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A former high White Home aide with deep information of how Donald Trump operated within the Oval Workplace is about to renew testifying Friday within the former president’s prison hush cash trial.

Madeleine Westerhout took the stand for the primary time Thursday, the place she spoke intimately about Trump’s work habits and confirmed a listing of high-profile contacts that was compiled for Trump in 2017. The contact record included “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels, quarterback Tom Brady and tennis nice Serena Williams.

Additionally listed have been ex-tabloid writer David Pecker and Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen. The 2 males are on the heart of Manhattan prosecutors’ case, during which Trump is charged with falsifying enterprise information about hush cash funds as a part of a scheme to affect the 2016 presidential election.

Westerhout painted a flattering portrait of Trump, praising his work ethic and his relationship along with his spouse, Melania Trump. Westerhout cried whereas describing how she was fired from her job in 2019 after criticizing members of Trump’s household at a dinner with reporters.

Her description of Trump as a faithful husband lower sharply in opposition to the testimony of porn star Stormy Daniels. Shortly earlier than Westerhout took the stand, Daniels testified that she had intercourse with then-married Trump in 2006, and was later paid $130,000 for her silence forward of the 2016 election.

Over seven hours of testimony, Daniels graphically detailed a one-night stand with Trump. She additionally clashed with Trump’s lawyer, who grilled her on cross-examination about her later makes an attempt to promote her story.

There have been lighter moments, too.

At one level, Trump’s lawyer stated to Daniels, “You might have a number of expertise making phony tales about intercourse,” an allusion to Daniels’ work in grownup movies, and later writing scripts for porn films.

“Wow. That is not how I might put it,” Daniels shot again. “The intercourse within the movies could be very a lot actual. Similar to what occurred to me in that room” with Trump.

After the jury was excused for the day, Trump’s legal professionals requested a mistrial for the second time in two days. And, for the second time in two days, the request was denied.

Decide Juan Merchan additionally rejected a request by Trump that he revise a gag order to allow the previous president to publicly assault Daniels, now that she had completed testifying. Trump is at the moment barred from making statements about any of the witnesses within the trial.

“My concern is defending the integrity of the proceedings as an entire,” stated Merchan, fairly than particular person witnesses solely earlier than they testify. Merchan has already held Trump in contempt of courtroom 10 instances for violating the gag order.