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

The defense questioned Trump's former lawyer on Day 18 of the hush money trial.

Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.


What to know about the hush money case

READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.


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Jury sees text messages Cohen exchanged before calling Schiller

Jurors are now seeing the text message between Cohen and a 14-year-old prank caller that the defense says precipitated Cohen's call to Trump aide Keith Schiller on Oct. 24, 2016..

"This number has just been sent to secret service for your ongoing and continuing harassment to both my cell as well as to the organization's main line," Cohen wrote.

"It wasn't me," the teen responds.

"My friend told me to call," the teen wrote.

"I'm sorry for this," they wrote again. "I won't do it again."

"You will need to explain this to secret service as we have been receiving dozens of these harassing calls over the past 3 days. If you are a minor. I suggest you notify your parent or guardian," Cohen wrote.

"I DIDNT DO IT," the teen continues.

"I'm 14," they continued.

"Please don't Do this," they wrote.

"Please have your parent guardian contact me," Cohen responded. "Before secret service reaches out to them."


Cohen cross-examination resumes following break

The defense is now resuming its cross-examination of Michael Cohen following the lunch break.

A juror informed Judge Merchan that they have a scheduling conflict next Thursday, so Merchan said they'll try to work out a solution later today.


Defense accuses Cohen of lying about Trump phone call

Defense attorney Todd Blanche accused Michael Cohen of lying about a phone call Cohen testified he had with Donald Trump on Oct. 24, 2016.

Blanche read texts between Cohen and Trump aide Keith Schiller on that date, in which Cohen asked Schiller, "Who can I speak to about harassing calls to my phone and office?"

According to Blanche, Schiller asked Cohen to call him at 8:02 p.m.

"This is the call that you testified about on Tuesday that you had a conversation with President Trump?" Blanche said.

Cohen, who testified on Tuesday that he had called Schiller to speak with Trump, agreed.

Nearly shouting, Blanche alleged that Cohen lied during his testimony on Tuesday.

"That was a lie," said Blanche, adding that Cohen texted Schiller the phone number of the 14-year-old prank caller at 8:04 p.m.

"Part of it was the 14-year-old, but I knew that Keith was with Trump at the time," Cohen responded.

"That was a lie. You did not talk to President Trump that night," Blanche said, raising his voice. "You can admit it."

"No sir, I can't," Cohen said. "Because I'm not sure that's accurate."

"This jury doesn't want to hear what you think happened," Blanche said.

Trump, at the defense table, appeared engaged and furrowed his eyebrows.

The jury was then shown text messages from that evening between Cohen and Schiller, which Blanche suggested prosecutors omitted from their exhibit.

"Mr. Cohen, you just said that you don't recall a phone call ... on Tuesday you testified that you remembered the phone call," Blanche shouted, again growing animated and speaking quickly.

Cohen stood by his testimony, saying he spoke to both Trump and Schiller.

"Based upon what was going on and based upon the other messages regarding the Stormy Daniels matter, yes I believe I was telling the truth," Cohen said.

Judge Merchan subsequently recessed the court for lunch.


Defense begins questioning Cohen about facts of the case

After about five hours of cross-examination, defense attorney Todd Blanche now appears to be turning to the facts of the case and Cohen's earlier testimony.

Blanche asked Cohen's about his testimony regarding an Oct. 24, 2016 phone call with Donald Trump.

"We talked about the matter -- that it was resolved," Cohen said, referencing the Stormy Daniels payment.

Blanche suggested that Cohen never mentioned the phone call in earlier sworn testimony and in meetings with prosecutors.

"It was the first time that you recall having a conversation with President Trump on Oct. 24 at 8:02 p.m. when you testified two days ago," Blanche suggested.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger objected repeatedly to this line of questions.

Blanche suggested that around the same time as the Oct. 24 phone call, Cohen was receiving prank calls.

"You were receiving a bunch of ongoing and continuing harassment phone calls," Blanche asked. "Do you remember that?"

Blanche read text messages between Cohen and an apparent teenage prank caller. According to Blanche, Cohen said he would contact the Secret Service about the matter.

"I didn't do it. I am 14. Please don't do it," Blanche read from the texts.


Cohen recounts 2018 FBI raid on hotel room, office

Michael Cohen testified about the April 9, 2018, FBI raid on his hotel room and office as part of a federal investigation related to the Stormy Daniels matter. At the time, Cohen's apartment was flooded, so he was residing in a hotel.

"At 7 o'clock in the morning, there is a knock on the door and I look through the peephole and I see a ton of people out in the hallway. I saw a badge ... they identified themselves at the FBI," Cohen said.

Cohen told jurors that the FBI seized two phones, a series of tax books, and other records.

"I found out that simultaneously they had also raided my apartment that was under construction, my law office, and my bank that had a safety deposit box I had just opened in order to hold valuables in because I didn't want to keep them in the hotel," he testified.

"How would you describe your life being turned upside down?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked.

"Concerned. Despondent. Angry,” Cohen said, describing his response to the raid.

"Were you frightened?" Hoffinger asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Cohen said.

Cohen said that he left a message for Trump after the raid, and received a phone call from Trump.

"I received a phone call from President Trump in response to me leaving a message for him to call," Cohen said. "I wanted obviously for him to know what was taking place. He said, don't worry, I am the president of the United States -- there is nothing here. Everything is going to be OK. Stay tough. You are going to be OK."

Cohen said Trump's statements at the time" reinforced my loyalty and my intention to stay in the fold." At the time, the Trump Organization was paying his legal fees.

Cohen said this was the last time he spoke to Trump.

Jurors then saw an April 21, 2018, tweet from then-President Trump that referenced the possibility Cohen might "flip" -- i.e., decide to turn on him.

Cohen said he understood those tweets as being directed "to me" -- meant to indicate, "stay in fold, stay loyal, I have you ... don't flip."

"Mr. Trump did not want me to cooperate with the government, certainly not to provide information or flip," Cohen said.