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.


What to know about the hush money case

READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.


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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.


Cohen recounts Trump's response to 'Access Hollywood' tape

Michael Cohen testified that he was in London in October 2016 when the news of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape broke.

"Please call me," Cohen emailed Trump adviser Steve Bannon in October 2016.

"It's all over the place. Who is doing damage control here?" Cohen later emailed.

Cohen said he was trying to step in "in order to protect Mr. Trump.'

Jurors also saw phone records showing two calls between Trump and Cohen on Oct. 8, 2016.

"He wanted me to reach out to all of my contacts in the media who needed to put a spin on this," Cohen said. "The spin that he wanted to put out it was that this locker room talk -- something that Melania had recommended or at least he told me that's what Melania thought it was and use that in order to get control over the story and minimize its impact on him and his campaign."

Trump, again, shook his head no at the answer from the defense table.

Jurors then saw texts between Cohen and former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo.

"Will be too late ... he is dying right now," Cuomo texted Cohen.

Cohen explained that he believed, "That this is a tremendously negative story in regard to the Trump campaign ... this is going to be significantly impactful, especially with women voters."


Jury hears secret recording of Trump discussing payment

Michael Cohen testified that he made a recording to prove to National Enquirer publisher David Pecker that Trump would repay him the $150,000 for Karen McDougal's catch-and-kill arrangement.

"I also wanted him to remain loyal to Mr. Trump," Cohen added.

Cohen said he walked into Trump's office with his phone in his hand, making the recording.

Cohen told the jury that you can hear Trump, himself, and Trump assistant Rhona Graff on the recording.

Asked whether he thought Trump knew he was recording the conversation, Cohen said: "No, ma'am."

Jurors then heard the recording.

Cohen: Told you about Charleston. I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend, David, you know, so that -- I'm going to do that right away. I've actually come up and I've spoken --

Trump: Give it to me and get me a --

Cohen: And, I've spoken to Allen Weisselberg about how to set the whole thing up with --

Trump: So, what do we got to pay for this? One-fifty?

Cohen: -- funding. Yes. And it's all the stuff.

Trump: Yes, I was thinking about that.

Cohen: All the stuff. Because -- here, you never know where that company, you never know what he's --

Trump: Maybe he gets hit by a truck

Cohen: Correct. So, I'm all over that. And, I spoke to Allen about it, when it comes time for the financing, which will be --

Trump: Listen, what financing?

Cohen: We'll have to pay him something.

Trump: (INAUDIBLE) pay with cash.

Cohen: No, no, no, no, no, I got it.

Trump: Check.

Every member of the jury appeared to look down at their monitor to read along with the transcript of the call as it was played. Cohen, as the call played, shook his head "no" over and over again on the witness stand, apparently in disbelief at rehearing it.

At one point he looked over in Trump's direction and sighed as the recording continued, then looked over to the jury to watch them take it in.

DA Alvin Bragg appeared to close his eyes and dropped his head as the call played.