Michael Cohen continues testimony after revealing Trump told him to ‘take care’ of Stormy Daniels story – live | Donald Trump trials
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Cohen returns to the stand
Michael Cohen just walked into the courtroom and went to the witness stand. He wears a blue tie.
Cohen didn’t make eye contact with Donald Trump.
Key events
‘I got $420,000 back’: Cohen says last check signed by Trump in December 2017
It is now December 2017. Michael Cohen said this was his last invoice in this vein. Why?
I have now been refunded $420,000.
The check he received, also signed by Trump, was the last one he received.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asks:
After the last check was sent to you in December 2017, I think you mentioned, you never received any other checks from Mr. Trump or his trust?
Cohen says, “Exactly.” “Or the Trump Organization?” Cohen replied, “That’s right.”
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger repeatedly asked Michael Cohen regarding checks to him for such payments; the refrain is practically the same every time and directly points the finger Donald Trump.
She goes one by one. “Do you see whose signature is on the check?” Hofinger asks. “Yes,” says Cohen.
“Whose is it?” she follows him. “Donald Jay Trump,” says Cohen.
Sam Levin
The members of the Trump entourage I see— Lara Trump, Byron Donalds, and Eric Trump – seem to alternate between looking down and then at the fake invoices and checks that appear on the screen.
As well as a former candidate for the presidency of the Republican Party Vivek Ramaswamy, other members of Donald Trump’s inner circle also took to social media today to show their support for the former president.
Corey Mills, the Republican congressman from Florida said he was “honored” to stand with Trump and described the case as a “victimless false accusation” and “political theater and interference.”
It’s great to meet President Trump today before we head to the courtroom. I am honored to stand with the President, as America stands with him, and view this victimless false accusation as political theater and interference. I look forward to sharing my thoughts through…
— Cory Mills (@CoryMillsFL) May 14, 2024
Another congressman from Florida, Byron Donalds, said Trump’s case was a “tragedy for the American justice system.” Donalds is believed to be on Trump’s short list of vice presidential candidates.
I’m in New York state court today to support @realDonaldTrump. This case is a tragedy for the American justice system. They still haven’t found a crime and it’s been 4 weeks. This is ELECTION INTERFERENCE.
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) May 14, 2024
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, said he will give a press conference this morning outside the courthouse.
Sam Levin
Prosecutor Susan Hofinger has Michael Cohen walked the jury through each of the false invoices he presented for $35,000 and then reviewed the checks that were issued as a result of those false invoices. So far we’ve seen this for January/February, March and April.
That’s a bit dry, but that’s the heart of the actual crime at issue here. False invoices presented for checks that were issued for payments that were falsely recorded.
The jury takes notes.
Sam Levin
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger may come back to it later, but we went by very quickly Michael Cohenmeeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February 2017.
Cohen spent less than two minutes on the topic, a key point linking Trump to the reimbursement scheme.
Sam Levin
Michael Cohen he continues in a calm steady voice, often using “ma’am” to answer yes and no.
His eyes are directed intently at the prosecutor Susan Hoffinger while she asks him questions.
Now we have an email from Michael Cohen to the controller of the Trump Organization Jeff McConney regarding an invoice. The date is February 14, 2017 with the subject “$$”.
Dear Alan, Pursuant to the retainer agreement, please remit payment for services rendered for the months of January and February 2017. January 2017: $35,000 February 2017: $35,000
Prosecutor Susan Hofinger asks if the description of the custody agreement is a true statement? Cohen says, “No ma’am.”
What was the real purpose of legal services? Cohen says:
A refund for me of the hush fee along with the redfin and the bonus.
Is this invoice a fake entry? Cohen responds:
“Yes Madam.”
Have you continued to submit false invoices? “Yes Madam.”
Was it one of the legal bills? Cohen responds:
No, ma’am, they were for reimbursement.
Michael Cohen said this former Trump Organization comptroller Jeff McConney sent him another email about billing a week after the White House meeting.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger displays Cohen’s email in court. Cohen tells McConnie:
Jeff, sorry for the delay and thank you for the reminder. Please send the monthly checks for January and February to Michael D. Cohen, Esq…
Cohen testified about an Oval Office meeting with Trump in February 2017
Michael Cohen now broadcast February meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House.
So I was sitting with President Trump and he asked me if I was okay, he asked me if I needed money and I said, no, I’m okay, he said, okay, just make sure you deal with Allen [Weisselberg, Trump Organization CFO].
The prosecution asks: “So at this point you still haven’t been reimbursed Stormy Daniels?Cohen says: No.
“Did you take photos to remember your visit?” Cohen says, “I did.”
Why? Cohen says, “I was in the White House.”
The overflow room erupted in laughter as the photo showed Cohen on the lectern in the briefing room, smiling.
Vivek Ramaswamy, who is sitting in the courtroom behind the defense table, tweeted earlier that it was “great to see President Trump in good spirits this morning.”
Great to see President Trump in good spirits this morning. Now I’m headed to the courtroom in New York. Let’s see what happens down there, I’ll share my thoughts during the day.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) May 14, 2024
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger continues her direct examination.
Hoffinger asks Michael Cohen to read an email from Trump Organization comptroller Jef McConey where it says:
Mike, just a reminder to give me the invoices you’re talking to Alan [Weisselberg, Trump Organization CFO] regarding.
This is from February 6, 2017.
Cohen returns to the stand
Michael Cohen just walked into the courtroom and went to the witness stand. He wears a blue tie.
Cohen didn’t make eye contact with Donald Trump.
Donald Trump addressed the media before entering the courtroom, where he complained that his case was “not a trial of Donald Trump. This is a case of the Democratic Party vs. America.
The former president said his hush money criminal trial represented “the largest effort to interfere and steal a federal election in American political history,” claiming that Joe Biden had “weaponized” the Justice Department so “they have their own people in that room because they’re trying to hurt me.”
“There has never been anything like this in the history of our country. It’s a scam,” Trump said, before complaining that he would be forced to sit in the “refrigerator” for a “long time.”
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