squistion

Bright enough to read the indictment and see that that he hasn't been charged for paying hush money.

No, they choose to believe what she literally has said.

The prosecution agrees and he hasn't been charged with paying hush money.

Well, gee, if that is the case, then her comments sure have fooled a lot of people into thinking she is.

Yes they were, past tense. And most black folks understand that is not the case now, which is why they vote overwhelmingly for The Democratic Party.

$25 plus a $5 tip (which is really cheap as I think the going rate is more like about $35-$40+ for a good hair stylist in L.A.)

No, we were Democrats then. But the party ideology has changed since Slavery, Jim Crowe and at the time of those who were in the KKK.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791196386429743240 BLANCHE: You worked with [reporters] to make sure the statement was truthful and letter was truthful. COHEN: I worked with them to put this letter out, which again i’ve characterized as deceptive. Jury is excused for the day. They return on Monday at 9:30 a.m. ET with Michael Cohen still on the witness stand.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791195085796712547 Now, Blanche asking Cohen questions about his legal services for Trump: BLANCHE: And you never had a retainer agreement? COHEN: No sir BLANCHE: You didn't need one because you were employed by the Trump Org? COHEN: that’s correct BLANCHE: you testified multiple times that when you were his personal atty in 2017 you had no agreement? COHEN: Correct BLANCHE: The whole time you worked for the Trump Org you never had a retainer agreement? COHEN: Never had a retainer agreement BLANCHE: Never COHEN: no sir BLANCHE: You were a lawyer. And you were acting as a lawyer… the whole time you worked for the trump org. COHEN: I did legal matters and non legal matters BLANCHE: And your job was to report directly to Pres Trump? COHEN: whatever Mr. Trump wanted me to do BLANCHE: you don’t need a retainer to do legal work for a client, do you? COHEN: no

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791194835879129438 Katie's Sidebar: Post-lunch, Blanche continues to be all over the place. He seemed like he was being chronological with his questions and yet, even if he's following a timeline, the questions he asks are all over the place. It's difficult to understand the points he's trying to make. BLANCHE: You testified that you lied on the account opening documents for the bank saying it was going to be consultants and if you told the truth they would say no they would not do it? COHEN: Correct BLANCHE: You were not interacting with Ms Daniels you were working thru her lawyer? COHEN: Yes, sir

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791194835879129438 BLANCHE: You testified that you lied on the account opening documents for the bank saying it was going to be consultants and if you told the truth they would say no they would not do it? COHEN: Correct BLANCHE: You were not interacting with Ms Daniels you were working thru her lawyer? COHEN: Yes, sir

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791192972068819154 BLANCHE: who was the reporter [from ABC]? Individual named John Santucci COHEN: John Santucci, I spoke to Mr. Santucci about it and he contacted me and asked...me whether or not i was responsible, or i knew that they were responsible. BLANCHE When you met with DA Pomeerantz do you remember saying you believed Ms. Daniels was engaging in extortion? COHEN: yes i recall making a statement like that BLANCHE: And in your mind, in your mind, there was either two choices. Pay, or don’t pay and the story comes out, correct? But you went a long time without paying, correct? COHEN: Yes, sir BLANCHE: you went a long time without paying COHEN: Yes, went several weeks without paying BLANCHE: you referred to it as a hush money payment, a payoff? COHEN: Correct BLANCHE: You recall prosecutors saying it was a payoff? Cohen: yes BLANCHE: trump never signed this agreement COHEN: that’s correct BLANCHE: An NDA happens all the time? COHEN: Yes they do BLANCHE: Peggy Peterson and David Dennison, those arent real names COHEN: No BLANCHE: Who came up with those names COHEN: Keith davidson BLANCHE: Do you know why COHEN: He knew Peggy Peterson. David Dennison i have no idea why

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791189884830359944 After a brief afternoon recess, Blanche now turns to the $130K payment to Stormy Daniels by way of Keith Davidson. BLANCHE: You learned from Mr. Davidson along the way that another news org was interested in buying her story? COHEN: after we had failed to transfer 130000 as per mr davidson’s cutoff date BLANCHE: The news org was ABC correct? COHEN: correct. And I believe it was also the Daily Beast.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791187551484588254 BLANCHE: Want to talk about your use of encrypted apps you used with Pecker and Howard, you testified that you would use those apps at times to keep conversations confidential, but a lot of those key conversations were just on text? COHEN: Yes, sir

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791187406005129662 BLANCHE: Eventually you learned there was nothing in the box? COHEN: I was told by Mr. Pecker not to worry there is nothing in the box BLANCHE: When he (Trump) said “cash,” he’s not talking about Benjamins and green dollar bills,” he’s talking about paying for something, not financing. Right? COHEN: No sir. BLANCHE: When you worked for him he very often would purchase things with cash? COHEN: correct BLANCHE: were there times he purchased properties in cash? COHEN: yes sir BLANCHE: There were times when Pres Trump bought properties and he paid cash? COHEN: That was the message that i was to use that there was no financing and pay all cash BLANCHE: When you say he is very rich and pays all cash, you are not saying you go to the bank with all cash, it is financed? He’s not talking about green? COHEN: He was, he said you need to do it by check BLANCHE: So just so I understand, you are in a meeting wit president trump, talking to him about the financing or cash for the mcdougal story, and you’re recording him. But the phone rings and you just answer that call. COHEN: I did BLANCHE: When you hung up with that phone call with the bank, you were still talking to president trump COHEN: For a few moments, yes BLANCHE: you didn't restart the recording? COHEN: No sir

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791185863528821165 Now, Blanche turns to the secretly recorded conversation with Trump: BLANCHE: You were concerned about a secret box about Pres Trump and at the time there was a concern because AMI... COHEN: David Pecker was being considered to be CEO of Time magazine. And the cocnern was that being that these documents were the property of AMI, that he would not be able to of course take them and then whoever the CEO might be if they ended up not being as supportive of mr trump as david was. We were concerned that potentially one of those stories. BLANCHE: and pres trump said he could get hit by a bus, meaning something could happen to mr. pecker and everything would be the same. BLANCHE: This wasn’t a concern with the election, the concern was he could get hit by a bus and you wouldn't have the box? You said I’m all over it. COHEN: Yes, sir

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791183824929333432 Blanche now trying to attack Cohen's ability to recall specific conversations: BLANCHE: we are talking about more than approximately 50,000 phone calls between 2016 and today,.....you testified about specific conversations you had with Pecker, Howard, Pres Trump you were not testifying about specific calls were you? COHEN: i was BLANCHE: you have specific recollections about certain calls? COHEN: “These phone calls are things that I’ve been talking about for the last six years. They are and they were extremely important and they were all consuming…” COHEN: What I didnt recall was that it had happened at 802p. COHEN: “What I did recall was the conversation that I had had” COHEN: “I had been telling the same story about it for six years” BLANCHE: Just so i understand you remember as you sit here today you remember that call? COHEN: Based on the documents i was able to look at it jogs my memory the story i am telling oyu with regard to this conversation BLANCHE: do you have recollection? COHEN: I recall conversation based on the documents BLANCHE: “I’m asking you whether you recall that conversation on that phone call at that time at that day in June” COHEN: Based on the documents i reviewed i did

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791179874331160881 BLANCHE: Just so I understand, you surreptitiously recorded your client so you could play a privileged recording between you and your client with a third party. That’s what you did, right? COHEN: That’s correct. BLANCHE: you understand that is not ethical to record a conversation with your client, there’s lots of new york bar opinions on this. But you are not supposed to record your client COHEN: Well there’s The crime fraud exception rule BLANCHE: You testified about a story the National Enquirer notified you about Dino Sajudin, that story is completely false? COHEN: Yes BLANCHE: By completely false, i mean money was paid to keep the story from coming out, but story was false, correct? COHEN: I believe so BLANCHE: Do you have any doubt in your mind? COHEN: No sir BLANCHE: Now you testified on monday when you were talking about this story that you kept president trump updated all along the way, correct? COHEN: That's correct BLANCHE: But there was a liquidated clause in the contract right? COHEN: Yes BLANCHE: you never told president trump details like that, did you? COHEN: No, sir BLANCHE: you were his lawyer, you handled it, right? COHEN: yes sir BLANCHE: as it relates to mcdougal story, you testified you were worried at the time this story would have a significant impact on the campaign? COHEN: correct BLANCE: but president trump didn’t share your view, did he? COHEN: I’m not sure i agree with that BLANCHE: When you testified that you believed the story would have a significant impact on campaign, simple question. BLANCHE: “president trump at least initially, did not think it would hurt him, correct?” COHEN: “initially, yes” BLANCHE: One of the things Pres. Trump was worried about with this story was his wife and children? COHEN: Correct

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791174237631414554 The jury is back after their lunch recess and now Blanche is back at his cross. Blanche starts by having to correct the record with the following: that Cohen did NOT have advance notice from the DA's investigator, Jeremy Rosenberg, about the unsealing of the indictment and Cohen did NOT have any evidence that anyone in the DA's Office leaked the indictment. Now Blanche is now going over the harassing texts Cohen received from a 14-year old. [Me: Geez, we get it. Move on.] We're now going all the way back to 2011: BLANCHE: you worked very hard to get positive stories in the press about Pres Trump and all the things he was doing? COHEN: that’s correct BLANCHE: And you worked very hard to get positive stories about you? COHEN: yes, sir BLANCHE: you always checked with trump before reaching out to a reporter? COHEN: It was my practice to check with Trump… because if I didn’t, “One, it would cause him to blow up at me, and two it would probably be the end of my job,” BLANCHE: there were plenty of times in 2015 and 2016 that you’d comment for stories without speaking to Trump, isn’t that true? COHEN: No sir, I would always get in line with a conversation we had on a specific topic and if he didn't like the response it would probably cost me my job BLANCHE: Campaign was upset with you because you had gone off message? COHEN: “I knew that they were upset about it, however Mr. Trump had turned around and advised them that I don’t answer to them.” COHEN: “I was not part of the campaign. I was a surrogate.” BLANCHE: The first time you hard about it (stormy Daniels), trump said he was worried about what his family would think? COHEN: yes as well as of course for the brand BLANCHE: the way you handled it, that wasn’t unusual, threatening legal action, writing a letter BLANCHE: Some of the reporters you have a strong relationship Chris Cuomo, Katy Tur, Maggie Haberman COHEN: Yes, she is with the new york times BLANCHE: You met before early 2000’s and you would describe your relationship as very strong? COHEN: I would BLANCHE: “You asked her to write a story saying how good it was that you had that role for president trump, right?” COHEN: Yes COHEN: Many times it was just by phone BLANCHE: That happens all the time with litigation trying to get a story taken down? BLANCHE: you’ve used that tool many times? COHEN: yes BLANCHE: Some of the reporters you have a strong relationship Chris Cuomo, Katy Tur, Maggie Haberman COHEN: Yes, she is with the new york times BLANCHE: You met before early 2000’s and you would describe your relationship as very strong? COHEN: I would BLANCHE: “You asked her to write a story saying how good it was that you had that role for president trump, right?” COHEN: Yes BLANCHE: “There were a number of times you gave Ms. Haberman a scoop? “ COHEN: Yes BLANCHE: you recorded a lot of conversations with reporters ?? COHEN: I wouldn’t characterize it as a lot… 40? It was probably a little more than a handful over 10 years. BLANCHE: Why did you record conversations with reporters? COHEN: For note taking so i could go back and listen to it, especially when it involved campaign BLANCHE: do you recall in Feb 2018, sharing with Ms. Haberman to help her write a story? COHEN: i remember sharing a recording, I don’t remember exact nature of it BLANCHE: ms haberman over the years has written a lot of articles about you? COHEN: Sounds like it, yes BLANCHE: Would you say 38 is a lot? BLANCHE: This is to give you an opportunity to respond, to give you an opportunity to push info to reporters and also to shape an article, to make articles come out that is favorable to you? COHEN: Correct

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791157906236166367 Katie's Sidebar: Todd Blanche has been crossing Michael Cohen for about 5 hours now. But, just minutes before the lunch recess, Blanche decided to finally hit a substantive area, crossing Cohen about an important 10/24/16 call with Trump. As a general proposition, cross-examination is usually a "get in/get out" moment. The more prolonged and meandering the cross, the harder it is for the jury to be invested and to stay invested. Blanche has shown that it takes him a long time to wind up for the pitch; I'm not sure the jury cares enough to wait for him to get there. Blanche raising his voice, practically "shrieking" at Cohen, could be perceived as "much ado about nothing" by the jury, especially if he took so long to get to that point. In the fact of Blanche's hysteria, Cohen has calmly responded that he “always ran everything by the boss immediately, and in this case it could have been just saying, 'Everything’s been taken care of, it’s going to be resolved.'” Blanche yelling at Cohen: “We are not asking for your belief. This jury doesn’t want to hear what you think happened.” isn't true. Of course, the jury wants to know from Michael Cohen what he thinks happened. Unless Trump wants to take the stand to explain what happened, then Cohen is a critical voice for the jury to hear from. And no, I'm not saying Cohen should be speculating about what happened. But Cohen should be allowed to explain what was going on not only for that 10/24 call, but for all of the other facts and details relating to this case.

https://twitter.com/AhmedBaba_/status/1789815922787500063 JK Rowling created a fictional world in her head consisting of magic, mythical creatures, and a potion that allows you to change identities. But, in spite of her vast imagination, she can’t possibly muster the capacity to accept that maybe, just maybe, gender is a spectrum. What a sad, weird obsession she has with the trans community. Like why? Just leave them alone. I see anti-trans Twitter found this post. My point is that JK Rowling has such a wide imagination but an incredibly closed mind. To invalidate gender science and an entire community with absolute certainty based on fear-mongering tropes is bigoted.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791150499950924065 BLANCHE: Mr. Cohen, you just said that you don’t recall a phone call back in 2016. That is not what you testified to on Tuesday. Tuesday, you testified that you remember the phone call. OBJECTION [by prosecution] -SUSTAINED And now it is time for a lunch recess.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1791149366482248181 Now: Blanche is raising his voice and asking Cohen about a series of phone calls that Cohen said were harassing and persistent that Cohen received on Oct. 22, 23, and 24th, and that Cohen actually texted Schiller on 10/24 about the harassing calls and not about the Stormy deal: BLANCHE: You said you called Keith Schiller [on 10/24] and he passed the phone to President Trump. And you said you were going to move forward [w/the Stormy deal] and “that was a lie because you were actually talking to Mr. Schiller” about the harassing phone calls from the 14 year old. BLANCHE: you were certain it was accurate on Tuesday when you were under oath and testifying COHEN: Based upon the records that I reviewed and in light of everything going on i believe i spoke to mr trump about the stormy daniels matter BLANCHE: “We are not asking for your belief. This jury does not want to hear what you think happened” OBJECTION [by prosecution] - SUSTAINED