In a significant development in former President Donald Trump's criminal trial, prosecutors called two new witnesses to the stand on Friday, offering further insights into the ongoing proceedings. The first week of testimony concluded with revelations from Rhona Graff, Trump's former executive assistant, and Gary Farro, a bank executive from First Republic Bank.

Rhona Graff, who had served as Trump's executive assistant and a senior executive at the Trump Organization for several years, took the witness stand for less than an hour. Graff testified that she maintained a list of Trump's contacts which included entries for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels. Both women alleged that they had engaged in sexual relations with Trump and were paid for their silence prior to the 2016 election. Trump has consistently denied these allegations. Graff also vaguely recalled seeing Daniels in the reception area of the 26th floor of Trump Tower.

Following Graff's testimony, prosecutors called Gary Farro, a bank executive from First Republic Bank. Farro testified that Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, was his client when Cohen wired $130,000 in "hush money" to Daniels' attorney days before the election. This revelation adds weight to the allegations surrounding the financial transactions related to the alleged secret payments.

The testimony of these new witnesses follows the conclusion of Donald Pecker's testimony, the former publisher of the National Enquirer. Over the course of four days, Pecker revealed his involvement in a "catch and kill" scheme aimed at suppressing damaging stories about Trump, with the intention of aiding his campaign. Pecker disclosed several meetings he had held at Trump Tower, including one in 2015 where he claimed to have agreed to be the "eyes and ears" of the Trump campaign. Additionally, he admitted to paying $150,000 to Karen McDougal but decided against acquiring Stormy Daniels' story.

Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, faces charges related to reimbursements made to Cohen for the $130,000 payment. The testimonies from Rhona Graff and Gary Farro have shed further light on the alleged sexual encounters, the financial transactions, and the role of key figures like Michael Cohen and Donald Pecker.

As the trial progresses, the courtroom remains gripped by the unfolding revelations, with prosecutors aiming to build a compelling case against the former President. The testimony of these witnesses serves to deepen our understanding of the allegations levied against Trump and the intricate financial dealings surrounding the payments made before the 2016 election.