Day 8 of Trump New York hush money trial

Hoffinger shows calendar entries for Trump from January 16 to January 19, 2017, from the Trump Organization appointment calendar, including an entry for a "teleprompter practice session" on the 25th floor of Trump Tower on January 16, 2017.

Another entry shows Trump had an appointment with Ainsley Earhardt from Fox and Friends on January 17, 2017.

On the same day, he also had an appointment for a photo shoot for Mike Allen for the Washington Post.

Graff confirms that the entries show Trump was working at Trump Tower at that time.

According to the calendar, Trump was expected to be wheels up from LaGuardia Airport to Reagan National Airport on January 19, 2017, the day before the inauguration.

Former President Donald Trump on Friday continued to falsely claim he cannot “comment on” or “answer questions” about his New York criminal hush money trial as he railed against the gag order from Judge Juan Merchan. 

Speaking in the third person, Trump posted on Truth Social, “45th President Donald J. Trump is again the Republican Nominee for President of the United States, and is currently dominating in the Polls. However, he is being inundated by the Media with questions because of this Rigged Biden Trial, which President Trump is not allowed to comment on, or answer, because of Judge Juan Merchan’s UNPRECEDENTED AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL Gag Order.”

Merchan has scheduled another hearing on the gag order for next Thursday.

Graff recalls seeing Stormy Daniels in the reception area at Trump Tower before Trump ran for president.

Graff confirms that two contacts she maintained at the Trump Organization were for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels.

Partially redacted exhibits in court show a contact entry in the organization's system for Karen McDougal, with a phone number, email address and two addresses.

Graff confirms she believes she created the contact for Trump.

The next contact Hoffinger shows in the Trump Org system is listed as "Stormy." It just lists a cell phone number.

Graff confirms that the Stormy contact was Stormy Daniels.

Prosecutors have called Rhona Graff, Donald Trump's former longtime assistant, to the witness stand.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker in his testimony Tuesday described sitting in Trump's office Graff walked in and gave him invoices and checks to sign.

CNN previously reported in 2022 that Graff was subpoenaed as part of the separate New York attorney general's investigation into the Trump Organization’s finances.

CNN analyst Gloria Borger said that Graff was very close to Trump.

Graff can also reveal how the Trump organization worked, Borger said, and even provide a glimpse into Trump's life and speak on the relationships between Trump and his children.

Assistants also make powerful witnesses because they can see who is coming in out of the office.

Prosecutors asked Graff to verify several exhibits that are emails she exchanged with Madeleine Westerhout, who worked in the Trump White House.

As we get into the minutiae of emails sent between Trump's White House and Trump Organization assistants, Trump has sat back in his chair and closed his eyes again.

Some background: Graff trained Westerhout for her role. She sat outside the Oval Office and observed almost every coming and going over more than two and a half years.

Under direct examination, Graff said that Trump never used email to communicate as far as she can remember.

A court security officer also handed Graff a thumb drive.

Rhona Graff, Trump's former longtime assistant, is testifying pursuant to a subpoena.

The assistant district attorney started her questions for Graff by asking her about her time with the Trump organization.

Graff said she worked for Trump for 34 years at the Trump Organization, sitting outside his office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower. She was largely in control of his calendar and in charge of maintaining Trump's contacts at the organization, she testifies.

Assistant District Attorney Susan Hoffinger is handling the direct examination of Rhona Graff.