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

Defense attorney Todd Blanche returned to confronting Michael Cohen with his own public remarks about Trump, saying he called Trump a "boorish cartoon misogynist."

"Sounds like something I would say," Cohen responded.

He also asked if he called Trump a "Cheeto dusted cartoon villain."

"That also sounds like something I would say," Cohen responded.

The attorneys, as well as as Cohen and Judge Merchan then donned headphones to review a recording of Cohen's Mea Culpa podcast.

Trump also appeared to be listening to the audio, holding one ear of the headphones up to his ear.

The jury did not ultimately hear the audio, but it appeared to have been Cohen saying Trump "needs to wear handcuffs" and his assertion that people won't be satisfied until Trump is in a cell.

"Is it fair to say that you are motivated by fame?" Blanche asked.

"No sir, I don't think that is fair to say," Cohen said.

"Is it fair to say that you are motivated by publicity?" Blanche asked.

"I don't know if that is fair to say. I am motivated by many things," Cohen said.

Blanche then read a portion of Cohen's book where he said he was motivated by "power and the good life" and "public acclaim."

"Yes, those are my words," Cohen said.

Following the mid-afternoon break, defense attorney Todd Blanche continued to press Michael Cohen on his motives for cooperating with the Manhattan DA's investigation that led to this trial.

Blanche asked Cohen about what happened in 2019 when the DA's investigators visited him in federal prison, where he was serving time for his role in the Stormy Daniels payout and other charges.

"One of the first things you wanted to talk to the prosecutors about was ... what is the benefit to you?" Blanche asked, noting that Cohen had told the prosecutors he had been "screwed" by the system.

"You wanted to know why you should meet with them, which is fair, right?" Blanche asked. "You wanted to know what the benefit was to you for being there, correct?"

"Correct," said Cohen.

Blanche then brought up what is known as a Rule 35, which "gives the judge a right to give you a lower sentence if certain things happen like cooperation." He noted it had to be made within one year.

"Do you remember a conversation where your lawyers asked the district attorney whether they would be willing to help with the rule 35 motion in federal court?" Blanche asked.

"I believe so, yes," Cohen said.

Blanche suggested that timing was of the essence because he was sentenced in December 2018, meaning the clock was clicking to file a Rule 35 motion.

Cohen's Rule 35 motion was eventually denied. He subsequently completed his sentence in 2021.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche asked Michael Cohen if he was angling to reduce his prison sentence when he decided to begin meeting with lawyers from the Manhattan district attorney's office in 2019.

"You were very much looking in the fall of 2019 for a way to get your sentence reduced?" Blanche asked.

"Yes, sure," Cohen responded.

Blanche suggested that attorney Anthony Scaramucci -- who Cohen said visited him in prison -- told him that cooperation might lead to a reduced sentence.

In total, Cohen said he met with prosecutors three times while incarcerated in 2019 -- on August 27, Sept. 19, and Oct. 3.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche, cross-examining Michael Cohen, sought to cast doubt on Cohen's testimony about calling Trump following the release of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape in 2016.

Blanche showed Cohen notes from Cohen's interview with the special counsel who investigated Cohen in 2018.

"You told them you didn't recall speaking with President Trump about the tape?" Blanche asked.

Cohen responded that he was still being "loyal" to Trump at the time, in August 2018.

But by 2019, "you had changed your views about President Trump, correct?" Blanche asked.

"Correct," Cohen responded.

"You now said President Trump was a conman and you were ashamed?" Blanche asked.

"I said that, yes," Cohen answered.