Trump trial: Judge rebukes Michael Cohen ahead of expected testimony Monday
Former President Trump was in court on Day 15 of his criminal trial in New York.
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.
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What to know about the hush money case
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Prosecutors arrive in courtroom
Prosecutors and staff from the Manhattan district attorney's office have arrived in court.
Prosecutors Joshua Steinglass, Becky Mangold and Christopher Conroy are seated at counsel table.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is not present in court this morning.
Michael Cohen expected to testify Monday, sources say
Michael Cohen, the prosecution's star witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial, is expected to take the stand Monday, according to multiple sources familiar with the case.
Trump's former attorney and "fixer," Cohen made the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels that sits at the center of the case, in order to buy her silence and help Trump's electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors accuse of Trump falsifying business records when he repaid Cohen the $130,000.
Key Trump White House aide set to resume testimony
Former Trump White House aide Madeleine Westerhout is set to resume her testimony this morning in former President Donald Trump's New York criminal trial.
For prosecutors, Westerhout's testimony yesterday offered a detailed picture of how Trump approached his personal finances while serving as president -- including how he signed personal checks for his then-attorney Michael Cohen and others.
Defense attorneys, meanwhile, appeared to use Westerhout to highlight Trump's character following hours of abrasive testimony from Stormy Daniels.
"He never once made me feel like I didn't deserve that job and I didn't belong there, especially in an office filled with older men," Westerhout told jurors about working by Trump's side for over two years. "He was a really good boss. I hope he respected me in my job, and I just found him very enjoyable to work for."
Westerhout at one point broke down in tears on the witness stand while recounting to the jury how she lost her job after she shared private details of Trump's family with reporters at an off-the-record dinner.
"That mistake, eventually -- ultimately, cost me my job, and I am very regretful of my youthful indiscretion," Westerhout said while crying.
'We are so innocent,' Trump says exiting courtroom
Judge Juan Merchan dismissed court for the day following the late hearing.
Trump, speaking to reporters on his way out of the courtroom, railed against the judge.
"Everybody saw what happened today -- I don't think we have to do any expert explaining," Trump said. "I'm not allowed to anyway because this judge is corrupt," he said, criticizing Merchan -- who is not protected by the limited gag order in the case.
"I got to get back on the campaign trail. I'm not supposed to be here. We are so innocent," Trump said.
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano
Defense tries to show Pecker-Hicks call never took place
Defense attorney Emil Bove used DA office paralegal Jaden Jarmel-Schneider's testimony to highlight a point about former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and longtime top Trump aide Hope Hicks.
Earlier in the trial, Pecker testified about a phone call he had with with Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders where they discussed extending Karen McDougal's "catch-and-kill" agreement with the publication.
However, Hicks testified that she never had such a phone call with Pecker.
Bove, during his cross-examination of Jarmel-Schneider, suggested that no phone records exist to document the call taking place.
"I don't think that's true," Jarmel-Schneider responded, muddying Bove's point. The two briefly discussed which exhibit might contain a record of the call.
Bove subsequently completed his cross-examination.
With the day's testimony over, Judge Merchan then dismissed the jury for the weekend.