In a Manhattan courtroom, Rhona Graff, a former long-serving assistant to Donald Trump at his Trump Organization, testified about her vague recollection of seeing adult film star Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower before the 2016 presidential campaign.
Graff, who worked at the Trump Organization for over 30 years, revealed insights into Daniels’ connection with Trump, suggesting that he had considered her as a potential contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice.
During her testimony, Graff mentioned encountering Daniels in the lobby of Trump Tower’s 26th floor, where Trump’s office was located.
Stormy Daniels (Credits: NPR)
She speculated that Daniels might have been there to discuss a role on The Celebrity Apprentice, a reality TV show previously hosted by Trump. Graff recalled office chatter suggesting that Trump viewed Daniels as a potential contestant.
Graff’s testimony primarily focused on her responsibilities, such as managing Trump’s appointment calendar and contacts. The court reviewed entries in Trump’s contacts list, including those for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels.
McDougal, a former Playboy model, was allegedly paid $150,000 to conceal her alleged affair with Trump, as part of a scheme orchestrated by Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.
Under cross-examination by Trump’s defense attorney Susan Necheles, Graff confirmed that she was subpoenaed solely because of her association with the Trump Organization. She acknowledged her reluctance to testify and clarified that the organization was covering legal fees for employees summoned to testify, without any conditions or instructions regarding their testimony.
Stormy Daniels and Trump (Credits: Salon.com)
Following Graff’s brief testimony, banker Gary Farro took the stand, discussing Cohen’s urgency in setting up shell companies for hush money payments, including one to Daniels.
Farro described creating Resolution Consultants LLC, later replaced by Essential Consultants LLC, through which the $130,000 payment to Daniels was made. Farro will continue his testimony on Tuesday.
Graff’s testimony shed light on Trump’s interactions with Daniels and his involvement in the efforts to conceal alleged affairs, as part of the broader legal case against him.
