Thread by @AnnaBower

Good morning from the line to get into courtroom 1530, where Michael Cohen is set to resume his testimony at Donald Trump’s criminal trial on 34 felony counts.

I’m here for @lawfare alongside @TylerMcBrien.

Follow along 👇 ⬇️ 👇

The Michael Cohen show is the hottest ticket in town.

I hear that the overflow line is—true to its name—overflowing.

Rumor has it that some enterprising individual sold his spot in the line.

As someone who appreciates a good line, this photo is like a Renaissance painting.

Meanwhile, you never know who you’ll spot here in The Line for the courtroom 1530.

Can you find @chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd?

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd Cohen has long been known for his bombast and bravado. But we saw a very different Cohen when he took to the witness stand yesterday.

On direct examination, Cohen was collected and concise as he testified that Trump approved the reimbursement scheme at the heart of the case.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd In other words: Cohen has performed well on the witness stand thus far.

But as the @lawfare team discussed yesterday, there's a lot riding on how Cohen fares under cross examination by Trump's defense counsel. We expect that cross to begin later today.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare But first, the prosecution will resume its direct examination of Cohen.

When we left off yesterday, Susan Hoffinger had just elicited testimony from Cohen about a Jan. 2017 meeting in which Trump allegedly approved the payment plan devised by Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Today, I expect we'll hear more about another 2017 meeting between Cohen and Trump.

According to the prosecution's statement of facts, Cohen met with the then-President in the Oval Office in February 2017. During that meeting, Trump allegedly "confirmed" the repayment scheme.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Ok, back to the scene in courtroom 1530: Trump just strolled down the centre aisle of the courtroom, trailed by today's entourage: Lara Trump, Eric Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Byron Donalds, Alina Habba, Boris Epshteyn, to name a few....

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Trump's posse plays a game of musical chairs before things get started:

Boris Epshteyn gives up a prize corner spot on the front row to Byron Donalds.

Alina Habba switches to the seat next to Lara Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare "All rise!" and we're off for another day of Trump's criminal trial.

The parties introduce themselves.

And before Cohen is called back to the stand, the prosecution requests a sidebar at the bench. Whispering ensues.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare After a lengthy sidebar, Justice Merchan instructs the court officer to retrieve the witness.

Cohen appears through a door to my left.

Yesterday, Cohen wore a pink tie.

Today? He's sporting baby blue.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare The jurors file in, and Hoffinger resumes her direct examination.

We pick up with an email from Jeff McConney--the Trump Org controller--from Feb. 2017. McConney reminds Cohen to send invoices for the payment plan he agreed upon with Weisselberg and Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare That same day in Feb. 2017, Cohen says he visited the White House. In the Oval Office, Cohen and Trump discussed the repayment plan.

Trump asked me if I was ok, Cohen says. I said "I'm ok." He asked if I needed money. Trump said "make sure you deal with Allen."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare In that same meeting at the Oval Office, Trump told Cohen that a check for Jan. and Feb. would be forthcoming.

Cohen says he took photos of the visit. The prosecution displays a photo Cohen took. It shows him grinning behind the lectern in the briefing room.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Now we see the monthly invoices that Cohen sent to the Trump Organization, which say that they are being submitted "for services rendered" and "pursuant to the retainer agreement."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen testifies that it was not truthful that the invoices were for "services rendered." Nor was it truthful that there was a retainer agreement.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Was this invoice a false record? Yes ma'am, Cohen replies.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says he submitted the emails to Weisselberg and occasionally to McConney.

Were any of those invoices based on services performed pursuant to a retainer agreement?

"No, ma'am, they were for reimbursement."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare We're walking through each of the allegedly false invoices submitted by Cohen and checks signed by Trump.

Was this check paid to you pursuant to a retainer agreement? No ma'am.
So that description on the check stub was false? Yes'mam.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Recall: Trump's charges are based on 11 allegedly false invoices, 11 checks, and 12 "vouchers" entered in the Trump Org general ledger system.

Lots of lathering, lots of rinsing, lots of repeating!

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare We made it to December 2017 -- the last invoice Cohen mailed to Weisselberg and the last check Cohen received from the Trump Org. Whew!

Cohen testifies that it was the last check he received because after that payment "the full reimbursement had been paid."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare I wanna talk to you about the work you did in 2017 with respect to your role as Trump's personal counsel, Hoffinger says.

Did you do any work for Trump or his wife during 2017? Minimal, Cohen says. He mentions a trademark matter he worked on for Melania Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen explains that the matter related to Madame Tussauds using the image and likeness of Melania Trump.

Did you spend a substantial amount of time on that? No ma'am.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen also mentions another matter he worked on for Trump that involved "minimal" work. Trump had outside counsel--Mark Kasowitz--for it, Cohen explains.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare He estimates he spent less than 10 hours on legal matters for Trump in 2017. He never billed for any of it, because he didn't expect to be paid.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Did you do any legal work for Trump in 2018? Yes. As a result of the Stormy Daniels matter, Cohen explains, Trump wanted an arbitration action filed against her for the breach of the NDA. I was contacted by Eric Trump and Donald Trump about going forward w/ arbitration.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare I was instructed to work in conjunction with outside counsel on the matter, Larry Rosen. It was more work in 2018 than it was in 2017.

But as he did in 2017, Cohen did not bill for the 2018 work.

(I wish my lawyer was that generous!)

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare How long did you hold the title of personal attorney to the president? Approximately 15 months.

Did you continue to try to protect him? Yes, ma'am.

You continued to lie for him? Yes. Out of loyalty, and in order to protect him.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare In the fall of 2017, while you were still the attorney for the president, did Congressional committees ask you to testify related to the Russia investigation? Yes, Cohen says. The Trump Org paid for the attorney who represented him during his testimony.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Did you make false statements to congress in connection to that testimony and your written statements? I did.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare The statements related to the Moscow Trump Tower project, and specifically the number of times I spoke to Trump about the project. I also misrepresented when those conversations stopped -- I said they stopped earlier than they did.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Why lie? Because I was staying on Trump's message that it wasn't all "Russia, Russia, Russia."

Did you also continue to lie about the Stormy Daniels matter? Yes, to protect Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare We turn to the Wall Street Journal's 2018 publication of a story about the Stormy Daniels payoff. The story revealed that Cohen had paid the Daniels hush money payment -- but Cohen issued a statement saying that he did so without Trump's knowledge.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare We see text messages between Keith Davidson and Michael Cohen from around the time that the WSJ published its 2018 story about the Daniels payment. In the messages, Cohen urges Davidson to have Daniels issue a strong denial.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen admits that he pressured Davidson to have Daniels sign a statement denying that she was paid hush money.

Was this statement false? Yes.
How do you know? Because I'm the one who paid it.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says that in 2018 a Federal Elections Commission complaint was filed, alleging that his hush money payment violated campaign finance law. Cohen admits that his response to that complaint was "misleading." Why? "In order to protect Mr. Trump" and to demonstrate loyalty.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says that Trump "approved" his statements in both his response to the FEC complaint and the statement he prepared to share with members of the press. (Here's an early version of Cohen's press statement, which he sent to Maggie Haberman.):

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says that he also sent the public statement to Jay Sekulow. He had been referred to Sekulow by Sean Hannity to work on the FEC complaint. The prosecution displays an exhibit -- we can't see it yet, but it appears to be Signal screenshots of messages between Cohen/Sekulow.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare The messages are admitted into evidence. The screenshots materialize on the screen.

"Client says thanks for what you do," Sekulow wrote.

Cohen says that was a reference to Trump being grateful to Cohen for putting out a denial statement.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Now Hoffinger asks Cohen about the FEC complaint that David Pecker/AMI received. Cohen told Pecker that Jeff Sessions--the attorney general at the time--would be able to "take care of it."

Why'd you tell him that? It was after a conversation w/ Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare You learned at some point that Daniels was planning to go out to talk to the media? Yes.

And you tried to get a temporary restraining order as a result? Yes

Was that at the direction of Donald Trump? Yes

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says they did in fact obtain an arbitration proceeding decision, which granted a temporary restraining order.

Cohen says he tried to serve it upon Keith Davidson, but he wasn't able to do so because Davidson said he no longer represented Daniels.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare For much of 2018 when you were Trump's attorney, you continued to lie about the Stormy Daniels payment? Yes.

Now we turn to the search of Cohen's apartment by the FBI.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare It was 7 am, and I looked through the peephole, Cohen says, and I saw a badge.

I found out that they had raided my apartment, which was under construction, and my law office, and a bank where I stored valuables.

The FBI searched those locations for items of mine.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare They two cell phones, electronic devices, and a series of my tax books and other documents. They packed up much of the documentation in my law office and took that as well.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare How did you feel? "How to describe your life being turned upside down? Concerned, despondent, angry."

Were you frightened? Yes, ma'am.

Cohen says he realised he was under investigation by federal authorities in Southern District of New York.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen received a phone call from Trump in response to a message Cohen left regarding the FBI raid.

He said "Don't worry, I'm the President of the US...everything's going to be ok. Stay tough. You're going to be OK."

Cohen hasn't talked to Trump since that call.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare How did that call affect how you acted going forward? I felt reassured because I had the President of the United States protecting me. His Justice Department. So I remained in the camp...the Trump camp.

I stayed loyal to him, continued to lie about his involvement.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Did people in his circle talk to you during that time? What did they tell you?

"You're loved. He's got your back...don't worry."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare After the FBI search, Cohen says that he initially maintained ties with Trump through other people.

The prosecution displays this tweet thread, in which Trump says that "crooked H flunkie" Maggie Haberman is trying to destroy Michael Cohen:

https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/987679848284999680

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen took Trump's tweets as a message to stay in the fold.

At the time, he says, his lawyers were still being paid for by the Trump Organization.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Now Justice Mechan announces that it's time for our morning recess.

The jurors file out.

They look hungry. Or maybe that's just me.

Back in 10-15 minutes!

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare As you may recall, there's a new rule in the courthouse: No eating in the hallway.

"Go to a different floor!" I hear an officer yell at some reporters snacking during the break.

They continue to nom.

"Ok, so you're all just going to ignore me," he says before giving up.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Meanwhile, while we wait for Cohen's testimony to resume...I've got Georgia on my mind.

During the break, I spotted a familiar face in the courtroom: It's Grant Rood, one of the prosecutors who works on Trump's racketeering case in Fulton County, Georgia.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare But here in New York, hundreds of miles away from Fulton County, the break is over, and Cohen is back on the stand.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Hoffinger asks if Cohen knows an attorney named Robert Costello.

Cohen was connected with Costello about potentially retaining him for representation after the FBI raid. Cohen was told Costello was "incredibly close with Rudy Giuliani."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen met Costello. Costello said that he was "incredibly" close to Giuliani. How close? "As close as you can imagine."

"That would be a relationship that would be very beneficial to you," Costello told Cohen. Why? Because Giuliani had been spending a lot of time w/ Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Costello also alluded to a "backchannel" with Trump through Giuliani.

But Cohen said that he found Costello "sketchy." He worried that anything he said would be told to Rudy Giuliani. And because of that, he worried anything he said would get back to Trump.

Now Hoffinger asks about emails Cohen exchanged with Costello following this meeting.

Rudy "asked me to tell you that he knows how tough this is on you and your family" and that he would make sure to tell the President, Costello wrote in part of the email. Costello again referenced a "backchannel" to Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare In another email, Costello wrote "Sleep well tonight, you have friends in high places." In a postscript, he wrote: "Some very nice comments about you from the White House."

Cohen says he took the "friends in high places" common to be a reference to Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare What effect did these emails and Trump's tweets have on you?

Cohen explains that it let him know he was still "on the team" and led him to believe that the President "had my back."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Another Costello email. Like the others, it's marked attorney-client privileged.

But...the email seems to be all about how many times Costello had called or received a call back from Giuliani that day.

Costello was trying to show his proximity to Giuliani/Trump, Cohen says.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare When Costello spoke like this, did you know why he didn't say "Giuliani" and "Trump"?

It was "covert," "I Spy," kinda stuff, Cohen explains. Code word stuff.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen talks about another email Costello sent after Cohen sat down with another attorney. Cohen had not yet retained Costello at that time, and Cohen felt that Costello was "pressuring" him to solidify the attorney-client relationship.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare If you want to communicate something, please let me know, Costello wrote in the email to Cohen.

Cohen took this to mean that anything he might want to communicate would be passed to Giuliani and then eventually to Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Another email excerpt: "If you really want certain things to happen...you have the ability to make that communication when you want to." This was part of the pressure campaign, Cohen says. Stay in the fold, don't flip, don't cooperate. Use Costello as a backchannel to Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says he never retained Costello to represent him. He hired other attorneys to represent him in the SDNY investigation.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen talks about conversations he had with his family during that time.

We didn't know what the SDNY was even looking at, he says. I talked to my family about what to do. My family said: Why are you holding on to this loyalty? We're supposed to be your first loyalty.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare So Cohen decided it was time to make them his first loyalty. He pleaded to a number of federal crimes in August 2018.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare As a part of that plea agreement, you pleaded to one count of making an excessive campaign contribution in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act? I did.

And it was in connection to the Stormy Daniels payment? It was.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Did you pay the money to Daniels to influence the election for Mr. Trump? Objection, sustained.

Why did you pay the money? So the story would not come out and would not impact Mr. Trump's chances.

On whose behalf did you commit that crime? "On behalf of Mr. Trump."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Did you also plead to an unlawful campaign contribution? Yes.
What did that relate to? The Karen McDougal-AMI deal.
Cohen says that he assisted with that deal, too, on Trump's behalf.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare What was that day like for you, pleading guilty to all of those crimes?

"Worst day of my life."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Now Hoffiinger displays this Trump tweet, which Trump posted shortly after Cohen pleaded guilty.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen understood that it was being communicated to him that he should not cooperate with law enforcement.

How did it feel to have the President of the United States tweet this about you? "Caused a lot of angst and anxiety."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Hoffinger has Cohen acknowledge his later guilty plea for false statements to Congress -- that plea related to the statements he made to Congress in 2017 about his conversations with Trump regarding the Trump Org project in Moscow.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says that he was sentenced and surrendered to prison in 2019. Three months before he surrendered, he testified before Congress about matters related to Trump. He testified that Trump "directed" him to pay off Daniels and that it was for Trump's benefit.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen also says that he apologized to the American public for "lying to them" about information that "the citizenry had a right to know."

What was that like? Horrible.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare [To clarify, Cohen was describing what it was like to testify before Congress...He wasn't saying it was "horrible" to apologise to the American people].

https://x.com/AnnaBower/status/1790417190019104800

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says that he spoke to the special counsel's office during the Mueller investigation.

Did you tell them the truth about your 2017 Congressional testimony regarding Trump Tower Moscow deal? I did not, because I was still holding onto the loyalty to President Trump.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen talks about his cooperation with New York State prosecutors in this case. He testified before the grand jury in March of 2023 pursuant to a subpoena. He automatically received immunity by law, as every grand jury witness does in New York.

Since Cohen was sentenced in federal court, he has applied for a sentence reduction. His attorney has at times requested a letter from New York State prosecutors to assist him in that sentence reduction. However, federal prosecutors said they would not accept such a letter, so no letter was issued by the Manhattan DA's office.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says that he has since continued to assist the Manhattan DA's office, even after no letter was issued to assist him with his sentence reduction. It has not impacted the truthfulness of his testimony, he says.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Since you pleaded guilty, have you made public statements that you shouldn't have been prosecuted?
Focusing on the tax charges, Cohen says he didn't think he should have been prosecuted because he was a first time offender who had never even been audited.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare You testified in a civil case against the Trump Organization? I did.

Were you asked on cross examination by Trump's lawyers about statements.....before she can finish, Blanche pops up w/ an objection. The parties sidebar out of earshot.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare When they return from sidebar, Merchan says the objection is withdrawn.

Hoffinger resumes: At the Trump Org civil trial, you were asked if you had "lied" to the judge who took your plea for tax evasion and bank fraud? Yes

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare And did you say that yes it was a lie? Yes.

Can you explain?

"The underlying facts I've never disputed"..But it goes back again to the issue that I was given 48 hours to accept the plea or they were going to file an indictment against my wife. I was going to protect my wife.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Hoffinger continues her sustained effort to pre-empt the impeachment material that the defense no doubt has at the ready for cross.

She elicits testimony from Cohen in which he explains that he lost his law license as a result of his criminal history.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says he's sold his taxi medallions and most of his real estate. He has one secondary apartment, but all the rest he has had to sell.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen explains what he does for work now. While he was on home confinement, he began a podcast called "Mea Culpa." (It's my initials, he explains.)

The podcast discusses "the news of the day."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen also has a MediasTouch Network podcast with Ben Meiselas. He wrote a book in prison, "Disloyal." A large part of the book is about Trump, he concedes. He's made some money from that book.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare He wrote another book, "Revenge," and portions of it are also about Trump. He's made some money from it, too.
These are things he's done to support his family.

He's also sold merchandise. "There's one that's reflective of Mr. Trump," Cohen says of his merchandise.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen talks about having Stormy Daniels on his podcast in 2021. It was the first time they talked, and he apologized to her.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says that he has continued to be the subject of public attacks from Trump. We see one, from around the time Cohen testified before the grand jury, in which Trump calls Cohen a "convicted jailbird."

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Cohen says he doesn't regret working for the Trump Org.
He had some "interesting and great times." But to keep the loyalty and to do the things he asked me to do, I violated my moral compass. And I suffered the penalty, as did my family."

Nothing further from the prosecution.

@chrislhayes @KlasfeldReports @NormEisen @benfeuerherd @lawfare Finally, it's time for LUNCH.

The cross examination of Michael Cohen will commence around 2 p.m.

See you then!

No lunch photo today bc it involved me eating another chicken caesar wrap while waiting in line to get back to court.

I think I'm going to get tired of chicken caesar wraps.

Until then, you can support my chicken caesar addiction (and our work) here: givebutter.com/c/trumptrials

But now we're back in court, and I'm stuck in the nosebleeds. The last row!

And to top it off, two burly court officers and a woman with a perm are directly in my line of sight.

We're off to quite a start with cross examination by Todd Blanche.

You called me a "little shit" on TikTok, didn't you? Blanche says with some real venom.

Objection, sustained.

Yikes.

Sidebar. When they return, Justice Merchan says the questions are stricken. There was no answer.

BLANCHE: You've been following what's happening in this trial?
COHEN: To some extent, yes.
BLANCHE: You learned about certain things that happened during jury selection?

Objection, sustained.

BLANCE: You said in TikTok that you heard what a witness in this case testified about? You said that Pecker was corroborating what you have been saying for years?

Yes, I someone called me and told me that Pecker was corroborating what I'd been saying.

BLANCHE: You've been watching CNN and MSNBC coverage of the trial?

COHEN: I have seen CNN and MSNBC but I am not following the trial. There are other things I watch, like about the protests or Israel.

BLANCHE: You've talked about Trump during this trial?
COHEN: Yes
BLANCHE: You said Trump belongs in a "fucking cage, like an animal"?
COHEN: I recall saying that, yes.

You said you've been represented in the past by Lanny Davis? Yes.
In Jan. 2021, your lawyer communicated to the DA's office that neither you nor he were the source of a leak? I do not recall that.

Do you remember the DA's office being frustrated around that time that when they would say something to you about the investigation you would say it on TV? I do not recall, no. Blanche shows him something to refresh his recollection.

Do you remember making promises to your attorney that you would stop going on TV? Objection, sustained.

Do you see that your lawyer told the district attorney's office....Objection, sustained.

But you continued to talk to the press? Yes, I talk to the press.

You talk to the press to this day? About many topics.

About this case? Sounds correct.

But is it correct? Yes, that would be correct.

We turn to Cohen's cell phones. Cohen says that he turned over two of his cell phones to an investigator.

BLANCHE: And two days later, you told Don Lemon from CNN that you turned over your phones?

Cohen says he doesn't recall whether he gave CNN the information about his phones being turned over or if they already had that information and he just confirmed.

You promised after that that you'd stop going on TV to talk about the case? Again, I don't recall that, Cohen replies.

So just so I understand, Blanche says, you testified about very specific recollections of conversations with Trump in 2016. But you can't recall things that happened about a year ago?

Blanche turns to after the indictment. You've been warned repeatedly not to talk about the case? Yes.

What do they say? "Please don't talk about the case."
They called my attorney, Cohen says.

What have prosecutors said to you about speaking to the press?

They say it's "probably better off" if you don't speak about it.

How many times? I don't recall.

More than 5? I don't think so, no. Fewer than 5 times.

You haven't followed that request not to talk about the case? Correct. I'm responding--before Cohen can finish, Blanche cuts him off. He does some witness control: I'm asking you "yes" or "no," he says quickly, before moving on to the next question.

You're active on Twitter? Correct.
And TikTok? Correct.
You do a nightly live TikTok? Correct. It's more than n hour.
What's the point? Build an audience, create community, vent. I'm having trouble sleeping, so it's an outlet.

You also make money off of it? Money is made from it, yes.
It's one of the reasons you do it? Yes.

The DA's office gave a binder to study before your testimony? It's a binder of publicly available documents.

Cohen says it's things like his plea allocutions statement. They gave it to my attorney, he continues, and I took it home to read.

BLANCHE: Do you want Trump convicted in this case?

COHEN: I would like to see accountability. It's not for me, it's for the jury and the court.

BLANCHE: Yes or no, you want Trump convicted?

COHEN: Sure.

Blanche turns to the Trump-themed merchandise sold on Cohen's podcast site. One is a shirt that says "Convict 45."

We rewind back to the beginning of Cohen and Trump's relationship -- long before the former President and his ex-consigliere faced off in court.

You enjoyed working for Trump? Very much.
You met him in 2006 for the first time? Correct.
You helped resolve a board dispute? Yes.

BLANCHE: You still live in a building with Trump's name on it?
COHEN: I do.

BLANCHE: You had success helping the Trump Org before you began working for them, right? So that's why they gave you a job?

COHEN: I don't know if that's the reason.

You were Trump's personal attorney at Trump Org? Yes.
Never answered to anyone at the Trump Org, just Trump? Correct.
You sometimes represented his family? I have, yes.
Who? Melania, Don Jr., I don't believe I ever repped Eric. I can't recall if I ever represented Ivanka.

You admired Trump? Yes, sir.
His success, tenacity? Very much so.
You read Art of the Deal twice? Yes.
You called it a masterpiece? Yes.
You were obsessed w/ Trump? I don't know if I would characterize it as obsessed. I admired him tremendously.

Blanche runs though all the nice things Cohen has said about Trump before their relationship soured.

You've said that Trump speaks from the heart? He just wants to Make America Great Again? That kind of thing.

BLANCHE: And you weren't lying when you said those nice things about Trump, right?

COHEN: "At that time, I was knee deep into the cult of Donald Trump...I was not lying, that's how I felt."

Do you recall a Vanity Fair profile that was done in September of 2017? I do.
You participated in that article? Written by Emily Jane Fox.
You said you were the guy who protects the President and the family? I believe so.
You said you'd take a bullet for Trump? Yes.

You had no intention of writing a book at that time in 2017? I had no intention at that time.
You said there was no money in the world that would get you to disclose anything about the family? OK.
You described the Trumps as a surrogate family? Correct.

You told Hope Hicks in Jun 2017 that you missed Trump and the people you'd been around for years? Yes, I did...I did say I missed President Trump. I said the same things at a fundraiser in Washington, DC.

BLANCHE: Because of an ongoing investigation, there was a separation of sorts between you and Trump in 2017?

COHEN: Yes.

BLANCHE: And you said it was frustrating bc you couldn't spend as much time with Trump or his kids?

COHEN: "Where was that said?"

BLANCHE: You testified before Congress in the fall of that year. And that's the testimony in which you said you lied? Regarding the Russia project?

COHEN: Correct.

BLANCHE: Were you lying in that testimony when you said you'd always support him?

That was true at the time.

BLANCHE: At some point in August of 2018, you decided that you were going to meet with the special counsel's (Mueller's) office and cooperate?

COHEN: I don't remember the specific date when I decided to cooperate.

BLANCHE: You first met with Mueller in August of 2018?

COHEN: Yes.

BLANCHE: You gave them a reason why you were going to meet with them?

COHEN: I'm sure I did.

BLANCHE: You lied to the special counsel investigators about the Trump Tower Moscow project?

COHEN: "I believe that the information I gave to them was inaccurate."

Cohen's being careful here, trying to parse the difference between a lie and a misrepresentation.

BLANCHE: But you're not saying that it was a lie?

COHEN: "I'll say it was a lie."

Blanche asks Cohen about his discussions with the special counsel's office regarding the Access Hollywood tape during that Aug. 2018 meeting. Yesterday, Cohen testified about specific calls with Trump and Hope Hicks about the tape. But he didn't disclose those detail to the special counsel back in 2018.

You didn't recall much when the special counsel's office asked you about the Access Hollywood tape in 2018?

Cohen says that he was still trying to "protect" Trump then. He was being "deceptive" for that reason.

You were looking in the fall of 2019 for a way to get your sentence reduced? Yes.

Do you recall a visitor named Anthony Scaramucci? Yes.

(Fun fact: This trial has lasted longer than The Mooch did in the Trump White House!)

Afternoon break time.

While we wait, another reporter alerts me to an open seat in the second row.

Nosebleed section no more!

We're back.

Justice Merchan begins with scheduling matters. We're not meeting on Friday. (Happy graduation, Baron Trump.)

And on Thursday we'll end at 4 because a juror has an appointment.

Now it's back to cross examination.

We're 1.54 Scaramuccis into this trial, but we're moving on from Anthony Scaramucci.

Blanche resumes his cross by asking about Cohen's first meeting with Manhattan prosecutors.

https://x.com/PeriodicTweet/status/1790466952797859921

BLANCHE: One of the first things you asked the Manhattan DA about was what the benefit to you would be?

Cohen says that he did.

BLANCHE: Your sentence reduction motion was denied by a federal judge right?

COHEN: It was.

BLANCHE: And then in September of 2020 your first book was launched, "Disloyal"?

COHEN: Correct.

BLANCHE: And you on one of your early podcasts referred to Trump as a "cheetah dusted cartoon villain"?

COHEN: That sounds like something I said.

In October of 2020, the last time you had met with the Manhattan DAs office was about a year earlier? Correct.

So you met with them in prison, then your sentence reduction request got denied, then you were on home confinement? Correct.

Blanche asks Cohen to put headphones on to listen to an Oct. 23, 2020, clip from Cohen's Mea Culpa podcast.

Cohen puts on his headphones. It's giving Sony Walkman circa 1996.

BLANCHE: You just heard a portion of your podcast. You said in that same podcast that Trump needs to wear handcuffs and do a perp walk? People won't be satisfied until he's in a cell?

COHEN: I don't recall saying that but wouldn't put it past me.

You make money off podcasts, correct? Yes, sir.

You are motivated by fame? No, sir, I don't think that's fair to say.

Is it fair to say you're motivated by publicity? I don't know that that's fair to say. I'm motivated by many things.

Do you recall saying in an interview that you wanted private planes, wealth, glamour, etc.? Yes, those are my words.

You love being on CNN, MSNBC, even Fox? I loved it when I was speaking on behalf of Trump.

Do you love it now? Less, but I still do.

You put the money you made from your book -- about 2 million -- into a trust for your family? It went into a bank account.

So after Oct. 30, 2019, you didn't meet with Manhattan prosecutors again until January 11, 2021? Cohen indicates that is correct.

There was someone at the DA's office named Mark Pomerantz at that time? Correct.

You started meeting w/ Pomerantz and others in the office? Yes.

Those meetings were on Zoom? Sounds correct.

So back to the Feb. 2021 time frame, you were meeting w/ the DA's office but it wasn't about *this* case? That's correct.

During that 2021 period, you wanted the DA's office to publicly acknowledge that you were cooperating? I would say so.

You were still serving your sentence at that time? Yes, I was still on home confinement.

What were your restrictions on home confinement? Cohen says that he could go anywhere in Manhattan for three hours a day. He wore an ankle monitor at first, but then he did phone check ins.

Blanche is trying to suggest that Cohen was motivated to cooperate with the investigation in order to get a sentence reduction so that he could be released earlier from home confinement.

So during your home confinement, did you meet with the DA at your house or did you go to the DA's offices? Possibly both.

And you were still doing TV at this time? I don't remember if I was doing TV while on home confinement.

What about going on MSNBC on Ali Velshi's show in Jan. 2021? I don't remember that date, but I've been on Mr. Velshi's show many times.

At some point you understood that there was a new DA? Correct.

Have you met DA Bragg? No, sir.

Then in October 2022, you publish your second book, "Revenge." How much money have you made from "Revenge"? I don't know exactly, but I would say about $400,000.

So combined with "Disloyal," you've made about 2.4 million over the last four years? Yes.

In Revenge, you talk about your frustration with "President Trump" not being prosecuted? Yes.

BLANCHE: In your book, you called yourself a fixer?

COHEN: Yes.

BLANCHE: But are you fixing things that you broke?

COHEN: No, sir.

Blanche turns to the subject of Cohen turning over his phones in 2023, but he doesn't get far.

Justice Merchan interject: Mr. Blanche, is this a good time to stop?

Blanche agrees to put a pin in it until Thursday.

Merchan gives the usual instructions to the jurors.

Once the jurors file out, Justice Merchan instructs the parties to approach the bench. An out-of-earshot conference ensues.

When they're done, Justice Merchan says that he asked the parties if it's possible to finish with the witness by Thursday afternoon. Blanche replies that he hopes to be able to do so by end of business that day.

And so we are done for the day. Another 1/11th of a Scaramucci down.

And I'll discuss it all live with @TylerMcBrien and Ben Wittes at 5:30 pm ET.

Join us!

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