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.
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.
Cohen says he and Trump were angry about WSJ article
Seven days after Michael Cohen finalized the nondisclosure agreement with Stormy Daniels, the Wall Street Journal published a story about Stormy Daniels and AMI's $150,000 payment to Karen McDougal.
Cohen testified that he knew about it in advance, and when he found out he responded by "contacting Keith Davidson.," Daniels' attorney.
Cohen said he also talked with Trump aide Hope Hicks and National Enquirer publisher David Pecker "so that we could all coalesce around this issue." In a series of calls and emails Cohen said he suggested a response, blaming the "liberal media" and the Clinton campaign.
Cohen said he reacted angrily to Davidson when the Journal story came out, suspecting Davidson leaked the story.
"I wanted to ensure Mr. Trump was safe," Cohen told jurors.
Cohen said that he conveyed to Davidson that Trump was "really angry."
The night the Journal story came out, Cohen said he spoke to Trump just after 9 p.m. for about six minutes. The jury saw a record of the call.
"This was a real serious, again, problem, especially being so close to the election," Cohen recalled saying. He tried to reassure Trump that he, David Pecker and Dylan Howard at the National Enquirer and Keith Davidson were "doing everything in our power to protect Mr. Trump."
But Cohen told jurors he was concerned about the story "because there was a negative story that once again could impact the campaign as a result of women."
Defense challenges Cohen on doorman's hush payment
Defense attorney Todd Blanche turned his attention to the origins of the catch-and-kill arrangement with National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. He asked Michael Cohen about his past testimony regarding the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting with Trump and Pecker where prosecutors say the conspiracy was formed.
Cohen earlier testified that the meeting was important because the "power of the National Enquirer is its placements in supermarkets."
"Had you ever told anyone that before your testimony this week?" Blanche asked.
"Not that I recall," Cohen said.
Blanche asked about Dino Saludjin, the doorman who was paid off after falsely claiming that Trump had a love child.
"The story was false, correct?" Blanche asked.
"I believe so yes," Cohen responded.
"Do you have any doubt in your mind it was false?" Blanche asked.
"No sir," Cohen said.
Blanche Cohen asked if Trump "was worried about the story getting out because of his employees?" appearing to challenge Cohen's testimony about why hush money was paid.
"He mentioned that I should speak to them as well," Cohen said.