case study house no. 7

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Case Study House #07, San Gabriel, CA (1947-1948)

Structure Type: built works - dwellings - houses

Designers: Abell, Thornton M., AIA, Architect (firm); Thornton Montaigne Abell (architect)

Dates: constructed 1947-1948

Architect Thornton Abell designed Case Study House #07 for Arts and Architecture Magazine, run by John Entenza (1905–1984). Case Study House #7 (1947-48); the process of design began for Case Study House #07 began in 1945.

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Case Study House nº7

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About this building

Case Study House nº7, designed by Thornton M. Abell , is located at San Gabriel, California, United States.. It was built in 1945-1948.

If you want to learn more about the Case Study House nº7, don't hesitate to check the full article ! Were you'll find a lot more information about it, including historical context, concept development, type of structure and materials used, and more.

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'Case Study House No. 7' by Thornton Abell

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Nationally recognized historic home to be bequeathed to La Jolla Historical Society

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A house in La Jolla’s Hidden Valley neighborhood described as “the most important single-family home in the La Jolla community” will one day become the property of the La Jolla Historical Society.

In a celebration Sept. 18 to welcome new Historical Society Executive Director Lauren Lockhart and bid farewell to her predecessor, Heath Fox , the announcement was made that upon the deaths of the current homeowners, Nancy, Joseph and Pamela Manno, Case Study House 23C will be gifted to the Historical Society.

“Of all the announcements I’ve made as executive director, this is the last and by far the most important,” Fox told the gathering.

The house, at 2339 Rue de Anne, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places , one of only four houses in La Jolla with such designation.

Fox later told the La Jolla Light that the Historical Society currently does not possess any properties besides its gallery and office location, known as Wisteria Cottage. The hope is to use Case Study House 23C as “an educational and cultural resource for the community of La Jolla, the people of San Diego, the state of California and indeed the nation that has honored it on the National Register of Historic Places,” Fox said. Plans for how that will be done haven’t yet been decided.

“We hope it will be a long time [before we own the house], and we will use that time to do due diligence and look at best practices and the other models of what people have established to make the resource available to the community and to people who are in architecture and design and want to visit and learn from the house,” Fox said.

The Manno family has lived in the house since Nancy and Joseph bought it in 1974.

Speaking for the family, daughter-in-law Pamela said: “Case Study House 23C is a quiet masterpiece. It exemplifies the harmonious relationship between art, architecture and nature. It is a peaceful place that invokes mindful thought, creativity and well-being for our family. We consider ourselves to be stewards of the house and are confident the La Jolla Historical Society is committed to continuing the stewardship. We believe bequeathing Case Study House 23C to the La Jolla Historical Society will ensue the preservation of this special place while educating communities on the significance of historical architecture and art preservation.”

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The Case Study House program, which ran from 1945 to 1966, was established by John Entenza, editor and publisher of Los Angeles-based Arts & Architecture magazine. Through the program, major architects of the day were commissioned to design prototype single-family homes in the modern style to test new ideas and concepts of plan, form and materials, Fox said.

“The goal was to represent models that could quickly and efficiently be used in residential development to address the postwar housing shortage,” Fox said. “The program became immensely influential in architectural design, and that is true right down to the present day.”

Through the program, 36 buildings were designed. Among them, 24 houses and one apartment building were constructed, mostly in the Los Angeles area.

The only project in San Diego County consisted of the three houses that make up Case Study House 23 — 23A, 23B and 23C, dubbed “The Triad.” The houses are next to one another on Rue de Anne. House 23C was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 . House 23A is considered eligible for the National Register. House 23B has been renovated to the point that it is no longer eligible.

“The essence and spirit of the whole historic preservation movement was in the hearts of Nancy and Joseph long before this house was listed on the National Register,” Fox said. “And this is the Manno family legacy, one of invested, thoughtful and committed stewardship. Although we hope it is many years away, when the day comes that ownership of Case Study House 23C passes to the La Jolla Historical Society, the Manno family legacy of stewardship will come with it. This is a responsibility I know the La Jolla Historical Society will embrace with enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication. To Nancy, Joseph and Pamela for your faith, trust [and] confidence in our organization as the inheritors of your legacy, we are humbly and sincerely grateful.” ◆

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AD Classics: Stahl House / Pierre Koenig

• Written by Andrew Kroll

• Architects: Pierre Koenig
• Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  1959
• Photographs Photographs: Flickr User: dalylab

Text description provided by the architects. The Case Study House Program produced some of the most iconic architectural projects of the 20th Century, but none more iconic than or as famous as the Stahl House, also known as Case Study House #22 by Pierre Koenig. The modern residence overlooks Los Angeles from the Hollywood Hills. It was completed in 1959 for Buck Stahl and his family.

Buck Stahl had envisioned a modernist glass and steel constructed house that offered panoramic views of Los Angeles when he originally purchased the land for the house in 1954 for $13,500. Stahl had originally begun to excavate and take on the duties of architect and contractor; it was not until 1957 when Stahl hired Pierre Koenig to take over the design of the family’s residence.

The two-bedroom, 2,200 square foot residence is a true testament to modernist architecture and the Case Study House Program.  The program was set in place by John Entenza and sponsored by the Arts & Architecture magazine.  The aim of the program was to introduce modernist principles into residential architecture, not only to advance the aesthetic, but to introduce new ways of life both in a stylistic sense and one that represented the lifestyles of the modern age.

Pierre Koenig was able to hone in on the vision of Buck Stahl and transform that vision into a modernist icon.  The glass and steel construction is understandably the most identifiable trait of architectural modernism, but it is the way in which Koenig organized the spatial layout of the house taking the public and private aspects of the house into great consideration.  As much as architectural modernism is associated with the materials and methods of construction, the juxtaposition of program and organization are important design principles that evoke utilitarian characteristics.

The house is “L” shaped in that the private and public sectors are completely separated save for a single hallway that connects the two wings.  Compositionally adjacent is the swimming pool that one must cross in order to get into the house; it is not only a spatial division of public and private but its serves as the interstitial space that one must pass through in order to experience the panoramic views. 

The living space of the house is set back behind the pool and is the only part of the house that has a solid wall, which backs up to the carport and the street. The entire house is understood to be one large viewing box that captures amazing perspectives of the house, the landscape, and Los Angeles.

Oddly enough, the Stahl house was fairly unknown and unrecognized for its advancement of modern American residential architecture, until 1960 when Julius Shulman captured the pure architectural essence of the house.  It was the night shot of two women sitting in the living room overlooking the bright lights of the city of Los Angeles.

That photo put the Stahl House on the architectural radar as being an architectural gem hidden up in the Hollywood Hills.

The Stahl House is still one of the most visited and admired buildings today.  It has undergone many interior transformations, so you will not find the same iconic 1960s furniture, but the architecture, the view, and the experience still remain.  You can make reservations and a small fee with the Stahl family, and even get a tour with Buck Stahl’s wife, Carlotta, or better recognized as Mrs. Stahl.

This building is part of our Architecture City Guide: Los Angeles . Check all the other buildings on this guide right here.

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Thorough restoration—not demolition—underway on Case Study House No. 21

One of the most important homes in Los Angeles was starting to slip downhill

Built between 1956 and 1958, Case Study House No. 21, also known as the Bailey House , features walls of glass, reflecting pools, and sliding doors. The boxy residence was designed by Stahl House architect Pierre Koenig and, seen from the street, the landmarked dwelling resembles a quintessential midcentury modern home.

But it was one of a just a handful of houses in the influential program orchestrated by Arts & Architecture magazine . So when neighbors and onlookers noticed drastic work underway on the site in Laurel Canyon , they feared for the future of the iconic home.

“Drove by the Bailey House and only found her bones,” one Instagram user who photographed the construction site posted on Monday.

Far from being harmed, the house is actually being rescued, says designer Mark Haddaway . He was hired by the new owner—a trust linked to Alison Sarofim, a film producer and daughter of billionaire Fayez Sarofim—who purchased the property in February for $3.26 million.

Case Study Houses were meant to be inexpensive, reproducible homes for the middle class—a solution to the postwar housing shortage. The Bailey House was built out of prefabricated steel and topped by a corrugated metal roof.

View this post on Instagram Bailey House - Case Study House #21 | Pierre Koenig, 1959 Drove by the Bailey House and only found her bones. So sad. I can't find anything about this online but since the steel frame remains, I hope that means it will be renovated as per the original. . . . . #casestudyhouse #casestudyhouse21 #pierrekoenig #california #californiamodern #midcenturymodern #baileyhouse #LAarchitecture #losangeles #modernarchitecture #architecturephotography #archilovers #steelframe A post shared by Vanessa Guillen (@vassilisag) on Jul 21, 2019 at 10:04am PDT

But as Haddaway told the the city’s cultural heritage commission in June, “because the budget for the project was small, the foundations for the house were minimal.”

Those foundations are now an issue.

Haddaway said that when contractors lifted up the concrete slab over the living room floor, they found an 18-inch gap between the ground and where the room’s floor had hovered. The soil had subsided, sliding out under the rest of the foundation.

In other words, it appeared Case Study House No. 21 was starting to slip downhill.

The solution Haddaway’s team has come up with involves inserting a grid of “helical anchors” under the living room with the goal of stabilizing the house and preventing any further slippage. In some places, Haddaway says, the house has moved two inches off its original elevation. The anchors wouldn’t undo that, but they would halt any new movement.

In a phone interview, Haddaway says the improvements are needed to ensure the home’s survival for decades to come.

In addition to the foundation work, Haddaway also plans to restore the original yellow kitchen (the one in the house now is from 1997), reform and waterproof the pools that make up the original water features, and replace the original white vinyl tile with white terrazzo—a switch that would leave the door open for a future owner to put the vinyl tiles back in if they wanted to, Haddaway told commissioners.

Speaking at the June meeting, Lambert Giessinger of the city’s office of historic resources, told the commissioners that the project had initially sparked concern in the community because work had begun on the removal of the 1990s-era kitchen—before the city had been given a chance to weigh in. Now, however, the two groups are working together, Giessinger said.

Haddaway has worked on the house before and was, for a time, its owner. He has restored a number of other midcentury homes and is also working now on John Lautner’s Elrod House in Palm Springs.

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The Last Case Study House

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Above: Designed by Buff & Hensman and located in Thousand Oaks, California is CSH #28, the last house of Art & Architecture magazine’s Case Study House program. Photo: Julius Shulman / Getty Archives 

Located in Thousand Oaks, California Case Study House #28 was the last of the program that began in 1945 by Art & Architecture magazine. The Case Study program was an experiment in American residential architecture whose goal was to create show homes that showcased affordable, modern housing in response to the sudden increase in housing demand created with the return of millions of soldiers after the end of the Second World War. Designed by architect Jack W. Buktenica of the firm of Buff, Hensman and Associates Case Study House #28 was completed in 1966 and demonstrates that after 20 years of the Case Study Program the goal of affordable and modern housing had given way to simply showcasing innovations in modern architectural design and materials. The home is still around today and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Designed by Buff & Hensman and located in Thousand Oaks California is #28, the last house of Art & Architecture’s Case Study House program. Photo: Julius Shulman / Getty Archives

Here is the text of the article introducing Case Study House #28 as it appeared in Art & Architecture Magazine in 1966.

CASE STUDY HOUSE NO. 28 BY BUFF, HENSMAN & ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS

Co-Sponsored by Pacific Clay Products and Janss Corporation

Interiors by Robert P. D’Amico of Ecological Design Associates with Marge Peterek Landscape

Architect: Jack W. Buktenica.

Photographed by Julius Shulman

This Case Study project grew out of a concern with the problems and advantages of face brick as the basic structural material in contemporary single-family residential construction. Despite its wide use in large scale building, face brick is used on the West Coast for its decorative rather than its structural properties, largely because of cost factors, which in turn are the result of stringent reinforcing requirements in building codes and resistance by labor to improved, more efficient construction methods. The architects were asked to design a house that incorporated face brick as the primary structural material to demonstrate its particular advantages. The solution introduces reinforced grouted walls and piers, laid in a standard one-third bond, and designed to take both horizontal and vertical loads and spanned by concealed steel beams. Joining the brick with glass results in a combination of materials requiring no finish and little maintenance during the life of the building.

The site is a knoll overlooking the Conejo Valley development of Janss Corporation 40 miles north of Los Angeles near Thousand Oaks. The house utilizes the site in its entirety, the overall periphery approximating a square and following the boundaries of the usable portion of the lot. In plan the house is composed of two symmetrical wings connected by glass-enclosed galleries. Living, dining, kitchen and study are in one, the five bedrooms in the other of the two parallel 95′ by 19′ wings. The major spaces and the galleries open onto a 54′ by 54′ central court, paved in brick and containing a swimming pool and planted areas, that forms a visual and physical center for the house. The low profile of the house, leaving views from surrounding sites unobstructed, is emphasized by wide overhangs which shade the extensive glass area (4500 square feet). In addition to their visual and sun control functions, the overhangs house continuous duct plenums for carrying conditioned air; the two central brick piers abutting on the interior court each houses the forced-air units for its wing. Thus the necessary heating and cooling elements have been made contributing visual factors in a concept that combines form, function and mechanical environmental controls.

The covered area of the house is about 5000 square feet, including the two connecting galleries. All interior floors are brick paver, relating to the brick of the central court and the terraces and patios; the family of earth colors in the various brick surfaces also integrates the house with the site and the larger environment. The combination of the past with today’s technology in the juxtaposition of the warm, natural brick with the meticulously detailed stainless steel framing for windows and sliding glass doors has also been reflected in the interior design.

Click on image for full view.

CSH #28 today. Designed by Buff & Hensman and located in Thousand Oaks California it is the last house of of Art & Architecture’s Case Study House program.

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I have been secretly hoping that you would do a series on the Case Study houses, and whether or not you do a series, I love that you wrote about my favorite Case Study house. What interesting info – I did not realize that this was designed to showcase brick as a building material. This is one of those homes that transports me, that makes me feel that I have always known it. Thank you for this article.

Donald Trump hush money trial Day 8 recap: Pecker cross-examined, Michael Cohen's banker

NEW YORK — The eighth day of  Donald Trump 's New York hush money trial gave the former president's legal team their chance to attack the story prosecutors have so far told of Trump colluding with a tabloid executive to boost his 2016 presidential campaign.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified this week about an alleged scheme to catch and kill stories that could hurt Trump's 2016 presidential election chances . On Friday, Trump's defense attorney Emil Bove elicited testimony from Pecker that the tabloid had other motives for its actions besides helping Trump's campaign.

After Pecker's testimony concluded, the prosecution called former Donald Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff to the stand. Graff said she believed she created contact information entries for Trump for alleged paramours and hush money recipients Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels . She was cross-examined by Trump attorney Susan Necheles.

The prosecution then began examining its third witness, Gary Farro, the banker for former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, before the trial concluded for the day. Cohen who allegedly orchestrated the payments to McDougal and Daniels.

Trump challenges Biden to debate in Michigan or at the White House

Former President Donald Trump responded to President Joe Biden’s offer to debate by proposing meeting in Michigan or at the White House.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Biden told radio host Howard Stern on Friday he was willing to debate as part of the 2024 campaign, although he wasn’t sure when. Trump immediately invited Biden to the New York courthouse, where he is on trial on charges of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to a porn actress.

“We can do it any time he wants, including tonight,” Trump said. “We’re ready, willing and able.”

Trump said the debate could happen any weeknight on national television. He suggested meeting in Michigan, to highlight criticism of what he argued was car manufacturers moving to China and elsewhere because of Biden’s support for electric vehicles. Another option is where they both have lived.

“We’ll do it at the White House,” Trump said. “That would be very comfortable, actually.”

−Bart Jansen

Who is Gary Farro?

Gary Farro is the former senior managing director at First Republic Bank.

Farro was assigned Michael Cohen as a client in 2015, as the banker had expertise managing individuals that "may be a little challenging."

Farro could be used to bring in email evidence about the payment issued to Stormy Daniels. CNN reported Cohen used money from his home equity line to cover Daniels' payment, and an email from a First Republic Bank employee confirmed the transfer.

Proceedings end for the day

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold said she reached a natural stopping point for the day in her questioning of Farro. The judge dismissed the defense and prosecution at 4:29 p.m. ET.

– Aysha Bagchi

Records for second transaction for Cohen also indicate no political fundraising connection

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold showed Farro a form related to another possible transaction for Cohen. For this one, too, the form indicated the work wasn't related to political fundraising or a political action committee (PAC).

Form for Cohen's planned account indicated no relation to political fundraising 

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold showed Farro a form related to an account Cohen was trying to open. The form asked if the entity tied to the planned account was associated with political fundraising or a political action committee (PAC). The box indicating "no" was checked. Farro confirmed if the box indicating "yes" had been checked, the bank would have needed to do additional review.

The particular account for that form was never opened, Farro testified.

Cohen needed account for new LLC 'immediately' in October of 2016

Prosecution witness Gary Farro is being asked about emails concerning Michael Cohen's efforts in October 2016 to get an account opened at First Republic Bank for a new limited liability company. Cohen said it was related to real estate, according to Farro.

According to an email from October 13, 2016, Cohen needed an account "immediately." Farro said on the stand that it wasn't unusual for Cohen to say he wanted something done immediately.

Prosecution witness who worked with Cohen asked about emails

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold is asking Gary Farro, who said Michael Cohen was his client at a bank, about emails that went through the bank's server. It sounds like Farro could be used as a witness to bring in email evidence.

Michael Cohen was Farro's client at bank

Farro testified that former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was assigned to him as a client at First Republic Bank in 2015. Farro said he was told he was chosen to take over the Michael Cohen relationship because of Farro's knowledge and his ability to handle individuals that "may be a little challenging."

Farro later added: "Frankly, I didn't find him that difficult."

Third prosecution witness called: Gary Farro

The prosecution has called its third witness, Gary Farro. He is discussing his experience in the banking industry. In 2016, he was a senior managing director at First Republic Bank, he said.

Trump re-enters courtroom after short break

Trump re-entered the courtroom at about 3:32 p.m. EST. We are still waiting for the judge and the jury.

Trump stands and extends arm for handshake as Rhona Graff exits courtroom

Graff's testimony ended and, as she was getting off the witness stand, former President Donald Trump stood up, moved toward where she would need to walk to exit the courtroom, said something to her, and extended his hand for a handshake. A court officer obstructed my view of their hands, but she appeared to look at him warmly.

Before that, Graff testified that she didn't want to be at the court proceedings.

Graff was using a cane. She appeared to walk at a normal pace. She was wearing black pants, a black top, a black cardigan, and a long, gold-colored necklace.

Who is Rhona Graff?

Rhona Graff is Donald Trump's former executive assistant and the second witness called to the stand in his criminal hush money trial.

She was known as Trump's "gatekeeper" for decades before he became president, several outlets reported. Politico also said she helped with Trump's personal schedule during his first campaign.

Graff was subpoenaed in Trump's New York civil fraud case , according to NBC News. She was also called on by the House Judiciary Committee to submit documents for a 2019 investigation into Trump.

− Kinsey Crowley

Graff recalls Stormy Daniels casting discussion for Celebrity Apprentice

Former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff testified to remembering a discussion about potentially casting porn star Stormy Daniels on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Judge and lawyers privately talk after 'Celebrity Apprentice' raised

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles began asking former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff about the show, "The Celebrity Apprentice." After Necheles began to ask Graff about Trump's beliefs when it came to potentially boosting the show by having controversial people on it, the prosecution objected and there was a private conversation between the lawyers and the judge at the judge's bench, after which Necheles shifted to a new question.

Stormy Daniels has previously described having sex with Trump as he seemed to be dangling the possibility of casting her on "The Apprentice" of "The Celebrity Apprentice." Trump denies they had sex.

Graff testifies to positive memories working for Trump

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles asked former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff if Trump was a good boss. Graff responded that he was a fair and respectful boss to her. Graff confirmed Trump promoted her and gave her responsibility. Asked whether Trump respected her intelligence, Graff responded: "I don't think I would have been there for 34 years if he didn't."

Graff also said she was given a good spot for witnessing Trump's presidential inauguration.

Prosecutor ends questioning of second witness

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger ended her brief questioning of Graff. Defense lawyer Susan Necheles is now cross-examining Graff.

Stormy Daniels was in Trump reception area, witness recalls

Graff said she has a "vague recollection" of seeing porn star Stormy Daniels in the reception area of the 26th floor of a Trump building.

Graff confirms creating entries for Trump of Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels contact information

Graff said she believed she created contact information entries for Donald Trump of contact information for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels . The McDougal information, which was displayed in redacted form in the courtroom, included a phone number and email address, while the Daniels information included a cell phone number. The Daniels entry was labeled "Stormy" and Graff said she believes that was Stormy Daniels.

Graff may be used by prosecution to bring in evidence

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is asking Graff about her awareness of various pieces of potential evidence. For example, Graff confirmed the Trump Organization server captured and saved emails during the ordinary course of its business. Graff also confirmed contact and calendar information tied to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal was saved.

Former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff testifying

The prosecution has called former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff to the stand. She is testifying about her responsibilities when it came to the Trump Organization and Trump's calendar.

Pecker testimony ends with Trump lawyer's attempt to focus on family, not 2016 election

Trump lawyer Emil Bove ended his re-cross-examination of David Pecker by asking Pecker to confirm he knows Trump cares about people, including his family. Pecker said he understands that. Bove then asked Pecker to confirm he understands that things discussed at this trial — presumably hush money to women who allege they had affairs with Trump — were stressful when it came to the Trump family. Before Pecker could answer, Judge Merchan sustained an objection from the prosecution. The nature of the objection wasn't explained, but it may have been an objection to speculation from a witness.

Trump lawyer conducting cross-examination of Pecker again

Trump lawyer Emil Bove is asking Pecker questions again in his opportunity to conduct re-cross-examination.

Pecker re-direct ends with comment on truthfulness

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass ended his re-direct questioning of Pecker – an opportunity to question a witness again after cross-examination – by asking Pecker if anyone from the New York Attorney General's office ever told him to be anything other than truthful. Pecker said he was told to be truthful on any question he is asked. "And only be truthful," Pecker added.

Just before that question, Steinglass was pointing Pecker to past statements in order to establish Pecker has been consistent over time on many statements.

Trump's eyes closed extensively although he appears awake

Former President Donald Trump has his eyes closed for very extensive periods as Pecker continues to testify this afternoon, although Trump appears to be awake. I just counted to 107, with the word "Mississippi" in between each number, until Trump opened his eyes at all. He opened them only briefly. Occasionally, Trump is shifting his head left or right, or giving a slight facial expression that appears to react to Pecker's testimony. His eyes are still closed.

Pecker says he first learned phrase, "catch and kill," from press

When Trump lawyer Emil Bove was cross-examining Pecker, Bove suggested Pecker learned of the phrase "catch and kill" from the investigative or prosecuting work behind this case. But prosecutor Joshua Steinglass noted a news article that Pecker was aware of that used the phrase. Pecker then said he first learned the phrase from the press.

Trump re-enters courtroom ahead of afternoon witness testimony

Former President Donald Trump re-entered the courtroom at 2:12 p.m. EST, following the lunch break. Prosecution witness David Pecker is set to re-take the stand soon.

Who is Karen McDougal?

Karen McDougal is a former Playboy model.

National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc. (AMI) paid McDougal $150,000 in 2016 for the rights to her life story, including an alleged 10-month affair with Donald Trump starting in 2006. (Trump denies the allegation.)

Former Trump lawyer and convicted felon Michael Cohen negotiated the payment she received as part of a "catch and kill" strategy to block negative stories about Trump while he ran for president.

She is expected to take the stand, though the prosecutors have not shared the official witness list.

Who is Judge Juan Merchan?

New York Judge Juan Merchan  who is presiding the  first criminal trial in history  of a former president, is no stranger to the defendant, Donald Trump.

Merchan presided over a 2022 tax-fraud trial of two parts of the Trump Organization, in which the company’s former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, was convicted for not reporting $1.7 million in benefits, and he sentenced Weisselberg to five months in jail.

Trump has attacked Merchan as biased on the grounds that Merchan's daughter works for a marketing firm with Democratic politicians as clients, and he has twice unsuccessfully moved for Merchan to recuse himself from the case. Merchan has refused , citing the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics finding that the judge's impartiality couldn't be reasonably questioned based on his daughter's work.

Trump's attacks spurred Merchan to expand a gag order to limit his commentary about the family members of people involved in the trial. On the second day of the trial, Merchan chastised Trump for speaking to prospective jurors.

Merchan has been a felony judge  for 15 years .

- Bart Jansen

Court breaks for lunch

Judge Juan Merchan halted proceedings for a lunch break. Trump exited the courtroom at 1:01 p.m. EST.

Pecker agrees Karen McDougal's story would have sold magazines

Pecker confirmed in response to Steinglass's questioning that, had he published a story that a Playboy model had an affair with a presidential candidate while the candidate was married, it would have sold magazines. Pecker seemed to have a slight chuckle in his throat as he confirmed that.

Steinglass trying to show actions weren't normal for tabloid company, were for Trump campaign

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has been trying to push back on Trump lawyer Emil Bove's effort to distance Pecker's actions from Trump and the Trump campaign.

In response to questions from Steinglass, Pecker confirmed it wasn't standard operating procedure for AMI – the National Enquirer's parent company – to be communicating with a presidential candidate's fixer about amendments to an agreement. Pecker also confirmed this was the only time he coordinated with a campaign, and that he ran more attack articles against Trump's opponents when their polling numbers rose.

Pecker did say he didn't run negative Trump stories in earlier times because he and Trump were friends. But he agreed with Steinglass that, before the agreement at Trump Tower with Trump and Cohen in August of 2015, AMI never agreed to be the "eyes and ears" of the Trump campaign.

Read the AMI contract with Karen McDougal

Mcdougal contract left out a lot of details, pecker confirms.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has been going over the contract between Karen McDougal and National Enquirer parent company AMI, which Trump lawyer Emil Bove also asked David Pecker about. 

Pecker said the lawyer who reviewed the contract only billed for 30 minutes of work. Pecker also confirmed the contract didn't mention anything about Trump reimbursing Pecker, about a plan to re-assign the rights over McDougal's story to Trump or Michael Cohen, or about the alleged agreement between Pecker, Cohen, and Trump to catch and kill stories in order to help the Trump 2016 campaign.

Cross-examination of Pecker ends

Trump lawyer Emil Bove ended his cross-examination of David Pecker, the prosecution's first witness. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is now asking Pecker questions again.

AMI didn't admit to a campaign violation in conciliation agreement, Pecker confirms on cross-examination

Trump lawyer Emil Bove suggested that Pecker testified inaccurately yesterday by saying the National Enquirer's parent company, AMI, admitted to a campaign violation. In a conciliation agreement, AMI said it wasn't contesting that its arrangement when it came to buying former Playboy model Karen McDougal's story of an affair with Trump constituted a prohibited corporate campaign contribution.

Bove pointed Pecker to this language in the agreement: "Solely for the purpose of settling this matter expeditiously and avoiding litigation, with no admission as to the merit of the Commission’s legal conclusions..." 

That language came before specific details on the agreement.

"That's different from an admission, right?" Bove asked Pecker. "Yes," Pecker responded.

Why is Trump lawyer Bove asking about campaign violations?

Trump lawyer Emil Bove got prosecution witness David Pecker to confirm that the National Enquirer's parent company didn't admit to a campaign violation in a non-prosecution agreement Pecker signed. The company did pay a $187,500 civil penalty as part of a separate agreement not to contest having committed a violation.

It's an important issue for the defense because, in order for Trump to be convicted on the felony charges, prosecutors have to prove Trump not only falsified business records, but also that he did so to commit or conceal another crime. One of the prosecution's theories is that Trump was trying to conceal that he violated federal campaign finance laws by making a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels via his attorney Michael Cohen to benefit his campaign. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to a violation of federal campaign contribution limits for making the payment.

Pecker confirms AMI didn't admit to campaign violation in non-prosecution agreement

Trump lawyer Emil Bove got David Pecker to say American Media Inc., the parent company to the National Enquirer, didn't admit to a campaign violation in its non-prosecution agreement with prosecutors. In that agreement, the company and its representatives were promised they wouldn't be prosecuted for a campaign violation if they cooperated and gave truthful testimony and information.

However, Pecker also described yesterday a separate conciliation agreement between the company and prosecutors, in which the company agreed not to contest that it committed a campaign violation. As part of that agreement, AMI agreed to pay a $187,500 civil penalty to the Federal Election Commission.

– Aysha Bagchi , Bart Jansen

More: Donald Trump's strange split-screen moment: SCOTUS immunity case and hush money trial clash

Bove suggesting Pecker has been under pressure

Trump lawyer Emil Bove appears to be trying to establish David Pecker has been pressured by law enforcement investigative work. Bove had Pecker describe being visited by FBI agents, and then asked about pressure on Pecker at later meetings with investigators, although Pecker said he had legal representation and felt okay.

Bove also got Pecker to confirm that American Media Inc's non-prosecution agreement gave the company helpful protection as a business.

Pecker describes 2018 FBI visit to home

Trump lawyer asked Pecker about his interactions with the FBI. Pecker said three FBI agents visited his home on April 9, 2018. They didn't search his house, but they took his phone.

Proceedings re-start

Trump lawyer Emil Bove's cross-examination of David Pecker started again at 11:35 a.m. EST, after a short morning break.

Who is Michael Cohen?

Michael Cohen is the longtime lawyer and political fixer for Trump, but he has become an open critic of him in recent years.

In 2016, Cohen paid $280,000 to silence two women who claimed to have affairs with Trump in 2006. "Everything was done with the knowledge and at the direction of Mr. Trump ," Cohen said at a House hearing.

David Pecker, the first witness on the stand for the hush money trial, has testified he frequently communicated with Cohen about stories regarding Trump and his opponents leading up to the 2016 election. 

Court taking a short break

The judge announced a short morning break. After jurors exited, Trump lawyer Emil Bove said he thinks he has less than an hour of cross-examination left. The prosecution may choose to ask David Pecker some further questions after the cross-examination. Trump exited the courtroom at 11:15 a.m. EST.

Pecker sounds meek as he responds to cross-examination

Trump lawyer Emil Bove's tone on cross-examination isn't exactly friendly, but it also isn't terribly aggressive. David Pecker is largely agreeing to every point Bove tries to make, which have largely focuses on distancing Trump from the actions of Pecker and the media companies Pecker was running.

Still, Pecker has sounded strikingly meek in the tone of his answers today, sometimes almost as if he is mumbling. He testified yesterday that he still considers Trump a friend. He is now testifying against that "friend" about details he shared with prosecutors under an agreement to protect the company he used to run, American Media Inc., from prosecution.

Trump trial transcripts available online

New York courts announced Monday it would publish the trial transcripts and copies of the evidence shown to the jury.

Transcripts of proceedings aren't always available, but officials decided to make them available due to "unparalleled public interest."

Monday and Tuesday's proceedings are currently available on the New York State Unified Court System's media website. Evidence shown to the jury, including texts, emails and photos , are also available from Tuesday's and Thursday's proceedings.

What is AMI?

American Media Inc. (AMI) is the parent company of the tabloid National Enquirer.

David Pecker , the first witness called in the trial, was the CEO and President of AMI when he met with Trump and Michael Cohen to talk about how the publication could help Trump's first presidential campaign.

The National Enquirer bought Karen McDougal 's life story but refused to pay for Stormy Daniels ', Pecker testified Thursday. 

Who is Emil Bove?

Emil Bove is one of Trump's lawyers , part of the criminal defense team along with Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles . He is cross-examining the first witness, David Pecker. 

Bove is a former federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

“Emil is an expert in white collar and CIPA-related litigation and his trial skills are among the best in the business,” Blanche said in a statement provided to Politico .

Trump eyes closed for extended period

Trump's eyes have been closed for an extended period during Pecker's testimony, even though he doesn't appear to be actually asleep this morning. Trump's eyes were closed as I counted to 40 with the word "Mississippi" in between each number. In general, I've seen Trump's eyes closed for extended periods especially during the mornings of the trial. I saw him struggling to stay awake last Friday, April 19 – with his head repeatedly dropping and his mouth at one point agape. Other reporters have also seen him appear sleepy in the courtroom.

Trump Media stock price

At open on April 26, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. shares rose to $40, up 3.92% from the previous close.

--Kinsey Crowley

Pecker confirms desire for Sajudin story was self-interested

Trump lawyer Emil Bove got Pecker to confirm that walking away from Dino Sajudin's story wouldn't have made business sense to Pecker's media company, American Media Inc. (AMI). AMI paid Sajudin $30,000 for the story that Trump fathered a child with a housekeeper. The company later concluded the story was false.

"It would be too great a loss to AMI" to lose to lose control of the story if it were true, "right?" Emil Bove asked. Pecker said yes.

Bove suggests public knew Pecker was helping Trump before 2016 election

Trump lawyer Emil Bove displayed to the jury a portion of a Wall Street Journal article that ran days before the 2016 presidential election. The portion states: "Since last year, the Enquirer has supported Mr. Trump’s presidential bid, endorsing him and publishing negative articles about some of his opponents."

Bove got Pecker to confirm that statement showed the Enquirer's support for the 2016 Trump campaign was publicly known prior to the election.

Bove trying to distance Trump from Pecker's actions?

Trump lawyer Emil Bove has gotten David Pecker to confirm the National Enquirer was already running stories about Bill and Hillary Clinton before the August, 2015 meeting Pecker has already described about assisting the Trump 2016 campaign through The National Enquirer's coverage.

Pecker also confirmed that The Guardian published an article in May of 2015 about several malpractice suits against Dr. Ben Carson, who was a political opponent of Trump's in the Republican primaries ahead of the 2016 election. Pecker confirms having recycled photos from that article in The National Enquirer's own coverage of the malpractice suits.

The questions may be aimed at suggesting to the jury that Pecker's coverage of political issues wasn't shaped by Trump.

Trump lawyer asks about Hope Hicks presence in Trump Tower meeting

Trump defense lawyer Emil Bove started his cross-examination for today by asking David Pecker about Hope Hicks' presence at an August, 2015 meeting at Trump Tower. Hicks was the Trump campaign's communications director for the 2016 election, and also held high-level roles in Trump's White House. Pecker previously testified that he, Michael Cohen, and Trump agreed to a scheme at the Trump Tower meeting to catch and kill stories that could hurt the 2016 Trump campaign.

In response to Bove, Pecker confirmed Hicks was in and out of the Trump Tower meeting. Pecker also confirmed he doesn't remember Hicks speaking during that meeting.

Jurors enter courtroom, instructed on witness-prosecutor meetings

The jurors entered the courtroom at 9:41 a.m. EST. Witness David Pecker entered about a minute earlier. Judge Merchan just briefly instructed jurors on how it's normal for prosecutors to meet with witnesses ahead of trial. Trump lawyer Emil Bove questioned Pecker yesterday about having met with prosecutors several times before his current testimony.

Trump now says he will testify 'if it's necessary'

The former president is starting to equivocate on whether he will testify in the hush money trial.

"I would if it's necessary," Trump said a telephone interview Thursday with Newsmax.

Trump, who once said he would take the stand, told Newsmax television that "there is no case," suggesting that he might not testify after all.

-David Jackson

Trump wishes wife Melania ‘happy birthday’ from hush money trial

Former President Donald Trump wished his wife Melania a happy birthday Friday while complaining about being stuck at his New York hush money trial for allegedly hiding payments to silence porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed she had sex with him while he was married.

“I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday. It would be nice to be with her, but I’m in a courthouse for a rigged trial.”

Trump said he would join his wife in Florida after the trial wrapped up for the day.

--Bart Jansen

Judge Merchan arrives in courtroom

Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom right at the 9:30 a.m. EST start time. As usual, he said a general good morning to the trial teams and a specific "Good morning, Mr. Trump" to Trump. 

Merchan also announced that a hearing over alleged gag order violations by Trump will be held next Thursday at 9:30 a.m. EST

Trump arrives in the courtroom

Former President Donald Trump entered the courtroom for Day 8 of his criminal trial at 9:26 a.m. ET. We are still waiting for the judge.

Prosecution team arrives for Day 8 of trial

The lead trial prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office arrived in the courtroom at 9:18 a.m. EST. We are still waiting for the defense team and the judge.

Today is Melania Trump's birthday. Where is she?

Melania Trump turns 54 today. She hasn't attended any of her husband's criminal trial so far.

Melania Trump was furious when she first learned of reports in early 2018 that her husband paid off porn star Stormy Daniels to stay quiet about an alleged affair, according to The New York Times. She left Washington for Florida, and when she returned for her husband's State of the Union address, she took a separate car.

If she were at the trial, she would likely be spared some embarrassing testimony. Judge Juan Merchan issued a tentative ruling last week that Melania Trump's pregnancy during an alleged affair  between former Playboy model Karen McDougal and Trump can't be shared with the jury. McDougal also received a hush money payment.

Trump denies the affairs with both McDougal and Daniels. 

Who is David Pecker, first witness in Trump trial?

David Pecker, the former head of the National Enquirer’s parent company, wraps up a week of testimony Friday as the first witness in Donald Trump’s hush money trial.

Pecker, 72, the former CEO of American Media Inc., described himself as a friend of Trump’s from the 1980s until 2018, in the aftermath of revelations about the company paying to silence derogatory stories about Trump as he ran for president the first time.

Pecker testified the first payment was $30,000 to a doorman at Trump Tower who was peddling a story that never ran about Trump having an illegitimate child – even though Pecker knew it was “absolutely 1,000% false.”

Pecker also testified about paying $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal for a story that never ran. McDougal claimed a year-long affair with Trump in about 2006, while he was married. Trump denied the affair.

But as Pecker coordinated with Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, he refused to pay $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had sex with Trump. Cohen has testified he arranged the payment himself.

Trump is charged with falsifying business business records to hide his reimbursement to Cohen for Daniels. Trump pleaded not guilty and says he didn’t know about paying off the women.

What is Trump on trial for?

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office allege Trump falsified the purpose of checks to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, in order to conceal a conspiracy to unlawfully interfere in the 2016 presidential election through a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump has pleaded not guilty, and also denies Daniels' claim that the pair had sex in 2006.

–  Aysha Bagchi

What happens if Trump is found guilty?

Some legal experts believe Trump could face jail or prison time if convicted on all 34 counts, while others believe he would likely only receive probation. Several experts told USA TODAY they would expect a sentence that ranges from no jail time to up to four years in prison. No one predicted Trump would be forced to serve an incarceration sentence before his appeal ran out.

Each felony count carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but New York caps such sentencing for these types of felonies – known as Class E felonies –  at 20 years .

Opinion So, 112 ignoble, infantile Republicans voted to endanger civilization

Stoking the passion that is their excuse for pandering — the nihilism of a febrile minority in their party — a majority of House Republicans voted last Saturday to endanger civilization. Hoping to enhance their political security in their mostly safe seats, and for the infantile satisfaction of populist naughtiness (insulting a mostly fictitious “establishment”), they voted to assure Vladimir Putin’s attempt to erase a European nation.

The Republican Party was founded as a noble rejection of the most consequential bad thing Congress has ever done: the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act , which authorized territories to vote slavery up or down, thereby valuing popular sovereignty more than liberty. On Saturday, the House voted 311-112 for $61 billion for Ukraine, with 112 ignoble House Republicans voting to condemn Ukraine to death, starved of such military basics as artillery shells. How many of the 112 know or care that more than half the $61 billion will fund restocking U.S. munitions inventories, as well as Ukraine’s purchases of U.S. weapons?

President Biden has been blameworthy for what is rightly disparaged as the “drip feed” of weapons to Ukraine . It is fair to say of him what Theodore Roosevelt said of President William Howard Taft: He “means well feebly.”

Tuesday’s Senate ratification of Ukrainian aid proves that Dwight Eisenhower’s baton of Republican internationalism was passed, via Ronald Reagan, to Mitch McConnell. They are the three most important Republicans of the past 100 years.

Congress’s support for Ukraine ranks with two other nation-defining congressional acts.

In March 1941, Congress approved Lend-Lease aid to Britain and others (235 Democrats and 24 Republicans yea, 25 Democrats and 135 Republicans nay). This “most unsordid act in the history of nations” (Winston Churchill) ended the facade of U.S. neutrality. By approving aid for Greece and Turkey in May 1947, Congress affirmed (161 Democrats and 126 Republicans yea, 13 Democrats and 93 Republicans nay) the Truman Doctrine : The United States would assist democratic nations threatened by authoritarians. World War II’s end would not revive isolationism.

In today’s Republican Party, dominated by someone who repudiates the internationalism to which Eisenhower committed the party seven decades ago, the cabal of grotesques might yet predominate.

It includes Missouri’s Sen. Josh Hawley , who thinks we have given “blank checks” to Ukraine (actually, 5 percent of defense spending, and less than half the monetary value of European support). Yet Hawley says we cannot defend both Ukraine and Taiwan, so this would be an excellent time to reduce the U.S. forces in Europe that are deterring Russia from aggressions against NATO allies. Another grotesque, Ohio’s Sen. J.D. Vance , an itinerant Neville Chamberlain visiting green rooms, would welcome Ukraine’s death on the installment plan (see Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939). Georgia’s Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (she who wonders whether Jewish space lasers cause forest fires) expresses her loathing of Ukraine with lunatic accusations that confirm the judgment of Texas’s Rep. Michael McCaul (Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee) that Russian propaganda has “infected a good chunk of my party’s base.”

We have defined heroism so far down that it encompasses Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) allowing a House vote on assisting Ukrainians’ resistance to indiscriminate bombardments of population centers, ethnic cleansing, rape, torture and the abduction of children. Oleksandra Matviichuk , the Ukrainian winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, adds : “One woman I interviewed had her eye extracted with a spoon.”

Heroism is not required of Ukraine’s NATO and other allies, whose combined GDPs are 20 times that of Russia. The cost of losing, by ill-conceived parsimony, this proxy war with a barbarian power possessing the world’s largest nuclear arsenal would be steep.

The Economist columnist Charlemagne says Ukraine’s defeat would be a “Suez moment” for the West. Meaning, a humbling demonstration of waning power. Two months ago, Estonian intelligence said: “Russians in their own thinking are calculating that military conflict with NATO is possible in the next decade.” Josep Borrell , the European Union’s chief diplomat, says : “A high-intensity, conventional war in Europe is no longer a fantasy.”

Today’s Moscow-Beijing-Tehran axis is, as the 1930s Axis was, watching. Johns Hopkins foreign policy analyst Hal Brands, writing for Bloomberg , reminds us: “Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia in 1935 encouraged Hitler to send his military back into the Rhineland in 1936, just as Germany’s blitzkrieg through Western Europe in 1940 emboldened Japan to press into Southeast Asia.”

We can now see that the great unraveling that was World War II perhaps began with Japan’s 1931 invasion of Manchuria . Without the benefit of retrospection, we cannot be certain that World War III has not begun.

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