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.
'Get control over this,' Trump allegedly said about Daniels story
Michael Cohen said that Donald Trump responded angrily when Cohen shared that Stormy Daniels was shopping her allegations in 2016.
"He was really angry with me," Cohen said, who said Trump told him, "I thought you had this under control. I thought you took care of this.
"He said this is a disaster, total disaster. Women are going to hate me," Trump said according to Cohen. "Guys may think this is cool, but this is going to be a disaster for the campaign."
"At the time, Mr. Trump was ... polling very poorly with women, and this coupled with the previous 'Access Hollywood' -- he just stated, 'This is a disaster, get control of the women,'" Cohen testified.
Cohen said that Trump directed him to purchase Daniels' story.
"He told me to work with David [Pecker] and get control over this -- purchase the life rights. We need to stop this from getting out," Cohen said.
Cohen added that Trump requested he delay the payment until after the election to avoid paying it outright.
Jurors see texts reconnecting Cohen with Daniels' lawyer
Jurors saw an October 2016 text message where National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard reintroduced Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels' then-attorney Keith Davidson
"Connecting you both in regards to that business opportunity. Spoke to the client this AM and they're confirmed to proceed with the opportunity. Thanks. Dylan," Howard wrote.
"Over to you two," added Howard.
'Take care of it,' Cohen says Trump said of Daniels allegations in 2011
Michael Cohen recounted what he said was a 2011 conversation with Trump about the allegations from Stormy Daniels after TheDirty.com made a blog post about the relationship. Cohen successfully had the blog post taken down with the help of Daniels' then-attorney Keith Davidson.
"I asked him if he knew who she was. He told me he did," Cohen said of Trump.
Cohen said that Trump did not answer his question about the allegations.
"He turned around and said she was a beautiful woman," Cohen recounted.
Cohen said that Trump OK'd the 2011 effort to take down the blog post about the affair.
"Absolutely, do it. Take care of it," Trump responded, according to Cohen.
Cohen says Stormy Daniels story would have been 'catastrophic'
As Michael Cohen was attempting to do damage control for the "Access Hollywood" story on Oct. 8, 2016, National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard flagged to Cohen that adult film actress Stormy Daniels was shopping her allegations of a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, which the former president has steadfastly denied.
Years earlier, Cohen worked with Daniels' attorney Keith Davidson to get a story taken down about the alleged affair.
Asked about the potential impact of Daniels' story, Cohen said it would have been "catastrophic."
"Horrible for the campaign," Cohen said.
'Great job,' Trump responded to McDougal deal, Cohen says
By August 2016, David Pecker and Dylan Howard of the National Enquirer shared with Michael Cohen that the deal to catch-and-kill Karen McDougal's story had been a success.
"The terms were going to be compensation to her in the amount of $150,000 as well as they were going to provide her 24 penned articles that would bear her name, as well as she was going to be on two covers of one of the various magazines that they owned," Cohen said about the terms of the deal, which Pecker described as "bulletproof."
Asked to explain what Pecker meant by bulletproof, Cohen said, "That they got it. That this is locked down. We prevented the story from being released."
Cohen said he communicated the news to Trump, who told him, "Fantastic. Great job."
As Cohen, time after time, injects what he says are Trump's own words directly in the alleged catch and kill scheme, Trump, sitting at the defense table, has no reaction. Mostly, his eyes appear closed, his head moving side to side occasionally.