Prosecutors' star witness Michael Cohen testified Monday in the criminal hush money trial against former President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors' star witness Michael Cohen testified Monday in the criminal hush money trial against former President Donald Trump. Live updates have ended.
"The spin that he wanted to put on it was that this was locker room talk, something that Melania had recommended, or at least he told me that's what Melania had thought," Cohen said. Former President Donald Trump and attorneys Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and Susan Necheles attend his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 13, 2024 in New York City.
Cohen says Trump approved the plan, $35,000 a month, and said,"This is going to be one heck of a ride in D.C." He says he'd been around the office enough to know that Trump and Weisselberg had already had this conversation beforehand. He also told Pecker,"This is the best I get? I couldn't believe it. It was not so much about the number so much as the disrespect that came with it."
Cohen believed he was going to get the $420,000 in one lump sum. Right before Trump leaves for the inauguration, Cohen and Weisselberg go to Trump's office to discuss. It's agreed Cohen will be paid over 12 months starting Feb. 2017,"as sort of a legal service render." Cohen says he also considered a consultant role, which is what he really wanted because"it afforded me the opportunity to stay home, to stay in New York with my daughter, my son, my wife—none of them wanted to go to D.C."
Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg wouldn't pay it, citing his grandchildren's bills, four of them were enrolled in prep school. So,"because of the urgency that was happening," Cohen ultimately decides,"OK, I'll pay it." Cohen says he called Trump before going across the street and wiring the money to Daniels. Phone records show two calls between Cohen and Trump around 8:30 a.m. that morning. One lasted 3 minutes and 1 second, the other 1 minute and 28 seconds.
Cohen reads the email Daniels' attorney Keith Davidson sent on Oct. 17 2016 about cancelling the agreement."We were losing control over this settlement... as a direct result of my failure to wire funds," Cohen said, affirming he was"very concerned" by this point.Cohen, freaked out, calls Trump but gets his voicemail. He doesn't think he can delay the funding until after Election Day, despite Trump's wishes, Cohen testifies.
Michael Cohen says Trump called Stormy Daniels' story a"total disaster" for his 2016 presidential campaign. Micahel Cohen recalls finding out about the Access Hollywood tape while in London celebrating his daughter's 21st birthday and his anniversary. He tells Steve Bannon to call him. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, J.D. Vance and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis were inside of the courtroom as Michael Cohen began his testimony this morning. They just addressed reporters outside of the courthouse.
Cohen says he had"no reason" to own the life rights of McDougal's story and was doing so to the"benefit of Mr. Trump." Phone records show Trump and Cohen spoke for 7 minutes and 14 seconds on Sept. 29, 2016. Cohen says it was to discuss the McDougal matter. To reassure Pecker that he would be reimbursed, Cohen said he recorded a conversation between himself and Trump. Cohen explains to the court that this had become a"regular conversation" between he and Pecker and he wanted Pecker to"remain loyal to Mr. Trump."
"I saw a media report a few days ago that Trump looked like he was falling asleep or bored or something. The obvious narrative they're trying to sell is"yeah Biden is mentally unfit but this other guy is bad too." It's an absurd narrative. I'm 39 years old and I've been here for 26 minutes and I'm about to fall asleep."
Howard then met with McDougal in California. Following that meeting, Howard texts Cohen:"Understand I've got this locked down for you. I won't let it out of my grasp." Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorney and fixer, has been on the stand now for just over one hour. Here's what prosecutors need from their star witness.After an investigation by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's office, Trump was indicted on 34 charges of falsifying business records in 2023. These records relate to hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels by Cohen during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels alleges an affair with Trump in 2006.
"Bragg first has to show Merchan that someone claimed to have evidence directly tying Trump to an intentional fraudulent scheme to conceal a crime," Turley said."Thus far, Bragg is not even close. Indeed, many of his witnesses helped Trump more than they hurt him on the actual charges." "If we could place negative stories about some of the other candidates that would also be beneficial," Cohen adds.
Trump does not seem to be paying much attention to Cohen. His eyes appear closed and he sits facing the front, his attorney Todd Blanche is angled and looking towards Cohen. "Working for him, especially during those 10 years, was an amazing experience, in many many ways," Cohen testifies. Cohen is now on the stand, he's here under a subpoena. He's walking jurors through his upbringing and education, including graduating from law school in 1991.Judge Juan Merchan begins the morning by addressing the separation agreement between Donald Trump and Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Organization.
Former President Donald Trump looks on during his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court, in New York City, on May 13, 2024. Trump repeated the"rigged" trial comes from the White House, saying President Joe Biden's top people are"here."
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