is being treated “more leniently” than other criminal defendants in the historic trial, according to the CNN poll on Thursday. The same percentage believe that he is being treated “more harshly”.

Only 13 per cent believe he is being treated “about the same” as other defendants.

Continue reading...

Most Americans believe Trump isn’t being treated the same as other defendants

Today in court: Trump’s attorneys try to pick holes in David Pecker’s ‘catch and kill’ testimony

Friday 26 April 2024 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward writes:

Donald Trump’s defence attorneys have tried to undermine trial testimony from one of the alleged architects of the scheme to buy up politically damaging stories about Mr Trump in order to boost his 2016 election chances.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, the first witness in the former president’s historic hush money trial, faced a barrage of “yes” or “no” questions during cross-examination from Mr Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove on Thursday and Friday in an attempt to poke holes in his week-long testimony.

But Mr Bove’s attempts to impeach Mr Pecker’s credibility fell flat, as the former publisher repeatedly affirmed his under-oath descriptions of his meetings with Mr Trump.

Continue reading...

Trump’s attorneys try to pick holes in David Pecker’s ‘catch and kill’ testimony

Friday 26 April 2024 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

In court, the ever-brash Trump looks lonelier than ever

Saturday 27 April 2024 00:31 , Josh Marcus

Despite being surrounded by a cadre of lawyers and Secret Service agents, Donald Trump cuts something of a lonely figure sitting in court listening to testimony at his first trial on criminal charges.

When he arrives, behind the pair of agents and leading a pack of attorneys and others in his entourage, he is the first to sit at the defence table. He is briefly alone, staring at nothing in particular, with his hands clasped and his shoulders tight as he leans on the wide table in front of him.

When his attorneys speak privately with the judge or the prosecution, he’s left by himself. The screens that capture the courtroom around him — which are also broadcast in an adjoining room for other assembled press — make the room appear massive.

He looks small against the empty space where his attorneys would sit and the reserved but unoccupied seats behind him. His eyes are closed for most of the proceedings, though it’s unclear whether he’s asleep, checked out completely, or trying to focus on the testimony just a few feet away from him. He will frequently tilt his head to the side as if he’s turning his ears to hear better.

Oliver O’Connell and Alex Woodward have this report on what it’s like to be in court during the former president’s historic trial.

Trump cuts a lonely figure at trial as family and supporters stay home

E Jean Carroll: Trump loses latest bid for new defamation trial

Saturday 27 April 2024 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s request to have a new trial in his $83m defamation case with writer E Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault, was denied by a federal court.

Judge Lews Kaplan of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York rejected the motion on Thursday after Mr Trump had sought a fresh trial.

In May 2023, a jury found Mr Trump liable for sexually abusing Ms Carroll. Then, earlier this year, a jury determined that Mr Trump had defamed Ms Carroll, with $65m in punitive damages and $18m in compensatory damages.

In response, Mr Trump posted a $91.6m bond to appeal the verdict against him.

Eric Garcia reports:

Trump loses latest bid for new E Jean Carroll defamation trial

Trump invites himself to the White House to debate Biden

Saturday 27 April 2024 01:15 , Josh Marcus

Donald Trump on Friday challenged President Joe Biden to a debate in an unlikely venue: The White House.

Speaking from the hallway outside of his ongoing criminal trial in Manhattan, the former president sought to strike a confident tone about his chances in a head-to-head against his likely 2024 opponent.

“We’re ready, just tell me where,” Trump said. “We’ll do it at the White House. That would be very comfortable actually. You tell me where.”

The comments came after President Biden said Friday that he will participate in televised debates, ending speculation about whether or not he would debate Trump, during an hour-long, wide-ranging interview with Sirius-XM radio host Howard Stern.

More details in our full story.

Biden says he will debate Trump; Trump responds ‘Anytime, anywhere, any place’

A banker, an assistant, a tabloid boss: Key takeaways from Trump’s day in court

Saturday 27 April 2024 01:31 , Josh Marcus

The jury in Donald Trump’s hush money trial heard more testimony on Friday from American Media Inc publisher David Pecker, who dodged attempts by the defence team to try to impeach his credibility.

Mr Trump’s former assistant at the Trump Organization also took the stand, mentioning seeing adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lobby of Trump Tower one day, close to the former president’s office.

Jurors also heard from a banker, who laid the groundwork for the creation of the shell company that ultimately sent payments to Ms Daniels — a critical piece of the case.

Mr Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the so-called hush money payments given to the porn star before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence over an alleged affair.

Kelly Rissman and Alex Woodward have the full story.

A banker, an assistant, a tabloid boss: Key takeaways from Trump’s day in court

There are 18 indicted co-conspirators in the Arizona fake electors’ scheme — who are they?

Saturday 27 April 2024 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

An Arizona grand jury indicted 18 individuals for their role in an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 election in favour of Donald Trump by falsely certifying the state’s 2020 election results.

The state’s Attorney General Kris Mayes has so far released the names of 16 of those charged, explaining that two of the defendants’ names have been redacted but will be released “after all defendants have been served.”

Kelly Rissman reports on the who’s who of familiar names now tied to another scheme to overturn the 2020 election:

Who are the 18 indicted co-conspirators in the Arizona fake electors’ scheme?

David Pecker testifies Trump used White House to manage blowback from Karen McDougal allegations

Saturday 27 April 2024 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward writes:

Donald Trump is accused of helping to bury a story that he had a nearly one-year-long affair with a former Playboy model, in order to secure his election to the presidency in 2016.

But he continued to keep tabs on the story and Karen McDougal’s contractual agreement to keep quiet through at least his first year in office, according to testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who claimed to buy her silence.

Read on...

Trump used White House to manage blowback from Karen McDougal allegations: Pecker

Watch: Trump reacts to SCOTUS hearing arguments on immunity

Saturday 27 April 2024 03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

‘I would if it’s necessary’: Has Trump got cold feet about testifying?

Saturday 27 April 2024 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump appears to be getting cold feet about taking the stand to testify in his criminal hush money trial, after he previously insisted that he would “absolutely” do so.

The former president called in to Newsmax on Thursday night after the conclusion of day seven of his historic trial, where he was asked by anchor Greg Kelly about his intentions to testify in his own defence based on what he had seen of the proceedings so far.

“Well I would if it’s necessary,” Mr Trump answered.

Trump seems to get cold feet about testifying in New York hush money trial

Will the Supreme Court offer Trump some immunity from prosecution?

Saturday 27 April 2024 06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The Supreme Court justices appear poised to offer Donald Trump and future US presidents some form of immunity from criminal prosecution for their actions while in office – while rejecting broad absolute immunity.

The nation’s highest court heard oral arguments on Thursday in a historic case which the justices acknowledged has “huge implications” for not only the former president’s criminal cases but also for America’s future.

“This case has huge implications for the presidency, for the future of the presidency, for the future of the country,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said.

Ariana Baio listened to the oral arguments before the court:

Supreme Court justices appear poised to offer Trump some immunity

Which celebrities found themselves dragged into Trump’s hush money trial?

Saturday 27 April 2024 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Joe Sommerlad writes:

A string of famous names have been dragged into Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial, after four days of testimony from the former publisher of the supermarket tabloid The National Enquirer.

David Pecker became the first witness to take the stand in the former president’s New York hush money trial this week, laying out a so-called “catch-and-kill” scheme at the centre of the case.

Read on to see who found themselves name-dropped at a trial the world is watching...

The celebrities dragged into Trump’s hush money trial

‘Anytime, anywhere, any place’: Trump and Biden square off over debate

Saturday 27 April 2024 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia report:

President Joe Biden on Friday said he will participate in televised debates with his likely opponent, former president Donald Trump, before the November 5 presidential election.

Biden ended speculation about whether or not he would debate Trump during an hour-long, wide-ranging interview with Sirius-XM radio host Howard Stern.

“I am, somewhere,” he said, in response to a question about whether he was going to debate Trump, adding a second later that he did not know when such debates would take place. The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three sessions for September 16, October 1 and October 9 this year.

“I’m happy to debate him,” he added.

Read on...

Biden says he will debate Trump; Trump responds ‘Anytime, anywhere, any place’

There are 18 indicted co-conspirators in the Arizona fake electors’ scheme — who are they?

Saturday 27 April 2024 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

An Arizona grand jury indicted 18 individuals for their role in an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 election in favour of Donald Trump by falsely certifying the state’s 2020 election results.

The state’s Attorney General Kris Mayes has so far released the names of 16 of those charged, explaining that two of the defendants’ names have been redacted but will be released “after all defendants have been served.”

Kelly Rissman reports on the who’s who of familiar names now tied to another scheme to overturn the 2020 election:

Who are the 18 indicted co-conspirators in the Arizona fake electors’ scheme?

Yesterday in court: Trump’s attorneys try to pick holes in David Pecker’s ‘catch and kill’ testimony

Saturday 27 April 2024 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward writes:

Donald Trump’s defence attorneys have tried to undermine trial testimony from one of the alleged architects of the scheme to buy up politically damaging stories about Mr Trump in order to boost his 2016 election chances.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, the first witness in the former president’s historic hush money trial, faced a barrage of “yes” or “no” questions during cross-examination from Mr Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove on Thursday and Friday in an attempt to poke holes in his week-long testimony.

But Mr Bove’s attempts to impeach Mr Pecker’s credibility fell flat, as the former publisher repeatedly affirmed his under-oath descriptions of his meetings with Mr Trump.

Continue reading...

Trump’s attorneys try to pick holes in David Pecker’s ‘catch and kill’ testimony

Watch: Trump wants to debate Biden at White House

Saturday 27 April 2024 14:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Kristi Noem makes shocking admission she shot pet dog she ‘hated’

Saturday 27 April 2024 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

One of the candidates in the running to be Donald Trump’s pick for Vice President has admitted that she once shot a pet puppy that she “hated”.

No, really.

Trump VP candidate Kristi Noem admits she shot pet dog she ‘hated’

Trump calls a vote for RFK JR ‘wasted protest vote’

Saturday 27 April 2024 15:20 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump told followers not to vote for third-party presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, saying a vote for him would be a “wasted protest vote” and falsely asserted that Mr Kennedy was a “Democratic Plant”.

In a Truth Social post on Friday night, Mr Trump said Mr Kennedy was ‘planted’ by Democrats “to help Crooked Joe Biden... get Re-Elected.”

“A Vote for Junior’ would essentially be a WASTED PROTEST VOTE, that could swing either way, but would only swing against the Democrats if Republicans knew the true story about him,” Mr Trump wrote.

Adam Schiff demonstrates why you shouldn’t leave valuables in parked cars in San Francisco

Saturday 27 April 2024 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell

San Francisco has earned an unwelcome national reputation for car burglaries that US Rep. Adam Schiff was reminded of the hard way: The Democratic congressman had his luggage swiped from his car while it was parked in a downtown garage.

With his formal clothing gone, Schiff ended up at a fundraising dinner Thursday for his US Senate campaign dressed like he was headed to a Los Angeles Dodgers game — in shirt sleeves and an insulated vest. Others who attended the event were mostly decked out in suit jackets and ties.

Schiff’s campaign confirmed the burglary and declined further comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

Read on...

They say don't leave valuables in parked cars in San Francisco. Rep. Adam Schiff didn't listen

Longtime assistant to Trump testifies to ‘vague’ memory of seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower

Saturday 27 April 2024 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A former longtime assistant to Donald Trump at his Trump Organization testified that she has a “vague recollection” of seeing adult film star Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower before his 2016 presidential campaign.

Rhona Graff, who worked at the Trump Organization for more than 30 years, testified on Friday in a Manhattan courtroom across from her former boss – who is currently on trial charged with falsifying 34 business records to cover up payments to Ms Daniels as part of a scheme to bury details of their alleged affair.

In her testimony, Ms Graff revealed new details about Ms Daniels’ apparent ties to the former president, including that he appeared to be considering the adult film star as a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Alex Woodward filed this report from the courthouse:

Trump’s longtime assistant recalls seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower

Voices: Trump may lose his hush money trial – but he’s got bigger things to worry about

Saturday 27 April 2024 17:20 , Jon Sopel

Hell hath no fury like a Donald Trump forced to spend all day in a dingy, cold courtroom at 100 Centre Street in downtown Manhattan. Here on the 15th floor, he has spent the last two weeks fulminating. But he can’t do that while the court is in session. Here, it is Judge Juan Merchan who is in charge, not the former president. Here, the president has to do what he’s told.

For a man for whom being not just in charge but in total control is so much a part of his heavily curated image, this is proving tough. Defendant Trump turns up when the judge tells him to and leaves at the end of the day. In that sense, he is being treated like any other suspected criminal on trial. In others, of course, this is all totally abnormal.

Jon Sopel writes:

Trump may lose his hush money trial – but it’s not his biggest problem | Jon Sopel

Bill Barr says Trump would threaten ‘execution’ when angry

Saturday 27 April 2024 18:00 , Ariana Baio

Former attorney general Bill Barr told Kaitlin Collins on Friday that Donald Trump would sometimes threaten to execute someone when he would lose his temper – but that he did not mean it literally.

“Alyssa Farah Griffin, who was Trump’s communication director, posted yesterday and said that you were present at a moment when Trump suggested executing the person who leaked information that he went to the White House bunker when the George Floyd’s protests were happening outside the White House,” Ms Collins said to Mr Barr on The Sources With Kaitlin Collins.

Mr Barr said he did not recall Mr Trump saying the word “executing” but that he also “wouldn’t dispute” that it happened.

“The president would lose his temper and say things like that, I doubt he would have actually carried that out,” Mr Barr added. “I think people would sometimes take him too literally.”

Trump invites himself to the White House to debate Biden

Saturday 27 April 2024 18:30 , Andrew Feinberg, Eric Garcia, Josh Marcus

Donald Trump on Friday challenged President Joe Biden to a debate in an unlikely venue: The White House.

Speaking from the hallway outside of his ongoing criminal trial in Manhattan, the former president sought to strike a confident tone about his chances in a head-to-head against his likely 2024 opponent.

“We’re ready, just tell me where,” Trump said. “We’ll do it at the White House. That would be very comfortable actually. You tell me where.”

The comments came after President Biden said Friday that he will participate in televised debates, ending speculation about whether or not he would debate Trump, during an hour-long, wide-ranging interview with Sirius-XM radio host Howard Stern.

“I am, somewhere,” he said, in response to a question about whether he was going to debate Trump, adding a second later that he did not know when such debates would take place. The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three sessions for September 16, October 1 and October 9 this year.

Trump seems to get cold feet about testifying in New York hush money trial

Saturday 27 April 2024 19:00 , Joe Sommerlad, Alex Woodward

Donald Trump appears to be getting cold feet about taking the stand to testify in his criminal hush money trial, after he previously insisted that he would “absolutely” do so.

The former president called in to Newsmax on Thursday night after the conclusion of day seven of his historic trial, where he was asked by anchor Greg Kelly about his intentions to testify in his own defence based on what he had seen of the proceedings so far.

“Well I would if it’s necessary,” Mr Trump answered.

He continued: “Right now, I don’t know if you heard about today. Today was just incredible. People are saying – the experts, I’m talking about legal scholars and experts – they’re saying, ‘What kind of a case is this? There is no case.’

“Uh, you know they had David Pecker, testifying today. And he was, you know, people are saying there’s no case. There’s literally no case!”

Key takeaways from the first week of Trump’s trial testimony

Saturday 27 April 2024 20:25 , Ariana Baio

This week was Donald Trump’s second week on criminal trial – the first of courtroom testimony – and it was certainly eventful.

Jurors heard from the prosecution’s first witnesses in the case including lengthy testimony from tabloid mogul David Pecker, who outlined the “catch and kill” scheme at the heart of the hush money case.

The former president faced calls for $10,000 fines over gag order violations over his continued attacks on witnesses.

And Americans heard Mr Trump both fume about the landmark trial and use it as a campaign platform on Truth Social and in the courthouse corridors.

Read more from Alex Woodward and Kelly Rissman:

Key takeaways from the first week of Trump’s trial testimony

Trump to appear in Wisconsin and Michigan for rally next week

Saturday 27 April 2024 21:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump is expected to appear in Waukesha, Wisconsin and Freeland, Michigan on Wednesday for campaign rallies.

On the only free day that Mr Trump has while his New York criminal trial is underway, the former president will hold rallies in the neighbouring states on 1 May.

He is required to attend every day of his trial per New York City criminal law.

The rally in Waukesha will take place at 2pm CT at the Waukesha County Expo Center.

The rally in Freeland will take place later in the day at 6pm at Avflight Saginaw.

Catch up with the Trump trial

Saturday 27 April 2024 22:00 , Ariana Baio

Despite being surrounded by a cadre of lawyers and Secret Service agents, Donald Trump cuts something of a lonely figure sitting in court listening to testimony at his first trial on criminal charges.

When he arrives, behind the pair of agents and leading a pack of attorneys and others in his entourage, he is the first to sit at the defence table. He is briefly alone, staring at nothing in particular, with his hands clasped and his shoulders tight as he leans on the wide table in front of him.

Read the report from Alex Woodward here:

Trump cuts a lonely figure at trial as family and supporters stay home

North Carolina pastor calls Trump bible ‘blasphemous'

Saturday 27 April 2024 23:00 , Ariana Baio

A North Carolina evangelical pastor has condemned the “God Bless the USA” Bible that Donald Trump is selling, saying mixing politics and religion is “disgusting” and “blasphemous.”

During an April sermon, Pastor Loran Livingston of the Central Church in North Carolina explained to his congregates how politics and church become interchangeable, using the $60 Bible that Mr Trump is selling as an example.

“You can get mad if you want to but I’m going to tell you something, if you glory in that kind of [political mess], you don’t have a prayer life,” Mr Livingston said.

“When you don’t read and pray, you say, ‘Wow there’s a Bible out now that includes the Constitution and the Bill of Rights isn’t that wonderful?’ No. No, it’s disgusting, it’s blasphemous, it’s a ploy,” he added.

“The gospel is not an American gospel it is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Most Americans believe Trump isn’t being treated the same as other criminal defendants

Sunday 28 April 2024 00:00 , Kelly Rissman

The first criminal trial of a former US president is underway — and most Americans believe that Donald Trump is not being treated equally to other criminal defendants.

A poll conducted last week shows the country is decisively split over whether Mr Trump is being treated more leniently or more harshly.

Some 34 per cent say they believe the former president is being treated “more leniently” than other criminal defendants in the historic trial, according to the CNN poll on Thursday. The same percentage believe that he is being treated “more harshly”.

Only 13 per cent believe he is being treated “about the same” as other defendants.

The new CNN poll underscores just how divided the country is politically as yet another contentious presidential election inches closer.

Watch: Donald Trump suggests debating Biden at White House

02:00 , Ariana Baio

Who are the 18 indicted co-conspirators in the Arizona fake electors’ scheme?

04:00 , Ariana Baio

An Arizona grand jury indicted 18 individuals for their role in an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 election in favour of Donald Trump by falsely certifying the state’s 2020 election results.

The state’s Attorney General Kris Mayes has so far released the names of 16 of those charged, explaining that two of the defendants’ names have been redacted but will be released “after all defendants have been served.”

Eleven names were first released on Wednesday, but on Friday, the state’s Attorney General also revealed the names of five more defendants, all of whom were once Trump allies: John Eastman, Boris Epshteyn, Christina Bobb, Jenna Ellis, and Michael Roman.

Kelly Rissman reports:

Who are the 18 indicted co-conspirators in the Arizona fake electors’ scheme?

The Supreme Court case that could give Jan 6 rioters – and Trump – a break

06:00 , Ariana Baio

Joseph Fischer, a former police officer from Pennsylvania, allegedly entered the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021, yelling “Charge!”, and rushing the police line.

Fischer, like thousands of other rioters that day, attended the “Stop the Steal” rally in support of former president Donald Trump who had spread false claims of election fraud.

Fischer was arrested and charged with several crimes for his actions on January 6. He is among 330 rioters, along with Mr Trump, charged with obstructing an official proceeding.

But Fischer disputes that charge, claiming it is being unfairly used to prosecute him. The white-collar law was enacted 20 years ago in the wake of the Enron financial scandal.

His case, at the hands of the Supreme Court, could call into question the sentencings and convictions against hundreds of rioters and potentially undermine the two federal charges against Mr Trump.

Though Mr Trump is not directly involved in this Supreme Court court case a ruling could potentially impact the federal prosecutor Jack Smith’s federal election interference case against the former president.

Mr Trump is also charged under the same provision by federal prosecutors and has raised a similar defence to Fischer.

Watch: The Daily Show host calls Trump 'King of Pettiness' over Bill Barr post

08:00 , Ariana Baio

Watch: Bill Barr says Trump would 'threaten execution' when he was angry

10:00 , Ariana Baio

ICYMI: Trump’s longtime assistant testifies to ‘vague’ memory of seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower

11:00 , Alex Woodward

A former longtime assistant to Donald Trump at his Trump Organization testified that she has a “vague recollection” of seeing adult film star Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower before his 2016 presidential campaign.

Rhona Graff, who worked at the Trump Organization for more than 30 years, testified on Friday in a Manhattan courtroom across from her former boss – who is currently on trial charged with falsifying 34 business records to cover up payments to Ms Daniels as part of a scheme to bury details of their alleged affair.

In her testimony, Ms Graff revealed new details about Ms Daniels’ apparent ties to the former president, including that he appeared to be considering the adult film star as a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Ms Graff told the court that she once saw Ms Daniels in the lobby of the 26th floor of Trump Tower, where Mr Trump’s office is located.

She assumed that Ms Daniels may have been at the office to discuss a role with The Celebrity Apprentice, Mr Trump’s former hit reality TV competition series on NBC, she said.

Potential Trump running mate admits to shooting dog in new book

13:00 , Ariana Baio

Kristi Noem, the Governor of South Dakota whom Donald Trump may be considering to be his running mate, apparently described shooting her 14-month-old dog in her new book.

According to The Guardian, Ms Noem described the incident as an example of her willingness to do anything “difficult, messy and ugly”.

Ms Noem writes that she had an aggressive wirehair pointer named Cricket who was extremely difficult to train as a hunting dog – at one point getting loose and killing a flock of chickens owned by a local family.

She said the dog was “less than worthless… as a hunting dog” and “dangerous to anyone she came in contact with” so she got her gun and led Cricket to a gravel pit – presumably to shoot her.

Later, Ms Noem described taking similar action to take care of an aggressive male goat.

The stories are from Ms Noem’s new book, No Going Back.

In response to the article from The Guardian, Ms Noem wrote on X that, “Tough decisions like this happen all the time on the farm” but that, “We love animals.”

Key Takeaways from Trump’s immunity arguments at the Supreme Court

14:00 , Ariana Baio

The Supreme Court spent over three hours on Thursday hearing oral arguments in the historic case involving former president Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity from prosecution.

On the final day of arguments for this term, the nine justices questioned lawyers for Mr Trump and the Justice Department’s special counsel and toyed with whether or not presidents should be awarded broad, some, or no immunity from criminal prosecution.

Ariana Baio reports:

Key Takeaways from Trump’s immunity arguments at the Supreme Court

Watch: Biden cracks Stormy Daniels joke aimed at Trump during White House dinner

14:30 , Ariana Baio

Trump lashes out at White House Correspondents Dinner

15:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump was the butt of the joke at the White House Correspondents Dinner last night – something he is not very happy about.

“The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was really bad. Colin Jost BOMBED, and Crooked Joe was an absolute disaster! Doesn’t get much worse than this!” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social at one o’clock in the morning.

The Saturday Night Live star made multiple jokes about Mr Trump being involved in criminal cases, including the one in Manhattan that starts back up tomorrow. President Joe Biden cracked a few himself when he got up on stage too.

Lindsey Graham says he will still vote for Trump even if he’s convicted

15:30 , Ariana Baio

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said he will still support former president Donald Trump in the November election – even if he’s convicted of a crime.

Just to underscore something you said earlier, if he is convicted you will still support him and vote for him?” CNN’s Dana Bash asked Mr Graham.

Mr Graham responded: “Absolutely! I think what’s going on with Donald Trump is weaponization of the law.”

The senator claimed that “most people” have “written off” the Manhattan criminal case against Mr Trump

Trump led a ‘violent insurrection’ but I’ll still vote for him, says McConnell

16:31 , John Bowden

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will vote for the man he holds personally responsible for leading a “violent insurrection” at his workplace, the US Capitol, Congress’s senior Republican declared on Sunday.

It was an affirmation of both previous statements the senator has made as well as the modern state of the GOP: utterly loyal to the man who, three years ago, he and others were roundly denouncing after a violent assault on the seat of American democracy left dozens of cops wounded and several dead including members of law enforcement and rioters.

John Bowden reports:

Trump led a ‘violent insurrection’ but I’ll still vote for him, says McConnell

Trump’s new nickname for Robert F Kennedy Jr

17:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump, never short of creativity, has found a new nickname for one of his political opponents Robert F Kennedy Jr – simply: Junior.

Seemingly in an effort to downplay the independent presidential candidate’s legitimacy, Mr Trump has begun calling him “Junior”. He’s invoked the nickname in several Truth Social rants from over the weekend.

“Junior’ is far more LIBERAL than [Bill Maher] and, in fact, far more LIBERAL than anyone running as a Democrat, including West and Stein,” Mr Trump wrote on Sunday.

The former president also called Mr Kennedy “Junior” in a post on Saturday.

Biden takes aim at Trump’s criminal trial: ‘Stormy weather’

17:27 , Ariana Baio

President Joe Biden poked fun at his political opponent at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday, claiming Donald Trump had faced “Stormy weather” recently.

“Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it Stormy weather,” Mr Biden quipped.

The joke was a reference to both the string of criminal proceedings Mr Trump has faced in multiple states and also the New York criminal trial that features adult film star, Stormy Daniels.

The president leaned into the annual event’s energy, joking that Mr Trump is “a six-year-old” and calling him “Sleepy Don” because he falls asleep in court often.

Trump attacks RFK Jr after polling shows he’s strong with potential voters

18:06 , Ariana Baio

Former president Donald Trump has begun lashing out at independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr amid recent polling indicating Mr Kennedy is attracting the support of potential Trump voters.

Over the weekend, Mr Trump made at least four Truth Social posts attacking Mr Kennedy, falsely asserting he is a “Democratic plant” installed to help President Joe Biden win, that he is more liberal than any other candidate and that his views on vaccines are “fake.”

“A Vote for Junior’ would essentially be a WASTED PROTEST VOTE, that could swing either way, but would only swing against the Democrats if Republicans knew the true story about him. ” Mr Trump wrote on Saturday.

The sudden ramp-up of attacks arrives after polling from Quinnipiac, Marist and NBC News shows that Mr Kennedy’s campaign is taking votes away from Mr Trump.

NBC News’ poll shows that in match-ups between Mr Trump and Mr Biden, the former president has at least a two-point lead. But when Mr Kennedy is thrown into the mix, Mr Biden then takes the lead. Marist polling indicates Mr Kennedy has managed to increase his support among independents from 21 per cent to 27 per cent – meanwhile, Mr Trump has gone from 38 per cent to 30 per cent.

Doug Burgum moving up Trump’s VP list, report says

19:00 , Ariana Baio

Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota and failed presidential candidate is apparently moving up the list of Donald Trump’s potential vice president pics, according to Axios.

Four people familiar with the situation told the online news outlet that Mr Trump has been speaking about Mr Burgum more often and hosted him and his wife for Easter brunch.

Mr Burgum, 67, is a staunch conservative with a background in business.

Lindsey Graham calls catch and kill scheme ‘a crock'

20:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump’s allies are coming to his defense over the Manhattan criminal case, downplaying its legitimacy and seriousness.

In true Trump ally fashion, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham called the alleged catch-and-kill scheme at the center of the conspiracy a “crock.”

“Ya know apparently a lot of people do this. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods – no I think the whole thing is a crock,” Mr Graham told Dana Bash on CNN.

He went on to claim that the Manhattan district attorney went to great lengths to find something to prosecute the former president – insinuating that his case is weak and far-fetched. Experts have disputed this claim.

Ms Bash responded, “Obviously Tiger Woods is not president and the allegation is about the campaign –”

Mr Graham interrupted: “I think the whole thing is BS. Political BS”.

The celebrities dragged into Trump’s hush money trial

20:30 , Ariana Baio

A string of famous names have been dragged into Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial, after four days of testimony from the former publisher of the supermarket tabloid The National Enquirer.

David Pecker became the first witness to take the stand in the former president’s New York hush money trial this week, laying out a so-called “catch-and-kill” scheme at the centre of the case.

Here’s a look at the famous faces who have cropped up in the trial testimony so far:

Joe Sommerlad reports:

The celebrities dragged into Trump’s hush money trial

Arnie, Tiger Woods and Mark Wahlberg: The celebrities dragged into Trump’s hush money trial

21:00 , Joe Sommerlad

A string of famous names have been dragged into Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial, after four days of testimony from the former publisher of the supermarket tabloid The National Enquirer.

David Pecker became the first witness to take the stand in the former president’s New York hush money trial this week, laying out a so-called “catch-and-kill” scheme at the center of the case.

While laying out his involvement in the alleged scheme to protect Mr Trump’s reputation and offering a glimpse into the practice of so-called “checkebook journalism”, the tabloid mogul also name-dropped numerous other famous figures. None of the celebrities named are accused of any wrongdoing in connection to the case.

According to Mr Pecker, the publisher had a similar agreement with Schwarzenegger when he was running to be California’s governor to the one he later allegedly struck with Mr Trump.

During cross-examination from Mr Trump’s attorney Emil Bove, Mr Pecker testified that he had also purchased photographs of golf superstar Tiger Woods meeting a woman in a Florida parking lot in 2007.

The publisher testified that he had bought a story about an argument between The Departed star and his wife that was never published.

Mitch McConnell will still vote for Trump despite saying he led a ‘violent insurrection'

21:30 , Ariana Baio

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will vote for the man he holds personally responsible for leading a “violent insurrection” at his workplace, the US Capitol, Congress’s senior Republican declared on Sunday.

Mr McConnell explained his upcoming vote during an interview that aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press.

“I said three years ago, shortly after the assault on the Capitol, that I would support the nominee of the party, whoever that was, and I do,” he said.

The remark showed Mr McConnell’s unflinching loyalty to party over all, and is particularly revealing given that, as an oft-critic of the former president, Mr McConnell has not minced words or sought to rewrite history surrounding the January 6 attack, as some of his conservative colleagues have done to defend their top ally. In 2021, the GOP leader made clear what had transpired on Jan 6: “It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election from one administration to the next.”

Trump VP candidate Kristi Noem sparks backlash for ‘twisted’ admission of killing her dog

22:00 , Mike Bedigan

One of the candidates in the running to be Donald Trump’s pick for Vice President has admitted that she once shot a pet puppy that she “hated”.

Kristi Noem wrote about an incident with a dog, named Cricket, who she called “untrainable” and “less than worthless”. She also claimed to have put down an unnamed, family-owned goat because he was “nasty and mean”.

Ms Noem, the Governor of South Dakota is seen as a leading contender to be Mr Trump’s running mate for the November presidential election.

Mike Bedigan reports:

Trump VP candidate Kristi Noem sparks backlash for admission of killing her dog