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 hasn't decided if Trump will testify, per transcript
According to a transcript of the day's court proceedings released this evening, Donald Trump and his attorneys have not yet decided if the former president will testify at his trial.
The transcript included a private sidebar conference held this morning, during which Judge Juan Merchan asked defense lawyers about Trump's possible testimony.
"And do you have any indication whether your client is going to testify?" Merchan asked defense attorney Todd Blanche.
"No," Blanche replied.
"No determination yet?" Merchan asked.
"No," Blanche said.
The conversation happened outside of the earshot of reporters and members of the jury.
Trump says he had a 'very good day' in court
Speaking to reporters after exiting the courtroom, former President Trump was asked about today's testimony, as well as if he plans to testify during the trial.
"As you know, I'm under a gag order. So I can't really answer those very simple questions that you're asking," Trump said, referring to the order that prohibits him from making public comments about jurors, witnesses and lawyers in the case, but does not keep him from discussing the case itself.
"We'd love to not be in the gag order. I'm the Republican nominee for president. I'm leading in every poll, and I have a gag order."
Recapping his day in court, Trump said, "We had a very, I think, a very good day and important to see what's happening and you'll have to record it because I can't talk about it too much."
"We had a very good day. I think we're exposing the scam for what it is," he said.
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano
Cohen leaves court without looking Trump's way
Michael Cohen, his testimony done for the day, left the courtroom without looking at Trump.
During a bench conference, defense attorney Todd Blanche said he wants to explore with the court and the opposing counsel the admissibility of a defense expert witness before deciding whether to call him.
The judge set a conference to take place Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, after the jury is excused slightly early for the day.
Asked about Thursday's timing for the remainder of his cross-examination of Cohen, Blanche told the judge, "If I finish, it's at the end of the day."
The rest of the parties then departed the courtroom.
Cohen says he wanted help reducing sentence
Michael Cohen told the jury that he wanted the Manhattan district attorney to publicly acknowledge his cooperation in this case to assist in his bid for a reduced sentence in his federal conviction on charges related to the Stormy Daniels hush money arrangement.
"You wanted the district attorney's office to publicly acknowledge that you were cooperating?" Blanche asked.
"I would say so, yes," Cohen said.
"You were trying to get your sentence ... lowered, right?" Blanche said.
"I was looking for a reduction in the home confinement portion," Cohen said.
However, the DA's office never publicly announced Cohen's cooperation.
"There was no letter or public announcement made about your cooperation," Blanche asked.
"That's correct," Cohen said.
Blanche asked Cohen if he had ever met DA Alvin Bragg in person.
"No sir," said Cohen.
Testimony subsequently concluded for the day, with Cohen's cross-examination scheduled to continue when court resumes on Thursday.
Defense stresses Daniels' hush payment was 'perfectly legal'
Defense attorney Todd Blanche turned the cross-examination to the topic of Stormy Daniels' $130,000 hush payment.
Jurors were shown the nondisclosure contract between Daniels and Trump.
“In your mind, then and now, this is a perfectly legal contract, correct?” Blanche asked Michael Cohen, hammering at a key defense argument that the agreement was fully legal.
“Yes sir,” Cohen responded.
Under questioning, Cohen conceded that he told the Manhattan district attorney's office that before he paid Stormy Daniels her hush money, he thought Daniels was "exploiting Mr. Trump."
"In your mind, there was either two choices: Pay, or don't pay and the story comes out?" Blanche asked COhen.
Cohen affirmed his thinking.
"But you went a long time without paying?" Blanche asked.
"Yes, we went several weeks without paying," said Cohen.
"Ultimately, though, you did. You paid," Blanche said.