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.
Top headlines:
- No decision yet about Trump testifying
- Defense argues Cohen's lack of retainer agreement was not an issue
- Defense accuses Cohen of lying about Trump phone call
- Defense challenges Cohen on past perjury
- Cohen says Trump approved payment of $420K, paid monthly
- Jury hears secret recording of Trump discussing payment
What to know about the hush money case
READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.
Defense presses Cohen on fake legal citations
Michael Cohen was asked about the nonexistent AI-generated case law that was cited in court papers last year when he sought early termination of supervised release.
Cohen told jurors that he inadvertently provided his lawyer fake citation during his recent bid to end his supervised release.
“AI wants to please the user, and then I provided to my counsel these three cases that were directly on point why supervised release for me was not just and proper,” Cohen said. “Those situations were inaccurate.”
“The three cases that you gave to your attorney were not real cases, correct?" Blanche said.
“That is correct,” Cohen said.
Cohen, under questioning, remains calm on the stand
Michael Cohen, who has fielded questions about his lies, his criminal convictions, his ego, and his personal and professional failings -- in short, the darkest moments of his life -- has remained largely calm, candid, and polite on the stand.
Answering a long series of questions about the job he eventually got as personal attorney to President Trump. Cohen spoke slowly and evenly as he recounted how told his daughter he was "not the right person for Chief of Staff," even though he "would have liked to have been considered for ego purposes."
"But you were disappointed that after all the work you've done for Trump for nine and a half years, nobody, including President Trump offered you position in the White House?" defense attorney Todd Blanche asked.
"That's not accurate," Cohen replied.
"You were not embarrassed that after all the work you've done for him, you were left being his personal attorney and nothing more?" Blanche asked.
"That's the role that I wanted," Cohen said.
Defense suggests Cohen didn't get WH job he wanted
Defense attorney Todd Blanche is confronted Michael Cohen with past communications -- with friends and his daughter -- to suggest Cohen was vying to be chief of staff or attorney general after Trump was elected in 2016.
"You told your daughter were disappointed?" Blanche asked about Cohen's response after Reince Priebus was named Trump's chief of staff.
"That I wasn't considered -- yes sir," Cohen said.
Blanche also suggested that Cohen wanted to be attorney general or special counsel the president.
"You told people you would like to be attorney general?" Blanche asked.
"I don't recall that," Cohen said.
An earlier witness -- Stormy Daniels' lawyer Keith Davidson -- testified that Cohen told him that he wanted to be chief of staff or attorney general.
Cohen pushed back on Blanche's suggestion that Cohen wanted a job other than the one he was ultimately given: personal attorney to President Trump.
"I wanted a hybrid position -- one where I would still have the access to President Trump but not be a White House employee," Cohen testified, echoing his testimony from earlier this week.
"You still, even after November, were still looking for a position in the White House?" Blanche said.
"Yes sir," Cohen said before quickly correcting himself. "No."
"I didn't want the General Counsel's office - I made that crystal clear," Cohen said. "There was no shame in being personal attorney to the president of the United States."
Defense presses Cohen on White House interest
Defense attorney Todd Blanche asked about Michael Cohen's interest in a White House position after Trump was elected in 2016, in order to highlight another alleged inconsistency in his congressional testimony.
"Do you remember telling Congress that it was a lie that you did not want to go to the White House?" Blanche asked.
"I remember telling Congress that I did not want to work in the White House," Cohen said.
"I believe you testified you were never offered the role of chief of staff" -- a role that you wish you had, asked Blanche.
Cohen reaffirmed that he was never offered the role of chief of staff.
"I would have liked to be considered, for ego purposes," he said.
"The truth is, Mr. Cohen, you really wanted to work in the White House, correct?" Blanche asked.
"Again, no sir," Cohen said.
"You hoped that you would be named the White House chief of staff -- not just be considered?" Blanche asked.
"No sir," Cohen said.
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.