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

Michael Cohen told jurors that then-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg told him to "gross up" his requested reimbursement for the $130,000 Stormy Daniels payment to ensure that Cohen got the full amount of money spent, after taxes.

Cohen confirmed that the practice of effectively paying double for expenses was not a normal practice at the Trump Organization.

In addition to the Daniels' reimbursement, Cohen testified that he requested a $50,000 reimbursement to a company called Red Finch for tech services; however, Cohen acknowledged that he asked for more money in the reimbursement that he actually spent on the services.

"I didn't feel that Mr. Trump [was] owed the benefit of the difference," Cohen said.

Cohen told jurors that he ended up keeping the difference for himself.

After Weisselberg worked out a calculation to pay Cohen a total amount of $420,000, Cohen said the two men "went to Mr. Trump's office to speak with him about it."

It was in Trump's office at Trump Tower than Cohen said he learned "it'll be paid out to you monthly."

Cohen said Trump approved it.

Michael Cohen testified that Trump told him regarding his reimbursement for the Stormy Daniels nondisclosure payment, "Don't worry about that other thing -- I will take care of you when we get back."

But when Cohen returned to the office in the new year, no such conversation happened with Trump.

"There was no conversation about it, so I of course brought it up to Mr. Weisselberg," Cohen said of then-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg.

"When I am getting my money back?" Cohen said he asked.

Weisselberg suggested Cohen meet with him and bring the bank statement related to the Daniels payment.

Jurors were then shows the statement for Cohen's LLC, Essential Consultants, that jurors saw during Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney's testimony last week.

Cohen told jurors that his handwriting was on the right of the document, while Weisselberg's notes were on the left.

"The $130,000 was obviously the money that went for the nondisclosure agreement," Cohen told the jury about the statement.

Prosecutors introduced text messages between Michael Cohen and his daughter related to Cohen not being considered for Trump's chief of staff after Trump won the 2016 election.

"My daughter and I are very close -- we are very much connected and she was concerned that I was upset that I was not being considered for the role," Cohen said. "I explained to her that there are so many opportunities."

By December 2016, Cohen said, he was "beyond angry." His Trump Organization bonus had been cut by two-thirds.

"I was truly insulted, personally hurt. Didn't understand it," Cohen said of his feelings. "It made no sense, after all that I had gone through in terms of the campaign as well as things at the Trump Organization, and laying out $130,000 on his behalf to protect him."

"It was insulting that the gratitude shown back to me was to cut the bonus by two-thirds," Cohen said.

Cohen said he was "truly pissed off and angry," he recalled telling then-CFO Allen Weisselberg.

At that point, Cohen had not been paid back for the Daniels advance and expressed as much to Weisselberg.

"The best that you get for extending yourself as I did is to have your bonus cut by two-thirds?" Cohen recalled saying. He said Weisselberg responded by saying, "We'll make this right."

Trump, at the defense table, showed no reaction as Cohen recounted his emotional response to having his bonus cut.

When Donald Trump won the 2016 election, Cohen testified there was no role for him in the incoming administration.

"My service was no longer necessary," Cohen said.

He was offered a position in the White House as "assistant general counsel" by Reince Preibus, but turned it down. He said he was disappointed he was not considered for chief of staff.

"I didn't want the role. I didn't believe the role was right for me or that I was even competent to be chief of staff. I just wanted my name to be included," he testified.

"It was more about my ego than anything," Cohen said about his disappointment. "I would have liked to have been considered."

Cohen said he pitched being "personal attorney to the president." He would need the role, Cohen said, because there were "outstanding matters" to be dealt with. Cohen conceded it would have helped him personally and professionally.

"I also had another thought in mind, which was consulting. That's what I really wanted because that afforded me the time to stay at home, in New York," he said.

Cohen testified it could have been lucrative to help people understand Trump's thinking.

"Mr. Trump was an enigma," Cohen said. "Because of my close proximity to him for a decade, I did understand."

"Did you think you could monetize being personal attorney to the president?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked.

"Absolutely," Cohen said.

Trump's eyes remained closed during this portion of the testimony.