Trump trial recap: Listen to clip of Trump, Michael Cohen allegedly talking hush money
Editor's note: This page reflects the news of Donald Trump's criminal trial on Monday, May 13. For the latest news from the hush money trial in New York, follow our live updates from the courtroom for Tuesday, May 14.
Michael Cohen took a Manhattan jury step by step through Donald Trump's alleged efforts to buy the silence of adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the waning weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign.
Under gentle questioning from prosecutors, Trump's former fixer said the reality TV star told him to "Just do it" when the time came to pay Daniels $130,000 to stay quiet about a purported sexual encounter.
"Women are gonna hate me," Cohen recalled Trump saying of the potential bombshell. "Guys may think it's cool, but this is going to be a disaster for the campaign." Cohen testified that he, Trump, and Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg together discussed how the reality-star-turned-president would reimburse Cohen for the payment he'd made to Daniels.
Listen to a recording that jurors heard of Trump and Cohen allegedly discussing a hush money deal here:
Cohen served time in federal prison for lying to Congress, tax evasion, and for his role in the hush money payments. Trump is charged with falsifying business records to cover up the true purpose of his reimbursements to Cohen.
Here are key events from Monday's proceedings, the first-ever criminal trial of a former president:
Trump blasts judge, prosecutor again while leaving court
Former President Donald Trump repeated familiar arguments against his New York hush money trial as he left court for the day, complaining that Judge Juan Merchan is “corrupt” and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg hasn’t proved his case.
“This is a scam,” Trump said. “It’s a terrible thing that’s happening to democracy in this country.”
More: A guilty verdict? Donald Trump and allies are bracing voters for the worst
Trump has criticized Merchan because his daughter works for Democratic politicians, but a state ethics board cleared the judge to preside over the case. Trump also criticized Bragg for bringing a case that the Justice Department, the Federal Election Commission and Bragg’s predecessor as district attorney declined to prosecute.
In a nearly seven-minute address, Trump read a series of statements favoring him or criticizing the trial by academics, legal experts or lawmakers who support him, such as Ohio GOP Sen. J.D. Vance.
“We have a corrupt judge,” Trump said. “He ought to let us go out and campaign.”
– Bart Jansen
Monday proceedings end; Michael Cohen to continue testifying Tuesday
Judge Juan Merchan declared an end to Monday's testimony. Michael Cohen will be due back on the stand for more testimony Tuesday morning.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump promised to name Cohen 'personal attorney' to the president, ex lawyer says
Cohen testified that Trump said he would name Cohen personal attorney to the president. Cohen said Trump made that promise around the same time of the meeting where Cohen, Trump, and Weisselberg discussed reimbursing the payment to Stormy Daniels. He said the promise happened either in the meeting or shortly afterwards.
– Aysha Bagchi
Why Cohen's testimony on meeting with Trump and Weisselberg is key
Cohen's testimony on Donald Trump approving the scheme for reimbursing Cohen is important for the prosecution. Trump is charged with falsifying business records to cover up that a series of $35,000 payments to Cohen in 2017 were reimbursements for the hush money Cohen paid Daniels.
Prosecutors need to not only show the records were false ? but also that Trump himself had an intent to defraud. This testimony speaks to Trump's knowledge of the alleged scheme to reimburse Cohen while falsifying what the payments to Cohen were for.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: What happens if Trump is found guilty in hush money case? Prison is certainly an option.
Key testimony: Cohen says Trump approved reimbursement scheme
In key testimony for the prosecution, Cohen testified he met with Donald Trump and Allen Weisselberg and Trump approved the plan to repay Cohen for the Stormy Daniels hush money through a scheme that involved stretching out payments over 12 months in 2017.
In Trump's presence, Weisselberg said during the meeting that the money would be repaid as a monthly retainer for legal services, Cohen testified. A legal retainer is an agreement with a lawyer about compensation that reserves a lawyer or pays for future services.
Weisselberg said the money to Cohen was a monthly retainer even though the three men were actually discussing repaying Cohen for the hush money, as well as giving him a bonus and repaying him for a separate expense, according to Cohen.
"He approved it," Cohen told jurors, speaking about Trump.
Trump added, according to Cohen: "This is gonna be one heck of a ride in DC."
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump promised to 'take care of' Cohen's insulting bonus, the former lawyer testifies
Cohen said, after learning his year-end bonus had been cut by two thirds, he was angry and immediately went to Allen Weisselberg, Trump's chief financial officer. "I used quite a few expletives," Cohen said.
"You didn't lay out the money, I did," Cohen said he told Weisselberg, speaking of the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. He complained the best he got was a substantially reduced bonus.
"Take it easy, you know that Mr. Trump loves you," Weisselberg responded, according to Cohen. Weisselberg promised they would make sure Cohen was taken care of, saying they were going to make things right after the holiday, when everyone returned to the office.
More: Allen Weisselberg, ex-CFO of Trump Organization, sentenced to 5 months for perjury
"I was, even for myself, unusually angry," Cohen said. Hus fury was less about the number than the "disrespect that came with it," he said.
Cohen described later getting a call from Trump. "Don't worry about that other thing – I'm going to take care of it," Trump said, according to Cohen. Trump explained he had spoken with Weisselberg and knew Cohen was angry, but promised they would take care of it.
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen 'beyond angry,' 'personally hurt' by slashed 2016 Trump bonus
Michael Cohen described doing a "double take" at his 2016 year-end bonus after seeing Donald Trump, by then president-elect, had cut it by two-thirds. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Cohen how he felt. "Beyond angry," Cohen said.
Trump's former hatchet man went on about his feelings: "Truly insulted, personally hurt by it, didn't understand it, made no sense."
Cohen said that, after all he had gone through, including with the $130,000 hush money he paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, "it was insulting that the gratitude shown back to me was to cut the bonus by two thirds."
– Aysha Bagchi
Eric Trump smirks as Cohen describes crushed ego over top White House job
Michael Cohen said he was disappointed that his name hadn't been included among those considered for the critical job of Trump's White House chief of staff. "I didn't want the role. I didn't believe the role was right for me" or even that "I was even competent," Cohen testified. But he wanted his name on the list.
Just after Cohen said that, Eric Trump turned his face to the left and smirked. The Trump son is seated in the first row of benches behind the Trump defense team.
Cohen went on to say his feelings were more about his "ego" than anything else. "Again, it was solely for my ego."
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Who is Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg? Prosecutor has battled Donald Trump in court before
Prosecutor expects questioning of Cohen to go into Tuesday
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger said at the start of a short afternoon break in testimony that she expects her questioning of Michael Cohen to go into part of Tuesday.
Hoffinger was responding to a question from Judge Juan Merchan. The Trump defense team will have the chance to cross-examine Cohen after the prosecution has finished its initial questioning.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: 'Women will hate me:' Trump's concerns on 2016 scandals were about campaign, Cohen testifies
Read Hope Hicks, Michael Cohen emails responding to hush money story
Jurors were shown a Nov. 4, 2016 email exchange between top Trump aide Hope Hicks and Michael Cohen over how to respond to a Wall Street Journal story on a Trump hush money deal involving former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The exchange took place just four days ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
You can read the full exchange here:
Cohen recommended blaming 'liberal media' for Wall Street Journal hush money story
Jurors were shown a Nov. 4, 2016 email from 2016 Trump campaign press secretary Hope Hicks proposing four possible responses to a request for comment from the Wall Street Journal. The Journal published a story that day on the hush money deal between former Playboy model Karen McDougal and the parent company for the National Enquirer.
Hicks' proposals denied knowledge that McDougal's story was being shopped around. But the proposal Cohen sent back was more vague. It said the accusations were untrue and alleged "the Clinton machine" and "the liberal media" were trying to distract the public.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump's secret code name was 'David Dennison' during hush money deal, Cohen says
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is taking Michael Cohen through documents tied to the hush money deal with Stormy Daniels. In at least one document, Cohen said he signed "DD" for Trump, who was referred to in the agreement by the pseudonym "David Dennison."
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Who is Michael Cohen, the 'pathological liar' at the center of Trump's hush-money case?
Trump said, 'Don't worry, you'll get the money back,' Michael Cohen tells jury
Cohen said he and Allen Weisselberg told Trump that Cohen was going to pay the hush money to keep Stormy Daniels quiet ahead of the 2016 election. Trump was "appreciative and, 'Good, good,'" Cohen said, seeming to describe Trump repeating that word twice.
"He stated to me, don't worry, you'll get the money back," Cohen added.
Cohen said he wouldn't have paid for the $130,000 for the non-disclosure agreement without an understanding that he would get paid back.
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen asked Weisselberg to pay Stormy Daniels: testimony
Michael Cohen said he had a discussion with Allen Weisselberg the potential hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Cohen asked Weisselberg to make the payment, but Weisselberg said he was too stretched for cash. Weisselberg described having grandchildren in prep school and summer camps that he was paying for.
"Don't worry about it," Weisselberg allegedly told Cohen about paying Daniels. I will "make sure you get paid back."
– Aysha Bagchi
'Just do it': Trump allegedly told Cohen on Stormy Daniels hush money
Cohen said he was feeling pressure in October of 2016 about Stormy Daniels because he feared she would give her story about Trump to the Daily Mail.
Cohen said he spoke to Trump about it. "Just do it," Trump allegedly told Cohen. Trump instructed Cohen to meet up with then-Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg "and figure this whole thing out."
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen describes interview with Wolf Blitzer on Access Hollywood tape
Cohen described giving an interview to CNN's Wolf Blitzer after the release of the Access Hollywood tape in October of 2016. "I advocated for Mr. Trump in the best light possible," Cohen said of the interview. He added that he told Blitzer he had never seen Trump "act in this sort of manner before."
Cohen told jurors he was, at the time, doing everything he could to "change the direction of the comments."
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen asked about call to Trump on Oct. 18, 2016
Jurors were shown a text message from Melania Trump to Cohen, asking Cohen to call Donald Trump. The text was sent on Oct. 18, 2016 at 8:53 a.m. Cohen said he would normally have been in the office by that time and believes he called Trump from a landline at the Trump Organization.
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen discusses opening bank account with false information
Cohen described opening a bank account at First Republic Bank for a limited liability company he wanted to use for a potential hush money payment to Daniels. Cohen confirmed to prosecutor Susan Hoffinger that he provided the bank with a false description of the purpose of the account.
Cohen's former banker at First Republic Bank, Gary Farro, has already testified. He said if he had known Cohen was setting up a shell company that didn't have a business behind it, he wouldn't have helped Cohen. However, when Cohen said he was opening a new company to collect fees for consulting work in real estate deals, it didn't raise alarm bells for Farro, he said.
– Aysha Bagchi
Eric Trump calls Michael Cohen’s testimony ‘rehearsed’
Former President Donald Trump has been ordered not to comment on jurors or on witness participation in the case, but that hasn’t stopped his surrogates, including son Eric Trump, who attended court Monday.
“I have never seen anything more rehearsed!” Eric Trump said in a social media post about the testimony of Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
– Bart Jansen
Michael Cohen testimony has resumed
Michael Cohen began testifying again at 2:03 p.m. EDT, after a lunch break.
– Aysha Bagchi
Court on lunch break until 2 p.m. EDT
Judge Juan Merchan declared a break in Michael Cohen's testimony for lunch. "See you at two," Merchan said.
– Aysha Bagchi
'He wasn't thinking about Melania. This was all about the campaign.'
Cohen testified that Trump instructed him to push out paying Stormy Daniels as long as he could, and to just get past the election. Trump allegedly said if he won the election before the story could be released, the story would then have "no relevance." Trump added, according to Cohen: "And if I lose, I wouldn't care."
According to Cohen, Trump also asked how long he – Trump – would be on the market for, and then answered his own question: "Not long." Cohen testified he understood that to mean Trump's concern, when it came to the potential Daniels story, was about the election, not his wife.
"He wasn't thinking about Melania. This was all about the campaign," Cohen said.
Cohen said he was instructed by Trump: "Push it past the election day." "I was following directions," Cohen added.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger showed jurors communication between Cohen and then-Daniels lawyer Keith Davidson, who has already testified. Cohen explained that Davidson was pushing for the hush money to be paid by Oct. 14, 2016.
However, Cohen told jurors he had a clear plan: "Delay."
– Aysha Bagchi
'Women will hate me,' 'Guys may think it's cool': Trump allegedly said on Stormy Daniels story
Cohen testified that Trump instructed him, when it came to a potential Stormy Daniels story ahead of the 2016 election: "Just take care of it." Trump also characterized it as a "total disaster," according to Cohen.
"Women are gonna hate me," Trump allegedly said. "Guys may think it's cool, but this is going to be a disaster for the campaign," Trump added, according to Cohen.
Cohen said Trump was thinking of the coupling of the story with the Access Hollywood tape, which had already hit the press. Trump allegedly said, "This is a disaster" and "Get control over it."
– Aysha Bagchi
'She was a beautiful woman,' Trump said of Stormy Daniels: testimony
Cohen said he asked if Trump had an affair with Stormy Daniels and Trump didn't answer the question. However, when Cohen asked Trump what Daniels looked like, Trump allegedly responded: "She was a beautiful woman."
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump boasted women prefer him to 'Big Ben' Roethlisberger in Stormy Daniels conversation: testimony
Trump said he and Ben Roethlisberger had met Stormy Daniels, Cohen testified. Trump added that women prefer him even above someone like "Big Ben," Cohen told the jurors.
–Aysha Bagchi
'Do it. Take care of it.': Trump to Cohen on Stormy Daniels, per testimony
When Cohen went to Trump about learning from Dylan Howard about a story from Stormy Daniels concerning an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, Cohen said he made a suggestion about how to handle it. Trump responded, according to Cohen: "Do it. Take care of it."
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump told Cohen he knew who Stormy Daniels was: testimony
Cohen said he went to Trump and told him he learned from Dylan Howard about a story that Stormy Daniels had a sexual encounter with him.
Cohen asked Trump if he knew who Daniels was. "He told me that he did," Cohen testified.
Cohen said he told Trump about a website called "TheDirty.com" having posted about a relationship between Daniels and Trump during a golf outing going back to 2006.
– Aysha Bagchi
'Catastrophic': Cohen's thought when he learned of Stormy Daniels story
Cohen described learning that porn star Stormy Daniels was trying to sell a story of a sexual encounter with Trump. He said his thoughts were that it was "catastrophic, that this is horrible for the campaign."
Cohen said he learned of it from then-National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard.
– Aysha Bagchi
Chris Cuomo text to Cohen: 'You going to defend him?'
Jurors were shown text messages that Cohen testified were between him and Chris Cuomo, who was then an on-camera journalist at CNN. The messages were exchanged soon after the release of the Access Hollywood tape featuring Trump boasting about grabbing women's genitals.
"You going to defend him?" Cuomo asked Cohen.
Cohen responded with three separate messages, first, "I'm in London," second, "I have been asked by everyone to do shows starting Tuesday," and third, "Not sure what I will do."
Cuomo replied with two messages, first, "Will be too late" and second, "He is dying right now."
Cohen said the concern at the time was that the tape would be significantly impactful when it came to the campaign, especially with women voters.
– Aysha Bagchi
'Put a spin on this': Trump to Cohen on Access Hollywood, per testimony
Cohen described having phone calls with Trump about the Access Hollywood tape while Cohen was with his family and friends in London having dinner. Cohen stepped out to take the calls, he said.
Speaking about what Trump said, Cohen testified: "He wanted me to reach out to all of my contacts in the media. We needed to put a spin on this. And the spin that he wanted put on it was that this is locker room talk – something that Melania had recommended, or at least he told me that that's what Melania had thought it was – and use that in order to get control over the story and to minimize its impact on him and his campaign."
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen says Hope Hicks called him about Access Hollywood tape
Michael Cohen described getting a call from Hope Hicks during the 2016 presidential campaign about the infamous Access Hollywood tape, in which Trump boasted about kissing women without waiting and grabbing their genitals.
– Aysha Bagchi
3 GOP lawmakers support Trump and blast judge, prosecutor, Cohen
Three Republican lawmakers who attended Trump’s hush money trial Monday blasted the judge, prosecutor and star witness, Michael Cohen, on the courthouse steps.
Trump is prohibited from commenting on Cohen, his former personal lawyer, because of a gag order from Judge Juan Merchan.
“This guy is a convicted felon who admitted in his testimony that he secretly recorded his former employer,” Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, said of Cohen. “Does any reasonable, sensible person believe anything that Michael Cohen says? I don’t think that they should.”
Vance also said Democratic operatives were handling the case, including Merchan because his daughter works for Democratic political candidates, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
“What’s going on inside that courtroom is a threat to American democracy,” Vance said. “This is a disgrace and I wanted to show some support for my friend.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., complained that the courtroom is depressing and authorities are trying to impose mental anguish on Trump.
“The DA comes in and acts like it’s his Super Bowl. Maybe it is, to be noticed,” said Tuberville, a former football coach at Auburn University. “I’m glad to stand by President Trump. I’m a friend of his. I’m here more as a friend than backing him as a candidate for president.”
Tuberville also blasted Cohen as a convicted felon.
“This guy, he’s giving an acting scene,” Tuberville said. “How can you be convinced by somebody that is a serial liar? There should be no reason anybody should listen to this guy.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., also criticized Cohen as a convicted, disbarred perjurer.
“The people of the state of New York know this is a sham trial,” she said.
– Bart Jansen
Cohen describes failed effort to buy Karen McDougal's story from Pecker's company
After American Media Inc, the parent company for the National Enquirer, bought Karen McDougal's story, Cohen tried to arrange a deal to pay the company $125,000 to buy the story, he said.
David Pecker, who headed the parent company at the time of these discussions, already testified that the $125,000 figure was arrived at because the remaining $25,000 of the $150,000 the company paid McDougal was meant to value other things the company was getting as part of the deal with her, such as articles under her name.
Cohen described an effort to pay the $125,000 for the story in a way that would shield what was happening and separate the transaction from Trump. Jurors saw a document in which the parent media company would assign the rights to McDougal's story to a company called "Resolution Consultants LLC." They also saw a document characterizing $125,000 as an agreed upon "flat fee" for "advisory services," which Cohen testified was not truthful because the $125,000 was actually to get the life rights to McDougal's story
However, Cohen said Pecker told him the $125,00 was no longer necessary because Pecker felt he had gotten a lot from the McDougal deal. Pecker allegedly told Cohen a McDougal front cover on Men's Health Magazine "had sold more copies than they had not only anticipated," but than "they had ever sold." Pecker noted he had a second cover to come from McDougal as well as 24 stories under her name through the deal, which Cohen said Pecker described as "excellent."
– Aysha Bagchi
Vice presidential candidates travel to New York to back up Trump
A bevy of potential Republican vice presidential possibilities are flocking to New York this week to audition for Trump.
While Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance attended the court session Monday, other running mate candidates are expected to travel to New York City for a Trump fundraiser on Tuesday.
That guest list includes South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who suspended her book tour because of so many questions about shooting her dog, is also expected to attend Trump's fundraiser in Manhattan on Tuesday.
Vance is scheduled to be with Trump at another fundraiser in Cincinnati on Wednesday, an off day for the trial.
– Kinsey Crowley
Cohen describes conversation with Allen Weisselberg on McDougal hush money payment
Cohen says he used to have a good relationship with Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. Weisselberg is currently in jail for committing perjury in Trump's New York civil fraud trial.
Cohen described having "maybe 10, 12" conversations with Weisselberg about the hush money deal with Karen McDougal, including about how to pay the money. Ultimately, the parent company for the National Enquirer paid McDougal $150,000.
In one of the conversations, Weisselberg told Cohen, per Cohen's testimony: "If we do it from a Trump entity, that kind of defeats the purpose." Weisselberg allegedly went on to explain the payment mechanism needs to "create a barrier" between the deal and the Trump world. Weisselberg sait to think about ways to raise the $150,000, according to Cohen.
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen says he stopped recording after getting what he needed from Trump
The recording between Trump and Cohen ends as their conversation is ongoing, which may be a significant focus for Trump's legal team when they have the chance to cross-examine Cohen later in the trial.
However, Cohen just gave an explanation. He said he stopped recording because he captured what he meant to capture: a statement from Trump that would "appease" David Pecker when it came to Pecker's concern about being paid back for the $150,000 to Karen McDougal in the hush money deal.
– Aysha Bagchi
Read transcript of Trump-Cohen recording played for jurors
Prosecutors have shown the jury a transcript of the recording between Trump and Cohen that we have been listening to, which Cohen said was about arrangements to buy Karen McDougal's story of an affair with Trump.
You can read the full transcript here:
– Aysha Bagchi
Jury hears recording of Trump and Cohen allegedly talking about McDougal deal
The prosecution just played a recording for the jury of Trump and Cohen having a discussion. The jurors have already heard this recording in the trial.
"I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend, David," Cohen tells Trump on the recording.
Cohen just explained to jurors that "David" was "David Pecker," and the company was a way to have "separation," to keep the deal away from Trump. He said that was "for privacy purposes" and "for the benefit of Mr. Trump."
– Aysha Bagchi
'Fantastic. Great job.': Trump quoted on McDougal hush money deal
Cohen said when he told Trump the hush money deal had closed to buy the rights to Karen McDougal's story of an affair with Trump, the then-presidential candidate responded: "Fantastic. Great job."
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump eyes closed, appears at least somewhat awake
Trump still has his eyes closed as Michael Cohen is testifying. I just counted to 50 at 11:05 a.m. EDT, with a "Mississippi" in between each number, and Trump never opened his eyes. He did move his head to his right and later to his left during that time, so he does appear to be at least somewhat awake. His behavior continues to contrast with his son, Eric Trump, who seemed to be watching Cohen testify throughout that time.
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen describes $150,000 deal for McDougal's story
Cohen described the agreement he was told the National Enquirer's parent company reached with Karen McDougal to buy her story. McDougal would get $150,000 and the media company would provide her with 24 penned articles under her name, Cohen said. She would also be on two covers of one of the various magazines the media company owned, Cohen added.
– Aysha Bagchi
Jurors shown texts as Cohen says he was trying to reach Trump about McDougal
Jurors were shown text messages of Cohen trying to reach Trump on June 16, 2016. Cohen testified he wanted to update Trump on a meeting between then-National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard and "McDougal's people" about potentially buying the rights to her story of an affair with Trump.
– Aysha Bagchi
'She's really beautiful': Cohen quotes Trump response on former Playboy model's story
Cohen said he brought up Karen McDougal to Trump, after Cohen learned she was shopping a story around. McDougal is a former Playboy model who says she had an affair that overlapped with Melania Trump's pregnancy. Trump denies the affair.
According to Cohen, when he raised McDougal with Trump, the real estate mogul responded: "She's really beautiful."
McDougal was a potential witness in this trial, but the prosecution has now said it won't call her.
– Aysha Bagchi
'That's great,' Trump allegedly said of purchase of doorman's story
Cohen described updating Trump once the deal for buying the Trump Tower doorman's story was completed. "That's great," Trump responded, according to Cohen.
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen updated Trump 'immediately' on doorman story purchase process
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Cohen if he updated Trump when he got updates about the process of preventing a Trump Tower doorman's story from becoming public. "Immediately," Cohen replied.
That's helpful testimony for the prosecution in tying Trump to at least the hush money payment to the doorman. A later hush money payment that went directly from Cohen to a lawyer for Stormy Daniels is the payment that's at the core of the charges against Trump.
– Aysha Bagchi
'You handle it': Cohen describes purchase of Trump Tower doorman's story
Cohen just testified about the process under which American Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer, purchased the story of Dino Sajudin, a doorman at Trump Tower. The story – which has been widely questioned, and denied by Trump – was that Trump fathered a child out of wedlock with a housekeeper. Sajudin didn't say he had any personal knowledge about it, but said he had heard the story.
Trump told Cohen to make sure the story doesn't get out, Cohen said. "You handle it," he quoted Trump as saying. Trump also allegedly told Cohen to speak to employees and let them know the potential story was being taken care of.
Cohen described working with David Pecker and Dylan Howard to buy the life rights to the story, which is a way to prevent the person with the story from sharing it with other publications.
– Aysha Bagchi
'Just be prepared. There's gonna be a lot of women coming forward.': Trump, according to Cohen
As Trump was planning his 2016 presidential campaign, he said to Cohen, according to Cohen's testimony: "Just be prepared. There's gonna be a lot of women coming forward."
– Aysha Bagchi
National Enquirer was helping Trump campaign, Cohen testifies
Cohen described the National Enquirer helping the 2016 Trump campaign by publishing negative stories about Trump's political competitors. David Pecker, the former head of the National Enquirer's parent company, described this earlier in the trial as well. Jurors were shown at the time several articles that were run, such as a March 30, 2016, article titled: "TED CRUZ SEX SCANDAL – 5 SECRET MISTRESSES."
Cohen also described a meeting jurors have been previously told about in Trump Tower in August of 2015. At that meeting, Pecker previously testified he promised to be "eyes and ears" for the campaign, helping Trump and Cohen prevent negative stories about Trump from getting out.
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen describes speaking to Trump about presidential run in 2011
Cohen described speaking to Trump about running for president in 2011. He said he brought Trump an article about the idea of Trump running, and he set up a website, "shouldtrumprun.com." Many people came to that website, which was further proof Trump's popularity was so strong, Cohen testified.
Asked why Trump didn't run then, Cohen said Trump had acquired several large real estate projects, and there was another season of The Apprentice. "You don't need Hollywood, Hollywood needs you," Trump said, according to Cohen.
But Trump promised Cohen he would run for president in the next election cycle, Cohen said. For years thereafter, they would talk about Trump running in 2016, Cohen said.
– Aysha Bagchi
Is Trump sleeping in courtroom?
Trump's eyes continue to be closed as Michael Cohen testifies. I just counted to 50, with a "Mississippi" between each number, without Trump opening his eyes or moving his head. It's 10:16 a.m. EDT, and Cohen is currently testifying about communications with Dylan Howard, the former editor of the National Enquirer.
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen says he and David Pecker sometimes wanted non-traceable communication
Cohen said he met David Pecker, who used to head the parent company of the National Enquirer, at a function on Long Island many years ago, and were re-acquainted later. Pecker has already testified that he participated with Cohen and Trump in a "catch-and-kill" scheme to snap up stories that could hurt Trump in the 2016 election.
Cohen said he and Pecker would sometimes communicate over an encrypted messaging application, Signal. Asked why they used that application, Cohen said: "Depending upon the matter, sometimes we thought that encryption, not having the event traceable, would be beneficial."
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump believed an email address created risk of indictment: Cohen
Cohen said he generally communicated with Trump either in person or on a cell phone. He is still talking about the time he worked for Trump before the 2016 presidential election.
"Mr. Trump never had an email address," Cohen said. "He would comment that emails are like written papers, it's, he knows too many people who have gone down as a direct result of having emails that prosecutors can use in a case."
Cohen also said Trump liked to be kept abreast of developments from all his executives. "Keep me informed, let me know what's going on," Cohen characterized Trump as saying. "As soon as you had a result or answer, you would go straight back and tell him, especially if it was a matter that was troubling to him."
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen worked about 50 feet from Trump's office, spoke 'every single day'
Cohen described working "maybe 50 feet, 60 feet" from Trump's office in the time before Trump ran for president in 2016. Asked how often he met or spoke with Trump at the time, Cohen said: "Every single day, and multiple times per day."
– Aysha Bagchi
Cohen helped Trump with now-shuttered Trump University
Cohen described beginning to work for Trump with an agreement to a $375,000 base salary. "Bonus of course was to be discussed," Cohen said after prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked about a bonus. Cohen just described re-negotiating bills for Trump University, a now-shuttered institution. Trump settled fraud lawsuits tied to Trump University for $25 million.
Cohen also said he would speak to members of the press in a threatening way about stories that were bad for Trump, telling them to take the stories down.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump's eyes closed as Cohen testifies
Donald Trump's eyes are closed as Cohen is testifying. I just counted to 30, with a "Mississippi" in between each number, without Trump opening his eyes. I stopped counting, but his eyes remain closed. That's in contrast to Eric Trump, who is seated in a bench row behind his father and appears to be watching Cohen testify.
– Aysha Bagchi
Sens. J.D. Vance, Tommy Tuberville join Trump at New York trial
Trump was joined at his New York hush money trial on Monday by his son Eric and Sens. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.
Vance patted Trump on the shoulder after he railed against the prosecution to reporters outside the courtroom.
Other lawmakers have joined the former president at previous court sessions, including Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., as Trump has complained the charges represent election interference to keep him off the presidential campaign trail.
– Bart Jansen
Michael Cohen begins testifying
The prosecution called Michael Cohen to the witness stand. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is asking Cohen introductory questions. He said he is 57 years old. His marriage is going on 30 years, he said. His father survived the Holocaust. He was introduced to Trump by Trump son Donald Trump Jr.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge denies prosecution's request to show jury Weisselberg deal
Judge Merchan opened proceedings today by denying a request the prosecution made on Friday to show jurors a severance agreement that the prosecution believes would offer a reason why former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg hasn't testified. Merchan said the agreement doesn't prove an element of an offense Trump is charged with. "It doesn't move the ball in any way" in terms of satisfying your burden of proof, Merchan told prosecutors this morning.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said on Friday the agreement appears to put Weisselberg at risk of losing $750,000 in severance pay if he talks to the prosecution.
Weisselberg is currently serving a five-month jail sentence for committing perjury during Trump's New York civil fraud trial.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump calls payments to Cohen legitimate ‘legal expense’
Former President Donald Trump didn’t mention his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, before entering the courtroom Monday for his New York hush money trial, but continued to blast the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan for what he called election interference.
Cohen is expected to testify about paying porn actress Stormy Daniels to remain silent before the 2016 election about her claim of a sexual episode with Trump. Trump, who is charged with falsifying business records to reimburse Cohen, has denied having sex with Daniels and argued he was paying Cohen for legal expenses.
“We don’t call it construction work. We don’t say for concrete work. We don’t say for electrical work. We paid a lawyer a legal expense,” Trump told reporters outside the courtroom. “It’s perfectly marked down. The other side doesn’t know how to handle it but they say, ‘Let’s indict him anyway.’”
– Bart Jansen
Judge arrives for Day 16 of Trump trial
Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom at 9:32 a.m. EDT for today's proceedings. "Good morning, counsel. Good morning, Mr. Trump," Merchan said after the legal teams identified themselves.
– Aysha Bagchi
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg present today
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is in the courtroom today. He entered at 9:23 a.m. EDT, shortly after former President Trump. Bragg has attended some but not all of the trial proceedings. He is seated in a bench two rows back from the prosecution table.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump arrives with son and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance
Former President Donald Trump entered the courtroom at 9:22 a.m. EDT. Trump's middle son, Eric, is here. Eric Trump has attended some previous days, including while Stormy Daniels testified. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, accompanied the Trump team today as well.
– Aysha Bagchi
Senator Bob Menendez trial happening down the street
The latest criminal trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., starts today in a federal courthouse just blocks from Trump's New York hush money trial. Menendez faces allegations he took bribes, including cash and gold bars, in exchange for agreeing to help the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Federal prosecutors say the New Jersey senator as well as his wife, Nadine Menendez, conspired for him to act as a foreign agent.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecutors arrive for Day 16 in hush money trial
The prosecution team entered the courtroom at 9:12 a.m. EDT. We are still waiting on the defense team, the judge, and the jury.
– Aysha Bagchi
Read trial transcripts from Stormy Daniels, Hope Hicks
The court is publishing daily transcripts of proceedings, so you can read key testimony from more than a dozen witnesses, including Stormy Daniels and former top Trump aide Hope Hicks.
Transcripts and evidence are posted online at the New York State Unified Court System's media website. Records from each day are typically available by the end of the following business day.
? Kinsey Crowley
Can you watch Trump's hush money trial?
No, the trial won't be televised or available to watch online or aired on TV.
New York court rules state that audio-visual coverage of trials is not permitted unless a representative of the news media submits an application and the judge allows it.
Records show an application was submitted to cover the arraignment, but not the trial. Judge Juan Merchan rejected the request to televise the arraignment.
– Kinsey Crowley and Aysha Bagchi
Where is the Trump trial?
Trump’s hush money trial is happening at the New York County Supreme Court in New York state, according to a media advisory. The location is 100 Centre St., Criminal Term, Part 59, Room 1530.
The proceedings normally start at 9:30 a.m. EDT, and the trial typically includes an off day on Wednesdays.
– Sudiksha Kochi
Was Trump's trial postponed?
If you heard about the former president's trial being delayed, that doesn't apply to his hush money case.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon postponed indefinitely Trump's trial on charges he hoarded classified documents after leaving the White House.
Cannon had tentatively scheduled the trial to start May 20 but removed that date without setting a new one. She said she would set a new date that takes into account Trump’s right to a fair trial and the public’s right to the fair and efficient administration of justice.
? Bart Jansen and Marina Pitofsky
Who is Stormy Daniels?
Stormy Daniels, born Stephanie Clifford, is an adult film star.
Daniels says she had an affair with Trump in 2006, months after Melania Trump gave birth to Barron Trump. Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 to stay quiet about the alleged affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump's lawyers tried to block Daniels from being called to the witness stand, but New York Judge Juan Merchan ruled that Daniels can testify because her allegations are "inextricably intertwined" with the criminal allegations.
? Kinsey Crowley, Bart Jansen
Who is Michael Cohen?
Michael Cohen is the longtime lawyer and political fixer for Trump, but he has become an open critic of him in recent years.
In 2016, Cohen paid $130,000 in hush money to Daniels after her alleged relationship with the then-real estate mogul. "Everything was done with the knowledge and at the direction of Mr. Trump," Cohen said at a House hearing.
David Pecker, the first witness on the stand for the hush money trial, has testified he frequently communicated with Cohen about stories regarding Trump and his opponents leading up to the 2016 election.
?Kinsey Crowley
What does Trump’s trial schedule look like?
Trump’s hush money trial is expected to last six to eight weeks after its April 15 start, according to a media advisory from New York’s Unified Court System. The courtroom normally opens at 9:30 a.m. eastern time, and the court takes off on Wednesdays.
Judge Juan Merchan ruled that court will break on May 17 so Trump can attend his son Barron Trump's high school graduation, and on May 24 due to a juror scheduling conflict.
?Sudiksha Kochi
What time does Trump's trial start today?
Proceedings in Donald Trump's hush money trial are expected to begin at 9:30 a.m. local time in New York.
– Marina Pitofsky
What is Trump on trial for?
Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors say he falsified records to hide unlawfully interfering in the 2016 presidential election by violating campaign finance laws through the hush money to Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
– Aysha Bagchi
Will Donald Trump go to prison?
Theoretically, Trump could go to prison for as many as 20 years if he's convicted on all counts. However, legal experts told USA TODAY that's highly unlikely. Most said he would probably face a sentence ranging from just probation to up to four years in prison. They also said, even if Trump were sentenced to incarceration, he would likely be free during his appeal.
– Aysha Bagchi
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump trial recap: Cohen says Trump approved Stormy Daniels payment