Trump civil fraud case: Judge fines Trump $354M, says frauds 'shock the conscience'

Following the adjournment of court for the day, Trump and New York Attorney General Letitia James offered contrasting views of the testimony of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.

Trump, speaking to reporters in a courthouse hallway, continued to claim that today was his Perry Mason moment.

"He was caught lying like no one has ever lied," he said of Cohen. "It was better than a Perry Mason moment, and that should be the end of the case."

The former president also criticized Judge Engoron for not ending the trial following Cohen's testimony, claiming he is being "railroaded."

"Any other judge, this would be the end of the case," Trump said.

James, speaking separately to reporters outside court, downplayed Cohen's importance to the case.

"It's also important to know that Michael Cohen is not the main witness," she said.

"His evidence has been corroborated by the mountains of evidence, enough evidence to fill the courtroom," the AG said, echoing a phrase Engoron used earlier.

Speaking outside after his testimony was complete and court was adjourned for the day, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen portrayed his testimony as successful and vital to holding Trump accountable, despite the contradictions in some of his answers.

Cohen maintained that he was not intimidated by Trump being in court during his testimony.

"When you looked him in the eye, Michael, what did you see?" ABC News reporter Aaron Katersky asked him.

"I saw a defeated man. I saw somebody that knows that it's the end of the Trump Organization," Cohen said.

Judge Arthur Engoron vehemently denied the defense's request to end the trial following former Trump attorney Michael Cohen's contradictory testimony.

"The government's key witness has fallen flat on his face," Trump attorney Clifford Robert said when requesting the case be dismissed.

"Absolutely denied. This case has evidence, credible or not, all over the place," said Engoron, who disagreed that Cohen was the case's star witness.

"There's enough evidence to fill this courtroom," Engoron said.

During Cohen's redirect examination, state attorney Colleen Faherty attempted to square Cohen's inconsistent answers by asking about his 2019 congressional testimony again. Cohen testified yesterday that he was "tasked by Trump" to inflate Trump's reported net worth, then today said his 2019 testimony, in which he said Trump never directly told him to do so, was correct.

"Donald Trump speaks like a mob boss … he tells you what he wants without specifically telling you," Cohen said in explaining the inconsistent response. "We understood what he wanted."

Former President Trump stormed out of courtroom after the judge denied his request for an immediate directed verdict to end the trial.

Defense attorney Clifford Robert asked Judge Engoron to end the trial after Michael Cohen offered contradictory testimony about his 2019 testimony in front of Congress.

During his 2019 testimony, Cohen was directly asked, "Did Mr. Trump direct you or Mr. Weisselberg to inflate the numbers for his personal statement?" referring to then-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg.

"Did he ask me to inflate the numbers? Not that I recall," Cohen responded.

Confronted with this testimony before today's lunch break by Alina Habba, Cohen testified that he lied during the 2019 testimony.

Shown the same testimony again by Robert after lunch, Cohen reversed course.

"I stand with that response, not that I recall, no," Cohen said, indicating his 2019 testimony was truthful.

Sitting at the counsel table, Trump mumbled inaudibly, threw up his hands, and gestured to Robert, who walked over to Trump from the lectern where he was questioning Cohen.

Trump and Robert whispered for roughly ten seconds, after which Robert returned to the lectern and asked for a directed verdict.

"I can't think of anything more appropriate now," Robert said.

"Denied," Engoron immediately responded.

Trump immediately stood up, turned around, and marched out of the courtroom flanked by Secret Service agents.

"The witness just admitted that we won the trial, and the judge should end this trial immediately," Trump told reporters as he entered the hallway.