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

Defense attorney Todd Blanche turned his attention to the origins of the catch-and-kill arrangement with National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. He asked Michael Cohen about his past testimony regarding the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting with Trump and Pecker where prosecutors say the conspiracy was formed.

Cohen earlier testified that the meeting was important because the "power of the National Enquirer is its placements in supermarkets."

"Had you ever told anyone that before your testimony this week?" Blanche asked.

"Not that I recall," Cohen said.

Blanche asked about Dino Saludjin, the doorman who was paid off after falsely claiming that Trump had a love child.

"The story was false, correct?" Blanche asked.

"I believe so yes," Cohen responded.

"Do you have any doubt in your mind it was false?" Blanche asked.

"No sir," Cohen said.

Blanche Cohen asked if Trump "was worried about the story getting out because of his employees?" appearing to challenge Cohen's testimony about why hush money was paid.

"He mentioned that I should speak to them as well," Cohen said.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche said it is "not ethical" for a lawyer to record his client after Cohen testified that he had recorded Trump.

"You're not supposed to record your client," Blanche said.

"You're not, except the crime-fraud exception rule," Cohen responded.

"Didn't you testify that you recorded your client because you wanted to convince Mr. Pecker he would pay him?" Blanched asked, referring to Cohen's recording of Trump at a 2016 meeting.

"Yes," Cohen replied.

"And you did that under the crime-fraud exception rule?" Blanche asked.

"I was just giving the example," Cohen said.

Several members of the jury were taking notes during this exchange.

On cross-examination, Michael Cohen told jurors that, as part of his work for Donald Trump during his 2016 campiang, he surreptitiously recorded "a handful" of conversations with journalists.

"Did you tell people you were recording them?" Blanche asked.

"No sir," Cohen responded. "It is not illegal in New York."

"Who else did you record surreptitiously?" defense attorney Todd Blanche asked.

"I recorded, off the top of my head ... I can't tell you," Cohen said.

"Jeff Zucker on one event," Cohen said, referring to the then-CNN president. "Mr. Trump at another event," he said.

Trump, at the defense table, angled toward Cohen in his chair, intently watching this testimony.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche pressed Cohen on how he represented Trump to the media during Trump's 2016 campaign.

"You never reached back out to a reporter, ever, without first checking with President Trump?" Blanche asked.

"It was my routine to always advise Mr. Trump," Cohen said. If he didn't, he said "it would mean the end of my job."

An incredulous Blanche asked, "You did that never on your own?"

"Only in consultation with President Trump?" Cohen responded. "If I did that and he didn't like the response, it would probably cost me my job"

Cohen, however, acknowledged that Trump's campaign grew frustrated with his comments to the media.

"I knew that they were upset about it; however, Mr. Trump had turned around and advised them that I don't answer to them," Cohen said.

Cohen added that his comments to the media were aligned with Trump's thoughts on an issue.

"I would always get comments or something in line with a conversation we had on that specific topic," Cohen said. "Again, if I did that and he didn't like the response, it would probably cost me my job."