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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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.


Cohen says he was 'beyond angry' after bonus was cut

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.


Cohen says he was disappointed to not get WH position

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.


Cohen says few outlets picked up WSJ story

After the mid-afternoon break, jurors saw text messages between Michael Cohen and Trump aide Hope Hicks regarding the impact of the Wall Street Journal story on Karen McDougal's catch-and-kill payment as well as Stormy Daniels' allegations.

Cohen said he was concerned the Journal story would "explode into a massive issue," but he said the denial statements were effective in "suppressing the story itself."

At the time, Cohen and Hicks only spotted six media outlets picking up the WSJ story -- relatively minor reach compared to the "Access Hollywood" tape.

"Even CNN not talking about it. No one believes it and if necessary, I have a statement by Stormy denying everything and contradicting the other porn stars statement. I wouldn't use it now or even discuss with him as no one is talking about this or cares!" Cohen texted Hicks.


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.