Trump's NY Election Interference Trial (Joshua Steinglass is up for the Prosecution to do Closing)

[The Real timschochet 3,169]

1 minute ago, Strike said:

Squisition.  I'll take a check.  Thanks.

I like Squistion. That would be very disappointing if it’s true. 

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790421332120989948

HOFFINGER: Mr. Cohen, since you pleaded guilty in 2018, have you made public statements that you don't believe you should have been found guilty of two of those crimes?

COHEN: I have.

COHEN: “What I did dispute and I continue to dispute was that for a first time offender, who has consistently paid taxes on its due date, never having been audited, that this would go immediately to a criminal charge. The day that we found out I was given 48 hours within which to plead guilty, the SDNY was going to file an 80 page indictment that was going to include my wife”

HOFFINGER: Mr Cohen, you were cross examined about statements you made about it being unfair for you to be prosecuted for tax evasion, did MR Trump’s lawyers ask you that as a result of those public statements you lied in 2018 to the judge ?

COHEN: Yes

HOFFINGER: You told Judge Pauley that was a lie and you agreed to plead guilty?

COHEN: Yes

HOFFINGER: Can you explain very briefly what you mean when you said you lied to judge pauley?

COHEN: I was saying i was going to take responsibility because the underlying fact i never disputed but it goes back to the issue that i was given 48 hours to accept a plea offer before they would file 80 page indictment and include my wife and i wanted to protect my wife

HOFFINGER: You never said you lied to judge pauley…about the two campaign finance violations

COHEN: That’s correct.

HOFFINGER:Are you still a practicing attorney?

COHEN: No, ma’am I lost my law license as a result of this

HOFFINGER: How many years did you practice law before you disbarred

COHEN: 30

[Strike 4,081]

5 minutes ago, The Real timschochet said:

Sure they did. Challenge you to name one person besides Avenatti himself who wanted Avenatti to be President. 

 

[Hardcore troubadour 12,921]

This is hilarious. Cohen is actually exonerating Trump. Lol. Not that it matters. 

[squistion 941]

3 minutes ago, Strike said:

Squisition.  I'll take a check.  Thanks.

That is a lie. I never said I wanted Avenatti to be President (see thread in PSF). I posted some polls showing about 2-3% support among Democrats but never said I was also a supporter.

[Ron_Artest 767]

2 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

This is hilarious. Cohen is actually exonerating Trump. Lol. Not that it matters. 

You need to stop watching fox news 

[The Real timschochet 3,169]

4 minutes ago, Strike said:

 

Taking him seriously (which is pretty dumb in itself) is not the same as wanted him to win. And squis denies it too. So you still haven’t provided anyone who wanted him to win. 

[Strike 4,081]

2 minutes ago, squistion said:

That is a lie. I never said I wanted Avenatti to be President (see thread in PSF). I posted some polls showing about 2-3% support among Democrats but never said I was also a supporter.

Sure.  I'll just call you "Squisition Cohen" from now on.  Or would you rather "Squisition Pinnochio?" 

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790425056092565871

Katie's Sidebar:

The prosecution has anticipated the areas that could be potential Achilles' heels for Michael Cohen's testimony and Susan Hoffinger is taking them on -- one by one -- during his Direct Examination.

By "drawing the sting" now, the prosecution controls how these potentially negative issues about Cohen are initially introduced to the jury. When the defense gets up to cross-examine Cohen on these areas, they won't be hearing them for the first time and they won't be a surprise to the jurors.

[Strike 4,081]

1 minute ago, The Real timschochet said:

Taking him seriously (which is pretty dumb in itself) is not the same as wanted him to win. And squis denies it too. So you still haven’t provided anyone who wanted him to win. 

Squisition is a documented liar.  I know what I read.  

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790425624659816633

HOFFINGER: Do you have any regrets about your past work and association with Mr. Trump?

COHEN: ”I do”.....“I regret doing things for him that I should not have. Lying, bullying people in order to effectuate the goal. I don’t regret working for the Trump Organization. As I expressed before, some very interesting, great times. But to — to keep the loyalty and to do things that he had asked me to do, I violated my moral compass and I suffered the penalty and so has my family.”

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790425739382386832

Direct Examination of Michael Cohen is now completed.

 

[The Real timschochet 3,169]

2 minutes ago, squistion said:

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790425624659816633

HOFFINGER: Do you have any regrets about your past work and association with Mr. Trump?

COHEN: ”I do”.....“I regret doing things for him that I should not have. Lying, bullying people in order to effectuate the goal. I don’t regret working for the Trump Organization. As I expressed before, some very interesting, great times. But to — to keep the loyalty and to do things that he had asked me to do, I violated my moral compass and I suffered the penalty and so has my family.”

Fock you Cohen. Nobody is going to forgive you. Anyone who works for Donald Trump doing the stuff you did is a scumbag. 

[thegeneral 1,532]

20 minutes ago, Strike said:

Prosecutor:  Mr. proven liar/perjurer, did you lie here today?

Perjurer:  No I didn't!!!!

Okay we believe you. 

Which parts is he lying about? 

[Strike 4,081]

18 minutes ago, The Real timschochet said:

Fock you Cohen. Nobody is going to forgive you. Anyone who works for Donald Trump doing the stuff you did is a scumbag. 

He's the star witness of this case.  If you truly believe that you can't believe Trump should be convicted in this case. 

[Strike 4,081]

15 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

Which parts is he lying about? 

How do you know who I'm even talking about?  I didn't name names.

[Mike Honcho 4,125]

15 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

Which parts is he lying about? 

Well when he said squistion and Brian Stelter supported Avenatti for president...or are you are talking about Cohen and not Strike. 

[thegeneral 1,532]

8 minutes ago, Strike said:

How do you know who I'm even talking about?  I didn't name names.

I assume you are implying Cohen is lying. Is that not the case?

[thegeneral 1,532]

The wore their matching Donald outfits

Kneepads optional!

[squistion 941]

 

[Strike 4,081]

20 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

I assume you are implying Cohen is lying. Is that not the case?

Not at all.  The question is how one would know if he is lying given how freely he does it. 

[thegeneral 1,532]

1 minute ago, Strike said:

Not at all.  The question is how one would know if he is lying given how freely he does it. 

I would say by the evidence he presents, if other people corroborate, and the person being accused goes under oath and presents their evidence and version.

[Strike 4,081]

1 minute ago, thegeneral said:

I would say by the evidence he presents, if other people corroborate, and the person being accused goes under oath and presents their evidence and version.

Cohen's "evidence" is his testimony.  Why should anyone believe a proven, convicted liar?  Cross examination should be good.  Can't wait. 

[Engorgeous George 1,264]

3 hours ago, jerryskids said:

Threesome?   

Nope.  Probably for the best.  I stood as best man in the marriage of my wife's sister and that could have been awkward as could family holidays down over the years.

[thegeneral 1,532]

Just now, Strike said:

Cohen's "evidence" is his testimony.  Why should anyone believe a proven, convicted liar?  Cross examination should be good.  Can't wait. 

The alternative for much of what I read is that he did this on his own. the Weisleburg guy paid him all this money on his own. Trump had no idea any of this occurred. 

That is absurd.

I agree cross examination will be good TV.

Trump testifying would top that x100. He said he would and all he knows how to do is tell the truth

[Engorgeous George 1,264]

1 hour ago, squistion said:

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790421332120989948

HOFFINGER: Mr. Cohen, since you pleaded guilty in 2018, have you made public statements that you don't believe you should have been found guilty of two of those crimes?

COHEN: I have.

COHEN: “What I did dispute and I continue to dispute was that for a first time offender, who has consistently paid taxes on its due date, never having been audited, that this would go immediately to a criminal charge. The day that we found out I was given 48 hours within which to plead guilty, the SDNY was going to file an 80 page indictment that was going to include my wife”

HOFFINGER: Mr Cohen, you were cross examined about statements you made about it being unfair for you to be prosecuted for tax evasion, did MR Trump’s lawyers ask you that as a result of those public statements you lied in 2018 to the judge ?

COHEN: Yes

HOFFINGER: You told Judge Pauley that was a lie and you agreed to plead guilty?

COHEN: Yes

HOFFINGER: Can you explain very briefly what you mean when you said you lied to judge pauley?

COHEN: I was saying i was going to take responsibility because the underlying fact i never disputed but it goes back to the issue that i was given 48 hours to accept a plea offer before they would file 80 page indictment and include my wife and i wanted to protect my wife

HOFFINGER: You never said you lied to judge pauley…about the two campaign finance violations

COHEN: That’s correct.

HOFFINGER:Are you still a practicing attorney?

COHEN: No, ma’am I lost my law license as a result of this

HOFFINGER: How many years did you practice law before you disbarred

COHEN: 30

Interesting since he is suggesting Trump never had a similar motive.

[thegeneral 1,532]

25 minutes ago, Engorgeous George said:

Interesting since he is suggesting Trump never had a similar motive.

I have no clue about this dude’s private life but in Trump’s case it seems pretty clear the only shets Don gives is how things impacts him personally.

He’d only care if Melania bailed because it would ding him financially or it looked bad for him in other ways - in this case with voters.

[Mike Honcho 4,125]

41 minutes ago, Strike said:

Cohen's "evidence" is his testimony.  Why should anyone believe a proven, convicted liar?  Cross examination should be good.  Can't wait. 

Well, when his testimony matches the testimony he offered up after he was convicted of perjury, that should be a pretty good indicator.  Since it will be the opposite of what we already know is a lie.  It's not that complicated as you think it is. 

[Mike Honcho 4,125]

18 hours ago, BeachGuy23 said:

Ah thanks for the correction.

Word was he was definitely banging Melania, and others, while married to Marla.

I like to believe the rumours of her being a model/escort and that's how DT meant her after Marla. I'm also inclined to believe that DT than married her because he's too cheap to pay the escort service. 

But hey, that's me, I like to believe in the Meet-cute.

[Mike Honcho 4,125]

 

Quote

 

Cross-examination kicks off with fiery exchange

"You went on TikTok and called me a crying little sh*t" just before the trial began, Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked.

Michael Cohen nodded and said, “Sounds like something I would say.”

Judge Juan Merchan sustained multiple objections following questions from the defense, including one asking Cohen if he made comments about himself and Trump attorney Susan Necheles.

"The questions are stricken," the judge said.

 

 

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790449778918035687

Here’s how the cross-exam of Michael Cohen began:

BLANCHE:  Mr. Cohen, my name is Todd Blanche and you and I have never met.

BLANCHE: You went on TikTok and called me a “crying little ”

COHEN: “that sounds like something I would say”

OBJECTION: SUSTAINED

BLANCHE: “You referred to Trump as a ‘Dictator Douche Bag’?

COHEN: “Sounds like something I said”

BLANCHE: You said he should go back to “Where he belongs, in a cage, like a animal.” You recall saying that?

COHEN: I recall saying that.

Blanche asks a series of questions to which the prosecution objects as they violate the attorney-client privilege between Cohen and his now-former lawyer, Lanny Davis.

[jerryskids 5,358]

1 hour ago, Engorgeous George said:

Interesting since he is suggesting Trump never had a similar motive.

Given your law background: can Cohen testify to Trump's state of mind, other than specific statements made by Trump?

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790460692434133153

Blanche asking Cohen a series of questions about Cohen's refusal to stop talking to the press/media, despite the DA's Office and his attys asking him to do so.

BLANCHE: You also talked on Mea Culpa your desire to see Trump get convicted in this case?

COHEN: Sounds like something I’d say

BLANCHE: Have you regularly commented on your podcasts that you want president trump convicted in this case?

COHEN: Yes probably.

BLANCHE: Do you have any doubt?

COHEN: “I would like to see accountability.” But “It’s not for me, it’s for the jury and this case.

 

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790463103412629832

BLANCHE: When did you change your views about president trump from the views that you had your entire life, to what it is now?

COHEN: August 2018

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790464793310113941

Blanche moves to ask Cohen about his cooperation with Special Counsel Robert Mueller:

BLANCHE: They also asked you about Trump Moscow Project and you lied to them, right?

COHEN: Yes the information i gave was not accurate.

BLANCHE: Was it a lie?

COHEN: “I don’t know if i would characterize it as a lie. It was inaccurate.”

BLANCHE: Was it a lie?

COHEN: It wasn’t a lie, it wasn't truthful, if you want to call it a lie we can call it a lie, I believe the info i gave them is inaccurate

BLANCHE: But you are not testifying it’s a lie?

COHEN: “Sure, I’ll say it’s a lie”

BLANCHE: Your lies had only to do with the Moscow project?

COHEN: correct

BLANCHE: You had been talking for years about your views of Pres Trump and you were committed to him but once you testified in Feb 2019, you changed that to Pres Trump was a con man and you were ashamed?

COHEN: I said that yes.

BLANCHE: prior to going to prison in may, you’d never met with DA’s office?

COHEN: correct

BLANCHE: Between Aug 2019 and Oct 2019, you met with prosecutors on 3 occasions in Otisville [prison]?

COHEN: Yes sir

[supermike80 1,327]

On 5/10/2024 at 9:14 PM, The Real timschochet said:

Let’s start with abandoning the Kurds. Then moving the Israeli embassy to Jerusalem (terrible.) Breaking off the Iran deal (catastrophic) threatening NATO, blackmailing Ukraine, leaving the Paris accords, the tariffs. 

Arguably the worst foreign policy President in American history, but hey who’s counting right? 

This aged well.   LOL

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790465711384523181Brief afternoon recess until 3:45 pm

Brief afternoon recess until 3:45 pm

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790470238561030325

Cross resumes:

BLANCHE: We were talking about the first time you met with prosecutors at Otisville in aug 2019. Do you recall the first thing or one of the first things you wanted to talk to the prosecutors about in Otisville was what the benefits of meeting with them would be?

COHEN: I did ask that.

BLANCHE: You said you had been screwed over by the system?

COHEN: I don’t know if that’s the language i used but sounds correct

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790471758266396969

BLANCHE: Then your lawyer made a motion for a Rule 35 (sentence reduction)?

COHEN: Correct

BLANCHE: This was for your cooperation?

COHEN: As well as the earlier cooperation, yes

BLANCHE: This was for Cooperation with SCO office (Mueller’s team), Manhattan DA office, Cooperation with SDNY prosecutors…

BLANCHE: that motion was not granted

COHEN: it was not

BLANCHE: judge denied reduction in sentence

COHEN: correct

BLANCHE: your first book called Disloyal came out on Sept 8, 2020

COHEN: yes sir

BLANCHE: you launched Mea Culpa podcast sept 14, 2020

COHEN: Correct

[squistion 941]

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790472122449687004

BLANCHE: You referred to President Trump as a boorish cartoon misogynist?

COHEN: “Sounds like something I would say”

BLANCHE: “you referred to President Trump as a Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain?”

COHEN: sounds like something i would say

BLANCHE: Do you recall around that same time you started talking about President Trump would be convicted of a crime? You said “ I truly hope this man ends up in prison?”

COHEN: Sounds right