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 worked with Enquirer to boost Trump
Cohen said National Enquirer parest AMI would send him advanced covers of upcoming editions of the National Enquirer, which frequently showed negative stories about Trump's political foes -- including Hillary Clinton.
Asked what he would do with those copies, Cohen said he "immediately showed it to Mr. Trump."
"Why?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked.
"So he knew that David was loyal, on board ... doing everything he said he was going to do in that August meeting," Cohen said.
Cohen said Trump's reaction would typically be akin to: "Fantastic."
The jury saw an email exchange regarding Cohen personally editing a story about Trump that was going to be in the National Enquirer. It was billed as an exclusive: "The Trump that Nobody Knows."
"Is this an example of your working with AMI to get stories out that would benefit the Trump campaign?" Hoffinger asled.
"It is an example," Cohen replied.
Cohen testifies about Trump Tower meeting
Before Trump announced his bid for the presidency, Michael Cohen recalled Trump warning him about stories that might emerge about his past interactions with various women.
"You know that when this comes out, meaning the announcement, just be prepared there's going to be a lot of women coming forward," Cohen recalled Trump saying.
Cohen recounted the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting where then-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, Trump and Cohen agreed to the basics of a catch-and-kill scheme.
"What was discussed is the power of the National Enquirer in terms of being located at the cash register of so many supermarkets and bodegas. That if we can place positive stories about Mr. Trump that would be beneficial, and if we could place negative stories about some of the other candidates, that would also be beneficial," Cohen said.
"What he said was that he could keep an eye out for anything negative about Mr. Trump and that he would be able to help us know in advance what was coming out and try to stop it from coming out," Cohen said of Pecker, echoing Pecker's testimony from three weeks ago.
Cohen testifies about Trump's political aspirations
In 2011, Cohen flagged a poll to Trump that suggested he would be a competitive presidential candidate
"I took that article and I brought to Mr. Trump, and I said what do you think?" Cohen said. "He said it's interesting, we should look into it."
Cohen said that he created a website to encourage the run called ""
"It was further proof that his name recognition, his popularity … was so strong," Cohen said.
Cohen said that Trump backed away from the idea of running in the 2012 race to focus on his other commitments, including his television show.
"You don't leave Hollywood. Hollywood leaves you," Cohen recounted Trump saying.
While Trump backed away in 2012, Cohen said Trump made a vow about 2016.
"He promised to me that he would do it in the next election cycle," Cohen said.
Cohen. on the stand, appears earnest and somewhat morose -- different from his bombastic, showy persona on his podcast or on social media. He appears calm and speaks slowly, referring to his former boss as "Mr. Trump."
Cohen testifies about David Pecker
"Do you know someone named David Pecker?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Michael Cohen.
"I knew David Pecker even before Mr. Trump," Cohen replied about the then-National Enquirer publisher. He said the two men would communicate by email or by Signal because "sometimes we thought encryption, not having the event traceable, would be beneficial."
Cohen said he "rarely" interacted with Pecker before 2015. He provided an example of trying to use Pecker to raise for Harlem for Hoops, a charity to which Trump donated.
Before 2015, Cohen testified that the National Enquirer did not purchase stories to kill on Trump's behalf.
He testified he was not aware of National Enquirer parent company AMI ever buying stories for Trump prior to the 2016 campaign -- feeding into prosecutors' narrative this was a campaign-related scheme.
"Prior to Mr. Trump announcing his run for the presidency, are you aware of AMI ever paying to suppress stories?" Hoffinger asked.
"No ma'am," Cohen said.
Judge will wait to rule on defense's expert witness
After the jury was dismissed for the day, Judge Merchan heard arguments from the two sides on whether the defense should be allowed to call an expert witness to explain to the jury how to interpret nuances in election law, particularly the phrase "for the purpose of influencing an election."
"We don't think this jury here should be evaluating a FICA violation," defense attorney Emil Bove argued.
Prosecutors objected, saying only the judge should inform the jury what the law is.
There is a "general and widely followed prohibition" against having testimony from witnesses about the law, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo argued, adding that Bove's request "flies directly in the face" of an earlier order issued by Merchan.
"The jury has to be provided instructions one way or another ... about how to apply these principles," Bove argued back.
Merchan said he would think about it over the weekend, but told the defense, "Until you hear differently from me, my ruling has not changed" that their requested testimony would not be permitted.