Laffy
#TrumpTrial 🧵starts HERE. #Trump #legal
Remember: I cannot reply while live-posting, so plz use NFL (Not For Laffy.. no hashtag) so I can skip your replies. THANK YOU.
1/… more preamble, via Rupar:
Trump this morning printed out new NYT poll showing him ahead in swing states+ some Fox columns for good measure.
"A legal expense is a legal expense. It's marked down in the book, 'legal expense'" --Trump still pretending he doesn't understand why he was charged w crimes re Stormy payment
Laffy
39/ McB:
Before 2015, Cohen communicated with Pecker only on a few matters. One example: trying to place a positive story that Trump donated to Harlem for Hoops.
Q: Prior to Trump announcing his run for the presidency, did AMI ever pay to suppress negative stories of Trump?
A: No ma'am.
Q: Do you know someone named Dylan Howard, what was his role?
A: Yes, he worked for Mr Pecker to the same extent that I worked for Mr Trump.
Laffy
40/ [I'm so dreading having to keep my appt. with Mr. BlowDryer because this testimony is hard enough to keep up with without having to take a break.. so, I WILL catch you up, but it will be a lot]
McB:
In 2011, Cohen says he saw a poll stated 6 percent of respondents thought Trump should be the president, and he showed Trump.
It's interesting, we should look into it, Cohen says Trump said to him, and Cohen started a website: http://shouldtrumprun.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20101114134906/http://shouldtrumprun.com/
Laffy
36/ Klasfeld:
Cohen testifies that he and Trump decided to sync his contacts into his phone, leading him to have more than 30K contacts in his phone at one time.
McB:
..contacts in his phone—names, email addresses, cell numbers, home numbers.
We ult decided, & Trump agreed, to have his contacts synced to my cell phone as well, so that it would be easier when we traveled together, Cohen says.
Laffy
37/ McB:
While Trump had no email addresses, Cohen had three: mcohen@trumporg.com, mcohen@mdpc.com, and a personal gmail address.
Laffy
38/ McB:
Hoffinger asks whether Cohen knows David Pecker.
Yes, they initially met at a "function" on Long Island, before Cohen worked at Trump Org, but was "reintroduced" once he became Executive VP for Trump.
Did you communicate with David Pecker using encrypted app called
@signalapp
?, Hoffinger asks.
Sometimes we thought that encryption and not having the message traceable would be beneficial, Cohen says.
Laffy
32/ Press:
Prosecutor: Did you lie for him?
Cohen: Yes. I bullied people too. I wanted to make him happy.
Prosecutor: Did you get additional titles?
Cohen: I was put on the board of Miss Universe. I was treasurer at some of the properties.
Laffy
33/ McB:
Q: Are you aware that in connection for your work with him, some called you his "fixer"?
A: Yes some have described me as that.
Q: Is that an accurate moniker?
A: It's fair, (he says solemnly).
Hoffinger is asking about two phone numbers (last four digits), likely CP1 and CP2.
Laffy
34/ McB:
Thus far, the jury remains as poker-faced as ever, ping-ponging their gaze between prosecutor and witness like tennis spectators, scribbling down a few notes occasionally.
Q: Did you provide those phones in Jan 2023?
A :Yes, that sounds correct.
Laffy
35/ Klasfeld:
In addition to text messages previously entered into evidence, Cohen's phone logs also entered the record on Friday, showing him on the phone with Trump twice on Oct. 26, 2016.
That will be key evidence for prosecutors, and an almost-certain topic of Cohen's testimony.
Laffy
28/ Inner City Press (aka Press):
Prosecutor: Were you told to update him on matters?
Cohen: Yes. If you didn't immediately tell him, it would not go over well for you.
Prosecutor: Was he a micro-manager?
Cohen: Yes ma'am. I called him Boss. There were great times, for the most part I enjoyed it
Laffy
29/ McB:
Q: In working for him for 10 years, what was it like for you?
A: Fantastic. Working for *him* especially was an amazing experience in many, many ways. There were great times, several less than great times, but for the most part I enjoyed the responsibilities that was given to me..I enjoyed working with my colleagues at the Trump Org, the Trump children, it was a big family.
Laffy
30/ McB:
Q: Did you lie for him?
👉🏼A: Yes, it was what was needed.
Q: Did you at times bully people for him?
👉🏼A: Yes, in order to accomplish the task—the only thing that was on my mind was to accomplish the task to make him happy.
Cohen says he was rewarded for this with titles and seats.
Laffy
31/ Bower:
In connection with his work for Trump, some have called Cohen a "fixer."
It's a "fair" description, Cohen says.
Laffy
24/ McB:
Q: Did you ever contact Mr Trump through somebody else?
A: Yes
Q: Who?
A: Many people, depending on who he was with. Could be Rhona, Keith Schiller (whom Cohen called his "personal attaché"), Trump's children, Hope Hicks.
Laffy
25/ [Today I learned that my iPad is too old and unreliable. Sigh. I start off my live posts by typing these while still in bed--Calif. time, so early here!--, on my iPad, then switch to my Mac after I break. This will have to change. Moving on...]
Weissmann:
Trump NEVER had an email: said people get into trouble. Trump said he had seen people "go down" because of them.
{See eg Trump:Roy Cohn never took notes]
Laffy
26/ McB:
Q: Did Trump use email?
A: No, Mr Trump never had an email address.
Q: Did Trump share his philosophy on emails?
A: Trump would comment that emails are like written papers, he knows too many people who have gone down as a direct result of having emails prosecutors can use.
Laffy
27/ McB:
Mr Trump had an open door policy, Cohen says. He would often go to Trump's office, knock on the door, say Boss you got a second?, and walk right in.
Would he generally record those meetings in his calendar. "No ma'am," says Cohen.
Cohen says Trump would say, Keep me informed, let me know what's going on—what he's saying, what everybody did, as soon as you had a result or answer, you'd go straight back and tell him.
Q: Was Trump a micromanager?
A: Yes ma'am.
Laffy
21/ Bower:
Did you threaten to sue people on behalf of Trump during your time at Trump Org? Yes.
He provides an example: If the press said something that angered him, he would reach out to the press and request that they redact or take the article down or else Trump would sue.
Laffy
22/ Orden:
Cohen testified that he would talk to Trump every single day and multiple times per day.
McB:
More matters: getting a settlement from a yellow cab that hit a Trump car, handling adjustment with the insurance company about a residence bathroom, and, more to the point, working with the press to minimize negative stories and enhance positive stories about Trump and his biz.
Laffy
23/ McB:
Hoffinger asks about floor plans, not for the first time this trial: Cohen says he ended up sitting at a desk "maybe 50 feet" from Trump's office.
Q: How often did you speak with Trump when you worked there?
A: "Every single day, and multiple times a day."
Laffy
17/ Klasfeld:
Cohen recalls Trump telling him, "It's fantastic. It's incredible," when he successfully renegotiated bills and invoices.
Q: How did that make you feel?
A: Like I was on top of the world.
Laffy
18/ McB:
Cohen recounts how he renegotiated all the Trump University bills, at Trump's direction. Cohen was able to work out all but two vendors.
"They just...went away," Cohen says of the two vendors who didn't want to accept renegotiations.
Cohen says he wanted Trump to understand that he was "accomplishing what he wanted." After his work in the Trump University matter, Cohen remembers that Trump said "That's fantastic."
Q: How'd that make you feel?
A: Like I was on top of the world.
Laffy
19/ McB:
Now to another problem Cohen the fixer says he fixed: Cohen "brought an arbitration against" a Miss USA Pageant contestant who defamed the pageant organization, which they resolved.
Did you do negotiate for Trump in a strong or threatening matter?, Hoffinger asks.
"I would say so," Cohen responds with a note of regret in his voice. "Not all the time, but often."
Laffy
20/ Klasfeld:
Cohen testifies about threatening to sue companies and individuals for Trump, including someone from the Miss Universe pageant and reporters.
"I would express to them the need to redact or take the article down."
Laffy
13/ McB:
"I actually never went back, not even that day," says Cohen, as associates from the Trump organization went over to Cohen's old firm to pack up his things and move them to Trump Tower.
Cohen would work there for ten years: 2007 - Jan 2017.
How old were you when you started at the Trump Org, asks Hoffinger, but Cohen laughs nervously and says I can't recall (despite just saying he started in 2007).
McB: I'd be nervous too.
Laffy
14/ To reiterate, via Weissmann:
👉🏼Trump stiffs Phillips Nizer for $100,000 legal bill when he hires Cohen as Trump's special counsel and EVP. Worked there from 2007-2017.
Laffy
15/ McB:
Right out of the gate, Hoffinger is establishing that everything Cohen did, he did at the sole 👉🏼discretion of Donald Trump.
Cohen says his duties 👉🏼"concerned whatever [Trump] wanted."
👉🏼He had only one boss: "The Boss," Mr. Trump.
Laffy
16/ McB:
Q: Did he ever ask you to renegotiate bills for him?
A: Yes
Q: Examples?
A: A law firm would send an invoice, Trump didn't believe it was fair, reasonable, justified, so he'd give me the task of renegotiating.
Q: What about for specific vendor bills for Trump University?
A: Yes
Laffy
10/ McB:
Cohen says he met Trump through Don Jr.—there was a board issue at a Trump building, where Cohen and relatives had a bloc of apartments, and Cohen and his allies took over the board.
That was the start of their relationship.
Laffy
11/ McB:
Cohen says he started doing work for Trump, initially at no cost. Finally, Trump asked Cohen to review lengthy documents related to Chapter 11 reorg plan of Trump Entertainment Resorts, so Cohen finally gave Trump a bill for $100k.
Trump summoned Cohen to his office to discuss the bill and asked him if he was happy at his "sleepy little firm," and whether Cohen would want to come work for him instead.
"I was honored, I was surprised," Cohen recalls.
Laffy
12/ McB:
The bill never got paid.
Instead, Trump offered him a position as Executive VP of Trump Org and special counsel to Trump, reporting directly and only to Trump, "working on issues that were of concern to him."
After a negotiation, they settled on a $375k base salary.
Laffy
7/ Phang:
Cohen bought and invested in real estate. In 2007, he was offered a job by Trump at Trump Org. as "special counsel."
Cohen ID's Trump in open court, standing up at the witness stand to peer at Trump, and testifying that Trump is wearing a blue and white tie.
Laffy
8/ Xitter loaded. McBrien:
Cohen recounts his early life: Lawrence, Long Island, part of the five towns in Nassau Co. His father was a holocaust survivor who emigrated to Toronto for med school, met my mom, "four kids later, here I am."
"Actually I really didn't want to be a lawyer, my grandmother wanted me to be a lawyer"..His family is comprised of drs & lawyers, the lawyers are married to doctors and vice versa. "I wanted to go to Wall Street and my grandma said that's not gonna happen."
Laffy
9/ McB:
In addition to law, he also bought part of a business in taxi medallions—in 1995, he invested in "Manhattan Maintenance," as well as some real estate along the years. "Specifically in Trump properties, my very first one," Cohen says.
Cohen is speaking calmly, in his familiar Long Island accent.
Do you see Mr Trump in court today, and can you point him out?
Cohen wheels around two times in his seat, stands up, then points him out.
Laffy
4/ Tyler McBrien:
Seems to Merchan that it would just be used to provide explanation on why someone isn't here, but not the offense itself.
No other preliminary matters from either side.
"If there's nothing else, let's get the jury in," Justice Merchan says.
Laffy
5/ Oy, not Xitter isn't loading. So, it's Katie Phang from Threads for awhile:
The prosecution calls Michael Cohen to the stand.
He is 57 years old, married for 30 years. Two children. He is testifying pursuant to a subpoena and his atty is present in court today.
Susan Hoffinger is conducting the Direct Examination of Cohen and is walking him through his educational background.
He graduated from law school in 1991, admitted in 1992 to the practice of law.
Laffy
6/ Phang:
As Michael Cohen testifies against his former boss, Donald Trump sits just a few feet away, his eyes appearing to be closed.👈🏼
Laffy
2/ Weissmann:
There is a very large space between Susan Necheles and Emil Bove--big enough to put another person at the defense table, but it's just empty space. Quite odd.
Judge Merchan disallows the prosecution from introducing the Weisselberg severance agreement to show why he is not here as a witness. Says it is not proof of the charged crime. (I think it shd have been admitted precisely to explain why the witness is not here.)
Laffy
3/ NOTE: I’m having Internet issues for some reason. Sorry. Nothing is loading, yes I’ve tried everything.
Klasfeld:
Judge DENIES prosecutors' bid to allow Allen Weisselberg's separation agreement with the Trump Organization into evidence.
"This would be used to explain why somebody is not here," the judge notes.
Neither side has subpoenaed Weisselberg, who's jailed for perjury.
Laffy
74/ Phang:
COHEN: “There’s a file drawer, or a locked drawer as Pecker described it where files that relate to Mr. Trump existed. And at that point in time, David was being considered for the position of CEO at Time Inc.” COHEN: “And one of the concerns that I had that I expressed to mr trump, was that 👉🏼if Pecker goes, there’s a series of papers there [at AMI] that relate to you. HOFFINGER: Was Mr. Trump concerned about that? COHEN: Yes
Laffy
75/ Phang:
Now, the prosecution asks about that now-famous taped conversation in Trump Tower:
HOFFINGER: I now direct your attention to Sept 2016. Did you record a convo with Trump re: purchasing Karen McDougal life rights? 👉🏼COHEN: Yes and this was the only one I taped.
Laffy
66/ Phang:
COHEN: “AMI was going to lay out the funds, and as Mr. Trump had stated to David, I’ll take care of it.” HOFFINGER: And what did you understand that to mean?
👉🏼COHEN: “That [Trump] was going to pay him back”
Laffy
67/ Phang:
EXHIBIT BEING SHOWN to Cohen – TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN HOWARD AND COHEN (Cohen is reading a series of texts about conversations to and about Karen McDougal)
HOFFINGER: why were you pressing for this information from Dylan Howard? COHEN: I wanted to know what the number was because I'd have to report back to Mr. Trump.
Laffy
68/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: Was there some particular pressure at this point [in time]?
👉🏼COHEN: “There was the campaign, and we were concerned that this story was going to find its way to ABC News.
Laffy
69/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: Did you learn an agreement had been finalized with Karen McDougal? What were the terms? COHEN: I was told by David Pecker and Dylan Howard: the terms would be compensation to her in the amount of $150,000 and AMI provide her with 24 penned articles as well as she would be on two covers of one of the various magazines that they owned.
Laffy
70/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: Did Pecker tell you the agreement was bulletproof? COHEN: Yes, it would be locked down and prevented from going to ABC News. Effectively, the story had now been “caught”. HOFFINGER: “What was Mr. Trump’s reaction to hearing that an agreement had been signed, and done, and that it was bulletproof"? COHEN: Yes, 👉🏼[Trump's] reaction was “fantastic, great job”
Laffy
71/ Phang:
Now, the prosecution asks about 8/5/16 email from Keith Davidson to Michael Cohen wherein Davidson asked Cohen to give him a call.
Laffy
72/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: After AMI finalized the deal [with KM] and paid the money for her life rights, did you speak to Pecker about Mr. Trump reimbursing? COHEN: Pecker wanted the $150,000 back because it was too much money for him to hide from the CEO of the parent company and he had laid out $30,000 (also for Dino the Doorman) so he was putting pressure on me to get the money to pay him back.
Laffy
73/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: Did you have lunch with Pecker where he pressed you on the matter? COHEN: He asked me to meet him at a restaurant and again he expressed his anger saying i need the money back and i said Mr Trump said he will pay you back.
HOFFINGER: “did you talk to Mr Trump about that? Did you inform him about that?” 👉🏼COHEN: he said “don't worry, i'll take care of it.”
Laffy
56/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: What if anything did you think about the potential impact on the presidential campaign
COHEN: “Significant”
“So I went to the office, knocked on it, boss I got to talk to you. Come in. I went in. Told him about what I had just learned. I asked him if he knew who Karen McDougal was, knew anything about the story.”
COHEN: “His response to me was, she's really beautiful.” COHEN: “I said ok but there’s a story that’s right now being shopped.”
Laffy
57/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: What did you do? COHEN: We needed to acquire the story so I reached out to Pecker.
Asked whether he communicated regularly with Pecker and Howard from June 16, 2016 through August 5, 2016, Cohen affirms he did in order to ensure the story was purchased and taken off the market:
Laffy
58/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: Did you meet regularly with Pecker and Howard re McDougal's story? COHEN: Yes, to stop the story from getting to an outside source. HOFFINGER: did AMI regularly update you about negotiations regarding the story? COHEN: Yes HOFFINGER: How did you communicate with Pecker and Howard? COHEN: it would either be by phone, text, email, Signal app
Laffy
59/ Phang:
EXHIBIT shown to Cohen– TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN MICHAEL COHEN AND DYLAN HOWARD Dated June 16, 2016:
This June 16, 2016 text exchange, Cohen says, was about a meeting with Karen McDougal's people.
Cohen is now shown texts between him and Keith Schilller, Trump's bodyguard.
These texts are dated June 16, 2016, and Cohen is trying to reach Trump (through Schiller) regarding the Karen McDougal matter, after getting an update from Howard.
Laffy
60/ Phang:
PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 349 IN EVIDENCE is now shown to Cohen: A SUMMARY of CALLS BETWEEN MICHAEL COHEN AND DONALD J. TRUMP on 6/16/16
Cohen testifies that he was trying to reach Trump to give him the McDougal update.
Laffy
61/ Phang:
SERIES OF TEXTS BW HOWARD & COHEN DATED: JUNE 20, 2016 are shown to Cohen.
DH: “I am about to meet with her. Her name is Karen McDougal. Former Playboy Playmate.” MC: “Ok. We need to speak” DH: “Yes” DH: “When we break.” MC: “Ok. Obviously important.” (more...)
Laffy
62/ Phang:
DH: “Spoke to DP. We just broke. I’m wrapping up with them. And then we will convene a three way call between us all to sort this out. Understand I’ve got this locked down for you. I won’t let it out of my grasp." DH: "Just heading to hotel. Will call you when in room for privacy"
.
Laffy
63/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: A little later in June 2016, were you present for a conversation that Trump had with Pecker about the Karen McDougal matter? COHEN: Yes ma’am, I was in Mr. Trump’s office, and Trump used a speaker box on his desk so I heard the conversation
Laffy
64/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: Who else was in Trump's office besides yourself and Mr. Trump? COHEN: Just the two of us. HOFFINGER: Did David Pecker call in? COHEN: Yes ma’am, in Mr. Trump’s office, he had the call put through and he had a speaker box on his desk.
He asked Pecker how things are going with the matter and David said we have it under control and we will take care of it.
Laffy
65/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: What was the conversation about? COHEN: “David [Pecker] stated that it’s going to cost him $150,000 to control the story, to which
Mr. 👉🏼Trump replied no problem, 'I’ll take care of it.'”
Laffy
52/ NOTE: Break for me, Mr. BlowDryer is demanding that I get ready for the day.
I will catch you up when I get back, promise.
Laffy
53/ Pffft! Mr. BlowDryer is such a wuss.
Catching you up now, via Phang, Weissmann:
Cohen reviewed contract to "catch and kill" Dino the Doorman's story. He showed it to Trump to show that AMI was doing something about it. Cohen recommended a $1 million liquidated damages clause (a "heavy hammer" to make sure Dino didn't break the terms of agreement)
HOFFINGER: Did you tell Howard and Pecker that Mr. Trump would be grateful? COHEN: Absolutely. HOFFINGER: Was he grateful? COHEN: Absolutely
Laffy
54/ Phang:
HOFFINGER: did you suggest another term involving perpetuity? COHEN: Yes, the agreement had an end date, so i suggested make it in perpetuity. HOFFINGER: Did AMI agree to that term as well? COHEN: They did.
HOFFINGER: Did you tell Mr. Trump? COHEN: Yes, “In order to get credit for accomplishing the task.” HOFFINGER: What was Mr Trump’s reaction when you told him that? COHEN: “that’s great”
Laffy
55/ HOFFINGER: Is it your understanding that AMI did buy the life rights as part of Pecker’s agreement with you & Trump at TT in August? COHEN: Yes.
Now, the prosecution moves on to ask Cohen about Karen McDougal story.
HOFFINGER: June 2016, did you learn McDougal was looking to sell her story? COHEN: I received a call from Pecker & Howard & they said that she is a Playboy playmate and there is a story that is looking to be sold to news outlets about her relationship that she had w Mr Trump.
Laffy
51/ McB:
To borrow a phrase from David Pecker, Cohen says they acquired the life rights to "Take it off the market."
Q: Did you tell AMI that Trump would be grateful?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Was Trump grateful?
A: Absolutely.
Laffy
45/ Bower:
According to Cohen, the covers of these stories were sometimes sent over to Trump. Why? To show that David Pecker was "loyal" and doing what he promised to do during the August 2015 meeting.
Laffy
46/ McB:
Hoffinger shows People's 166: it's an email from Cohen to Barry Levine (AMI), cc Howard. Levine sent to Cohen some positive stories, and Cohen responded: "Take out the part of the penthouse pet Sandra, as it offers nothing," along with another bit about Atlantic City.
Laffy
47/ Weissmann:
Cohen said when the presidential announcement comes out be prepared as THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WOMEN coming out with stories.
Mtg with Pecker and Trump and Cohen at Trump Tower. PECKER WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP TABS ON THINGS AND STOP BAD THINGS FROM COMING OUT. AND COULD DISSEMINATE BAD STORIES ON OTHERS, FAVORABLE ONES ON TRUMP. AND STORIES WERE PREVIEWED WITH THEM- EXAMPLES CRUZ FATHER STORYA DN HILLARY ILLNESS.
Laffy
48/ McB:
The email was from Jan 6, 2016, and Cohen thought the Penthouse pet bit would be negative for Trump, the way it dealth with women and penthouse—ultimately AMI agreed to take it out. The article eventually ran as: "World Exclusive: The Donald Trump That Nobody Knows!" (1/13/2016)
Laffy
49/ McB:
Hoffinger asks about the doorman story: after Cohen learned a story was circulating, he spoke to to Trump about it, "to 👉🏼get his direction on what he wanted me to do."
Q: Did you provide his name?
A: Yes, I provided all the information
Laffy
50/ McB:
Cohen says Trump told him to make sure this doorman story doesn't get out: "You handle it."
Q: What did you do?
A: I worked with Pecker and Howard in order to obtain the "life rights" story.
Q: Along the way did you update Trump about the matter?
👉🏼A: Immediately.
Laffy
41/ McB:
Ultimately Trump decided not to run, but promised Cohen he would do it in the next election cycle—which they continously talked about in the years leading up to 2015.
Q: What was your campaign role?
A: I wasn't going to be part of it, just going to be a surrogate—someone who speaks on behalf of the candidate and defends him in the press. Speaks to the press, provides color, but not as a member of the campaign, but rather as an outside person.
Laffy
42/ McB:
Cohen says one of the things he noticed about the Trump campaign is that it was very white—he said that if we're going to win, we need diversity.
Q: Prior to the campaign announcement, did Trump express any concern about his past?
👉🏼A: [Trump said] You know that when this comes out—meaning the presidential announcement—just be prepared there's a lot of women that are going to come forward.👈🏼
Laffy
43/ McB:
Cohen describes what was discussed at the meeting with Pecker: the power of the NE in terms of its location at the cash registers of so many supermarkets and bodegas that if can place (+) stories about Mr Trump, that would be beneficial, and if we could place (-) stories about some of the other candidates, that would also be beneficial.
Laffy
44/ Bower:
Cohen discussed the August 2015 meeting w/ Trump and Pecker at Trump tower. Pecker told them that he could place positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents. And Pecker said he could tip off Cohen about negative Trump stories on the market.
Cohen recalls some of the negative stories that Pecker's magazines ran about Trump's opponents. Stories about Ted Cruz's father, Marco Rubio, Hillary Clinton.
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