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.
Jury hears Cohen slamming Trump on his podcast
Defense attorney Todd Blanche returned to questioning Michael Cohen about his Mea Culpa podcast. The jury heard an excerpt regarding Trump's indictment.
"I want to thank the Manhattan district attorneys office," Cohen said on the podcast.
"He is about to get a taste of what I went through. And I promise you, its not fun," it continued.
Jurors remained stone-faced as Cohen's excited and hyper-energized voiced came through the courtroom speakers.
"What an embarrassment it is to the office of the presidency," Cohen said in the recording, adding that the indictment "filled me with delight and sadness."
"I truly f------ hope that this man ends up in prison," Cohen said in another clip. "You better believe I want this man to go down and rot inside for what he did to me in my family."
Most of the jurors appeared to have no visible reaction to the audio. Cohen, too, remained calm on the stand, answering questions from Blanche about his own words.
Defense questions Cohen about Trump's indictment
Despite the text messages between Michael Cohen and and detective Jeremy Rosenberg not being admitted into evidence, Trump attorney Todd Blanche attempted to read them into the record through his questions to Cohen.
Blanche attempted to suggest that Rosenberg confirmed to Cohen that Trump had been indicted in the case last year, prior to DA announcing charges.
"Detective Rosenberg confirmed to you that the New York Times article was accurate and that President Trump had been indicted?" Blanche said, prompting an objection from prosecutors.
Cohen pushed back against the suggestion that Rosenberg confirmed the indictment of Trump before it was publicly announced.
"I asked him nice to find out," Cohen told jurors.
Defense seeks to admit texts between Cohen, detective
Trump attorney Todd Blanche resumed his cross-examination of Michael Cohen by asking Cohen about detective Jeremy Rosenberg, who took Cohen's phones from him for processing during the DA's investigation.
Cohen said he texted with Rosenberg on his personal and work phones.
Blanche was attempting to get some text messages between Cohen and Rosenberg into evidence. Prosecutors objected by arguing the texts are taken out of context. The parties went into a sidebar to hash it out.
Blanche suggested that Cohen, in the texts, told Rosenberg that he was "going to hold President Trump accountable."
Judge Merchan ultimately sustained the prosecution's objection to admitting the text messages into evidence.
Cohen retakes witness stand
"Let's get the witness please," Merchan said, and Michael Cohen entered the courtroom then took his seat at the witness stand.
Cohen carried a water bottle in his hand as he entered and did not look toward Trump when he passed defense counsel table.
Trump turned away from Cohen to his left and whispered to his attorney Emil Bove as Cohen passed. The former president then appeared to crane is neck to the right to get a look at Cohen as he retook the stand.
As Cohen took his place in the witness box, Judge Merchan reminded him that he is still under oath.
'Just do it,' Cohen says Trump told him about Daniels payment
Michael Cohen testified that as the clock ticked toward the 2016 election, it became increasingly clear he could no longer delay the nondisclosure arrangement with Stormy Daniels.
Cohen said Trump agreed.
"He stated to me that he had spoken to some friends, some individuals, very smart people. It's $130,000. Just pay it. There's no reason to keep this thing out there. Just do it. So he expressed to me, 'Just do it,'" Cohen said.
Then-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg allegedly suggested that Cohen could fund the account that would ultimately wire the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels through one of Trump's golf courses, either through a membership or a wedding.
In a meeting with Weisselberg, Cohen said he suggested two options: "One option was to see if I knew anybody who wanted to purchase a golf membership," and a second option was for "somebody who was having a family affair, like a wedding or a bar mitzvah" pay that account and redeem the value as a "credit on their invoice."
"Why don't you pay?" Cohen testified he asked Weisselberg.
"He said to me that he wasn't financially in a position to do it," Cohen said.
Cohen said he eventually agreed to make the payment.
"I said I'll pay for it," Cohen said.
According to Cohen, both he and Weisselberg discussed the plan with Trump;
"Allen and I spoke to Mr. Trump and we expressed to him that I was going to front the money for it, to which he was appreciative," Cohen said.
Cohen said Trump replied, "Good, good."