Blanche has been waiting for this moment
Trump attorney Todd Blanche has been preparing to cross-examine Michael Cohen for months, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.
Blanche's cross-examination of Trump's former fixer is beginning now.
Court back in session
The court is back in session after a lunch break. The defense team is expected to begin the cross-examination of Cohen.
Defense may call no witnesses
During a morning sidebar, Trump attorney Blanche said that he could not commit to calling any witnesses. He said the defense has one expert witness who couldn’t be available until Monday — but that his testimony is contingent on a decision about how the instructions to the jury will be written.
He said he didn’t know whether Trump would testify and that the defense has decided not to call Alan Garten.
Michael Cohen will be final prosecution witness
During a morning sidebar, prosecutor Steinglass said Cohen will be the final witness called by the prosecution.
He said the prosecution had indicated that they would call a witness after Cohen, a publisher, but decided against it.
In conversation with Trump's attorney Blanche, they said they anticipate the prosecution could rest by the end of Thursday.
Cohen on working for Trump: 'I violated my moral compass'
Susan Hoffinger's last question to Cohen for the prosecution was if he has regrets about his past work and association with Trump.
“I regret doing things for him that I should not have," Cohen said. "Lying, bullying people to effectuate the goal. I don’t regret working for the Trump Organization; as I expressed before, some very interesting and great times. But to keep a loyalty and to do the things he asked me to do, I violated my moral compass and I suffered the penalty, as has my family.”
The court then recessed for lunch.
Cohen says he wrote a book in prison to 'pass the time'
Cohen testified that his job now is in the world of “media and entertainment” and that he has a podcast, "Mea Culpa," where he discusses “news of the day” and Trump.
He admits making money from "Mea Culpa" and another podcast published through the media arm of the liberal political action committee MeidasTouch. Cohen has also written two books — one of which, "Disloyal," he penned in prison "to pass the time."
"Time management is very important when you are in prison," Cohen said. "It helps the time go by quicker."
Cohen outlines financial, professional consequences of guilty plea
Cohen testified that he no longer holds a law license because of his felony conviction and has had to sell taxi medallions in New York and Chicago, where felons are not authorized to hold the medallions.
He has also had to sell all other real property beyond his apartment and a “secondary apartment.”
Cohen glances at jury while detailing his supervised release
Cohen testified that even now, five years after he surrendered to prison, he continues to be on supervised release.
“Even today I’m still on supervised release,” Cohen said, keeping his head maintained in the direction of Hoffinger but giving a quick glance with his eyes over to the jury box after making the statement.
Cohen confirms that he asked for a reduction in his sentence
Cohen testified that he applied for a reduction in his sentence and asked the Manhattan district attorney's office for help on that front.
In 2021, Hoffinger said, "was your understanding that our office said we might provide you with such a letter if prosecutors would consider reducing your sentence?"
"Yes, ma'am," Cohen replied.
Cohen says he returned to prison after he refused to sign an agreement to not write a tell-all book
Cohen said he went to the federal courthouse at 500 Pearl St. thinking he just had to fill out some paperwork and would be out of there in an hour.
But several hours later, his attorney came out holding his belt and jacket. Cohen was taken back into custody at the Federal Correctional Facility in Otisville because he would not sign an agreement that says he could not write a tell-all book.