Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial resumed on Monday at Manhattan Criminal Court, with the former president’s estranged ex-lawyer Michael Cohen concluding his testimony and the prosecution resting its case against the former president.
Cohen endured something of a rocky ride on the stand when he was accused of lying by Trump attorney Todd Blanche and challenged over inconsistencies in his public statements about the Stormy Daniels payoff at the heart of the case.
Mr Trump denies having an affair with the adult film star and all of the 34 felony charges he faces over the $130,000 payment made to her in October 2016 to ensure her silence during his presidential campaign.
It is unlikely but not certain if the defendant himself plans to testify but the defense has begun to present its case. Closing arguments were expected on Tuesday but have now been pushed to next week.
Over the weekend, Mr Trump addressed the National Rifle Association (NRA) in Dallas, Texas, and pledged to roll back all anti-gun legislation introduced by Joe Biden should he win in November.
Alex Woodward is covering the trial for The Independent at Manhattan Criminal Court.
More hallway remarks: Trump appears to violate gag order by talking about witness Robert Costello
Trump named witness Bob Costello by name in his remarks. “You saw what happened to a highly respected lawyer today, Bob Costello. Wow,” Trump said.
“Thank you very much. You saw what you saw. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. A tyrant, and everyone’s talking about it. This is what we have. We have an active judge, an appointed judge by Democrats by the club. This is our fourth week…”
“You saw what happened, what just took place in that court. Hopefully, the motion to dismiss this trial will go through because this is a disaster for our country. It’s a disaster for New York state, New York City.”
“The press I imagine is not happy they just got thrown out of a courthouse. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it.”
“You saw what happened to a highly respect lawyer today, Bob Costello. Wow. I’ve never seen anything like that. Highly respected.”
Alex Woodward notes: Trump appears to be testing the fences after his surrogates got away with defying the gag order, so he’s now right back to talking about witnesses.
Oliver O’Connell20 May 2024 22:43
Trump’s hallway remarks
Trump exited the courtroom at 5:08 p.m. and opened by talking about the courtroom fireworks.
“You saw what we saw,” he said. “That was an incredible display.” He seemed to call the judge “a tyrant.”
“You saw what happened, what just took place in that court.”
Members of his entourage stand behind him as he speaks.
Trump is currently addressing reporters in the hallway outside the courtroom. A few top lines from the former president:
“You saw what we saw. That was an incredible display … a tyrant.”
“This trial is a disaster for our country. It’s a disaster for New York City, New York State.”
“The press I imagine is not happy they just got thrown out of a courthouse. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it.”
“This is a show trial, there’s no actual crime or evidence.”
He’s now opining on various pundits who have commented about the trial, including director Oliver Stone.
There was also this bizarre movie reference:
Oliver O’Connell20 May 2024 22:35
Protests outside court — but not the type Trump wanted
Donald Trump has said repeatedly throughout the trial that police barricades are preventing his supporters from protesting his trial over falsifying business records relating to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
This is false. They simply haven’t shown up.
However, protesters against the former president have shown up in the park across the street that has been designated as an area for protests.
They also succeeded in drowning out remarks to the press by Mr Trump’s surrogates who attend court to support him.
Oliver O’Connell20 May 2024 22:30
Watch: Trump says motion to dismiss ‘disaster’ criminal case should be granted
Oliver O’Connell20 May 2024 22:26
Full story: Furious judge clears courtroom after Trump defense witness sighs and rolls eyes from the stand
Alex Woodward was at the courthouse for this dramatic moment and filed this report:
New York Justice Juan Merchan excused the jury to school Robert Costello about “proper decorum” in the courtroom moments after his testimony began.
“You don’t like my rulings? You don’t say ‘jeez’,” he said. “You don’t roll your eyes. Do you understand that?”
While in the middle of asking the jury to return, the judge fired back: “Are you staring me down right now? Clear the courtroom.”
Oliver O’Connell20 May 2024 22:15
Just kidding — there’s a last-minute sidebar but with no jury or witnesses, so it’s odd they don’t speak openly.
Trump is seated, making notes, going through a stack of papers on the defense table.
The attorneys look restless and ready to leave.
Now, things conclude. The judge will see them back in court tomorrow at 9.30am and will reserve his decision until then.
Costello will be back on the stand tomorrow.
Alex Woodward20 May 2024 22:06
Blanche: “At the end of the day and then I’ll sit down, you have a books and records violations here.”
“It’s hard to imagine … how this is supposed to be booked by Ms Tarasoff [Trump’s longtime accountant] when she gets the invoice.”
Judge Merchan is off the bench. The longest day yet of this trial has come to an end.
Alex Woodward20 May 2024 22:02
This move for dismissal is clearly a request from Trump.
Judge Merchan isn’t buying it.
Matthew Colangelo, for the prosecution, is now going through the charges and evidence presented, making it clear that this will all be up to a jury, not the defendant.
Judge Merchan says he’ll reserve his decision but Blanche wants another shot.
Alex Woodward20 May 2024 21:58
Without Cohen, “there is no case,” Blanche says.
“We put on irrefutable proof” of the phone call about the prank caller, he argues.
Trump is rapt. He’s got his arm around his chair and watching Blanche closely.
Merchan: “You want to take it our of the jury’s hands?”
Blanche agrees. Cohen’s testimony should be struck from the jury entirely.
Alex Woodward20 May 2024 21:51
Judge Merchan excuses the jury until the morning.
Hoffinger has 30-45 minutes left of cross-examination. There will then be some re-direct from Emil Bove, who doesn’t expect it to be long.
No other witnesses have been named at this point.
Blanche is presenting a motion to dismiss because of course he is. (edited)
“There is absolutely no evidence the business records were false,” he says.
Alex Woodward20 May 2024 21:42