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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Cohen admits making 'misleading' statement to FEC

Michael Cohen acknowledged that his lawyers sent the Federal Election Commission a "misleading statement" on Feb. 8, 2018.

"Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed Mr. Cohen for the payment directly or indirectly," the letter to the FEC read.

Cohen described the statement as "misleading" because the reimbursement came from Trump directly.

"It was the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust or Donald Trump himself," Cohen told jurors, though he said he "omitted" that from the letter to the FEC.

Cohen said Trump approved the statement.

"That's a true statement, but it's deceptive, it's misleading," Cohen said. He did so "in order to protect Mr. Trump, stay on message, demonstrate my continued loyalty," he said.

As Cohen discussed his conduct related to the FEC, Judge Merchan offered a limited instruction to the jury, telling them that the testimony can be used to provide context for the surrounding events and help determine Cohen's credibility -- but not Trump's guilt.


Cohen explains why he lied to Congress, others

Michael Cohen told jurors that he lied to Congress in 2017 when he understated Trump's involvement in a Trump Tower project in Moscow.

Cohen told Congress that he spoke to Trump about the project three times, but they actually spoke ten times according to Cohen. He added that he misrepresented the timeline of those conversations.

"Why did you make those false statements to Congress?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked.

"Because I was staying on Mr. Trump's message that there was no Russia, Russia, Russia and in coordination with the joint defense team. That was what was preferred," Cohen said.

Cohen said he also initially lied about the hush payment to Stormy Daniels.

"Did you tell the truth about Mr. Trump's role in the payoff?" Hoffinger asked.

"No ma'am," Cohen said.

Cohen told jurors that he pressured Daniels' attorney Keith Davidson to have Daniels sign a false statement denying her affair with Trump.

"Did you know this statement by Stormy Daniels was false?" Hoffinger asked.

"Yes," Cohen said.

Trump, at the defense table, scoffed when Cohen testified that he told Trump he got Stormy Daniels to deny their affair in 2018 so that he could "get credit" with Trump.


Cohen says said he continued to protect Trump

Michael Cohen testified that during this time period, in 2017, he continued to lie and try to protect Trump.

"Did you continue to try to protect him?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Cohen.

"Yes," he said.

"Continued to lie for him?" Hoffinger asked.

"Yes," said Cohen. "Out of loyalty, and in order to protect him."

During this exchange, Trump shifted his head then whipped around to whisper to his attorney Emil Bove.


Cohen testifies he did 'minimal' work for Trump in 2017

Cohen told the jury he did minimal work for Trump in 2017, working on small issues for which he "didn't expect to be paid" -- despite the invoices he submitted throughout the year being designated as retainer fees.

The work he performed included a trademark issue and others, Cohen testified.

Asked if he submitted an invoice, Cohen said no.

"I didn't expect to be paid," he said

Cohen estimated he spent "less than 10" hours working for Trump in 2017.

"Was the $420,000 dollars that you received from Mr. Trump ... did that have anything to do with the minimal work you did for him in 2017?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked.

"No ma'am," Cohen said.

Trump, during this testimony, has been sitting back in his chair with his eyes closed. He occasionally shifts in his seat.


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.