What we’re covering here
- On the stand: Michael Cohen is being questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger about his work as Donald Trump’s personal attorney and fixer as the key witness testifies in the former president’s New York criminal hush money trial.
- Prosecutors allege Trump falsified business records to cover up his reimbursement to Cohen of the $130,000 payment he made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her from going public about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election. Trump, who is in court listening to Cohen’s testimony, has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
- This is only one of four criminal cases Trump faces while being the 2024 GOP presumptive nominee. He is the first former US president to go on criminal trial and this may be the only case to go to a jury before the November presidential election.
Prosecutors now asking about Karen McDougal
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is now asking about former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged she had an affair with the former president.
Cohen says he again received a call from either Dylan Howard or David Pecker about the story.
Asked what impact the story would have had on Trump’s presidential campaign, Cohen says, “significant.”
Cohen says he went to Trump to tell him the agreement was done, as well as to get credit for executing it
Prosecutors are now showing Michael Cohen the amendment to the agreement with the doorman that includes the $1 million liquidation clause and the perpetuity clause.
“AMI bought the life rights as part of what Mr. (David) Pecker had agreed to at the Trump Tower meeting with you and Mr. Trump in August 2015,” prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asks.
“Yes,” Cohen says.
Cohen says that he went to Trump to tell him the agreement was completed, as well as to get credit for executing it. He told Trump, “in order to get credit for accomplishing the task.”
According to Cohen, Trump responded at that time, “That’s great.”
