Trump trial: Judge rebukes Michael Cohen ahead of expected testimony Monday

Former President Trump was in court on Day 15 of his criminal trial in New York.

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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Defense suggests Daniels profited off the publicity

Prosecutors sought to paint Stormy Daniels as someone who profited off the publicity she generated from her alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump -- pressing her on a CNN interview, a book deal, a strip tour using a pun on Trump's infamous political slogan, a reality TV show.

Defense attorney Susan Necheles said the encounter “generated a ton of publicity” for Daniels.

“Lots of bad publicity,” Daniels retorted.

“The centerpiece of your book is your story about supposedly having sex with President Trump?” Necheles asked.

“No,” she said, before acknowledging, “Sadly, I thought it was what people would turn to first.”


Daniels asked about 'Make America Horny Again' tour

Defense attorney Susan Necheles asked Daniels about a tour of clubs she did in 2018, which one club dubbed the "Make America Horny Again" tour.

"I did not name that tour and I fought it tooth and nail," Daniels said. "I never used that headline -- I hated it."

Daniels pushed back against Necheles suggesting that she marketed the tour by stoking animosity towards Trump. In her book, she noted how the crowds at the tour included supportive fans who opposed Trump's presidency.

"The climate in the clubs absolutely changed, but I was not selling myself to a particular demographic," Daniels said. "I just did the same job I always did."

In the courtroom, attorneys displayed an advertisement for the tour. Trump had been sitting back in his chair before the advertisement was displayed, eyes seemingly closed, but he leaned forward and stared into the monitor when it was displayed.


Defense presses Daniels on 2018 denial

Defense attorney Susan Necheles tried to distance Donald Trump from efforts to hide the Stormy Daniels story from voters by highlighting the efforts to keep it hidden in 2018.

"And he wanted you to deny it, correct?" Necheles asked about Trump in 2018.

"Yes," Daniels said.

"And he wasn't running for election in 2018?" Necheles asked.

"No," Daniels said.

"He was concerned about his family, correct?" Necheles asked.

"I was never mentioned anything about his family," Daniels responded.

"But there was nothing about his election going on then?" Necheles asked.

"No," Daniels said.

"And you understand President Trump has a brand?" Necheles followed up.

"Yes," Daniels responded.


Defense asks Daniels about her 2018 denial

Defense attorney Susan Necheles asked Stormy Daniels about her January 2018 denial of the sexual encounter with Trump, showing her the statement she signed that has been prepared by her then-attorney.

“To be clear, I did not write this statement,” Daniels said. “I was told I had to sign it.”

"I signed it, but I did not write it," Daniels continued. "It was given to me and I was told I had to sign it."

Necheles then asked Daniels a series of questions about legal language in her nondisclosure agreement.

Jurors appeared to remain engaged -- but not to the extent that they were previously, when the testimony was more riveting.

One juror was sipping a glass of water, another was rubbing his eyes. Most were still jotting down notes or looking toward the witness stand.


Trump, exiting court, slams judge over Cohen remarks

Former President Trump, on his way out of the courtroom at the end of the day's proceedings, assailed Judge Juan Merchan for declining to gag upcoming witness Michael Cohen for remarks he's been making about Trump and the case on social media.

"There is no gag order to Michael Cohen. What the judge did was amazing, actually was amazing," Trump said of Merchan telling prosecutors to ask Cohen to stop making comments.

"Everybody can say whatever they want. They can say whatever they want. I'm not allowed to say anything about anybody," Trump said.

Trump also reiterated that his repayments to Cohen for Stormy Daniels' hush payment were properly recorded in his company's ledger. Prosecutors have said the repayments were unlawfully marked as a "legal expense" to conceal their true nature.

"I didn't do the bookkeeping. I didn't even know about it, but a very good bookkeeper marked a legal expense down as a legal expense," Trump said. "They didn't call it construction. They didn't call it building something or concrete or electrical cost. They called it, very simply, a legal expense to a lawyer -- who's a lawyer, not a fixer -- he's a lawyer."

"A legal expense to a lawyer," Trump repeated.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano