Donald Trump Just Had His 'Best 5 Minutes' in New York Trial—Legal Analyst

Former President Donald Trump just had "the best five minutes or so" in his hush money criminal trial—and it wasn't from a defense witness, according to legal analyst and former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harry Litman on Friday.

Madeleine Westerhout, a former White House aide, took the stand on Friday to be questioned by the defense in Trump's hush money trial. A prosecution witness, Westerhout previously testified on Thursday. Westerhout worked as an executive assistant, a position that kept her very close to Trump's desk for almost two-and-a-half years.

During cross-examination, Westerhout described the relationship between the former president and his wife, Melania Trump, as "really special," recalling that "they laughed a lot when she came into the Oval Office." Westerhout said of the former first lady, "There was really no one else that could put him in his place," adding that "he [Trump] was my boss but she was definitely the one in charge."

In response to her testimony, Litman said Friday to CNN hosts' Erica Hill and John Berman that "she [Westerhout] just says basically he [Trump] loves Melania," and "that is the number one thing" Trump's team is going to try to leverage in closing arguments. Westerhout is "the one who gives it to them."

Newsweek reached out to Litman and Trump's legal team for comment via email.

Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, became the first former president in U.S. history to stand trial in a criminal case last month. Following an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office, Trump was indicted in March 2023 on charges of falsifying business records relating to hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels had alleged she had an affair with Trump in 2006, which he has denied. The former president has pleaded not guilty to all charges and said the case against him is politically motivated.

Meanwhile, Westerhout's second testimony dove into the details of Trump's multitasking work habits, saying that he was "attentive to things that were brought to his attention," signed many documents, and with a preference for hard copy documents. "No, he spoke to so many people," she said of Trump in response to the defense lawyer asking if she could "recall any calls specifically between him and Allen Weisselberg," the former Trump Organization's chief financial officer.

She also recalled that Trump was "very upset" by the Wall Street Journal's 2018 story about the alleged hush money deal with Daniels, saying "my understanding was that he knew it would be hurtful to his family."

"She was very compliant as a witness and really, really aimed to please," Litman said of Westerhout on Friday.

The case wrapped up its fourth week on Friday afternoon. Court will resume on Monday when Michael Cohen, the former Trump attorney at the center of the trial and prosecution's key witness, is expected to testify.