Trump trial: Cohen faces Trump team grilling over past lies, recollections

In 2011, Cohen flagged a poll to Trump that suggested he would be a competitive presidential candidate

"I took that article and I brought to Mr. Trump, and I said what do you think?" Cohen said. "He said it's interesting, we should look into it."

"It was further proof that his name recognition, his popularity … was so strong," Cohen said.

Cohen said that Trump backed away from the idea of running in the 2012 race to focus on his other commitments, including his television show.

"You don't leave Hollywood. Hollywood leaves you," Cohen recounted Trump saying.

While Trump backed away in 2012, Cohen said Trump made a vow about 2016.

"He promised to me that he would do it in the next election cycle," Cohen said.

Cohen. on the stand, appears earnest and somewhat morose -- different from his bombastic, showy persona on his podcast or on social media. He appears calm and speaks slowly, referring to his former boss as "Mr. Trump."

"Do you know someone named David Pecker?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Michael Cohen.

"I knew David Pecker even before Mr. Trump," Cohen replied about the then-National Enquirer publisher. He said the two men would communicate by email or by Signal because "sometimes we thought encryption, not having the event traceable, would be beneficial."

Cohen said he "rarely" interacted with Pecker before 2015. He provided an example of trying to use Pecker to raise for Harlem for Hoops, a charity to which Trump donated.

Before 2015, Cohen testified that the National Enquirer did not purchase stories to kill on Trump's behalf.

He testified he was not aware of National Enquirer parent company AMI ever buying stories for Trump prior to the 2016 campaign -- feeding into prosecutors' narrative this was a campaign-related scheme.

"Prior to Mr. Trump announcing his run for the presidency, are you aware of AMI ever paying to suppress stories?" Hoffinger asked.
"No ma'am," Cohen said.

In an emotional moment, Michael Cohen gave a candid, glowing response when asked what it was like to work for the Trump Organization.

"It was fantastic," he said. "Working for him during those 10 years was an amazing experience in many, many ways. There were great times, there were several less-than-great times, but for the most part I enjoyed the responsibilities that were given to me. I enjoyed working with my colleagues at the Trump Organization, the Trump children. It was a big family."

Trump, at the defense table, remained motionless during Cohen's description. His eyes appear closed.

After speaking positively about his time with the Trump Organization, Cohen acknowledged that he often lied for Trump.

"Because it was needed to accomplish the task," Cohen said.

Michael Cohen testified that normally spoke with Trump in person or over the phone. Cohen said he sometimes contacted Trump though his executive assistant Rhona Graff, his "personal attache" Keith Schiller, or Trump's children.

Like earlier witnesses, Cohen testified that Trump did not use email.

"Mr. Trump never had an email address," Cohen said. "He would comment that emails are like written papers. He knows too many people who have gone down as a direct result ... of emails ... that prosecutors could use in a case."

"By 'gone down', you mean getting in some sort of trouble?" Cohen was asked.

"Yes ma'am," Cohen replied.

Trump, at the defense table, did not react to this questioning.

Cohen said that he frequently reported to Trump when handling sensitive matters.

"As soon as you had a result or answer, you would go straight back and tell him, especially if it was a matter that was troubling to him," Cohen said.

"If you didn't immediately provide him with the information ... that wouldn't go over well for you," Cohen added.