Trump trial: Hope Hicks faces her ex-boss on 'Access Hollywood' tape, Daniels payment

Defense attorney Emil Bove moved on to question Stormy Daniels' attorney Keith Davidson about the nondisclosure agreement Daniels had signed as part of hush money arrangement.

On the signature page, Bove pointed out how there are the initials "esq" next to Michael Cohen's signature.

"Because he's signing this agreement as a lawyer?" he asked Davidson, who agreed -- appearing to support why Trump reimbursed Cohen and marked it as a legal expense.

Bove then wrapped up his cross-examination, leading to a short break in the proceedings.

Trump remained in the courtroom, standing and speaking with his attorney Susan Necheles and legal adviser Boris Epshteyn.

When Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg entered the courtroom, Trump stared right at him and his eyes appeared to follow Bragg as the DA moved toward his seat.

Although mere feet from one another, Bragg did not appear to look at Trump.

"You used the word leverage," defense attorney Emil Bove said of the March 2018 recorded phone conversation between Stormy Daniels' attorney Keith Davidson and Michael Cohen. "And that was Ms. Daniels' goal was it not? To create leverage over President Trump?"

"No," Davidson responded.

Davidson pushed back against the timing of the call suggested by Bove.

"I think you are grossly mistaken about the dates. This is years after the settlement," Davidson said.

Jurors heard the substance of the audio recording in bits and pieces as Bove read from the transcript.

“It’s the truth, Michael. You know that -- that you and I both want the truth out there,” Bove read from transcript of Davidson's remarks.

According to Bove, Davidson said at the time that Cohen getting authorization from Trump for the Daniels payment was “never discussed.”

As the lawyers and the judge in the case listened to the recording on headphones, Trump stared forward as he sat at the defense table. His eyes appear shut at times and he adjusted himself in his seat.

Defense attorneys Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles attempted to communicate across Trump on several occasions.

Stormy Daniels' former attorney Keith Davidson testified that he continued to work with Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen after the 2016 election.

"He sent me work," Davidson said, before clarifying.

"He sent me a non-paying client," Davidson said, prompting at least two jurors to laugh.

"Our relationship changed over time," Davidson said of Cohen.

Davidson testified that he believed Cohen was secretly recording him in 2018.

"It was a very structured conservation, which wasn't really his [style]," Davidson said, recounting that Cohen is normally "all over the place."

"That led me to believe I was being recorded," Davidson said.

The defense was attempting to introduced a recorded phone call between Cohen and Davidson in which Davidson said, "Sometimes people get settler's remorse" in connection with the Stormy Daniels hush payment

Bove, Davidson, and Judge Merchan put on headphones to listen to the evidence before it was admitted.

"You were talking about Stormy Daniels with Michael Cohen in March 2018?" Bove asked.

"It certainly appears to be, yes," Davidson responded.

Defense attorney Emil Bove resumed his cross-examination of Stormy Daniels' and Karen McDougal's former attorney Keith Davidson by asking Davidson about the 2011 blog post in TheDirty.com that alleged an affair between Trump and Daniels.

Davidson testified that his effort to kill the 2011 blog post helped Stormy Daniels make the story more marketable to another publication.

"They were using my efforts to create an exclusive opportunity with another publication," Davidson said.

"They were using you to make more money, right?" Bove asked about the efforts by Daniels and her representative Gina Rodriguez.

"Yes," Davidson said.

Bove's questioning was briefly interrupted when a binder fell off a table in the courtroom.

"That drop was catastrophic to my client," Bove joked, prompting some light laughter from the gallery.