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.
Trump takes fight over gag order to NY's highest court
Former President Trump has asked New York's highest court to rescind the limited gag order that prevents him from commenting publicly about witnesses, jurors and lawyers in his ongoing criminal trial, according to a new court filing.
The filing is sealed, but is the next step after an intermediate appeals court yesterday upheld the order imposed by trial Judge Juan Merchan.
Trump has frequently attacked the judge, which is permitted, and has called the limited gag order unconstitutional.
In its ruling yesterday, the intermediate appellate court said that Merchan had appropriately balanced Trump's free speech rights with the court's need to control the trial.
There was no immediate comment from the Manhattan DA's office.
-ABC News' Katherine Faulders contributed to this report
Defense hasn't decided if Trump will testify, per transcript
According to a transcript of the day's court proceedings released this evening, Donald Trump and his attorneys have not yet decided if the former president will testify at his trial.
The transcript included a private sidebar conference held this morning, during which Judge Juan Merchan asked defense lawyers about Trump's possible testimony.
"And do you have any indication whether your client is going to testify?" Merchan asked defense attorney Todd Blanche.
"No," Blanche replied.
"No determination yet?" Merchan asked.
"No," Blanche said.
The conversation happened outside of the earshot of reporters and members of the jury.
Trump says he had a 'very good day' in court
Speaking to reporters after exiting the courtroom, former President Trump was asked about today's testimony, as well as if he plans to testify during the trial.
"As you know, I'm under a gag order. So I can't really answer those very simple questions that you're asking," Trump said, referring to the order that prohibits him from making public comments about jurors, witnesses and lawyers in the case, but does not keep him from discussing the case itself.
"We'd love to not be in the gag order. I'm the Republican nominee for president. I'm leading in every poll, and I have a gag order."
Recapping his day in court, Trump said, "We had a very, I think, a very good day and important to see what's happening and you'll have to record it because I can't talk about it too much."
"We had a very good day. I think we're exposing the scam for what it is," he said.
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano
Cohen leaves court without looking Trump's way
Michael Cohen, his testimony done for the day, left the courtroom without looking at Trump.
During a bench conference, defense attorney Todd Blanche said he wants to explore with the court and the opposing counsel the admissibility of a defense expert witness before deciding whether to call him.
The judge set a conference to take place Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, after the jury is excused slightly early for the day.
Asked about Thursday's timing for the remainder of his cross-examination of Cohen, Blanche told the judge, "If I finish, it's at the end of the day."
The rest of the parties then departed the courtroom.
'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."