Trump trial updates: Appeals court denies defense's bid for judge's recusal
The defense rested its case Tuesday without testimony from Donald Trump.
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:
What to know about the hush money case
READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.
Defense says Cohen's repayment was for legitimate legal expense
Throughout his cross-examination this morning, defense attorney Todd Blanche has attempted to legitimize the repayment arrangement between Trump and Cohen in 2017.
Prosecutors have argued that Trump falsified business records by describing a reimbursement for the Stormy Daniels payment and other expenses as payment for legal services pursuant to a retainer agreement, even though Cohen never had a retainer agreement with Trump.
Blanche emphasized all the legal work that Cohen did for Trump and his family in 2017. He also showed the jury an email from Allen Weisselberg, where he requested Cohen to "please prepare the agreement we discussed so we can pay you monthly."
Amid frequent objections, Blanche has referenced the "agreement" mentioned above as a "retainer agreement," though Cohen never had a formal retainer agreement with Trump.
Pursuant to the "agreement," Cohen said he received nine checks directly from Trump in 2017.
"That would have been nine checks -- 35,000 a piece," Cohen said.
Defense asks Cohen about taking job as president's attorney
Defense attorney Todd Blanche entered another email into evidence, and it was displayed on the courtroom monitors.
It's Cohen's good-bye email to the Trump Organization on Jan. 27, 2017, announcing he will be "personal attorney to potus." "I cannot express how difficult it is for me to write this farewell e-mail," it begins.
In the email, Cohen said he is starting "a new journey," and that he is "truly excited" to begin new position as personal attorney to Trump as president. He reminisced about first taking the job there and moving into Ivanka's old office.
Blanche asked Cohen about his effort to spread the word about his new role as Trump's personal attorney.
"You told everybody that was happening, correct?" Blanche said.
"Not everybody, but I certainly was proud of the role and I announced it," Cohen said.
"You told TMZ?" Blanche asked.
"Yes, sir," Cohen said.
"You told the New York Times?" Blanche asked.
"Yes, sir," Cohen said.
"You actually gave them a little scoop on it?" Blanche asked.
"Yes, sir," Cohen said.
"You went on TV and told Sean Hannity about it?" Blanche asked.
"Yes, sir," Cohen said.
Jury sees chummy email between Cohen, Weisselberg
Jurors saw a chummy email between Michael Cohen and then-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg in January 2017 in which Cohen and Weisselberg discussed the Stormy Daniels repayment arrangement.
"Thank you. You never stopped on [sic] for a bro hug," Weisselberg wrote to Cohen.
"Anyway please prepare the agreement we discussed so we can pay you monthly."
Trump, at the defense table, hunched forward and examined the email as it was displayed on his monitor.
Cohen admits he stole from Trump through his reimbursement
Michael Cohen admitted that he stole $30,000 from the Trump Organization when, as part of his reimbursement for the Stormy Daniels reimbursement, he requested $50,000 for a reimbursement for IT services, when Cohen had actually paid $20,000 for the services.
"You stole from the Trump Organization, correct?" defense attorney Todd Blanche asked.
"Yes, sir," Cohen said.
Blanche hammered Cohen, asking if he ever repaid the Trump Organization or "Did you ever have to plead guilty to larceny?"
"No sir," Cohen said.
At the defense table, Trump shook his head and pursed his lips.
Cohen remained calm during this questioning when Blanche raised voiced, almost shouting at Cohen.
Defense argues Cohen's tax crime isn't relevant
Defense attorney Emil Bove argued that the jury should not consider Michael Cohen's tax crimes as one of the crimes Trump advanced by allegedly falsifying business records when he repaid Cohen for the Stormy Daniels hush payment.
Bove argued that Cohen was unaware of the alleged tax crimes when then-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg "grossed up" his reimbursement to accommodate for taxes on the payment.
Cohen testified he did not think of the tax law at the time, telling jurors, "I just wanted to get my money back."