#MichaelCohen testifies that #Trump approved his false 2018 statement about whether or not Cohen decided to pay #StormyDaniels of his own volition. As a bonus, Susan #Hoffinger, the prosecutor, has Cohen confirm that one of Trump’s lawyers at the time was aware of the statement & texted him to tell him that Trump was grateful for all he did.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney
#Hoffinger goes back to how #MichaelCohen was treated by the #Trump team. A complicating factor w/both Cohen & #StormyDaniels is they have multiple motives, & prosecutors have been telling the cleanest versions of their stories which makes it easy for the defense to pick at. However, the Trump team is essentially asking the #jury to believe everyone around Trump was acting shadily except for the shadiest of all – Trump.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#MichaelCohen has suggested several times that he committed #crimes in connection w/ the #StormyDaniels payoff. This is helpful for the prosecution, as they seek to prove to #jurors that #Trump caused the falsification of business records to conceal a 2nd #crime.
IMPORTANTLY That crime doesn’t need to have been committed by Trump — Cohen’s crimes are equally applicable.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
“Are you actually on trial here in this case?” #Hoffinger asks #MichaelCohen. “No,” he says. Through her questions, Hoffinger makes an obvious point — that the defense sought to make Cohen look like a #criminal. But ultimately, the jurors aren’t here to judge Cohen’s criminality. They are here to judge #Trump.
#law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#Hoffinger returns to what prosecutors say are #crimes. She asks if the $420k that #MichaelCohen received in 2017 — the reimbursement for the #HushMoney, additional money to cover taxes, a reimbursement for the payment to the tech company, RedFinch, & a bonus — had anything to do w/ #legal services.
Cohen: “No.”
Hoffinger emphasizes that the financial documents connected to the payments were false, because they said the payments were in exchange for legal services.
#MichaelCohen again testifies that the documents were false.
Cohen explains why he didn’t sign a retainer agreement or agree to pay #RobertCostello:
“I didn’t trust him,” he says, explaining that he thought everything he said to Costello would immediately make its way back to #Trump.
Cohen testifies that he signed a waiver in 2019 to talk to the #SDNY about Costello, & he is shown the waiver.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics
To an extent, the waiver corroborates #MichaelCohen’s story that he never hired #RobertCostello as a lawyer, though he did speak to him for a long time.
#Trump's lawyers, #Blanche & #Bove, are sitting on either side of him. When they want to talk to each other, they pass notes behind him or they both lean back & talk face to face, behind his back - possibly in order to not wake him up.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics
🚨👀🚨
Prosecutors have pictures of #Trump w/ his bodyguard #KeithSchiller on 24 Oct 2016, right around 7:57PM. The defense had sought to suggest that #MichaelCohen had talked to Schiller that night instead of Trump, as Cohen originally testified. Now, the prosecutors will fight to get this piece of #evidence in, which shows that Cohen easily could have talked to both Schiller & Trump on the call, as he testified.
#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
In response to prosecution’s photographic #evidence, #Blanche argues that the defense never said or implied that #KeithSchiller & #Trump were not together that evening.
I’m guessing #Merchan allows the evidence, defense opened introduced the idea, prosecution should be allowed to rebut.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics
And there it is:
“I think it’s relevant,” Justice #Merchan says, but he hasn’t decided if he’ll allow it. He says he wants to research defense argument that it’s #hearsay.
Prosecution argues the #evidence isn’t hearsay because an earlier expert witness laid the foundation to show it to jurors.
The evidence goes toward rebutting #Blanche’s argument that #MichaelCohen lied about speaking to #Trump on 24 Oct.
Obviously the defense wants to keep this piece of evidence from the jury.
Former Leader of the #HellsAngels Motorcycle #Gang Joins #Trump in Court
#ChuckZito, who spent years in prison on #drug #conspiracy charges, has tried to recast his persona as a general-purpose tough guy around town.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #MobTactics #GagOrder #StochasticTerrorism #criminals
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/20/nyregion/chuck-zito-hells-angels-trump-trial.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb
#ChuckZito, helped found in the early 1980s the NY Nomads chapter of the #HellsAngels, the infamous club that started in California. The #DOJ described the org as a #criminal enterprise & linked the NY chapter to the #Gambino #crime family. Zito later left the biker group to try become a movie star in Hollywood.
#Trump has long shown an affection for macho bikers [#ToxicMasculinity]….
#law #TrumpTrial #MobTactics #GagOrder #StochasticTerrorism #criminals
#Trump addressed a rally of bikers in DC in 2016 before the election.
“Do we love the bikers? Yes. We love the bikers,” he told the crowd.
A group called Bikers for Trump took part in several “Stop the Steal” rallies after Trump lost in 2020.
#ChuckZito was joined Mon by several Trump allies who have been charged w/ #crimes.
Zito has experience w/the #criminal #justice system, having served a prison term 1985–1991 for [#racketeering #conspiracy & #DrugTrafficking].
Acc/to the transcript, #Trump defense lawyers earlier today, told Judge #Merchan that they were considering calling 3 witnesses: #RobertCostello, the lawyer go-between for Trump & #MichaelCohen; Bradley Smith, an expert in #ElectionLaw; & a paralegal, to put in a piece of evidence. Todd #Blanche told the judge that Costello’s potential appearance would depend on how the morning’s testimony went.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney
Justice #Merchan returns from lunch w/a ruling on the evidentiary issue raised before the break, involving stills from a video that show #Trump w/ his bodyguard #KeithSchiller on the evening of 24 Oct 2016.
Defense sought to cast doubt on #MichaelCohen’s account of talking to Trump on Schiller’s phone that day.
Merchan says he will NOT allow in video stills that show Schiller w/Trump.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics
Hold the phone — Joshua #Steinglass, a prosecutor, says the prosecution will seek to bring back a witness who works at #CSPAN & testified earlier, so that he can #verify the stills.
#Merchan asks when the witness, who does not live in NYC, could return.
#Blanche, who normally tries to slow things down to delay & draw out the trial, complains that prosecutors are doing just that w/their effort to recall this witness. He says it’s “patently unfair.”
#Steinglass is obviously frustrated w/Justice #Merchan’s ruling, saying he doesn’t understand why they have to jump through so many hoops just to show that #KeithSchiller & #Trump were together that night. He asks to bring the #CSPAN witness in again. Merchan asks Trump atty #Blanche if he objects to the prosecutors bringing in the CSPAN witness after the defense rests. Blanche does protest.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics
Justice #Merchan suggests adjourning until tomorrow so prosecution can bring the #CSPAN witness back on video stills #evidence.
Defense: "That's not the way a trial is supposed to work..."
Prosecution says CSPAN will make the witness — #RobertBrowning, who is executive director of archives at the network — available to testify at 9:30 AM tomorrow.
#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics
#Steinglass calls out #Blanche for saying something that’s “just wrong,” namely that there were “5 or 6 days” where prosecutors ran out of witnesses.
“I recall stopping one time,” Justice Merchan says, appearing to agree that Blanche is not telling the truth.
[whereas defense hasn’t called anyone, & has done everything possible to delay proceedings]
#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics
#Blanche objects to the decision by the judge that will interrupt his cross-examination of #MichaelCohen. #Steinglass says that the witness will be very quick.
Justice #Merchan points out that the #TrumpTrial has already been delayed, given that closing statements will be next week. He gives Blanche the option to decide when the witness can appear.
#criminal #law #Trump #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics
Prosecutor #Steinglass says that “we may be able to short circuit” this process after all. Instead, the prosecution & the defense will agree to allow the exhibit in.
This is the 2nd time in this #TrumpTrial that the defense, under pressure, agreed to let in #evidence, possibly bc they realize that a whole witness appearing just to allow the exhibit in could draw more attention to it.
The 1st time was regarding old #Trump tweets.
#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
So to be clear, we will not hear from the #CSPAN witness again. We are continuing w/the prosecutors’ re-direct of #MichaelCohen, who is back on the stand. The photo of #KeithSchiller & #Trump on 24 Oct 2016, which is what the lawyers were arguing about, is immediately entered into #evidence.
Note the jury is never present / privy to these types of arguments. They just hear Susan Hoffinger, the prosecutor, entering the stills into evidence.
Prosecutors play the recording of #MichaelCohen talking to #KeithDavidson, who was #StormyDaniels's lawyer, but are playing more of it than before. It corroborates much of what Cohen’s testimony about the #HushMoney payment, including that he cared about #Trump & that he would not “play pennywise, pound foolish” w/his then-boss.
Audio:
https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/Evidence/People/5-2-2024/
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney
Prosecutor Susan #Hoffinger asks about the effect #MichaelCohen’s involvement w/ #Trump & this case has had on him.
“My entire life has been turned upside down,” Cohen says.
Cohen is saying he lost his #law license as a result, & that he blames Trump in part for that.
Hoffinger's redirect of Cohen is done.
#Blanche, the defense lawyer, is questioning Cohen again, & is drilling down on Cohen’s #guilty pleas to #crimes that were UNRELATED to Trump.
#Blanche, who now has to contend w/the visual #evidence of #Trump w/his bodyguard, #KeithSchiller, on 24 Oct 2016, tries to address it directly. He asks Cohen to again confirm that he told Trump that day that he had arranged to pay #StormyDaniels the #HushMoney.
Cohen says once more that he spoke to both Schiller & Trump.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#Blanche suggests that the famously frugal #Trump would have been unlikely to overpay anyone — again harping on the disparity between the $130k that #MichaelCohen paid #StormyDaniels & the $420k that Cohen was repaid. “Did he happily write checks to lawyers, for example?” Blanche asks.
“No, sir,” Cohen responds.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#Blanche concludes his re-cross-examination by asking #MichaelCohen if, in the 11 yrs he worked for #Trump, he ever recalled his boss having willingly overpayed for something. Cohen started by answering no, this was the first time — but then, he seemed to answer a different question, saying it was the first time he recalled Trump paying for a #NDA. Which wasn’t the question asked — confusing.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
“Your honor, the people rest,” prosecutor #Steinglass says. The prosecution's case against #Trump has concluded.
(Wait… what?)
The defense calls a witness: #DanielSitko, a paralegal who works for #Blanche.
The exhibit that defense uses the witness, #Sitko, for makes it clear that #MichaelCohen & #RobertCostello were in frequent communication.
Defense shows records of 75 calls between them, most if not all are in 2018
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#Blanche is done questioning #DanielSitko, defense's witness.
Prosecutor Rebecca #Mangold, who handled prosecution’s #CustodialWitnesses, is now questioning defense’s #CustodialWitness,
She starts by asking basic questions about the phone records he used to make the chart jurors just saw, which displayed calls between #MichaelCohen & #RobertCostello.
Mangold confirms that Cohen & Costello actually spoke fewer than 75 times, based on the way these phone calls were recorded.
Defense calls #RobertCostello, & prosecutors immediately ask to approach.
Costello will undoubtedly attack #MichaelCohen.
He recently testified before the #House #Judiciary Cmte, where he assailed Cohen’s credibility.
Costello also testified before the #GrandJury last year, in a last-ditch plea to the panel to not accept Cohen’s word. Which obviously didn’t work since the grand jury #indicted #Trump.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#RobertCostello wasn’t a potential witness in this #TrumpTrial until recently. Prosecutors are objecting to the scope of the questions the defense lawyers want to ask him about #MichaelCohen’s credibility.
Justice #Merchan sounds frustrated that this wasn’t worked out beforehand, which falls on the defense, not the prosecutors.
#criminal #law #Trump #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#Bove, one of #Trump’s defense lawyers, will be the one to question #RobertCostello.
Prosecutors point out that #MichaelCohen testified that he didn’t tell Costello the truth.
Bove argues “there’s no mystery” about why Costello should testify — he will contradict Cohen’s recollections of conversations the 2 men had in 2018 (remember there is audio).
Justice Merchan sounds disinclined to allowing much of Costello’s testimony.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
The testimony of another witness on the defense's witness list — who seems unlikely to testify — was litigated extensively. But Justice #Merchan is now being asked to rule on the spot whether & how #RobertCostello can testify.
Not having time to consider such decisions could increase the chances that he will make an appealable mistake. The defense is putting a lot of pressure on the judge by introducing a witness who was not on their original witness list.
Justice #Merchan says he will take 5 mins to decide. “Don’t leave the courtroom,” he says, frustrated.
Merchan returns & tells #Trump defense atty Emil #Bove that he will give him some latitude to explore the pressure campaign that #MichaelCohen said #RobertCostello waged during the summer of 2018. But Merchan adds: “I’m not going to allow this to become a trial within the trial” of Michael Cohen.
“The defense calls Robert Costello.”
#RobertCostello is sworn in.
Costello currently works at a law firm run by one of New York City’s most prominent lobbyists.
Costello describes #MichaelCohen as “absolutely manic” during their first meeting at the Loews Regency hotel on Park Ave in 2018, after his hotel room & office were searched by the FBI.
Costello testifies that Cohen told him then, w/ federal investigators breathing down his neck, that “my life is shattered.”
#RobertCostello testifies that #MichaelCohen then asked, “What's my escape route?” adding that he had told Cohen then that he could cooperate w/the govt.
“I swear to God, Bob, I don’t have anything on Donald Trump,” Costello recalls Cohen telling him. As prosecutors just pointed out — w/the #jury out of the room — Cohen testified that he lied to Costello at this point about the #StormyDaniels payment.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #Trump #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#RobertCostello shakes his head in apparent frustration w/ Justice #Merchan after Merchan sustains several objections by prosecutors. (Not a good look for jurors)
When Justice Merchan sustains yet another objection, he gets visibly irritated.
#Trump also shakes his head when the lawyers approach the bench for another sidebar.
🙄 idiots. Suck it up.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#RobertCostello’s is showing his obvious dislike of #MichaelCohen.
He testifies that w/respect to #StormyDaniels, Cohen said “numerous times” that #Trump “knew nothing about those payments, that he did this on his own.”
Prosecutor #Hoffinger objects to many of Emil #Bove's questions, often being sustained by #Merchan.
Costello is ignoring the judge’s rulings, so Justice Merchan warned him directly to wait for a ruling before answering.
It happens again when Justice #Merchan sustains an objection.
#RobertCostello says “jeez,” apparently meaning to question the judge's authority. “I’m sorry?” the judge asks, glaring at the witness.
More insanity: Costello just moved to strike his own answer.
Merchan the jury to step out again.
He scolds Costello.
After the exchange, Merchan orders that the courtroom be cleared.
The press is escorted out, but strangely #Trump’s *guests* are allowed to remain.
Before the press left, Justice #Merchan was lecturing #RobertCostello. “I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom, you don't give me side eye & you don't roll your eyes." he said. “If you don't like my ruling, you dont say 'jeez,' & you don’t say 'strike it,' because I’m the only one who can strike testimony in court.”
Court resumes, press is allowed back in, & the jurors are called back, totally unaware of the lecture & the clearing of the courtroom.
#RobertCostello again has an objection sustained while he is testifying & his answer is again stricken from the record. We are looking at an email he sent to #MichaelCohen in May 2018.
Asked if he ever pressured Cohen, Costello says no.
Costello testifies that he treated Cohen as a client & only had his interests at heart […yeah sure].
He says his obligation was to Cohen in the summer of 2018, & that he did not concern himself w/ #Trump’s interests at that time.
Prosecutor #Hoffinger is on cross-examination #RobertCostello for the prosecution.
Hoffinger gets under Costello’s skin quickly. “The email speaks for itself,” he keeps saying when asked about an email exchange between his law partner & Cohen.
Costello is now scolding Hoffinger for getting his past title wrong. (This guy is a shit show)
#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney #MobTactics
Susan #Hoffinger is a former defense lawyer & therefore is comfortable w/ cross-examination [unlike #Blanche]. She grills #RobertCostello about what he told #MichaelCohen as he was seeking to provide #legal advice. She says that Costello extolled his famous clients in an email to Cohen.
Costello insists that it was his partner, Jeff Citron, who had the relationship w/Cohen, & he met w/him because his partner made the arrangement. “It was Jeff Citron’s client, not mine,” he says.
#RobertCostello pauses before he answers even the simplest questions from prosecutor #Hoffinger. She asks if #MichaelCohen, as the president’s lawyer, would have been a high-profile client for him. “Would it be a big win for you & your firm?” Hoffinger asks. “I would say no,” Costello responds. Hoffinger asks Costello if he would announce Cohen as a client on his website. Costello says he’s not sure what the firm would do.
#Hoffinger shows #RobertCostello an email he sent to his own son. The email says “I will be on the team,” & it quotes #MichaelCohen as saying that he would be “eternally grateful” to have him.
Costello told his son that he did not know when the announcement would be made. His son responded: "Wow. That’s big news. Congrats Dad. I hope this leads to a lot of good things coming your way.”
[oops]
#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #MobTactics
#RobertCostello said he wasn’t seeking #MichaelCohen as a client. But his email shows his own son knew that landing Cohen was a big deal.
Costello was called by the defense to attack Cohen’s credibility. So far he is attacking his own.
#RobertCostello attacks #Hoffinger as she questions him.
He keeps correcting her tiny misstatements, like when she described him as a fmr “chief” of a criminal division rather than a “deputy chief”.
He took issue w/her use of the term “raid” when she referred to the FBI executing a search warrant against #MichaelCohen.
He just instructed her to talk into the microphone.
Note: There are 5 women on the jury.
The judge tells the jurors that we will stop for the day, & begins to excuse them.
Susan #Hoffinger asks that #RobertCostello be reminded that he is not meant to interact w/either party while still on the stand. But Justice #Merchan says he doesn’t normally give that instruction & allows Costello to step down. Hoffinger says she has ~45 mins of questions left for Costello.
#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney
#Trump’s defense lawyers signal that they will likely rest their case tomorrow morning.
Justice #Merchan says the jury will be excused after that.
Court is not done for the day; defense lawyers now move to dismiss the case.
#Blanche argues that there is no #evidence that Trump intended while in the White House to mislead, hide or falsify the records at issue in the case.
Blanche throws a lot of spaghetti at the wall during his motion to dismiss.
#Blanche says there is no evidence of a #conspiracy having been formed in Oct 2015, misstating the month in which prosecutors say #Trump, #MichaelCohen & David #Pecker, the fmr publisher of The #NationalEnquirer, agreed that Pecker would suppress negative stories on Trump’s behalf. It was August.
As Blanche argues that he irrefutably proved that Cohen lied, #Merchan interrupts, “You’re asking me to not find Mr. Cohen credible as a matter of #law?” Merchan asks.
Justice Merchan asks whether #Blanche wants him to rip the case away from the #jury & decide it himself. Blanche agrees that this is what the defense wants (not bloody likely — #Trump has repeatedly claimed Merchan is out to get him).
“You said that his lies were irrefutable but you think he’s going to fool 12 New Yorkers into believing this lie?” #Merchan says referring to #MichaelCohen.
#criminal #law #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference #HushMoney
Justice #Merchan asks to hear from the prosecution.
Prosecutor #Colangelo responds to Blanche’s motion to dismiss. He points to NY #law on the issues of falsifying business records & intent to defraud, & says that the #GrandJury record shows #evidence of a “general intent to deceive.” Referring to the “overwhelming record of concealment,” Colangelo drives home that prosecutors have made a good showing on #intent.
#criminal #law #Trump #TrumpTrial #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
Justice #Merchan says he will reserve his decision for tomorrow. We are done w/ another long #TrumpTrial day. Prosecution rested its case against #Trump, & the defense got through a significant portion of theirs. If things go acc/to schedule, the defense will rest tomorrow, & the jury will be excused for the rest of the week, returning after the holiday weekend to hear closing arguments.
#criminal #law #CatchAndKill #conspiracy #ElectionInterference
#Trump in his insecurity, goes for the petulant power play:
No one can leave because he isn’t.
Trump, who loves having everyone's eyes on him, is talking to his lawyers. After a bit, his posse starts to leave.
Prosecutors try to as well, but are stopped by #SecretService.
The power dynamic is whack. Prosecution has the power to ask the judge to hold Trump in contempt & to ask jurors to convict him. But the #USSS has the power to stop prosecutors from leaving if deemed necessary.
From the ofcl #TrumpTrial transcript:
JUDGE MERCHAN: All right. Let the record reflect that it's now five after four. Let the record also reflect that the court officers had great difficulty clearing the courtroom, because the courtroom is made up primarily of the press. And I can appreciate that the press wants to be present for every part of these proceedings, therefore, this record is not sealed. The press will have access to this record.
[#Merchan cont]
“The fact that I had to clear the courtroom & that the court officers, including the Captain, had great difficulty clearing the courtroom, & that there was argument back & forth between the press & including counsel for the press, goes to why I had to clear the courtroom in the first place. And that is, sir, your conduct is contemptuous right now. I'm putting you on notice that your conduct is contemptuous.”
[#Merchan cont]
“If you try to stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand.
[Merchan to the defense]
“I will strike his entire testimony; do you understand me?
#TRUMP ATTY: Yes, Judge. I understand.
JUDGE MERCHAN: Listen to the question & answer the question.
#RobertCostello: Can I say something, please?
JUDGE MERCHAN: No. No. This is not a conversation.
ROBERT COSTELLO: Okay.
@Nonilex I'm not sure I understand why he cleared the room…of specifically the press
Was it because he thought Costello was acting out for the press and would listen if they weren't there?
To send a message to the defense & allies that he was done with their 💩 and has real power?
Nonilex
i.grok
WhichOne'sPink 🇫🇮
Deb has moved! (see profile) 🇨🇦
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