CNN stars act out dramatic scenes from Trump trial reading from testimony transcripts

There has been plenty of drama inside Donald Trump's New York hush money trial.

And now CNN has managed to bring some the action outside the courtroom, with performances of the trial's transcript the network jokingly described as 'Oscar-worthy.' 

Anchors Abby Phillip and Laura Coates brought in legal analysts Joey Jackson and Mercedes Colwin to perform theatrical readings of Monday's testimony.

Jackson played the role of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, whilst Colwin took on prosecutor Susan Hoffinger.

Trump is on trial at Manhattan criminal court for allegedly concealing the nature of payments he made to adult actress Stormy Daniels in the run up to the 2016 presidential election. 

CNN experts Joey Jackson and Mercedes Colwin read from Trump's hush money trial transcript 

Jackson played the role of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, whilst Colwin took on prosecutor Susan Hoffinger

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is the prosecution's star witness in the hush money trial

Cohen was Trump's personal lawyer until he was convicted of charges linked to the suppression of the Stormy Daniels story 

Cohen has already been convicted over the payments and for lying to Congress. 

Jackson and Colwin used court transcripts to read 'word for word', including every cough and splutter as part of their retelling.

The bizarre exercise took 30 minutes and preceded legal analysis of both sides' performance.

The reading saw off-camera broadcasters cover the 'objections' and 'sustained' throughout.

It detailed Cohen's testimony about how Trump stated the Daniels' story coming out would be a 'disaster' for his campaign because 'women will hate me,' but that 'guys may think it's cool.' 

'He was polling very badly with women and this, coupled with the Access Hollywood tape, he just stated, 'this is a disaster, get control over it'.' Jackson said, reading from Cohen's testimony.

Jackson read another part when Cohen was asked about an alleged conversation he had with Trump his wife Melania Trump.

Trump, pictured at Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday is charged with allegedly concealing the nature of payments he made to adult actress Stormy Daniels in the run up to the 2016 presidential election

The reenactment detailed Cohen's testimony about how Trump stated the Daniels' story coming out would be a 'disaster' for his campaign because 'women will hate me'

(L-R) Attorney Alina Habba, Lara Trump and Eric Trump walk to the courtroom following a break in former US President Donald Trump's trial

 The question was objected to but overruled by  Judge Juan Merchan overruled.

Michael Cohen returned to the stand on Tuesday morning to deliver more testimony against his old boss.

The fixer and lawyer, who is the prosecution's star witness, faced grueling questioning from the former president's lawyers in across-examination.

He told the court on Monday how he would silence the former president's accusers before the 2016 election with a series of hush money deals.

The jury heard that Trump was more worried about his campaign than his wife Melania as stories of alleged affairs emerged.

Cohen also described working at 'the direction of and for the benefit' of the now-presumptive Republican nominee.

The cross examination began with fireworks, as the once doggedly loyal Cohen was being presented with derogatory things he has said or posted about Trump or the trial or the defense lawyers. 

Despite laughter from the public gallery, Trump remained unmoved and sat with his eyes closed. 

Michael Cohen is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger while a reimbursement check is shown on screen during Donald Trump's hush money trial

Michael Cohen returned to the stand on Tuesday morning to deliver more testimony against his old boss

Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing Manhattan criminal court on May 13, 2024

Cohen was one of Trump's most trusted allies for around ten years until the fallout from the Stormy Daniels case saw him convicted of criminal charges.

Cohen was sentenced to prison in December 2018 after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, among other crimes. 

He  spent about 13 and a half months behind prison walls and a year and a half in home confinement. His time was further reduced through good behavior. 

'To keep the loyalty and to do the things that he had asked me to do, I violated my moral compass, and I suffered the penalty, as has my family,' Cohen said Tuesday.