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.
Trump shares supportive comments from lawmakers
Former President Trump, addressing reporters on his way out of the courtroom, read a series of comments from supportive lawmakers.
"They view this as a scam," Trump said when asked why lawmakers including Sen. J.D. Vance, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis joined him in court today. "I think it's a terrible thing that's happening to democracy in this country."
Trump, reading from a stack of papers, highlighted comments that included statements from Vance and Sen. Tim Scott.
"This is four weeks you're keeping me away from the campaign," Trump said.
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano
Cohen says CFO said payments would be for 'legal service'
Michael Cohen recalled then-Trump Organization CFO Weisselberg saying the monthly payments to reimburse him for the Stormy Daniels nondisclosure payment would be recorded "as a legal service render since I was going to be given the title as personal attorney to the president."
Cohen told jurors that Trump and Weisselberg were like "Frick and Frack." Regarding his meeting with the two men about the monthly reimbursement plan, Cohen surmised "this conversation had already taken place between the two."
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Cohen, "Did Mr. Trump try to renegotiate?"
"No," Cohen replied.
"He approved it at that point?" Hoffinger asked.
"Yes," Cohen responded.
A few days later, Trump left for Washington to assume the presidency.
Hoffinger concluded by asking Cohen whether the $420,000 he would receive in monthly installments was meant to be compensation for any future legal work he did for Trump.
"No," Cohen said.
Testimony then ended for the day.
Cohen says Trump approved payment of $420K, paid monthly
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.
Cohen says Trump told him, 'I will take care of' repayment
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.
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.