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.
Long sidebar conference concludes
After speaking at the bench to Judge Merchan at a private sidebar for approximately 18 minutes, the lawyers returned to their seats.
At the defense table, attorney Todd Blanche leaned in to whisper to Trump.
"I think we are ready to get started," Judge Merchan said.
Sidebar discussion continues
As the private sidebar continues, Judge Merchan is standing slightly back on the bench with his arms crossed, as Trump attorney Todd Blanche speaks.
At one point, Blanche and prosecutor Joshua Steinglass appeared to laugh.
Trump, seated at the defense table, is leaning back in his chair and his eyes appear to be closed.
Proceedings are underway
"Good morning, Mr. Trump," Judge Juan Merchan said in his usual fashion after taking the bench.
The proceedings immediately began with a private sidebar between the parties and Merchan.
Trump enters courtroom with several lawmakers
Donald Trump has entered the courtroom accompanied, like yesterday, by an entourage that includes several members of Congress.
Reps. Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz are among those seated in the front row of the gallery.
The group is so large that a few members are sitting at the back of the courtroom because the first two rows of the gallery do not have enough space.
'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.