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 wants to see Trump convicted
Under cross-examination, Michael Cohen conceded he wants to see Trump found guilty.
"Have you regularly commented on your podcast that you want President Trump to be convicted in this case?" Blanche asked.
"Yes, probably," Cohen said. "I don't specifically know if I used those words but, yes, I would like to see that."
Blanched pressed for a definitive answer.
"I would like to see accountability. That's not for me. That's for the jury and this court," Cohen said.
Blanche pressed, asking, "Do you want President Trump to get convicted in this case?"
Cohen ultimately responded: "Sure."
Defense presses Cohen on TikTok, pointing to ABC News coverage
Defense attorney Todd Blanche homed in on Michael Cohen's use of TikTok, referring to ABC News' initial coverage in his questioning.
He accused Cohen of using it as an outlet to "make money."
Cohen responded that he uses it to "build an audience."
"What's the goal of doing that?" Blanche asked,
"Build an audience, create a community," Cohen responded. "To really vent because I'm having a difficult time sleeping. So I found an outlet."
"You are also hoping to make money on that?" Blanche asked.
"I do make money on that, but it's not significant," Cohen said.
"One of the reasons you do it is to make money?" Blanche later asked.
"Yes," Cohen said.
Cohen also conceded that he mentions Trump on most if not all of his TikTok streams.
Cohen admits DA asked him not to discuss case
Defense attorney Todd Blanche tried to get Cohen to admit that the Manhattan district attorney's office advised him to stop making media appearances in March 2023 because he was "unwittingly helping President Trump by going on TV."
Cohen repeatedly testified that he could not recall such a conversation, prompting Blanche to question how Cohen could vividly recall conversations with Donald Trump in 2016.
Cohen subsequently conceded that the DA's office advised him approximately five times not to talk about the case.
Blanche, highlighting how often Cohen has publicly spoken about the case, including on television appearances and podcasts, asked, "It's more than 200, correct?"
"Yes," Cohen responded.
"Would you agree that you have talked about President Trump in every single one?" Blanched asked.
"I would say he's mentioned in every single one," Cohen said.
Defense asks Cohen if he leaked info about the case
Defense attorney Todd Blanche asked Michael Cohen if he leaked information about the DA's investigation into the Stormy Daniels payment, or discussed the case in detail during television appearances in February 2021, despite promising his lawyer he would no longer comment on the case.
"You were going on TV talking about the investigation?" Blanche asked.
"I go on TV often so I am not sure what the topic was," Cohen said.
"Would it surprise you to learn that you were on TV talking about the investigation in February 2021?" Blanche asked.
"No, it does not surprise me," Cohen said.
The jury is seeing a slightly more defensive and combative witness than the Michael Cohen they saw on direct examination.
'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."