Trump trial live updates with Michael Cohen set to wrap up testimony
get the free appMichael Cohen, the prosecution's final witness in Donald Trump's criminal trial, is returning to the stand for a fourth day of testimony Monday, the last appearance he is expected to make.
Cohen is the key witness in the case against Trump as the only person who has testified that Trump had personal knowledge of an alleged scheme to falsify business records to cover up reimbursements for a pre-election "hush money" payment to an adult film star in 2016.
He's already faced seven hours of withering cross-examination depicting him as a frequent liar who is obsessed with Trump and determined to make money off the cases against him. Trump attorney Todd Blanche said on May 16, the most recent day of proceedings, that he has at least an hour of questions remaining for Cohen.
Prosecutors, who need Cohen's testimony to seal the case, also have more questions for him.
Last week, Blanche played for the jury clips of Cohen talking about Trump last year on his podcast.
"I truly f--king hope that this man ends up in prison," Cohen was heard saying in one clip. "You better believe I want this man to go down and rot inside for what he did to my family."
Cohen has admitted to lying under oath about the $130,000 "hush money" payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Cohen pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 stemming from the deal, including bank fraud and campaign finance violations.
Prosecutors allege 34 business records were falsified to cover up that payment, and have shown the jury the invoices, vouchers and checks that correspond to each felony charge Trump faces. The former president has pleaded not guilty.
Judge skeptical of allowing email about Cohen's meeting with attorney
Prosecutors said Todd Blanche, Trump's lead attorney, advised them that he would seek to admit into evidence an email regarding a meeting between Cohen and Bob Costello, an attorney who met with Cohen in 2018 about possibly representing him. Cohen testified that he didn't trust Costello, and thought he was trying to establish a "back channel" to Trump and Rudy Giuliani.
Costello's law partner wrote to Cohen and referenced the meeting, saying they were "very pleased with the discussion." Blanche said the email was a "direct impeachment to what Mr. Cohen testified."
Prosecutors said it was hearsay and shouldn't be admitted, noting that Cohen never replied to the email. Merchan seemed to agree.
"At this point, at this moment, I'm not going to allow it in," the judge said. "It doesn't express the opinion of Mr. Cohen, I don't think you can impeach him on this."
Judge says trial will go into next week
Kicking off the day, Merchan said a number of outstanding issues means the trial will continue next week. He had said earlier that both sides might be able to begin presenting their summations, or closing arguments, as early as tomorrow.
"It's become apparent that we'll not be able to sum up tomorrow," he said. Instead, the parties should be prepared to begin summations next Tuesday. The court is off on Friday and Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.
Merchan has said he didn't want a lengthy break between summations and jury deliberations.
"It was either have a long break now, or have a long break then, and unfortunately, the calendar is what it is," he said Monday.
Attorneys for both sides then began arguing over the admissibility of evidence that Trump's team wants to introduce.
Early start to first day of week six
Trump trial proceedings typically kick off at 9:30 a.m., but the judge ordered an 8:45 gavel for Monday.
Two sides will be arguing over objections related to possible upcoming exhibits, and the judge, Juan Merchan, has elected to hear the debate before the jury arrives. The idea is to both not waste the jury's time, and also to keep things moving toward closing arguments.