Michael Cohen is defending former President Donald Trump during his 2016 criminal trial in Manhattan on charges of falsifying business records to hide money he paid to hush porn star Stormy Daniels. This courtroom sketch of Todd Blanche being cross-examined and asked on oath in a courtroom on May 16, 2024 in New York City, USA.
Jane Rosenberg Reuter
Donald Trump’s defense attorney yelled at prosecution witness Michael Cohen during cross-examination, calling Cohen’s claims about a 2016 phone call at issue in the former president’s criminal hush money trial “a lie!” said.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche questioned Cohen about a phone call he made to Trump on October 24, 2016, in which he told porn actress Stormy Daniels that he had sex with Trump. He said he had obtained consent not to make it public. Blanche demands to know if Cohen was lying about the phone call.
Blanche said the same day that she called Keith Schiller, then the head of security at the Trump Organization, that night due to concerns about harassing text messages Cohen had received as Trump was running for president. Cohen was confronted with suggestive text messages.
“I believe I spoke to Mr. Trump about the Stormy Daniels incident,” Cohen told Branch in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Then Blanche said, “We’re not asking you what you believe.”
“The jury doesn’t want to hear your opinion!” said Blanche.
Mr. Blanche’s dramatic display of emotion came after hours of subdued and sometimes confusing cross-examination of Mr. Cohen, Mr. Trump’s longtime personal lawyer and fixer.
Mr. Cohen admitted that he paid Mr. Daniels $130,000 before the November 2016 election to keep him quiet about his alleged affair with Mr. Trump from 10 years ago, and that the story was used by Mr. Trump during the election. I avoided jeopardizing my chances.
He said he did so at Trump’s direction. Trump is charged with falsifying business records related to how he and his company compensated Cohen for payments to Daniels.
Michael Cohen is cross-examined by defense attorney Todd Blanche in President Trump’s criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to hide money he paid to hush porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016. , former President Donald Trump listens as he is asked about the oath. This courtroom sketch from Manhattan State Court on May 16, 2024 in New York City, USA.
Jane Rosenberg Reuter
Mr. Cohen is expected to be the last witness for prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
It is unclear whether Mr. Trump’s lawyers will call any witnesses themselves.
Either way, jurors could begin deliberating the case next week.
Trump denies having sex with Daniels, but he is certain to become the Republican presidential nominee.
This is developing news. Check back for updates throughout the day.
