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 questioned about Trump phone call
Defense attorney Todd Blanche, cross-examining Michael Cohen, sought to cast doubt on Cohen's testimony about calling Trump following the release of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape in 2016.
Blanche showed Cohen notes from Cohen's interview with the special counsel who investigated Cohen in 2018.
"You told them you didn't recall speaking with President Trump about the tape?" Blanche asked.
Cohen responded that he was still being "loyal" to Trump at the time, in August 2018.
But by 2019, "you had changed your views about President Trump, correct?" Blanche asked.
"Correct," Cohen responded.
"You now said President Trump was a conman and you were ashamed?" Blanche asked.
"I said that, yes," Cohen answered.
Cohen struggles to say when an untruth is a lie
During an extended back-and-forth, Michael Cohen struggled to admit that he lied to the special counsel in 2018 about Trump's involvement in a Trump Tower project in Moscow.
"Yes, the information I have was not accurate," Cohen said.
"Is it a lie?" Defense attorney Todd Blanche asked.
"It was inaccurate, yes," Cohen said.
"Was it a lie?" Blanche asked.
"I don't know if I would characterize it as a lie. It was inaccurate," Cohen said.
"How are you distinguishing that in your head?" Blanche asked.
"It wasn't truthful," Cohen said. "If you want to call it a lie, it was a lie."
After a long pause, Cohen said, "Sure, I will say it's a lie."
Defense presses Cohen on past admiration for Trump
"You're actually obsessed with President Trump?" Blanche asked, pursuing a line of inquiry that he drew attention to in the defense's opening statement.
"I don't know that I would characterize obsessed," Cohen said. "I can't recall using that word, but I can't say it would be wrong."
Blanche asked if Cohen was "knee-deep in the cult of Donald Trump" when he said flattering things about Trump in the past.
"That's how I felt," Cohen said.
"Fair to say you admired President Trump when you were working for him?" Blanche asked.
"Yes sir," Cohen said.
Blanche questioned Cohen about Trump's book "The Art of the Deal," which Cohen has read more than once. Blanche noted that Cohen has publicly called the book a "masterpiece."
Cohen replied, "I viewed it as an excellent book."
"You've actually called it a masterpiece?" Blanche asked.
"Yes, a masterpiece," Cohen said.
As Blanche asked Cohen about his past praise of the former president, Trump quickly grabbed a stack of Post-it notes from the counsel table, jotted down a note, and passed it to attorney Emil Bove, who Trump poked to get his attention.
Defense asks Cohen about anti-Trump T-shirt
Jurors were shown a series of items that Michael Cohen sells.
"This is a $32 shirt that has a picture of President Trump in an orange jumpsuit behind bars?" Defense attorney Todd Blanche asked.
"That's what the picture shows," Cohen answered.
"You actually wore that T-shirt on your TikTok last week?" Blanche said.
"I did," Cohen said.
Defense lawyers asked for the judge to order Cohen to stop commenting about Trump last week after they flagged Cohen wearing the shirt on a TikTok live stream, ABC News reported on Friday.
Proceedings are underway
Judge Juan Merchan took his seat on the bench and opened the day's proceedings.
Each of the lawyers made brief introductions before Merchan addressed Trump in his usual fashion.
"Good morning, Mr. Trump," Merchan said from the bench.