Donald Trump trial RECAP: Trump's defense team draws gasps as they call shock new witness - seconds before judge erupts at 'stare down' and clears the court

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From DailyMail.com's Nick Allen in court:

There were astonishing scenes at Donald Trump's hush money trial on Monday - and for once it had little to do with the former president.

The drama began to unfold as Trump lawyer Emile Bove questioned a defense witness, Bob Costello, and Judge Juan Merchan repeatedly upheld objections from the prosecution.

Before Bove had even finished his questions there would be a quiet 'objection' from the prosecutor, followed a split second later by 'sustained' from the judge.

After yet another 'sustained' Costello became exasperated at not being able to answer, and said 'Jeez..'

The judge, a few feet away, bent his head forward toward Costello and said in an irritated voice 'Sorry?...Sorry?...What did you say?'

Costello did not answer and looked away, appearing to mumble something inaudible.

At another point when the judge yet again said 'sustained' Costello, a former prosecutor himself, followed up by saying 'strike it...' to the jury.

The increasingly annoyed judge then asked Bove to stop his questioning and directly addressed Costello.

In a forthright voice, he said: 'I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom...

'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.

'You don’t say 'strike it' because I’m the only one who can strike testimony in my court.'

After the brief lecture, Costello appeared to momentarily look back at Judge Merchan, who then exploded in a fury.

Appearing incredulous, Judge Merchan said to Costello: 'Are you staring me down right now?'

Costello was silent and looked away.

After a moment's pause, the judge then loudly ordered: 'Clear the courtroom!'

Court officers were momentarily stunned and nobody moved.

The officers then started yelling at members of the public and press to 'clear the courtroom' and they were ushered out.

Members of the media objected but were taken out into a hallway next to some crash barriers.

People in Mr Trump's entourage, including his son Eric, were allowed to stay inside the court.

When the media returned, after several minutes, Costello was still on the stand but looked a little redder in the face.

It could only be surmised that he had received a severe tongue-lashing from the clearly irate judge.

Judge Merchan, now fully the master of his own courtroom, continued to sustain objections and Costello studiously avoided looking at him or showing any dissent.

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A transcript has now been released of what occurred after Judge Juan Merchan cleared the courtroom so he could admonish witness Robert Costello.

In the absence of the press and jury Judge Merchan told Costello:

Sir, your conduct is contemptuous right now. I'm putting you on notice that your conduct is contemptuous.

If you try to stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand.

Addressing Trump lawyer Emil Bove the judge went on: 'I will strike his entire testimony, do you understand me?'

Bove replied: 'Yes, Judge. I understand.'

Judge Merchan then told Costello: 'Listen to the question and answer the question.'

Costello replied: 'Can I say something, please?'

The judge responded: 'No. No. This is not a conversation.'

Costello then said: 'OK.'

During the short private admonishment Judge Merchan also noted that court officers had 'great difficulty clearing the courtroom' when he ordered them to do so.

He said that was because there was 'argument back and forth between the press' who objected to being removed.

Trump's defense team finally took the reins Monday after the prosecution spent weeks laying out their case.

So far, the defense has called two witnesses: Daniel Sitko, a paralegal, and Robert Costello, an attorney who advised Cohen.

Costello had a testy first day of testimony, and he's expected to continue tomorrow.

The defense hasn't revealed whether it plans to unveil additional witnesses.

Donald Trump has said he'd be willing to testify under oath in his own case...although legal experts say that wouldn't be wise.

The crowds lined up on Monday after a long day of testimony.

Margo accompanied Trump to court earlier in the day wearing a white mini skirt and blue button-down tucked in.

The 28-year-old - who bears an uncanny resemblance to Trump's wife Melania - has been seen in a slew of elegant ensembles as she supports the former President, 77, through every shocking twist and turn of his Manhattan hush-money trial.

The Trump campaign announced it will sue the 'pretend filmmakers' behind a controversial new movie that shows the presidential candidate raping his wife Ivana after it premiered in Cannes on Monday night.

It said it was riddled with long debunked lies and belonged in a 'dumpster fire.'

Sebastian Stan plays Trump in 'The Apprentice' as a younger man and 'Succession' star Jeremy Strong portrays his fixer Roy Cohn.

The movie tells the story of the end of his marriage to Ivana, and at one point it depicts Trump raping his wife and asking: 'Did I find your g spot?'

In a divorce deposition in 1989 Ivana made an accusation of rape but rescinded this in 2015. She has since died.

'We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers,' said Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director.

'This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked. As with the illegal Biden Trials, this is election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House and beat their candidate of choice because nothing they have done has worked.

'This "film" is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the straight-to-DVD section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store, it belongs in a dumpster fire.'

While speaking to the media after leaving court, Donald Trump appeared to violate his gag order which prevents him from speaking about witnesses in the case.

Trump mentioned both Robert Costello and Bradley Smith by name. They are defense witnesses.

'You saw what happened to a highly respected lawyer today, Bob Costello. Wow,' Trump said. 'I've never seen anything like that. Highly respected.'

Trump mentioned Smith while complaining that he is not able to 'put in an expert witness' on election law.

'Brad Smith, he's considered the Rolls Royce or we'll bring it back to an American car Cadillac, but the best there is.'

'He can't testify. He's not being allowed to testify,' Trump added.

At another point while looking down at his papers, Trump said he couldn't read the article aloud with a quote from CNN because of his gag order.

Throughout the remarks, Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche was standing by his side.

From Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in courtroom 1530:

Donald Trump's former fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen made a string of startling admissions in court on Monday, where he is the key witness linking the former president to a plot to hide porn star hush money payments.

Yes he had lied under oath, he admitted.

Yes he had stolen tens of thousands of dollars from his former employer the Trump Organization, he said.

Yes he had worked with an IT firm to rig an online poll in Trump's favor.

And then, having admitted to deception and lies in public statements, he said he had a future career in mind: Member of Congress.

At the end of the day, Trump's attorneys engaged in a back-and-forth with Judge Merchan and the prosecution regarding Cohen's credibility.

Trump attorney Todd Blanche said that there is 'no evidence of any criminal intent' with regards to what prosecutors called the 'Trump Tower conspiracy.'

That was the August 2015 meeting where David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, agreed to be the eyes and ears of the Trump campaign.

Blanche went on: 'There is no way that the court should let this case go to the jury relying on Mr Cohen’s testimony. Without Mr, Cohen there is no case. He lied to this court.'

Judge Merchan: 'You think [Cohen's] going to fool 12 New Yorkers?'

Judge Merchan said: 'You’re asking me to find Mr Cohen not credible as a matter of law'

Blanche said yes, adding: 'He lied to this court repeatedly.'

Judge Merchan sounded skeptical. He said that Blanche claimed Cohen's lies were 'irrefutable,' but the judge said: 'You think he’s going to fool 12 New Yorkers?'

Donald Trump attacked the judge as conflicted immediately after leaving court on Monday.

He said he hopes the motion to dismiss the trial 'will go through' and claimed the case is a 'disaster' for the country and New York.

'This is a witch hunt. This is a witch hunt,' Trump said.

He also claimed yet again 'we did nothing wrong.'

Just like he has been doing nearly every day before and after spending time in the criminal courtroom, Trump read off some quotes from mostly Fox News legal experts printed out on pieces of paper before the camera.

'I think the case is going very well,' Trump said.

He did not answer shouted questions about whether he would testify.

Robert Costello's temper flared while being cross-examined by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, who repeatedly cut him off and peppered him with quickfire questions.

She asked him about an email from Costello on April 20 to his son about Michael Cohen potentially hiring him.

When Costello tried to paraphrase one part, Hoffinger said 'just read the email please.'

Costello replied 'I did read it.'

When asked about the FBI raid, Costello said he 'wouldn't use the term raided. They executed a search warrant.'

He also said the day he first met Michael Cohen in person, Cohen was 'acting suicidal' and 'acting very manic.'

Hoffinger questions whether given he has been a lawyer for 40 years if Costello understood how difficult raids could be.

'Talk into the microphone please,' he responded. She repeats the question and then moves on.

‘You thought he was being a drama queen didn’t you?’ Hoffinger asked.

'He was putting on quite a show,' Costello said.

He said Cohen told him two nights before, he was on the roof of the Regency Hotel and he was going to jump off because he 'couldn't handle the pressure of the criminal case coming his way.'

After a protest from Hoffinger, Judge Merchan asked Costello ‘Are you able to answer yes or no?’

‘You don’t like drama queens?’ Hoffinger asked.

'I don't know,' Costello said.

'I couldn't assess the guy,' he added, noting this partner knew him for ten years.

The jury is finished for the day. Now defense attorney Todd Blanche (seen with his client below) is up saying the prosecution has failed to prove their case and that the judge should dismiss it.

This is standard practice for any defense at this stage in proceedings.

'There's no evidence at that time of any attempt by President Trump to hide or falsify records,' says Blanche.

He also says there has been no conspiracy of an effort to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, which he says the prosecution put at their heart of their opening.

Blanche walks Costello through a series of questions attempting to take on the contention that he was applying ‘pressure’ on the potential witness to keep him in the fold.

That came after texts showed him referencing Rudy Giuliani and telling Cohen he had friends in high places.

‘Did you ever put any pressure on Michael Cohen to do anything?’ Blanche asked him.

‘No,’ Costello said.

‘Ever pressure him to interact with Rudy Giuliani in any way?’

‘No,’ he responded. He said he ‘absolutely’ considered Cohen to be a client. Cohen said the two did not have a retainer agreement.

‘Whose interests did you have in mind?’ Blanche asked him. ‘Exclusively Michael Cohen’s,’ the attorney testified.

The jury was brought back into the courtroom and Trump's defense continued with its brief questioning of Costello.

The prosecution is now conducting its cross-examination.

Donald Trump's lawyer Alina Habba on Monday claimed the former president wants to testify in the hush money trial, but she did not commit to him taking the stand under oath.

Habba, who represented Trump in his civil fraud case and has been at the Manhattan criminal court for the trial, appeared on Fox News where she was asked about whether the ex-president would testify or not.

'Well he's got to listen to his attorneys,' Habba said. 'It's not as much what he wants to do.'

The defense and prosecution were engaged in a long legal wrangle before Costello could testify.

As a result, the judge set narrow parameters on what he could be asked and what he could not be asked, essentially limiting scrutiny to questions about the two different versions of events that Michael Cohen had described in relation to the Stormy Daniels deal.

Judge Juan Merchan said he didn't want a 'trial within a trial.'

As a result, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is raising objection after objection, which are all upheld by Merchan. In fact, Merchan is looking directly at Hoffinger anticipating each objection.

At times Costello has answered anyway.

After yet another objection, Costello shakes his head in apparent irritation. He is a man on a mission.

Merchan has to remind him (a lawyer) that when an objection is sustained he should not answer.

Another objection comes in. 'Jesus,' says Costello, who may not have the temperament required for today.

The defense calls Robert Costello, a longtime litigator who is linked to former Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Costello delivered testimony Friday to a House Republican-run committee where he accused Michael Cohen of lying on the stand.

The decision to call him drew gasps from the court overflow room that includes reporters and some members of the public. The announcement brings an immediate sidebar conversation between opposing lawyers and Judge Merchan.

Blanche introduced evidence that showed Cohen and Costello spoke repeatedly, about 75 times, despite Cohen’s testimony that he considered Costello shifty when they were first introduced.

Before his private practice, Costello served as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District.

In addition to Giuliani, he has represented former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon, George Steinbrenner, and Leona Helmsley.

Prosecutors asked Cohen during his direct testimony about various times Costello mentioned Giuliani during their communications. Cohen said Costello was offering a 'back' channel to Trump through Giuliani, at a time when he was feeling vulnerable after the FBI raid on his apartment and office.

First defense witness Daniel Sitko is a paralegal who works for Todd Blanche.

He said he pulled together a phone log of calls between Cohen and Robert Costello, the Trump-aligned lawyer.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass tells the court:

Your honor, the people rest.

He did not look at Trump as he walked out. Cohen was snapped by photographers as he left the courtroom a short while after.

Under questioning from prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, Cohen said he had ‘more than 20’ conversations with Trump in 2016 about the Daniels payment.

Asked if he had any doubt about those conversations, Cohen said no.

Hoffinger said: ‘Do you have any doubt Mr Trump gave you the final signoff for the payment before you went to the bank?’

Cohen replied: ‘No doubt.’

Asked why Cohen spoke to Trump before making the payment, he said: ‘Because I wanted to ensure I was going to get my funds back.'

Cohen said he would not have made the payment if Trump had not agreed.

Cohen's voice cracked as he told the court:

My entire life has been turned upside down.

He described losing his law license and said he had faced physical attacks.

He appeared to regain his composure quickly.

DailyMail.com's Nick Allen reports from the courtroom:

The afternoon session started with some legal wrangling but at 2:41pm Cohen was asked to come into the court.

He walked within a few feet of Trump as he headed to the witness stand but the former president had his back to Cohen and the two men ignored each other.

As Cohen sits in the witness stand his view of Trump is partially obstructed by a corner of the judge's bench.

However, at one point he appeared to sneak a quick look at the defendant.

When the jurors are brought in they have to walk across the courtroom in front of Trump, passing only a few feet from him.

Trump, standing along with the rest of the court appeared to look straight ahead and none of the jurors acknowledged him.

After a few minutes, the judge called another break and the jurors filed out, again passing and not looking at Trump.

After all that legal wrangling, the image of Trump and Schiller will now be allowed into evidence. The jurors can see it.

Essentially the two sides came to an agreement with a 'stipulation,' or a statement read to the court, that the image is from 7:57pm on October 24, 2016.

Judge Merchan asked Blanche if it was a ‘strategic decision having discussed this with your client’.

Blanche said yes - moments earlier he had huddled with Trump to talk it over.

Schiller was Trump's bodyguard. He was always at the candidate's side, and people often reached Trump by calling Schiller.

Schiller is seen here on the left of an unrelated picture.

Trump communications aide Natalie Harp and famous lawyer Alan Dershowitz head back into court.

Judge Merchan rejected the request to introduce the video stills from a October 24th 2016 speech Trump gave which showed him with his former bodyguard Keith Schiller.

‘Those images will not come in’, the judge said.

Prosecutors sought to show that Trump and Schiller were together minutes before Cohen claimed to have called Schiller and asked to speak to the former President.

According to Cohen, the conversation involved him updating Trump about the Stormy Daniels deal.

But the discussion is not over, as the defense wants to bring in a witness that would authenticate the image, allowing it into evidence. There is now a recess as defense lawyers check whether the C-Span technician is available tomorrow.

Trump's defense attorney Todd Blanche is indicating that both prosecutors and defense may rest their cases today.

Blanche said they have 'a few witnesses' and there is a 'likelihood that we will rest today.'

Blanche objected to the prosecution's request to call back an earlier witness from C-SPAN.

Tons of anti-Trump protestors are holding signs outside of the courthouse saying 'slept with a porn star' and 'screwed the voters.'

The signs are plastered with Trump's face in a pouting expression.

Others read 'Not above the law!'

NYPD officers are surrounding the protestors to ensure they remain peaceful.

A minute or so early, and Judge Juan Merchan is back in his seat and we are off, resuming legal argument about pictures the prosecution wants to submit in evidence.

The Trump team continues to raise grounds for a mistrial that could be used as grounds for an appeal

Trump lawyer Alina Habba complained about restrictions that Judge Juan Merchan is imposing on former FEC chair Brad Smith.

Trump’s team wants to use Smith, who has criticized campaign finance laws, to try to take on the contention that the the Stormy Daniels payoff is a campaign finance violation.

Habba cited his ‘explicit knowledge of campaign finance laws.’

‘That's an incredibly crucial and critical and frankly, to me grounds for a mistrial. If you cannot bring in your expert, who is supposed to speak and has served on the commission for fine campaign finance, that how are you supposed to do your case with their hands tied behind your back and a blindfold on effectively?’ she asked.

Defense expert witness Bradley Smith will have to testify under a series of restraints after a decision Monday morning by Judge Juan Merchan.

Merchan had taken the weekend to consider arguments by lawyers on both sides, but opted to limit what the former FEC chairman could talk about to avoid a three-way ‘battle of experts,’ where prosecutors would bring their own witness. The judge would also provide jury instructions about matters related to campaign finance law.

The judge ruled Smith can testify about the purpose and background of FEC, and relevant definitions from election law. ‘An expert is not permitted to present and interpret the law,’ Merchan said.

Smith was a Bill Clinton nominee whose name was put forward by Republicans, joining the commission in 2000.

He has argued against campaign finance restrictions, and authored a book titled Unfree Speech, The Folly of Campaign Finance Reform. He argued for the right of corporations to spend funds in federal elections. The Supreme Court cited it in its Citizens United decision.

The Trump indictment relied on an alleged campaign finance violation to charge the former president with felony falsification of business records with the Stormy Daniels payments.

Michael Cohen admitted to a series of lies while on the witness stand where he was testifying in the Trump hush money case.

On Monday, he admitted to stealing $60,000 from the Trump Organization.

But will that have an impact on the case?

'It’s hard to tell which of the long lines of lies that Cohen has told will be the final one to seal his fate,' said John Yoo, a law professor at Berkeley.

'He is already a convicted felon who went to jail because he lied to federal investigators and engaged in tax evasion.  Judges have said he is a serial liar.  The prosecutors clearly erred in leaving Cohen as their last witness to appear before the jury,' he continued.

However, Yoo did point out that Cohen did not break his calm demeanor during cross-examination, so Trump lawyers have to rely on his record of lying.

Cohen stealing the $60,000 demonstrates that Cohen could get away with things without Trump knowing, said Cornell law professor Randy Zelin.

'The defense is that Cohen went rogue.  Being a thief is going rogue,' Zelin said of the prosecution's star witness.

'I don't know how many more holes they could possibly poke,' Trump lawyer Alina Habba told Fox News of the defense team's cross-examination of key witness Michael Cohen.

'We did a pretty good job,' she said of the defense team's effort.

When it comes to Trump testifying on his own behalf, Habba did not commit to him taking the stand.

'Well, he's going to listen to his attorney,' she said.

'We know he wants to testify, he is willing, he is able,' she added.

Habba also claimed he has nothing to hide.

Multiple legal experts have warned that if the ex-president took the stand it would open him up to a lengthy cross-examination by prosecutors who could bring up his other legal battles.

A group of Trump's allies flew in to stand with him and slam the ongoing hush money trial.

Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, spoke to reporters in a park across the street from court on Monday.

He was joined by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and others - all wearing bright red ties and blue suits.

Prosecutors would like to submit into evidence a photo of Trump with his aide Keith Schiller together around the time Schiller reportedly updated Trump on the Stormy Daniels deal.

The call took place on October 24 just after 8pm.

Prosecutors want to introduce a photo of the two together just before 8pm that day.

Trump's attorney Todd Blanche argues it's inadmissible because prosecutors did not follow rules of evidence by issuing a subpoena to C-SPAN as they did for other material.

But prosecutor Joshua Steinglass claims the photograph shows Schiller and trump walking off state at a rally around 7:57pm ahead of the 8:02pm call in question.

Judge Merchan says he believes the photograph is relevant but is going to think about heresy.

Below is an unrelated image of Schiller and Trump together in 2017:

Sketch artists captured the scene inside court, where cameras are not allowed.

Donald Trump looked on as his lawyer Todd Blanche quizzed Michael Cohen under the watchful eye of Judge Juan Merchan.

Just before the lunch break Ms Hoffinger asked Cohen about an embarrassing incident.

It was his decision in Decemberto submit fake cases to try and have his supervised release from his 2018 plea deal overturned.

Cohen admitted that he was looking for cases to back up his legal filings and typed his query into Google Bard, an AI search engine.

He found a ‘plethora of cases which appeared to be legitimate’ and sent them to his lawyer because they were ‘on point’.

‘I was just trying to be helpful,’ Cohen said, adding that he no longer had access to any legal databases.

But when Cohen sent them to another of his lawyers, she immediately noticed they were not real cases.

Cohen told the court he authorized her to tell the court of the error, sparking a round of mockery and condemnation.

Cohen and his attorneys were not sanctioned for the mistake.

Trump's high-profile lawyer Alina Habba and famous legal professor Alan Dershowitz are also among those in court today.

The jury will return at 2:15 p.m. ET.

The prosecution will be questioning Cohen again on the stand once the jury is back in.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is working to draw a distinction on when Michael Cohen would lie during her redirect questioning.

'I know it may feel like it, but are you on trial here?' she asks.

'No, ma'am,' Cohen responds.

Trump smiles and yawns at the question.

Hoffinger asks what the difference is from 2018, which is when Cohen was on trial.

He says he was the defendant in the case, but here he's just a witness.

Hoffinger asks about Cohen's wife potentially being charged in 2018.

'Yes, ma'am,' Cohen responds.

Among Trump's guests at court today is Chuck Zito.

He helped found a New York chapter of the motorcycle group in the 1980s.

Zito later left the group and set out to become an actor in Hollywood.

Trump has long been supported by a group called Bikers For Trump.

Zito is pictured below at court and with Frank Stallone in Hollywood.

Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen admitted from the witness stand that he is considering a run for Congress.

The moment came during cross-examination on Monday.

'Going after President Trump, that's your name recognition?' Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked.

'My name recognition is because of the journey I've been on,' Cohen responded. 'It is affiliated with Mr. Trump, yes, not because of Mr. Trump.'

Blanche asked if the journey includes 'nearly daily attacks on President Trump?'

'Yes sir,' Cohen eventually said.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger reads to Cohen part of the statement he made to the Federal Election Commission about the payment to Stormy Daniels.

In it he said: 'The payment in question does not constitute a campaign contribution.'

'Was that a true statement?' the prosecutor asks Michael Cohen.

'No ma’am,' says Cohen.

Explaining why he stole from the Trump Organization, Cohen says he was 'angered' because his bonus had been cut.

'So, I felt it was almost like self-help,' he said of his decision.

He said he had personally laid out $130,000 for the Stormy Daniels hush money payment and then had his bonus reduced by 'two thirds'.

'It was very upsetting to say the least,' he said.

Asked by Trump's lawyer if it was 'wrongful' to then steal from Trump, he said: 'It was.'

Returning to the stand Cohen says he would earn more money of Trump is NOT convicted.

Cohen was asked about his 'financial interest' in the case.

He said he talks about the case on his podcast and on TikTok and they 'make money' for him.

But he said:

It’s better if he’s not (convicted) for me because it gives me more to talk about in the future.

There was some laughter at his answer.

Trump's defense team has finished its cross-examination of Michael Cohen.

Prosecutors will soon get a chance to ask further questions during redirect of their key witness.

During a break in proceedings Trump and his three lawyers are talking non-stop.

Trump seems to have a good rapport with his legal team.

He is leaning across in his chair to speak and listen to them,

Blanche appears to be doing most talking.

From Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. political reporter inside the courtroom

Michael Cohen has been on the stand since last Monday. And there is no end in sight to Todd Blanche's cross-examination.

The jurors have been listening this morning to details of how he stole from the Trump Organisation, but they have also heard from six-year-old emails and bits and pieces about Cohen's business dealings.

The jury has been impressively engaged throughout this trial. But today it looked as if it was starting to wear on them. A couple of them gazed around the courtroom, and one could be seen rubbing her eyes.

The defense seems intent on keeping Cohen on the stand for as long as possible but some of the jury may be tuning out a little.

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche is digging in on Cohen’s relationship with lawyer Bob Costello.

Cohen testified last week that when he first got introduced to Costello following an FBI raid on his apartment and office, ‘'There was something really sketchy and wrong about him.’ Cohen says he never told him about the Stormy Daniels matter.

‘Would it surprise you to learn you called Mr Costello or Mr Costello called you 75 times?’ Blanched asked Cohen.

‘Seems excessive but possible,’ Cohen answered.

Blanche told him the two had spoken for over nine hours over the course of a month. That included a Memorial Day call lasting 90 minutes.

House Republicans called Costello to testify Friday in their hearing on ‘weaponization’ of government, and he accused Cohen of lying repeatedly during his own testimony.

The defense hasn’t ruled out calling Costello as a witness. Doing so has its risks. He promoted himself in emails to Cohen for his access to former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who has himself been indicted in Georgia and Arizona election interference cases.

Following dramtic revealtions about a plot to blackmail Tiffany Trump, and Michael Cohen stealing fropm the Trump Organization, the court is on a short break.

It included a contract with AT&T signed Jan 2017 at $50,000 a month for a year

Cohen said he had 'approximately 20' communications with the company.

At the same time he signed a contract with Novartis at $100,000 a month, which lasted a year.

Cohen said he had six communications with the company.

Blanche said: 'You were paid $200,000 a communication?'

Cohen replied that was 'correct'

The revelation that Cohen stole from the Trump Organization is causing shockwaves.

Former U.S. Assistant Attorney Elie Honig tells CNN it is a:

bomb dropped right in the middle of the prosecution's case.

The courtroom is packed with journalists. TV cameras are lined up in front of the courthouse. And satellite trucks fill a side street.

But does anyone else care about the trial?

Not according to DailyMail.com pollster James Johnson, who has asked the public what they think. The results are sobering.

He found that barely more than one in ten (13%) said they were paying 'a great deal' of attention to it.

Three in ten (30%) say it will have no impact on their view and they are already positive about him. Four in ten (39%) say it will have no impact and they are already negative. Just 11% say it will make them more negative, which is offset by the percentage who say it will make them feel more positively (12%).

In other words, the net impact on Trump favorability ratings comes in at just one percentage point, despite the talk of sex with porn stars and a tour through the shadier parts of the media industry.

Johnson details the reasons at his excellent new substack: The Next America.

Why do so few people care? There are the obvious explanations. The NYC case is the most tenuous of all the indictments against Trump: most lawyers think it spurious, and even the well-qualified authors of The Trump Indictments cannot say it would be out of place in a regime pursuing political opponents. The same J.L. Partners polling finds 52% view the case as politically motivated. We also know the loyalty that many Trump voters have to their man.

But something else has taken place. Trump has been, as ever, under constant attack from his opponents. Many of these have simply felt unfair (the NYC case, misrepresentation of Trump at rallies) or been disproved (Russia election interference, the legitimacy of Hunter Biden’s laptop). The overall effect has led to voters characterising criticisms - however fair they are - as sitting in the unfair category. Trump’s opponents have bored people into tolerance of Trump.

Blanche continues to press Cohen on other matters he was dealing with that coincided with the Stormy Daniels payoff.

This includes an apparent ‘extortion’ attempt involving the president’s daughter, Tiffany.

‘You agree with me, right, that you had a lot going on both in your personal life and with President Trump in those first two weeks of October?’ Blanche asked. Cohen agreed.

‘You recall on October 25th, you recall her communicating with you concerns about somebody trying to blackmail her?’ Blanche asked.

‘Yes sir,’ he replied. He handled it immediately, and spoke to David Pecker, Tiffany Trump, and others.

This is the day after he testified he spoke to Trump about the Stormy Daniels payoff using the phone of Keith Schiller, but Blanche pointed out it coincided with prank phone calls Cohen was receiving.

Blanche also called it a ‘potential extortion attempt’ involving photos.

Blanche then pointed out that Trump was preparing for an opening ceremony of his new D.C. hotel on October 26th. That gave him multiple subjects he could have spoken to Trump about during a phone call where Blanche last week accused Cohen of 'lying' about what came up.

'So was fixing Tiffany Trump’s situation important to you?' Blanche asked him.

'It was important I take care of things but it was not personally important to me,' he responded.

'Wouldn’t that be something you updated her father about when you spoken the next morning?' Blanche asked.

'No sir,' was Cohen's reply.

Cohen confirmed he met with Melania Trump on multiple occasions.

That included reviewing a contract with Madame Tussauds for her likeness.

His response came as Blanche suggested that Cohen did more work for Trump while he was President than the ‘very minimal’ amount he claimed.

Cohen has previously estimated he did less than 10 hours of work for Trump in 2017.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche is homing in on Cohen's testimony last week about his meeting with Trump Organization's chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, when they figured out how to reimburse the lawyer-cum-fixer.

It included money related to RedFinch, a tech company that was taken on to rig online polls in Trump's favor.

Cohen just described withdrawing $20,000 from his bank over two days, and then handing it to the boss of the company in a brown paper bag.

The company was owed $50,000 but that was enough to 'placate' its boss, said Cohen.

Yet, when it came to settling up between Weisselberg and Cohen, Cohen admits he asked for the full $50,000 reimbursement (seen the handwritten note below).

'You stole from the Trump Organization, right,' asks Blanche.

'Yes sir,' said Cohen.

Trump shakes his head at the admission. He has not been paying much attention to the testimony up to that point.

In fact, because the numbers were doubled it meant that Cohen benefited by much more than $30,000.

Blanche asks: 'Did you ever plead guilty to larceny?'

'No sir.'

The total amount adds up to $60,000 because it was 'grossed up' for tax.

Blanche explained in court that he stole $60,000 and Cohen replied: 'Yes.'

Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche is suggesting that Cohen talked to Trump about matters other than Stormy Daniels in the two phone calls they had on the day of the hush money payment - October 26th, 2016.

Blanche said: 'You do have a specific recollection on those two phone calls you just alked about the Stormy Daniels deal?'

Cohen: 'Because they were important to me.'

Blanche: 'So was fixing Tiffany Trump’s situation important to you?'

Cohen: 'It was important I take care of things but it was not personally important to me.'

Blanche: 'Woudln’t that be something you updated her father about when you spoke the next morning?'

Cohen: 'No sir.'

Blanche said there was also an opening ceremony for a Trump building that day, Trump was doing a big TV interview, and there was still fallout from the Access Hollywood tape.

But Cohen said the Stormy Daniels deal was what he spoke to Trump about on the phone because 'that’s what he tasked me to take care of.'

Cohen made two calls to Donald Trump the morning he made the payment to Stormy Daniels' lawyer on October 26, 2016, the court heard.

The first call was at 8:26AM and lasted three minutes and one second.

The second call was less than ten minutes later.

It connected at 8:34AM and lasted one minute 28 seconds.

Blanche asked Cohen about the litany of things he had going on in October 2016, the time that he made the $130,000 Stormy Daniels payment.

Cohen agreed he had issues with his taxi medallion business and was working on the sale of a property which sold at the end of the month for $7 million.

Cohen confirmed around that time he was working on what Blanche called a ‘potential extortion attempt’ against Trump’s daughter Tiffany over some photographs.

There was also an issue with a person making harassment phone calls to Cohen as well, he told the jury.

Blanche said: 'You agree with me you had a lot going on both in your personal life and with President Trump in those first few weeks of October?'

Cohen replied: 'Yes sir.'

Todd Blanche, for Trump, starts off by asking whether Cohen had spoken to any reporters between the end of his testimony last week and today.

Blanche said: 'Since that time until right now how many reporters have you talked to about what happened last week?

Cohen responded: 'I didn't’ speak to reporters. I spoke to reporters to say hello, to see how I’m doing.

Blanche said: 'Reporters just greeted you and didn’t speak about your testimony?'

Cohen: 'Correct.'

Michael Cohen has resumed his aseat in on the witness stand.

He is wearing a dark suit and mauve tie and sitting with his hands resting on the wooden surface in front of him

He has a a screen monitor in front of him to his left.

Cohen looks businesslike and is not expressing any emotion.

Emil Bove said a ruling by the the judge in relation to of an expert witness left Trump’s lawyers in a ‘tough spot’.

Judge Merchan said that he didn’t see what Bove was saying by ‘being in a difficult position’

The judge said: ‘The court has not changed its position from day one.…you‘ve known for months. This is not new. If you had concerns about these topics and you wanted an earlier ruling you could have come to me’.

Bove tried to cut in but Judge Merchan said: ‘Just relax’.

Bove put his hands across his chest apologizing and smiled at the judge.

Trump's lawyers sought to bring in an email in 2018 sent by Jeffrey Citron, a lawyer, to Michael Cohen

The email was sent after a meeting between Citron, Cohen and Robert Costello, a Trump-aligned lawyer who Cohen considered working with after the hush money payment became public.

The email talked about how Cohen was ‘involved on multiple fronts’ and mentioned Citron’s hopes he could ‘bring you some peace’.

Todd Blanche, Trump’s lawyer, said the email suggested that Cohen had not told the truth about his dealings with Costello, who Cohen claimed he didn’t get along with.

Judge Merchan rejected the request to bring it into evidence, telling the court that ‘nowhere in this email does it express Mr Cohen’s state of mind’ as it was written by Citron.

Judge Juan Merchan can't beat the Memorial Day break. The holiday deadline has been looming, and the judge was intent in trying to keep things moving so that the court could get to closing arguments tomorrow, allowing the jury time to begin deliberations ahead of the long weekend.

'It's become apparent that we're not going to be able to sum up tomorrow,' Merchan told the court first thing on Monday.

Rather than end the week with summations, leaving the jury to stew for the weekend, before deliberating next week it means closing arguments will come next Tuesday instead. It means we will likely have a day or two off this week.

It was either have a long break now or have a long break then, and unfortunately, the calendar is what it is.

Today we have some legal arguments about what evidence can be admitted. Before we get back to the cross-examination of Michael Cohen.

Donald Trump's arrival today was very different from his arrival in the early days of his trial. Then he would arrive with his legal team and a couple of advisers. Today he has 14 supporters, including members of Congress, legal brains, and former members of his administration.

The result is a game of musical chairs as adviser Boris Epshteyn hurried up and down the rows of seating ensuring that everyone has a seat.

It means Vernon Jones, the former US Representative from Georgia, takes up a seat on the bench right at the very back of the room, along with Kash Patel, who's arm is in a brace.

Trump stood at the front of the room smiling at his allies as they took their places.

After he takes his seat Trump is silent and stares straight ahead as photographers take his picture.

He then has some detailed discussion with Mr Bove on his left, and lawyer Todd Blanche on his right.

As Judge Juan Merchan enters the court the lawyers and everyone else stand.

Trump is, fractionally, the last to stand up for the judge.

Trump is standing at the defense table and leaning in to listen to one of his lawyers, Emil Bove.

'Mr Bove makes some hand gestures and Trump nods, seemingly in agreement.

As Mr Bove takes his seat Trump turns and stares toward the back of the court.

It's not clear if he is looking for anyone in particular.

Donald Trump lamented having to get to court an hour earlier Monday than previous days in remarks to reporters outside court.

The ex-president also slammed the judge in the case calling his 'totally conflicted.'

Trump also baselessly claimed it was all coming from President Biden as an 'attack on his political opponent' while at the same time calling the president 'mentally unfit to be the president.'

'Today the target is Trump, tomorrow it may be a Democrat,' he said.

The former president also repeated the complaint that he was 'sitting in an ice box all day' in a reference to the courtroom's temperature which has been an issue for him since the trial began.

'The judge is highly conflicted...he's a corrupt judge,' Trump exclaimed yet again.

Trump's glamorous aide Margo Martin stepped out Monday in a short white mini skit and blue button down.

She is by his side along with other blonde bombshell staff Natalie Harp and attorney Alina Habba.

Other guests accompanying the defendant today include former New York Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik.

Also in Trump's retinue of supporters are four Republican members of Congress, including Mary Miller of Illinois.

High-profile lawyer Alan Dershowitz is also present.

Pictured below is Trump's deputy communication chief Margo Martin leaving Trump Tower for court on Monday and aide Natalie Harp among others entering the courtroom:

Donald Trump's hush money trial could wrap up and depending on when closing arguments are made - the case could be in the hands of the jury to reach a verdict as soon as this week.

What remains less clear is whether the ex-president will take the stand in his own defense in the case. His defense lawyer Todd Blanche refused to rule out Trump testifying when court wrapped up last week.

Trump himself has delivered mixed messages on whether he would take the stand, saying last month that he would 'absolutely' testify.

He has also said he would testify 'if necessary' and 'probably.' At the same time, he has recently told the media falsely that he is not allowed.

But based on the most recent activity of Trump lawyers and legal expert recommendations, it does not appear likely that Trump would testify.

The maximum sentence for each count of falsifying business records faced by Trump is four years.

In theory, that means Judge Juan Merchan could impose a sentence of up to 136 years.

However, an analysis, by the New York Times, of previous recent falsifying business records cases shows only about one in 10 result in a sentence including jail time.

One defendant in New York did receive a sentence of 364 days for signing a false invoice for $10,000.

But the records show that for Mr. Trump, who would be a first-time offender, a jail sentence seems possible but unlikely.

Michael Cohen, former 'fixer' and lawyer for Donald Trump, departed his home in Manhattan to testify for a third day.

He is considered the prosecution's 'star' witness.

He had a rough day Thursday while Trump's attorneys questioned him, trying to poke holes in his credibility as a witness.

Donald Trump's defense lawyer accused star witness Michael Cohen of lying about a crucial phone that tied the former president to a cover-up around hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels in a dramatic exchange Thursday.

Defense lawyer Todd Blanche delivered his blow just before the lunch break, offering evidence that the key conversation was actually about a prank caller and not, as Cohen claimed three days earlier, about a $130,000 payment for Daniels' silence.

It created an 'aha' moment just as the case barrels towards its conclusion; the sort of pin-drop shock common to courtroom TV dramas but rare in real life.

And it undermined Cohen's testimony that he personally talked to Trump about plans to hide the hush money, a claim that is central to the case.

Having reminded the 12 members of the jury that Cohen had a history of lying to courts and laying the foundations of the idea that he was an unreliable witness, Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche took the court in an unexpected direction.

He brought up text messages and call logs to show that Cohen had been plagued by nuisance calls in October 2016.

Donald Trump's legal team had reason to hope that Michael Cohen's performance on the witness stand could sow at least one member of the jury in the Stormy Daniels trial.

But Trump is still days away from the culmination of a trial that could wend him to jail for up to four years if he is convicted of all 34 counts felony counts of falsifying business records relating to the payoff of the porn star.

'Probably the worst outcome is that Trump is found guilty of multiple felony counts and thus he is forever more a convicted criminal and a felon,' said Eugene O'Donnell, who teaches law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Judge Juan Merchan says he has no desire to put a former president behind bars.

'The last thing I want to do is to put you in jail,' Merchan told Trump this month even as he found him in contempt and slapped him with fines totaling $10,000 for violating a gag order restricting his comments on the case.