Trump's Gatekeeper Takes the Stand
Rhona Graff, once a trusted confidante of Donald Trump, emerged as the second witness to testify against the former president in his hush-money trial. Graff served as Trump's gatekeeper at Trump Tower, stationed just outside his office door. Her proximity to Trump allowed her to overhear his directives and control access to him.
Prosecutors questioned Graff about her duties at the Trump Organization, where she managed records including emails, contact lists, and calendar entries. She revealed that the company directory contained contact details for Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who claims an involvement with Trump, and "Stormy," likely referring to Stormy Daniels, who alleged an affair with the former president.
Despite leaving the Trump Organization and testifying against him, Graff's legal fees are being covered by the organization. She praised her time with Trump, describing him as "fair" and expressing admiration for his reality show "The Apprentice."
Graff's pivotal role within Trump's sphere extended beyond mere assistantship. She served as his media liaison, scheduler, occasional spokeswoman, fundraiser, "The Apprentice" co-star, and judge for Miss Teen USA.
The second week of Trump's criminal trial concluded with his defense team aiming to highlight inconsistencies in David Pecker's testimony. However, the former tabloid executive largely maintained the narrative aligned with prosecutors' theory.