Thread by @innercitypress

OK - #TrumpTrial heads into home stretch, Michael Cohen (& Allen Weisselberg brought down to take the 5th?) Stormy audio / book:
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Trump is here, dark blue suit, light blue tie, talking to lawyer Emil Bove to his left. Todd Blanche is to his right in the lead counsel seat. Could he be cross examining Michael Cohen will the time comes?

Now Blanche whispering to Trump, covering his mouth like a baseball manager talking to a pitcher on the mound. Then Blanche leaned behind Trump to speak with co-counsel Bove. Susan Necheles sitting at the end of the defense table, separated from Trump by Bove

All rise!
Clerk: This is the People of the State of New York versus Donald J. Trump.
Justice Merchan: I received the People's proposed jury charges, haven't reviewed yet. I reviewed the separation agreement [of Allen Weisselberg], I am not going to allow it in

Jury entering!
Justice Merchan: People, your next witness.
Prosecutor: People call Michael Cohen.
Clerk: So you sweat this will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing by the truth?
Cohen: Yes, ma'am. Michael Dean Cohen, 57

Prosecutor: Tell the jury about yourself.
Cohen: I grew up on Long Island. My father taught surgery, met my mom. Four children later, here I am.
Prosecutor: Why did you want to be a lawyer?
Cohen: My grandmother wanted it. I wanted to go to Wall Street.

Cohen: I started in personal injury law at 225 Bway. One of my clients allowed me to buy 50% of Manhattan Maintenance - taxi medallions.
Prosecutor: And real estate?
Cohen: I started buying Trump properties. Then buildings. I went to Phillips Nizer then Trump Org

Prosecutor: Do you see Mr. Trump in court?
Cohen: There. Blue suit, blue tie.
Prosecutor: How did you meet his?
Cohen: Through Don Junior. I handled a situation at Trump World Tower. I was asked to review documents about Trump Entertainment Resorts. We resolved it

Cohen: I presented the $100,00 bill and Mr. Trump said, Do you want to work for me? I was honored. I went over, and the bill to Phillips Nizer was never paid.
Prosecutor: What was your salary?
Cohen: We arrived at $375,000 base salary. Bonus was to be discussed.

Cohen: He gave me Ivanka's over office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower. I was EVP and Special Counsel to Donald J. Trump.
Prosecutor: What matters did you handle?
Cohen: Whatever he wanted. A New Jersey golf course - the funding was pulled by Governor Corzine

Prosecutor: Did Mr. Trump ask you to renegotiate bills?
Cohen: Yes. For example, with law firms.
Prosecutor: Did you do that on Trump University?
Cohen: Yes. It fell into trouble. 50 vendors had not been paid. We had $2 million in the bank, but the bills higher

Cohen: I got all but 2 vendors to accept 20% of what they were owed, they signed and got checks FedExed in 48 hours.
Prosecutor: What about the other two?
Cohen: They just went away. Mr. Trump told me, Fantastic. I felt I was on top of the world.

Prosecutor: While at the Trump Org did you threaten to sue people?
Cohen: Yes. There was a Miss USA contestant defaming, we brought an arbitration against her, it was resolved. With the press, I would reach out with their need to redact or take it down or we'd sue

Prosecution: Did you do personal work for him?
Cohen: Yes. A yellow cab hit his limo, I walked to the driver, got him to pay. Also, a bathroom overflow in his apartment.
Prosecutor: Did you deal with the press?
Cohen: I'd try to place stories & minimize negatives

Prosecutor: How often did you speak with Mr. Trump?
Cohen: Multiple times a day.
Prosecutor: How'd you communicate?
Cohen: In person or by cell phone. That's it. I might call Rhona or Keith Schiller, his personal attache, or Hope

Prosecutor: Did Mr. Trump use email?
Cohen: No. He didn't have an address. He told me, Too many people have gone down because of emails that prosecutors can use in a case.
Prosecutor: Where'd you meet him?
Cohen: In his office. He had an open door policy.

Prosecutor: Were you told to update him on matters?
Cohen: Yes. If you didn't immediately tell him, it would not go over well for you.
Prosecutor: Was he a micro-manager?
Cohen: Yes ma'am. I called him Boss. There were great times, for the most part I enjoyed it

Prosecutor: Did you lie for him?
Cohen: Yes. I bullied people too. I wanted to make him happy.
Prosecutor: Did you get additional titles?
Cohen: I was put on the board of Miss Universe. I was treasurer at some of the properties.

Prosecutor: Some call you his fixer?
Cohen: Yes. That was accurate.
Prosecutor: Did you use cellphones ending in 6886 and 0114, the latter still in use?
Cohen: Yes.
Prosecutor: Did our office ask you for 2 cell phones?
Cohen: Yes. I provided them in January 2023

Prosecutor: Did you sync your contacts with his?
Cohen: Yes, the I.T. people did it. I had over 30,000 contacts in my phone.
Prosecutor: Do you know David Pecker?
Cohen: Yes. I knew him before I knew Mr. Trump. I met him on Long Island. Later we spoke by Signal

Prosecutor: Did you contact Mr. Pecker before 2015?
Cohen: Yes, like when Mr. Trump gave money to Harlem for Hoops.
Prosecutor: Trying to get a good story out?
Cohen: Yes.
Prosecutor: Do you know Dylan Howard?
Cohen: He worked for Mr. Pecker like I for Mr. Trump

Prosecutor: In 2011 was Mr. Trump exploring a run for President?
Cohen: Yes. I saw a poll that 6% thought Mr. Trump should run for President. I created a website, ShouldTrumpRun dot com. Many came to the site

Prosecutor: Did he run in 2011?
Cohen: No. There was a season of The Apprentice coming up. Like he told me, You don't leave Hollywood, Hollywood leaves you. But he told me in 2011 he would do it the next time. And he did.
Prosecutor: Your role?
Cohen: A surrogate.

Prosecutor: Did you make appearance for his campaign?
Cohen: Yes. MSNBC, CNN - I'd provided comment. Watching the rallies, I notice it was very white. So I started a group, National Diversity Coalition for Trump, with Darrelll Scott, an evangelical from Cleveland

Prosecutor: Did you meet with Mr. Pecker and Mr. Trump?
Cohen: Yes, about the power of the National Enquirer with its space in grocery stores and bodegas. Mr. Pecker said he could keep an eye out for anything negative, and he could help us try to stop it

Prosecutor: Did the National Enquirer preview stories for you?
Cohen: Yes. For example, Hillary Clinton wearing thick glasses, allegations she had a brain injury. Ted Cruz' father with Oswald. Marco Rubio in a pool with a bunch of other men, claim of drug binge

Cohen: Trump said, Fantastic.
Prosecutor: What's this?
Cohen: Email with AMI in October 2015. Barry Levine said, We are repackaging positive material about Donald. I wrote back, "Yes, take out the part of the penthouse pet Sandra."

Cohen: It was January 6, 2016 - and the article ran a week later, "The Donald Trump Nobody Knows."
Prosecutor: And the doorman story?
Cohen: Yes, that there was a love child. I asked Mr. Trump what he wanted me to do. It involved two employees of the Trump Org

Cohen: The life rights to the story, AMI bought them from the doorman.
Prosecutor: What terms?
Cohen: $30,000. To not publish the story. Take it off the market.
Prosecutor: Did you tell them Mr. Trump would be grateful?
Cohen: Absolutely. I reviewed the deal

Prosecutor: Put up People's 165 in evidence, email from Dylan Howard about the addendum. And this?
Cohen: This is the addendum, or amendment.
Prosecutor: Did you tell Mr. Trump?
Cohen: Yes. To get credit - for him to know I got it put in. He said, That's great.

Prosecutor: In June 2016 did you become aware of Karen McDouglas?
Cohen: Yes, from AMI. I told Mr. Trump, did he know who Karen McDougal was? He said, She's really beautiful.
Prosecutor: Did you draw any conclusion?
Blanche: Objection.
Justice Merchan: Sustained

[Note: With Blanche making the objections to Cohen's direct examination, it seems he and not Bove or Nechless will be cross examining Cohen]
Prosecutor: Did you use Signal for this?
Cohen: Yes. To stay private.
Prosecutor: Did you update Mr. Trump?
Cohen: Yes

Prosecutor: These texts?
Cohen: Dyan wrote to me, I'm about to meet her, Karen McDougal.
Prosecutor: What did they then tell you?
Cohen: That they believed they had it under control, I'll get this locked down for you, I won't let it out of my grasp.

Prosecutor: Did you witness talks between Mr Trump & Mr Pecker?
Cohen: I was in his office. He used a speaker box. David Pecker said, We'll take care of this.
Prosecutor: Were the costs discussed?
Cohen: He said $150,000 and Mr. Trump said, I'll take care of it

Prosecutor: And this?
Cohen: Dylan Howard told me, They rejected the offer, I implored my guy to get it done, not let her take it to ABC.
Prosecutor: But AMI got the deal - what was it?
Cohen: $150,000 as well as 24 penned articles in her name and 2 covers.

Prosecutor: Did Keith Davidson reach out to you?
Cohen: Yes. I'd deal with him in 2011 about Stormy Daniels, on TheDirty dot com, she wanted a story taken down. It was... On Karen McDougal, David [Pecker] wanted the $150,000 back

Cohen: David Pecker wanted to get paid back. I met him at his favorite Italian restaurant. He insisted he needed to get the money back. Mr. Trump told me, I'll take care of it
Prosecutor: Did you have other worries?
Cohen: Pecker was mulling leaving AMI, had files

Prosecutor: Did you tape a conversation you had with Mr. Trump about Karen McDougal?
Cohen: I did. To show David Pecker that Mr. Trump was going to pay him back. I put my phone on Voice Memo and walked into Mr. Trump's office.
Prosecutor: Was he aware?
Cohen: No

Prosecutor: Let's play the audio of Sept 6, 2016. Who's on it?
Cohen: Mr. Trump. Me. Rhona Graff. We started about a property in Charleston, and divorce matters.
[Audio plays: Trump saying Oh, oh. It's such bullsh*t...
Cohen: Great call, big time. [Then Rhona]

[Then on audio: Cohen, I need to open a company regarding our friend David, I spoke to Allen on it
then cut]
Prosecutor: Why open a company?
Cohen: To have separation, to keep it away from Mr. Trump.
Prosecutor: What did All the stuff mean?
Cohen: Pecker's drawer

Prosecutor: Mr. Trump said, Pay in cash?
Cohen: Yes.
Justice Mercan: We'll break 15 minutes.
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[They've back]
Justice Merchan: I usually tell the jury, the tape is the evidence, the transcript is not the evidence.
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche: We'd like that. Now would make sense.
Justice Merchan: Let's bring the witness back, then the jury

Jury entering!
Justice Merchan: The tape is the evidence, the transcript is only an aid.
Prosecutor: The recording cut off - whose voice?
Cohen: My voice. I received an incoming phone call.
Prosecutor: Your recording stopped. Why'd you take it?
Cohen: I had enough

Prosecutor: Have you reviewed this AT&T record showing an incoming call to 0114 when the recording cut off?
Cohen: Yes.
Prosecutor: Was it from Capital One Bank?
Cohen: Yes.
Prosecutor: Was there a longer conversation after?
Cohen: Yes. I mean, no.

Prosecutor: Did you ever alter this recording?
Cohen: No.
Prosecutor: What did Allen Weisselberg say?
Cohen: That paying with a check from a Trump entity would defeat the purpose of keeping it separate.
Prosecutor: What's this?
Cohen: Signal from Dan Rotstein

Prosecutor: What company did you set up?
Cohen: Resolution Associates LLC.
Prosecutor: Did you intend to yourself buy the McDougal life rights?
Cohen: No. I was doing it for the benefit for Mr. Trump.
Prosecutor: Did Resolution pay?
Cohen: No.

Prosecutor: Why?
Cohen: The cover of Men's Health with Karen McDougal on it made more money than they thought, so they didn't need the money from us. He said, rip up the assignment of rights contract.
Prosecution: What did Mr. Trump say?
Cohen: He said, Great.

Prosecutor: Where were you when the Assess Hollywood tape was released?
Cohen: In London - my daughter's 21st birthday, and my anniversary.
Prosecutor: Did Steve Bannon email you?
Cohen: Yes - and to Jason Miller
[Inner City Press working on story, separate thread]

[Story with Jason Miller etc: As Delgado Sues Trump Campaign Over West Wing Job, Subpoena of FOX incl on Miller quashed Order: ]
Prosecutor: Who are these texts with?
Cohen: Between me and Chris Cuomo, then at CNN.innercitypress.com/sdny55nparkert…
patreon.com/posts/104173200

Cohen: I told Chris Cuomo I had requests to do media when I got back from London. He told me that would be too late, he was dying right now.
Prosecutor: Who is he?
Cohen: Donald Trump.
Prosecutor: What's this?
Cohen: Email about the old Radar story, Playboy man

Prosecutor: What did you do?
Cohen: I got Dylan Howard to have it taken down. AMI now owned Radar. I told Mr. Trump so he'd give me credit.
Prosecutor: Did you have a conversation with Mr. Trump about Stormy Daniels?
Cohen: Yes. I relayed what Dylan Howard said

Cohen: I told him, We need to take care of this. He said, Absolutely, do it.
Prosecutor: What did he tell you about 2006?
Cohen: That he was playing golf with Big Ben and met Stormy, that she liked Mr. Trump over Big Ben.
Prosecutor: Did you ask if they had sex?

Cohen: I did.
Prosecutor: Did he answer directly?
Cohen: No.
Prosecutor: What did he say?
Cohen: That she was beautiful.
Prosecutor: Did you speak to Life & Style, InTouch?
Cohen: Yes. The InTouch did not come out. I spoke to Mr. Trump and credited Keith Davidson

Prosecutor: Jumping forward to 2016, had you heard any more about Stormy Daniels?
Cohen: Nothing.
Prosecutor: Did you learn if anyone was representing Stormy Daniels?
Cohen: Keith Davidson
Prosecutor: Let's look at texts.
Cohen: I said we'd use Resolution Trust

Cohen: Here Dylan Howard wrote to me and Keith, connecting us about the business opportunity.
Prosecutor: What business opportunity?
Cohen: The acquisition of the life rights to the story of Stormy Daniels. Mr. Trump was angry, said he thought he had it done

Prosecutor: What did Mr. Trump say about the Stormy Daniels story?
Cohen: He said, Men might think it's cool but woman are going to hate me. He told me, Get control over it.
Prosecutor: Did you two discuss strategy?
Cohen: He told me to work with David [Pecker]

Cohen: Mr. Trump told me, push it out past the election. If I win it's not a problem. If I lose I don't care. I asked how things would do with Melania? He said, Don't worry. How long do you think I'd be on the market for? Not long. This was all about the campaign.

Prosecutor: What's this?
Cohen: About the Side Letter Agreement. Also, they's list who else had been told about the story. My instructions were to just push it past the election
Prosecutor: What was Keith Davidson complaining about?
Cohen: I said I needed 10 days

Justice Merchan: We'll break for lunch
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[They're (coming) back]
Justice Merchan: Can we get the witness?
[Trump is asking animatedly to Todd Blanche, still in lead counsel's chair at defense table.
Cohen back on stand]
Justice Merchan: Get the jury, please

Prosecutor: What is your reply to Keith Davidon here?
Cohen: I told him the office was closed for Yom Kippur... I was trying to delay until after the election, when it wouldn't matter.
Prosecutor: What was Mr. Trump doing?
Cohen: Campaigning on his private plane

Prosecutor: Then what?
Cohen: I emailed Gary Farro at First Republic Bank. I sent him the corporate documents for Resolution Consultants LLC.
Prosecutor: Why?
Cohen: In the event of a need for an account to transfer funds.

Prosecutor: What did you say Resolution Consultants was for?
Cohen: I said, business consulting on marketing. All of his clients are in the US
Prosecutor: And NAICS code?
Cohen: Management consulting including HR and marketing.
Prosecutor: Was that truthful?
A: No

Prosecutor: Why did you change the name?
Cohen: Resolution Consulting was the name of the company of a friend of mine, out of state. So I switched to Essential Consulting LCC.

Prosecutor: And this email?
Cohen: Keith Davidson wrote to say if no funds today the settlement contract is over. Then he wrote, my client considers it void ab initio. We were losing control. Dylan Howard told me Stormy Daniels was going with the Daily Mail

Cohen: Then Dylan Howard told me that Keith Davidson had stopped taking his calls.
Prosecutor: Did you call Mr. Trump?
Cohen: I did, to tell him that due to my failure to wire funds, she was going to the Daily Mail.

Prosecutor: But the call was only 8 second.
Cohen: I received a voice mail. Oh, sorry, I left a voicemail. Then I cancelled Resolution and set up Essential Consultants LLC.
Prosecutor: Then what?
Cohen: Melania texted me to "call DT." And I did.

Prosecutor: Did you go on CNN's Wolf Blitzer?
Cohen: Yes. I issued denial and exclamations that I'd never seen him in that matter. I had talking points from the campaign. The Daily Mail was in play.

Prosecutor: Then?
Cohen: Mr. Trump told me smart individuals told him, pay the $130,000. He told me to go talk with Allen Weisselberg. I did, and Allen asked, Why can't AMI pay for it? They wouldn't. Why not use one of the golf courses? But they're Trump courses

Prosecutor: Did you ask Mr. Weisselberg if he'd pay?
Trump's lawyer Blanche: Objection.
Justice Merchan: Overruled.
Cohen: He said, he had 4 grandchildren in prep school, and summer camps. So I did it. Mr. Trump told me, don't worry, you'll get it back

Prosecutor: Are these calls you made with Mr. Weisselberg?
Cohen: Yes. It had to do with Stormy Daniels. There was significant urgency. At First Republic I had a HELOC on my apartment. I figured I'd use that instead of our bank account, my wife would have asked

Prosecutor: Did you have a call with Dylan Howard and David Pecker?
Cohen: Yes. I asked Mr. Pecker if he'd do it. He said not a chance, that he hadn't been repaid the $150,000, even thought that turned out, it could cost me my job. So I did it.

Prosecutor: Do you recognize this Know Your Customer form?
Cohen: I do. It says Essential Consultants is a real estate related company.
Prosecutor: Was it true or false?
Cohen: False.
Prosecutor: What's this?
Cohen: I forwarded First Republic's transfer to Keith

Prosecutor: What's this?
Cohen: Dylan Howard laid out the terms of the deal, payment by Thursday. This is the wire transfer authorization.
Prosecutor: What's the stated purpose?
Cohen: It says retained. It's not truthful.

Cohen: It was not a retainer. It was for life-rights to the story, damages of $1 million per violation.
Prosecutor: Did you tell Mr. Trump?
Cohen: Yes. To take credit. This was... important.
Prosecutor: Did Mr. Trump sign this agreement anywhere?
Cohen: No. I did.

Prosecutor: Who is IDed as David Dennison in the side letter?
Cohen: Donald Trump.
Prosecutor: On Nov 4, 2016 did the WSJ publish about AMI paying off Karen McDougal, with a mention of Stormy Daniels?
Cohen: Yes. I discussed with Hope Hicks, said blame Clinton

Prosecutor: Did you express anger to Keith Davisdon?
Cohen: I did - I told him Mr. Trump would be very upset with him.
Trump's lawyer Blanche: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Sustained.
Prosecutor: Did you speak with Dylan Howard?
Cohen: I did.

Prosecutor; Did Keith Schiller text you to ask if you could speak in 30 minutes?
Cohen: Yes. Then I spoke with Mr. Trump for 5 minutes and 55 second. He was angry.

Justice Merchan: We'll take a break.
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[They've back]
Prosecutor: What are these Nov 5, 2016 texts?
Cohen: I told Hope Hicks, I see only 6 stories, getting little to no tractions. She replied, Keep praying.
Prosecutor: Did Mr. Trump win the election?
Cohen: Yes.

Prosecutor: Were you offered the role of assistant General Counsel?
Cohen: Yes.
Prosecutor: But you were not offered chief of staff?
Cohen : I was not and it bothered me I wasn't considered. So I pitched for Personal Attorney to the President. It would open doors

Cohen (looking at jury) Companies wanted to understand President Trump and they would pay me for that.
Prosecutor: Did you tell your family?
Cohen: Yes.
Prosecutor: What are these?
Cohen: My texts with my daughter.
Prosecutor: People's 258.

Cohen: My daughter was at U Penn. I told her the opportunities would be hybrid, I could monetize my access.
Prosecutor: Did you get the position?
Cohen: Yes.
Prosecutor: Did you usually get bonuses in December?
Cohen: Yes. Rhona gave it to me. I was angry

Cohen: He cut my bonus by 2/3, and still hadn't repaid me the $130,000. It was insulting. I used expletives to Mr. Weisselberg. I was, even for myself, unusually angry. He said, Take it easy. I told David Pecker too.
Prosecutor: Did Mr. Trump call you?
Cohen: Yes

Prosecutor: Did you then meet with Mr. Weisselberg about the repayment of the $130,000?
Cohen: Yes. I showed him the First Republic Bank docments, and wrote on it Plus $50,000 paid to Red Finch for tech services on another matter

Cohen: Mr. Weisselberg said he would gross it up, since I'd be taking it as income.
Prosecutor: Did he pay Red Finch?
Cohen: No. I paid them. I know the CEO of Red Finch. He said he bought the IP addresses. I needed him for other things I was working on.

Cohen: There was also $60,000 additional bonus. So, $420,000. We went to Mr. Trump's office. There, Mr. Weisselberg said we'll pay you monthly, like a legal payment. Since I'd be special attorney to the Donald Trump. The payments would start in February.

Prosecutor: Did Mr. Trump approve it?
Cohen: Yes. He said, it's going to be a wild ride in DC.
Prosecution: Did Mr. Trump give you the job in that meeting or around then?
Cohen: One or the other. I wrote to Gene Freidman I will be personal counsel to Pres Trump

Prosecutor: Did you announce your new position on Hannity on Jan 18?
Cohen: Yes. Mr Weisselberg said I should send a monthly invoice for legal services. I did not prepare a retainer agreement because I knew there would be no compensation.
Prosecutor: Let's break

Justice Merchan: OK.
Stories soon on
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