#Steinglass moves to #MichaelCohen’s guilty plea to federal crimes. When #Hoffinger questioned Cohen about the pleas, she asked if he’d committed #crimes at Trump’s behest. Cohen said that he had.

Steinglass reads portions of that testimony aloud, before pivoting to #Trump’s tweets blasting Cohen right after he pleaded guilty.

Steinglass argues the tweets were a message to other witnesses. “Cooperate, & you will face the wrath of Donald Trump.”

#TrumpTrial #law

Prosecutor Susan #Hoffinger reminds the judge that before the trial began, he himself precluded the jury from hearing anything about potential punishments for #Trump. “Mr. Blanche was certainly on notice that this was an improper argument,” Hoffinger says.

Hoffinger also argues that the defense misstated the #law when it came to how #legal retainer agreements work in NY. #Blanche argues that he is willing to litigate the issue further this evening.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial

#Hoffinger, in a brief, final series of questions & answers, again confirms that #RobertCostello was never officially hired as #MichaelCohen’s lawyer. Costello steps down from the witness stand.

Justice #Merchan turns to the #jury & explains the upcoming schedule. Closing arguments will take a day & his instructions to them afterward will take at least an hour.

Court will be adjourned, for jurors, until a week from today.

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #MobTactics

#Hoffinger’s final question is an accusation: whether #RobertCostello’s testimony to Congress was meant to #intimidate #MichaelCohen as he testified in this trial. Costello asked her to repeat the question & then denied the accusation. “No,” he said. “Ridiculous.”

#Trump atty #Bove, is on redirect. Costello testifies that Cohen said in April 2018 that he would be “eternally grateful” for the help & guidance that Costello had given him in those difficult days.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial

#RobertCostello answers “no” when asked if he has animosity toward #MichaelCohen 😂. #Hoffinger points out that Costello went to Washington last week to testify before Congress about Cohen, & made aggressive comments about him. Costello says he didn’t know his comments would be reported in the press [seriously?].

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #MobTactics

#RobertCostello has asked several times to offer additional context, & Susan #Hoffinger has made clear she does not want that context, cutting him off & moving to her next question. In doing so, Hoffinger shows that she believes she has the jury on her side after the way Costello treated her & the court yesterday.

#Trump atty, Emil #Bove just insisted there was a “pending question” from Hoffinger when there wasn’t, forcing Justice #Merchan to once again correct him.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial

#Hoffinger asks #RobertCostello if an email in which he offers to provide a “back channel” between #Trump & #MichaelCohen “speaks for itself” [Costello used the phrase while #mansplaining to her yesterday].

Costello says it does not because there was more context, & offers to provide that context.

“That’s all right,” Hoffinger says, moving on to her next question. 😊

#misogyny #criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics

#RobertCostello’s attitude is already *brusque* under cross-examination from #Hoffinger.

Hoffinger asks Costello about his relationship w/ #RudyGiuliani.

Costello confirms that he is close to #Giuliani & has known him for 50 yrs. Costello & his law firm recently sued Giuliani for unpaid legal bills.

👀 Hoffinger reads an email Costello sent to #MichaelCohen in which he described his relationship w/Giuliani as potentially being “very useful to you.”

#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial

#SebastianGorka, Trump’s fmr White House *adviser*, walks in w/ a silver case bearing what appears to be a presidential seal.

With his legal team & Secret Service agents in the mix, #Trump’s group numbers more than two dozen. #WitnessIntimidation #JuryTampering

#RobertCostello is on the stand.
Justice Merchan reminds him that he’s under oath.

#Hoffinger, one of the prosecution’s leaders, is expected to continue her cross-examination of Costello.

#criminal #law #TrumpTrial