Previously week of testimony in Donald J. Trump’s felony trial, prosecutors have been tying their case collectively, with two of crucial witnesses — a porn star and Mr. Trump’s one-time fixer — testifying simply days aside.
Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former private lawyer and fixer, testified for over 9 hours, saying the fee on the coronary heart of the case, $130,000 to silence the porn star’s story of a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump, got here on the orders of the previous president and to the good thing about his 2016 marketing campaign. Protection attorneys painted Mr. Cohen as a serial liar bent on exacting revenge in opposition to his former boss.
Mr. Trump’s attorneys grilled the porn star, Stormy Daniels, about her credibility, looking for to poke holes in her recollection of an assignation she mentioned occurred in 2006.
The primary American president to face prosecution, Mr. Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying enterprise data with a purpose to masks reimbursements to Mr. Cohen, who made the fee, in what prosecutors say was an effort to cowl up the scandal. Mr. Trump has denied having intercourse with Ms. Daniels or having any information of the fee scheme. If convicted, he may face probation or so long as 4 years in jail.
Listed here are probably the most memorable issues mentioned in courtroom over the previous seven days:
‘The intercourse within the movies could be very a lot actual.’
Ms. Daniels was shaky at occasions throughout her testimony final week, talking shortly as she described threats she obtained to silence her story of a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump at a golf event in Lake Tahoe, Nev.
On cross-examination, Ms. Daniels took a extra defiant tone, piqued by harsh questioning from a protection workforce that hoped to color her as a lady adept at making up tales.
“You’ve gotten quite a lot of expertise in making phony tales about intercourse seem like actual,” mentioned Susan Necheles, considered one of Mr. Trump’s legal professionals.
“The intercourse within the movies could be very a lot actual,” replied Ms. Daniels. “Similar to what occurred to me in that room.”
Mr. Trump’s workforce accused Ms. Daniels of making the most of the notoriety of her story, together with a tell-all memoir, merchandise and a subsequent tour known as “Make America Attractive Once more.”
“You’re celebrating the indictment by promoting issues out of your retailer, proper?” mentioned Ms. Necheles.
“Not not like Mr. Trump,” responded Ms. Daniels.
‘I don’t assume he’s handled pretty.’
Madeleine Westerhout, an assistant to Mr. Trump within the White Home, took the stand final Thursday, giving one of many extra flattering descriptions of Mr. Trump within the trial. She described him as a household man, deeply in love along with his spouse and misunderstood by the general public.
Ms. Westerhout, who teared up on the stand, was fired from the White Home. However in a ebook after her departure, she painted Mr. Trump as a mentor and a great boss.
“I don’t assume he’s handled pretty, and I needed to inform that story,” Ms. Westerhout testified. “I additionally felt it was actually essential to share with the American folks the person that I received to know.”
Her look ushered in a brand new piece of proof — Mr. Trump’s contact listing, which she oversaw. The listing included figures like Invoice O’Reilly, Invoice Belichick and Jerry Falwell Jr., Liberty College’s former president.
‘The whole lot required Mr. Trump’s sign-off.’
Mr. Cohen, testifying for 9 hours over Monday and Tuesday, mentioned that Mr. Trump had ordered him to make the hush-money fee in 2016 and had spoken to him about reimbursements.
“Would you have got made that fee to Stormy Daniels with out getting a sign-off from Mr. Trump?” requested Susan Hoffinger, a prosecutor.
“What I used to be doing was on the path and good thing about Mr. Trump,” Mr. Cohen testified, including that “every part required Mr. Trump’s sign-off. On high of that, I needed the cash again.”
He advised jurors that the plan to disguise his hush-money reimbursements as run-of-the-mill authorized bills was devised throughout a gathering in New York at which Mr. Trump was current.
“As soon as I obtained the cash again from Mr. Trump, I might deposit it and nobody can be the wiser,” Mr. Cohen mentioned.
‘Don’t flip, don’t converse.’
Mr. Cohen, who known as himself Mr. Trump’s “designated thug,” mentioned that the months in 2018 after the disclosure of Ms. Daniels’s payoff have been a interval of harm management.
When the F.B.I. raided Mr. Cohen’s dwelling that yr, he obtained a name from Mr. Trump, he testified: “He mentioned to me, ‘Don’t fear. I’m the president of the USA. There’s nothing right here. The whole lot goes to be OK. Keep powerful.’”
The then-president slowly distanced himself from Mr. Cohen however, Mr. Cohen testified, a again channel of communication was established by means of one other lawyer related to Mr. Trump’s circle, Robert Costello.
Mr. Cohen mentioned Mr. Costello’s message was: “The president nonetheless helps you. Don’t converse. Don’t take heed to what any of the journalists or anyone are saying and keep within the fold. Don’t flip. Don’t converse. Don’t cooperate.”
Mr. Cohen later pleaded responsible to federal crimes related to hush-money offers, turned on Mr. Trump and is now the important thing witness in opposition to him.