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☆ Opinion | A Trump Conviction Doesn’t Hang on Michael Cohen
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jeffrey Toobin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But the verdict is likely to turn on the other half — whether Mr. Trump caused the false information to appear on the invoices and vouchers. According to the prosecution, on the eve of the 2016 election, Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s onetime lawyer and fixer, paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, the porn star, to guarantee her silence about a tryst she and Mr. Trump allegedly had a decade earlier. Mr. Trump then reimbursed Mr. Cohen for his outlay, plus a bonus and additional funds for taxes. Several witnesses support the government’s claim that Mr. Trump’s payments to the lawyer were not legal fees. Mr. Trump himself tweeted in 2018 that Mr. Cohen received a “reimbursement” and said as much in a White House financial disclosure form.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump, Michael Cohen, Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Cohen, Daniels, ” Organizations: White Locations: Manhattan

Once Mr. Trump was elected, he agreed to repay Mr. Cohen for the $130,000 hush-money deal and more. And at a meeting in Trump Tower just weeks before he was sworn in, Mr. Trump signed off on the fakery, Mr. Cohen recounted from the stand. “What, if anything, did Mr. Trump say at that time?” a prosecutor asked Mr. Cohen. There, he said, Mr. Trump’s chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, explained how Mr. Trump would reimburse Mr. Cohen for the payoff. To reach Mr. Trump, Mr. Cohen testified, he called the candidate’s bodyguard, Keith Schiller.

Persons: Donald J, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Michael D, Cohen, Trump, Trump’s, —, Alvin L, Bragg, Cohen —, Marc F, Scholl, ”, ” Mr, Stormy Daniels, Mr, “, Michael M, Joshua Steinglass, Juan M, Merchan —, “ Trump, David Pecker, Pecker, Hope Hicks, Penny, Daniels, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Susan Hoffinger, Cohen’s, Keith Schiller, Schiller, William K, Rashbaum Organizations: Trump, Mr, Trump “, New, National Enquirer, Playboy, fixer Locations: Manhattan, New York

CNN —The prosecution rested their case against Donald J. Trump on Monday in the former president’s hush money trial, which is barreling toward a conclusion as soon as next week. Regardless of the break, the Trump hush money trial is near its end – and roughly a week away from being in the hands of the jury. Cohen was the key witness, spending more than 17 hours on the witness stand over four days before wrapping up on Monday. Trial endgame comes into focusTrump’s side began its defense case Monday afternoon – and the former president’s lawyers appear likely to rest on Tuesday. The defense first called a paralegal to introduce call records between Cohen and Costello, before Costello took the stand.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Michael Cohen’s, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Robert Costello, audibly, Costello, Merchan, Daniels, Hope Hicks, National Enquirer David Pecker, Todd Blanche, Trump’s, Rudy Giuliani, “, Bob, Donald Trump, Emil Bove, ”, there’s, ” Merchan, Susan Hoffinger Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Enquirer, CNN Defense, FBI, New Locations: Manhattan, New York

☆ Stakes are high for prosecutors to rescue Cohen testimony as Trump trial enters endgame
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Defense lawyers say they expect to complete their bruising cross-examination of Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and enforcer, on Monday morning. In dramatic testimony, Cohen last week directly implicated Trump in the alleged scheme, saying the former president directed him to hand over $130,000 to Daniels and promised him reimbursement. With the end of Cohen’s testimony looming, there is uncertainty over the extent of Trump’s defense case. Blanche referred to the possibility of Trump’s testimony on Thursday, the last day the court was in session. After the defense case wraps up, the prosecution has a chance to put on its own rebuttal.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Michael Cohen —, Cohen, Trump’s, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, ” Cohen, Todd Blanche, Keith Schiller, Blanche, President Trump, Schiller, ’, Randy Zelin, Republican nominee’s, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, — Bradley Smith, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Smith, —, backtrack, “, ” Blanche, Arthur Engoron, president’s, Engoron Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Cornell Law School, Central ”, Republican, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, Commission Locations: New York, Lago, Manhattan, Louisiana, Lake Tahoe

☆ Hush-money judge rips Trump witness who scoffed at his rulings: 'You don't give me the side-eye!'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The witness, attorney Robert Costello, was called by the defense to attack the credibility of key prosecution witness Michael Cohen. Within minutes of taking the stand, Costello was in open conflict with New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the case. "If you don't like my ruling you don't say 'Jeez," you don't give me side eye, and you don't roll your eyes," the judge scolded. "You don't say 'strike it,'" the judge told the witness, adding that it's his job, not the witness' to strike testimony. Bove could not instigate a "trial within a trial," the judge ordered, by asking Costello questions beyond this limited topic.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Robert Costello, Michael Cohen, chafed, Costello, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Costello glared, Trump, Robert Balin, Emil Bove, Cohen —, Rudy Giuliani, Cohen, Cohen's, Bove, Costello audibly, Stormy Daniels, Blanche, Daniel Citco Organizations: Service, Business, New York, Trump, Manhattan District, Republican Locations: Nassau County, New

☆ Prosecutors Poised to Conclude Trump Case as Trial Enters Final Days
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jonah E. Bromwich | Ben Protess | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Donald J. Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial will enter its final phase on Monday with the prosecution poised to complete its case and the defense considering whether to call witnesses of its own. The witness, Michael D. Cohen, has already testified over the course of three days, telling jurors that in 2015 he entered a conspiracy to suppress information damaging to the presidential campaign of his then-boss, Mr. Trump. Mr. Cohen, who was Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer and fixer, suppressed one of those stories himself, paying $130,000 to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, just weeks before the election to bury her story of having had sex with Mr. Trump. After the election, Mr. Cohen testified, the president-elect approved a plan to reimburse him for the payment, knowing that the reimbursements would be classified as ordinary legal expenses. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has charged Mr. Trump with 34 felonies, arguing that what Mr. Cohen described was a crime: the falsification of business records.

Persons: Donald J, Michael D, Cohen, Trump, Stormy Daniels Locations: Manhattan

☆ This Is What Worries Me About the Trump Trial - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I can’t remember when I’ve been more disturbed by a criminal trial than I have been by the Manhattan trial of Donald Trump. At the same time, the underlying legal theory supporting the prosecution’s case remains dubious. Stormy Daniels’s testimony crystallized, better than that of any other witness, the prosecution’s theory that Trump ordered Michael Cohen to pay off Daniels to save his campaign and then fraudulently disguised the reimbursements. The Washington Post released the infamous recording in which Trump told Billy Bush, one of the show’s hosts, “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.” Trump went on, saying he could grab women by the genitals.

Persons: I’ve, Donald Trump, Trump, MAGA, Let’s, Michael Cohen, Daniels, Billy Bush, ” Trump, ” Organizations: Washington Post Locations: Manhattan

☆ Opinion: Credibility is the key at Trump trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

The idea that Cohen talked to Trump about Daniels on that call “was a lie,” Blanche alleged. Moreover, my experience has been that juries don’t decide based upon one moment — they base their judgment on an overall view.”There were allegedly three parties aware of the scheme to conceal the real reason Trump paid Cohen more than $400,000 in supposed legal fees: Trump, Cohen and Allen Weisselberg, then-chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. “Weisselberg could be the linchpin to validate Cohen’s claims about Trump agreeing to reimburse him through Trump Organization, as a business expense,” wrote attorney Stacy Schneider. Trump seems to be tempted to go mano a mano and show that he is better fit to be commander-in-chief. The new requirement for GOP politicians wanting to demonstrate their loyalty to Trump seems to be visiting the Manhattan courthouse where he’s on trial.

Persons: CNN —, ” Mark Twain, “, Twain, ” Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, —, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Norm Eisen, Blanche, ”, pummeled Cohen, Robert Mueller, Nick Anderson, Agency Cohen, Keith Schiller, Daniels, ” Blanche, ” Eisen, don’t, Allen Weisselberg, Stacy Schneider, Weisselberg, David Zurawik, “ I’ve, Sen, Robert Menendez, He’s, George Santos ., CNN “ It’s, he’s, ‘, Henry Cuellar, ” Cupp, Drew Sheneman, Georgia —, Vladimir Putin’s, Frida Ghitis, ” Ghitis, Joe Biden’s, ” Dana Summers, “ Biden, ” Julian Zelizer, mano, Biden, ” Bill Bramhall, Stephanie Griffith, Howard Tucker, Gayle Fleming, Michael Ventura Gayle Fleming, Biden —, ” Tom Brady’s, Kara Alaimo, Tom Brady “, Kevin Hart, Gisele Bündchen, Brady, Benjamin, Vivian, ’ Brady, ’, Alaimo, Brady didn’t, Nafees Syed, Kamel El Hilali, Andrew Borene, freakout Scott Stantis, Jeff Yang, … ” Brown, Keith Magee, Brown, backpedaling, Forget, Doug Burgum, Scott Jennings, Burgum’s, Bill Bramhall, Content Agency Clarence Thomas Washington, Clarence Thomas ’, Dean Obeidallah, Thomas, Harlan Crow, ” Clay Jones, John Oliver’s, Steve Vladeck, “ Thomas, ” Don’t, Clayton Swope, Dan Perry, Netanyahu, Jill Filipovic, Miss Teen USA Mary Ziegler, Bob Kolasky, Megan L, Ranney, Karen Tang, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Jonathan Yeo, King Charles III, Aaron Chown, Holly Thomas, King Organizations: CNN, Trump, Tribune, Agency, Trump Organization, Twitter, Facebook, DC, Robert Menendez of New, GOP, ” Texas, White, Europe, Russia, Kyiv, Biden, ABC, Democratic Party, Netflix, Garden State, Content Agency, Capitol, Consumer Financial, Board, Fifth Circuit, ICC, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Buckingham Palace, Royal Locations: New York, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Russian, Ukraine, Slovakia, Georgia, Soviet Republic, United States, Cleveland, “, Manhattan, North, . North Dakota, ” That’s, Louisiana , Mississippi, Texas, Florida’s, Buckingham

☆ Trump is unlikely to testify in his hush-money trial as he could risk committing perjury, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewDonald Trump is unlikely to testify in his hush-money trial in Manhattan, despite previously saying he would, sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. Four unnamed people close to the former president told the paper that they were not expecting him to take the witness stand next week. Related storiesDespite this, Trump has previously insisted that he would "absolutely" testify in the trial. On Friday, a centrist Washington DC-based think tank, Third Way, released an ad dubbed "Coward," daring Trump to take the stand.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, John Coffee, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Coward, Donald, Robert Mintz, Michael Cohen, Trump's, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Coffee, Blanche Organizations: Service, Washington Post, Business, Columbia Law School, Telegraph, Lawyers, Elmen, Washington DC, Post Locations: Manhattan, Washington

☆ Trump's hush money verdict hinges on a single piece of paper. See the most important evidence in the case.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Read previewWelcome to People's Exhibit 35, the single most important piece of evidence in the Donald Trump hush-money trial. People's 35 is the fulcrum for the entire case. What People's 35 does not have is Trump's fingerprints, a point that the defense is sure to press during closing arguments next week. AdvertisementProsecutors allege that Trump's payments to Cohen were falsified to conceal hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels. "Yes," Cohen answered, as Trump watched from the defense table"And what, if anything, did Mr. Trump say at the time?"

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, we'll, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Cohen —, Reince, Jon Elswick, Susan Hoffinger, Daniels, Hoffinger, Todd Blanche, — Cohen, Keith Davidson, Davidson, Karen McDougal, Playboy Bunny, Trump's, Melania Trump, peddled, Charlie Sheen, Hulk Hogan, Lindsay Lohan, Tila, RedFinch, That's Allen Weisselberg's, Allen, — it's, Trump —, Mary Altaffer Organizations: Service, Business, Attorney's, Trump Organization, Trump, Prosecutors, AP, Manhattan, BI Prosecutors, Essential, Consultants, Tahoe, National Enquirer, RedFinch Solutions, RedFinch, People's, frick Locations: Manhattan, Virginia

☆ We asked ChatGPT to be a juror in Donald Trump's hush-money trial. It said it would find him guilty.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Madeline Berg | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewIt will be a jury of 12 ordinary New Yorkers that will decide the fate of former President Donald Trump in his ongoing Manhattan hush-money trial. Using that document, we asked various AI chatbots whether they found Trump guilty. They were told to "choose now whether you would find him guilty or not guilty." AdvertisementBut OpenAI's ChatGPT and Perplexity weighed in — and both said they'd find Trump guilty. "I would vote guilty on the charges of falsifying business records," Perplexity responded definitively.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Perplexity, they'd, ChatGPT, Trump's, Cohen, David Pecker, Juan Merchan, chatbots Organizations: Service, Business, Prosecutors, New York, Trump, National Enquirer Locations: Manhattan, —, Trump

☆ Opinion: I changed my mind about the strength of the prosecution’s case against Donald Trump. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Opinion Stacy Schneider | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The heated exchange between Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche and Cohen marked the biggest blow to the prosecution’s case so far. But the DA also must prove the actual business records crime, for which Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. How I see it, Cohen’s testimony only satisfied half the equation beyond a reasonable doubt. Weisselberg could be the linchpin to validate Cohen’s claims about Trump agreeing to reimburse him through Trump Organization, as a business expense. If so, there would have been no intent to falsify the business records.

Persons: Stacy Schneider, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Cohen, Trump, Todd Blanche, Stormy Daniels, David Pecker, Keith Davidson, Daniels, Hope Hicks, Trump’s, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Juan Merchan, Pecker, won’t, Madeleine Westerhout Organizations: CNN, Attorney’s, Trump, American Media Inc, Trump Organization, Twitter, Facebook, DC Locations: Manhattan, New York

☆ $1.8K to stand in line: Line sitters are cashing in on Donald Trump's hush-money trial, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Donald Trump's hush-money trial is proving beneficial for professional line-sitting businesses. Limited courtroom spots and long wait times are driving the demand for their services. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementDonald Trump's hush-money trial at Manhattan's criminal court isn't being televised, and with limited spots inside the courtroom for the public and media, seats are given out on a first-come-first-served basis. Professional line sitters, who will wait in line so you don't have to, have been cashing in on the former president's trial.

Persons: Donald Trump's, —, isn't, Trump, Stormy Daniels Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Opinion | Why the Manhattan Trial Is Probably Helping Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Ross Douthat | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Throughout the Republican primary campaign (such as it was), it was perfectly clear that the multiple indictments of Donald Trump helped him consolidate support. This was a source of moral exasperation to liberals, but their bafflement coexisted with the hope that what played well with the MAGA faithful would have the opposite effect in the general election. Trump’s cries of persecution might rally conservatives in a primary, but the trials themselves would help Joe Biden cruise to re-election. But watching the trial play out so far, it seems just as likely that as in the primaries, so now in the general election: Any political effect from being charged and tried is probably working marginally in Trump’s favor. First, consider how this trial plays if you are not paying close attention to the legal details.

Persons: Donald Trump, MAGA, Trump’s, Joe Biden, we’re, Trump, Stormy Daniels Organizations: Republican

☆ Michael Cohen gives Donald Trump his best day in hush money trial so far
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Donald Trump finally had a good day in court. But on Thursday, he got to savor his former fixer-turned-enemy Michael Cohen wobbling on the stand under a fearsome cross-examination. And now, the prosecution faces a stiff challenge in repairing the damage when they get to their redirect examination of Cohen’s testimony following the close of cross-examination next week. “I think it was a very interesting day, it was a fascinating day. And it also raises the possibility that some jurors might believe that they have been lied to by Cohen earlier in the trial.

Persons: Donald Trump, Michael Cohen wobbling, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, “, ” Ryan Goodman, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Trump, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Daniels, ’, Keith Schiller, Schiller, …, ” Blanche, President Trump, doesn’t, ”, Juan Merchan, Nikki Lotze, “ Jim, Norm Eisen, ” Eisen, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, George Conway, ” Cohen, kingpins, Cohen’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, NYU Law, Florida, Conservative

It’s just the latest sign that the pilgrimage to Trump’s criminal trial in New York has become a new litmus test for Trump loyalty inside the GOP ahead of November. Then, the GOP members joined Trump in his motorcade – including the Republican candidate challenging GOP Rep. Bob Good, who has tried to cozy up to Trump after initially endorsing Florida Gov. President, we’ve got your back,” GOP Rep. Andy Ogles said outside the courthouse. Gaetz along with Boebert and GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who were all in New York on Thursday, missed the vote. GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sparked outrage when she went after Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s appearance and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s intelligence, with the committee meeting devolving into a heated sparring match.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump’s, Trump, GOP Sen, Rick Scott of, Mike Johnson – who’s, “ There’s, It’s, it’s, Johnson, Lauren Boebert, Ralph Norman of, ”, Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Rick Scott, Vivek, Ramaswamy, Todd Blanche, Sen, We’ve, Eric, Bob Good, Ron DeSantis –, “ Mr, we’ve, Andy Ogles, ” Norman, “, Matt Gaetz, Stormy Daniels, Andrew Kelly, Reuters Legislating, Merrick Garland, Joe BIden’s, Robert Hur –, Andy Biggs, Biden, Anna Paulina Luna, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jasmine Crockett’s, devolving, haven’t, “ Greene, johnny, suzy, latelys, Greene –, –, Boebert, Greene, “ Lauren Boebert, ” Boebert Organizations: CNN, Trump, he’s, GOP, Republicans, ”, North Dakota Gov, Manhattan Criminal, Caucus, Capitol, White House, Republican, Florida Gov, US Capitol Police, U.S, Reuters, Judiciary, Democratic Rep Locations: Manhattan, New York, Rick Scott of Florida, Colorado, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Ohio, New York City, Trump, U.S, Capitol Hill, Israel, Gaza, Gaetz, Alexandria

☆ The Trump hush-money trial is thrusting reporters into an uncomfortable spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —The Donald Trump hush money trial is dragging reporters into uncomfortable territory and laying bare the complicated relationships journalists often have with sources. Michael Cohen, who continued to testify Thursday, invoked from the stand the names of several high-profile media figures, putting their relationships with the former Trump fixer in the spotlight. Cohen named The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman and MSNBC’s Katy Tur as reporters which he had established relationships with. And he spoke about having recorded dozens of phone calls with media figures, including former CNN boss Jeff Zucker. That reporters are playing a starring role in the trial is also a function of the Trump years.

Persons: Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Maggie Haberman, Katy Tur, John Santucci, Stormy Daniels, Jeff Zucker, Haberman, Trump, —, It’s, Todd Blanche Organizations: New York CNN, Trump fixer, The New York Times, ABC, CNN, Trump, Queens Locations: New York

☆ Lauren Boebert skipped Congress to support Trump's trial, but didn't show up to her own son's hearings: reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewRep. Lauren Boebert made headlines with her show of support at former President Donald Trump's hush-money trial on Thursday, but has been conspicuously absent for her own son's court appearances, according to multiple reports. During the April hearing, Boebert was in Congress voting against the passage of the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act, records show. Records show that the day before the May hearing, Boebert spoke in a House debate. Showing up to support Trump in court has become something of a pilgrimage for many GOP figures in recent weeks.

Persons: —, Lauren Boebert, Donald Trump's, President Trump, Boebert, Stormy Daniels, Boebert's, Tyler, Tyler Boebert, He's, didn't Organizations: Service, Colorado congresswoman, Freedom Caucus, Business, Trump, Rescue Assistance, Rehabilitation, Daily Mail, Daily, The New York Times Locations: Manhattan, Denver, Colorado

☆ Trump’s Criminal Trial, Explained
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Jonah E. Bromwich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Stormy Daniels was on the witness stand, Donald Trump was at the defense table and I could feel a queasy energy flow through the Manhattan courtroom. This is the third of Trump’s trials that I’ve covered, but there’s still something striking about seeing a ubiquitous media figure in the flesh. Trump is not on trial for sleeping with Daniels, which he denies, or for paying her to keep silent. Even though it’s a documents case, the trial has thrummed with high-octane moments like his face-off with Daniels. Each time the prosecution calls a witness, rows of onlookers watch a figure from Trump’s past swear an oath that could threaten his future.

Persons: Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, Daniels, I’ve, Trump, it’s Organizations: Trump, Prosecutors Locations: Manhattan, today’s

☆ Trump lawyer yells at Michael Cohen in cross-examination over call about Stormy Daniels
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Michael Cohen, a former attorney for Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump, heads to court for second day of cross-examination at Trump's criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, New York City, U.S., May 16, 2024. A defense attorney for Donald Trump yelled at prosecution witness Michael Cohen during cross-examination about a 2016 phone call at issue in the former president's criminal hush money trial. The defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, demanded that Cohen tell him whether Cohen had lied during direct examination in saying he made an Oct. 24, 2016, call to Trump to reveal he had gotten porn star Stormy Daniels to agree not to go public with her claim of having sex with Trump. Blanche confronted Cohen with text messages from that same day which suggested he was calling then-Trump Organization security chief Keith Schiller that night because of concerns about harassing text messages Cohen was receiving as Trump ran for president that year. "I believe I also spoke to Mr. Trump about the Stormy Daniels matter," Cohen told Blanche in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Persons: Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Blanche, Keith Schiller, Trump, Daniels Organizations: Republican, Trump, Trump Organization Locations: New York City, U.S, Manhattan

☆ The End Is Near: 5 Takeaways From Trump’s Criminal Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Kate Christobek | Jesse Mckinley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Michael D. Cohen, Donald Trump’s former fixer and current antagonist, faced a tough cross-examination on Thursday as the defense drilled into his past lies. Mr. Cohen, once known as a hothead and a paid bully, did not explode as he did when testifying last fall at Mr. Trump’s civil fraud trial. He seemed at times stressed under the searing questioning from Mr. Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche. Mr. Cohen is not done. Mr. Trump, 77, has denied the charges and having had sex with Ms. Daniels.

Persons: Michael D, Cohen, Donald Trump’s, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Mr, Trump, Barron’s, Stormy Daniels, Daniels Organizations: Mr Locations: Lake Tahoe, Nev

☆ Opinion: In Trump Trial, Stormy Daniels testimony was revealing — about America
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Opinion Danielle Campoamor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For two days in Manhattan, Stephanie Gregory Clifford — better known as Stormy Daniels — detailed her connection to former President Donald Trump and alleged sexual encounter with him in 2006. But it matters that the media decided to erroneously describe a grown woman openly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with a grown man as obscene. The words used to characterize Daniels’ testimony evoke a feeling of inherent wrongness or dirtiness — and not on the part of the accused but of the woman who dared to speak up. While the Manhattan criminal case is not directly tied to Trump’s alleged encounter with Daniels, the details of their brief alleged tryst are crucial to the prosecution’s case. In a 2018 interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, she described her alleged sexual encounter with Trump as consensual.

Persons: Danielle Campoamor, Stephanie Gregory Clifford —, Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, Danielle Campoamor Ashley Batz, Daniels, “, tawdry, Trump’s, Trump, Jean Carroll, —, Eric, ”, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, I’ve Organizations: NBC, CNN, Republican, Trump, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Manhattan, Nevada, ”

☆ Cohen’s Cross-Examination to Continue as Trump Trial Enters Homestretch
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Michael Wilson | More About Michael Wilson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The questioning of Mr. Cohen, who was Donald J. Trump’s former fixer, is the beginning of the end of the trial, which began April 15 and could conclude before Memorial Day weekend. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche came out swinging, suggesting that Mr. Cohen had referred to him personally on social media with a vulgarity. Mr. Blanche went on to ask about Mr. Cohen’s longtime habit of talking to reporters, his ignoring requests from prosecutors to stop speaking and his vitriol toward Mr. Trump. Mr. Cohen, who puts out podcasts and TikTok videos, has suggested that Mr. Trump belongs in a cage like an “animal” and referred to him as a “Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain.”In court, Mr. Cohen responded calmly and matter-of-factly, avoiding any outbursts or gaffes that could hurt his credibility. Mr. Cohen testified that Mr. Trump directed him to pay $130,000 in hush money to Stormy Daniels, a porn star, to suppress her account of a sexual rendezvous with the former president in a Lake Tahoe, Nev., hotel in 2006.

Persons: Michael D, Cohen, Mr, Donald J, Trump’s, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Trump, ”, Stormy Daniels Locations: Lake Tahoe, Nev

☆ Live Updates: Cross-Examination of Michael Cohen to Continue in Trump Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Michael Wilson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Mr. Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide the reimbursement of Mr. Cohen. Mr. Trump, 77, has denied the charges and says he did not have sex with Ms. Daniels. Mr. Blanche grilled Mr. Cohen about social media posts. Their defense of Mr. Trump follows a gag order that bars him from attacking jurors and witnesses like Mr. Cohen. Mr. Trump has already been cited for 10 violations so far and threatened with jail if he continues.

Persons: Michael D, Cohen, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Trump’s, Juan M, Merchan, “, Mr, Blanche, ” Mr, Donald J, Mark Peterson, Cohen’s, Mike Johnson of, Johnson, ”, Doug Burgum, Vivek Ramaswamy Organizations: Mr, Prosecutors, Republican Party Locations: Manhattan, Lake, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, North

Here are the takeaways from Day 18 of the Trump hush money trial:A heated confrontation over a key phone callIt took several hours of cross-examination before Blanche finally turned to the evidence directly related to the case. Blanche says the texts show that at 8:04 p.m. Cohen texted Schiller the phone number of the teenager prank calling him. “Was it true for just that phone calls, or was it true for other phone calls too?”“You just said you don’t recall a phone call back in 2016. “Because these phone calls are things that I have been talking about for the last six years. There’s also the possibility, as CNN has reported, that former Cohen attorney Bob Costello could appear.

Persons: Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Michael Cohen, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Blanche, Cohen, Keith Schiller –, Daniels, Barron, Blanche finally, Schiller, “, ”, ” Blanche, Cohen texted Schiller, Keith Schiller, ” Cohen, Keith, ” “, it’s, he’s, Darrell Scott, –, Trump’s, Jean Carroll, Blanche quizzed, Maggie Haberman –, Susan Necheles, Susan Hoffinger, Merchan, There’s, Bob Costello, Costello Organizations: CNN, Trump, Mr, White, Congress, New, New York Times, Prosecutors Locations: Trump, White, New York, summations

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