Trump says Cohen isn’t ‘credible’ and ‘hasn’t said anything that matters’ as court takes break
Donald Trump sat face to face with Michael Cohen for the first time in years at his $250m civil fraud trial in New York.
Cohen, the former president’s onetime attorney and “fixer”, took the witness stand and testified he had been instructed to fraudulently increase valuations of key Trump assets.
The day ended with a series of heated exchanges as Trump attorney Alina Habba cross-examined the one-time Trump Organization insider.
Shortly after the day in court concluded in New York, news broke that former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has spoken with special counsel Jack Smith’s team multiple times this year, including once before a federal grand jury about 2020 election interference, after he was granted immunity to testify under oath, ABC News reported.
Mr Meadows is said to have informed prosecutors that he repeatedly told Mr Trump after the presidential election that allegations of significant voting fraud were baseless.
Meanwhile, in the latest developments out of Fulton County, Georgia, former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis became the fourth co-defendant of the former president to strike a plea deal with prosecutors. In a tearful statement to the court, she expressed “deep remorse” for her involvement.
Today in court: Trump attorneys target Michael Cohen in heated trial fraud testimony
Trump attorney Alina Habba, pacing the front of a lower Manhattan courtroom with a series of direct questions on 24 October, pressed Cohen to admit he previously lied to a federal judge and asked him whether his wife knew he committed tax crimes – an exchange that drew thunderous objections from Cohen and counsel with the office of New York Attorney General, whose lawsuit threatens to blow up Mr Trump’s business empire.
“Your honour, this witness is completely out of control,” Trump attorney Christopher Kise said.
Alex Woodward filed this full report from the courthouse:
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 22:43
ICYMI: Trump claims he is ‘genius’ for realising ‘us’ is spelled the same as ‘US’
Donald Trump bemoaned the fact that he was never described as “genius” after revealing to his followers that he had recently realised that the word “us” was spelled the same as “US”.
The former president questioned whether anybody else had ever thought to make the connection before, as he addressed supporters in New Hampshire on Monday, amid several ongoing criminal investigations into his conduct during his time in office.
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 22:35
Meadows told Trump that 2020 election fraud claims were bogus, report says
Mark Meadows, the ex-North Carolina congressman who served as Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff during his last year in office, has told prosecutors that he personally warned Mr Trump that claims of fraud tainting the 2020 election had no basis in reality.
According to ABC News, Mr Meadows admitted that the then-president had been “dishonest” with the American public when he began floating the outrageous allegations in the wake of his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden during one of several sessions with prosecutors — including sworn testimony before a federal grand jury”.
The former top White House aide reportedly told prosecutors: “Obviously we didn’t win”.
Andrew Feinberg has the details.
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 22:17
Voices: Tom Emmer was doomed before his speaker bid even began
Good evening and welcome to the 21st day of the House Republican speaker thunderdome!
The latest victim: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer.
The Minnesota Republican barely got to enjoy the fact he emerged out of a nine-man (and only men ran for the office) Royal Rumble to win the House GOP conference’s nomination to be speaker of the House before he ultimately ended his bid. This came three weeks to the day since Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) turned the House of Representatives into Mojo Dojo Casa House and booted Kevin McCarthy.
After an all-night candidate forum on Monday and a process of elimination ballot in the Longworth House Office Building, Mr Emmer emerged as the winner.
On paper, he should be a perfect choice for the gavel.
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 22:07
Emmer drops speaker bid after just four hours and one Trump attack
Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s speaker bid lasted only four hours before he dropped out in the face of steadfast opposition from a number of rightwing members of the House Republican conference.
Mr Emmer won the nomination on Tuesday for speaker after five rounds of internal voting, but it quickly became clear that he wouldn’t reach the 217 votes needed on the floor of the House.
Gustaf Kilander and Eric Garcia report from Washington, DC.
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 21:50
We end today with a pretty heated series of exchanges.
Habba is trying to undermine Cohen’s earlier testimony, showing that he has previously lied under oath, including in a case tied to financial documents (his taxes), in addition to his false testimony to Congress.
She cuts Cohen off when he tries to explain how he took the plea deal but didn’t necessarily agree with the charges against him.
“You’re not on Mea Culpa, you’re not on your podcast and you’re not on CNN. You’re here with me.”
Groans from the Attorney General’s table.
Habba’s cross-exam of Cohen will continue tomorrow.
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 21:45
Habba asked whether Cohen ever told his wife that “you were committing tax evasion.”
Cohen fired back, objecting to the question.
“Did your wife sign these returns?” she asked.
“So you lied to Judge Pauley, which we now established, but I’m supposed to [believe] you’re not going to lie to me now.”
Asked, again, if he lied under oath, Cohen said: “Asked and answered.”
Kise rises. “Your honour, this witness is out of control.”
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 21:31
Watch: Trump says he knows nothing about Ellis plea deal and says Emmer nomination looks ‘finished’
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 21:28
Habba takes Cohen through his various convictions and guilty pleas and showing a transcript from his 2018 plea hearing and court filings stating that he “used power and influence for deceptive ends”.
“Deception is a form of lying, is it not Mr Cohen?” she asked.
On the stand under questioning from Ms Habba, he admitted to committing perjury in that case.
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 21:24
Cross-examination of Cohen begins
Trump attorney Alina Habba begins Team Trump’s cross-examination of Michael Cohen, former fixer for the former president.
Habba intends to ask only yes or no questions.
Her first is whether Cohen has any medical issues that would prevent him from testifying truthfully.
“Asked and answered,” he said.
“You are fully prepared to testify to me today?” she asks.
“And you understand what under oath means, right Mr Cohen?”
Oliver O’Connell24 October 2023 21:21