Madeleine Westerhout: Donald Trump's ex-aide says former president would not review checks while signing

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: The criminal hush money trial of former President Donald Trump resumed on Friday, May 10, in New York City.

The day started with Madeleine Westerhout, Trump’s former White House executive assistant. She revealed his habit of not paying attention while reviewing or signing documents and checks.

Madeleine Westerhout testifies Donald Trump signed checks without reviewing them 

Westerhout said when she would receive the mail, she would leave it on Trump’s desk.

"If he had the time and if he was in the office," he would sign the things that required his signature.

Westerhout said Trump would sign a tremendous amount of items, including proclamations, letters, memos, etc but "Not every day, but sometimes."

"Signing documents would take up hours of his day," Westerhout noted, adding that he’d sign everything. 

She also revealed that Trump would sign things without reviewing them, a claim that could potentially impact the case. 

"Would you see him signing things without reviewing them," Necheles asked, to which Westerhout  testified, "Yes." 

Westerhout noted that he would be on the phone or meeting people when not paying attention while signing checks, moreover, she insisted he wasn’t signing the checks in meetings with world leaders but during meetings with White House staff, as per Fox News.

Madeleine Westerhout testifies Donald Trump is a 'multitasker'

Westerhout then said Trump was often a multitasker at the White House.

“He was a person who multitasked, right?” defense attorney Necheles asked. "Definitely,” Westerhout replied, according to CNN.

Westerhout testified for an hour and 50 minutes over two days. Her testimony ended with a smile at Trump while getting off the witness stand, court reporters noted. 

CNN noted that another key fixer, former Trump attorney Micheal Cohen who acted as a fixer to strike a deal with Stormy Daniel to buy her silence on the advice of Trump will take the stand on Monday, May 13. 

Internet reacts to Madeleine Westerhout's testimony of Donald Trump not paying attention while signing checks 

The internet had mixed reactions to Westerhout's testimony declaring Trump as an inattentive president who didn't pay attention while signing important documents and checks. 

"Like checks are 20 pages long... People know it doesn't take long to review a check before signing... So no she didn't help the defense," wrote an X user. 

However, MSNBC legal analyst, Kristy Greenberg, picked holes in her testimony saying it had changed. 

"Madeleine Westerhout’s testimony miraculously changed from yesterday to today to help the defense," Greenberg noted in her X post.

"Yesterday, she said Trump paid attention to the details and read things before signing them. Today, she said Trump signed checks and documents without reviewing them," she added in the post. 

"REALLY hope that the Prosecution points out the change in testimony, but I fear they will not. There always seems to be a misstep that gets Trump off the hook," replied a user on X. 

"Witness tampering and Perjury," wrote another. "Does she understand what it means to testify under oath?" added another. 

"Testimony by his own staff underscored that ANYTHING over 10k had to be personally signed by Trump. Period. Plus —the reimbursement checks were written on Trump’s PERSONAL account. Ever hear of anyone pre-signing personal checks. YOU STOP SPINNING & making excuses. He’s guilty!" wrote on more. 

 

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