"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.

Prosecutors appear to be laying the groundwork for how closely Trump and Michael Cohen worked together. Cohen said his office was at one point "maybe 50 or 60 feet" away from Trump's.

Cohen also told the jury they spoke "every single day, multiple times per day."

Cohen is answering questions in the same animated fashion that he often displays on TV. Asked if he threatened companies and people with lawsuits on behalf of Trump, Cohen didn't miss a beat: "Yes," he said, his eyebrows raising. Occasionally, he glances over to the jury.

Trump, at the defense table, is sitting back in his chair with his head slightly tilted. He does not appear to be directly looking at Cohen.

Following the mid-morning break, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger resumed her direct examination by asking Cohen about attorney Robert Costello, who represented him in 2018.

Cohen testified that Costello told him "this would be a great way to have a backchannel of communication to the president in order to ensure you're still good and still secure"

Cohen said that Costello also touted his relationship with Rudy Giuliani, who was close with Trump at the time.

Costello suggested his representation would be "very beneficial for you going forward with this matter."

Cohen said he was skeptical of Costello because he seemed "really sketchy and wrong."

Cohen also said worried that "anything I said to him was going to be spoken and told to Rudy Giuliani."

Jurors saw an April 2018 email from Costello to Cohen, which Cohen said was sent to "reinforce the whole concept of the back channel."

"I am sure you saw the news that Rudy is joining the Trump legal team. I told you my relationship with Rudy which could be very useful to you," Costello wrote in the email.