Manhattan DA Gears Up for Trump's Hush-Money Trial with Key Witnesses Lined Up

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is preparing for the commencement of the hush-money trial involving former President Donald Trump. Rhona Graff, former assistant to Trump and Madeleine Westerhout, former director of Oval Office operations, are expected to testify in the trial. Additionally, Hope Hicks, former White House communications director and onetime aide to Trump, has already testified before a grand jury investigating Trump’s interference in the 2020 election. Furthermore, Deborah Tarasoff, a former employee in the Trump Organization’s accounting department and Jeffrey McConney, the organization’s former controller, are also expected to be called to testify. Notably, Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, and personal attorney is among those set to testify.

Extended Testimony List

Beyond Trump’s ex-employees, David Pecker, a former executive with American Media Inc., and National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard are likely to testify. Prosecutors claim both Howard and Pecker were involved in “catch and kill” methods to suppress negative stories about Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. The trial faces an expanded gag order after Trump repeatedly attacked the daughter of presiding Judge Juan Merchan on Truth Social.

The former president faces 34 felony charges for falsifying business records related to a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election to conceal a 2006 affair they had. This marks Trump’s first criminal trial, with jury selection set to begin on April 15.