Jury hears secret recording of Trump discussing catch-and-kill payment

ABC News

13 May 202413:56

Summary

TLDRIn a tense courtroom atmosphere, Michael Cohen, former attorney for Donald Trump, testifies in a criminal hush money trial involving the former president. The court session, covered by ABC News, includes discussions about payments to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, with Cohen providing key testimony about Trump's involvement. The defense is expected to challenge Cohen's credibility, given his past convictions for lying. The trial has drawn significant attention, with notable figures such as senators and Trump's son, Eric Trump, present in the courtroom. The summary also highlights the lack of eye contact between Trump and Cohen, the jury's attentiveness, and the strategic seating arrangement that allows the two men to avoid looking at each other. The discussion anticipates a potential defense strategy to portray Cohen as the mastermind behind the hush money payments, and the importance of Cohen maintaining his composure under cross-examination.

Takeaways

📚 Michael Cohen, former lawyer for President Trump, is a star witness in a criminal hush money trial involving Trump.
👥 The trial is focused on 34 criminal counts, primarily related to the Stormy Daniels payment scandal.
💬 Cohen testified that he spoke with Trump multiple times a day, which could complicate the defense's argument regarding Trump's knowledge of Cohen's actions.
👀 There was a notable lack of eye contact between Trump and Cohen in the courtroom, with both men looking straight ahead.
👥 The jury appeared to be attentive and focused, taking notes throughout the proceedings.
🚨 Brian Buckmire, a legal contributor, is anticipating a 'smoking gun' moment in the testimony that could significantly impact the trial.
🤔 The defense is expected to focus on attacking Cohen's credibility, highlighting his past lies and convictions.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Several members of Trump's family and campaign apparatus were present in court, including Eric Trump and two U.S. Senators, signaling a show of support.
🤐 Trump did not engage with anyone else in the courtroom, maintaining a forward gaze throughout the proceedings.
👮‍♂️ The presence of key figures in the courtroom suggests an attempt to keep Trump calm and project an image of unity and support.
👵 Melania Trump is not expected to attend the trial, reflecting her past reaction to the Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal stories.

Q & A

What is the current status of the court proceedings mentioned in the transcript?
-The court is currently in recess after a tense morning of testimonies.
Who is the star witness providing testimony in the trial?
-Michael Cohen, former lawyer and fixer for President Trump, is the star witness.
What is the focus of Michael Cohen's testimony?
-The focus is on the alleged criminal hush money trial involving President Trump.
What are some key elements of the case that have been discussed so far?
-Key elements include the doorman's jewelry, the Karen McDougal story, and an audio recording of Donald Trump and Michael Cohen discussing the payment to Karen McDougal via AMI and David Pecker.
What is the significance of the Stormy Daniels story in this case?
-The Stormy Daniels story is central to the case, as the 34 criminal counts are built around it.
How did Michael Cohen describe his interactions with Donald Trump?
-Cohen testified that he spoke with Trump multiple times a day.
What is the defense's strategy regarding Michael Cohen's testimony?
-The defense is likely to focus on questioning Cohen's credibility, given his past convictions for lying.
What was observed about the demeanor of the jury during the court proceedings?
-The jury was observed to be stone-cold, watching everything, taking notes, and paying close attention to the proceedings.
What is the significance of the presence of Donald Trump's family and campaign apparatus in the courtroom?
-Their presence is a show of force and support for Trump, aiming to create an image of unity and strength.
Why might Melania Trump not be present at the court proceedings?
-Melania Trump has historically avoided public involvement in these types of scandals, and her absence is likely due to the personal nature of the allegations.
What is expected to be the defense's approach during Michael Cohen's cross-examination?
-The defense is expected to be surgical in their approach, focusing on Cohen's credibility and painting him as the ringleader in the alleged scheme.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Courtroom Tensions and Testimonies

The first paragraph discusses the ongoing recess in the trial involving former President Trump's alleged criminal hush money payments. Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, is a star witness whose testimony could significantly impact the trial's outcome. The discussion among ABC News contributors includes observations about the pace of the trial, the focus on the Stormy Daniels story, and the lack of eye contact between Cohen and Trump during the proceedings. The jury's attentiveness is highlighted, as is the contrast between this trial and a previous civil trial involving Trump.

05:00

👥 High-Profile Attendance and Support for Trump

The second paragraph focuses on the notable figures present in court, signaling support for Donald Trump. Mentioned are two U.S. Senators, Tommy Tuberville and J.D. Vance, as well as Eric Trump, Trump's son. The paragraph explores the strategic reasons behind this show of force, including the political message it sends and its potential impact on Trump's demeanor during the trial. It also discusses the absence of certain family members, particularly Melania Trump, and the reasons why she and others might not be present.

10:02

🕵️‍♂️ Anticipating Defense Strategy and Cohen's Conduct

In the third paragraph, the anticipation builds around Michael Cohen's performance on the witness stand and the potential tactics the defense might employ. There is speculation about whether Cohen might lose his composure under pressure, which the defense could use to their advantage by painting him as unstable. The discussion also touches on Cohen's background as an attorney and how that might influence his behavior during the cross-examination. The paragraph concludes with the observation that the trial is about to resume and the participants are preparing for the next phase of the proceedings.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Michael Cohen

Michael Cohen is a former personal attorney for Donald Trump. In the script, he is a star witness testifying in a criminal hush money trial, which is central to the case's narrative. His testimony is expected to significantly influence the trial's outcome, given his close association with Trump and his involvement in the alleged hush money payments.

💡Donald Trump

Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, is a key figure in the trial mentioned in the script. The case revolves around allegations of criminal hush money payments, which are suggested to have been orchestrated to benefit Trump during his presidential campaign.

💡Hush Money Trial

The hush money trial refers to the legal proceedings discussed in the script, where it is alleged that criminal acts were committed to silence individuals during Trump's presidential campaign. The payments are central to the case, and the script details testimonies and evidence related to these payments.

💡Karen McDougal

Karen McDougal is mentioned in the script as one of the individuals involved in the hush money case. Her story is part of the testimonies and is tied to the allegations against Trump, as it is suggested that money was paid to keep her story quiet.

💡AMI (American Media Inc.)

AMI, specifically David Pecker who is the chairman, is referenced in the context of paying off Karen McDougal. The script suggests that AMI, through the 'National Enquirer,' was involved in the alleged hush money payments, which is a significant element in the trial.

💡Stormy Daniels

Stormy Daniels is another key figure in the hush money allegations. The script indicates that a significant portion of the trial focuses on the payments made to her, which are part of the 34 criminal counts built around this single incident.

💡Jury

The jury is an integral part of the court process described in the script. They are depicted as attentive observers, taking notes and closely following the proceedings, which underscores the seriousness and importance of their role in determining the outcome of the trial.

💡Credibility

Credibility is a pivotal concept in the script, as it relates to the defense's strategy to discredit Michael Cohen's testimony. It is suggested that the defense will focus on Cohen's past lies and convictions to cast doubt on his reliability as a witness.

💡Civil Case

The civil case is contrasted with the current criminal proceedings in the script. It refers to previous legal actions involving Trump and Cohen, where the scope was broader and involved more documentation. The civil case serves as a backdrop to the personal and focused nature of the current criminal trial.

💡Campaign Apparatus

The campaign apparatus refers to the team and machinery that supported Donald Trump's presidential campaign. The script mentions their presence in the courtroom, suggesting a show of support and highlighting the political implications of the trial.

💡Direct Examination

Direct examination is a legal term referring to the initial questioning of a witness by the side that called them. In the script, it is suggested that Michael Cohen's direct examination has been relatively uneventful, with anticipation building for the defense's cross-examination.

💡Cross-Examination

Cross-examination is the questioning of a witness by the opposing side in a trial. The script anticipates a more aggressive line of questioning during the defense's cross-examination of Michael Cohen, aiming to challenge his credibility and version of events.

Highlights

Michael Cohen, former lawyer for President Trump, is testifying in a criminal hush money trial.

Cohen's testimony could be pivotal in determining the outcome of the trial.

The court proceedings have been tense and expedited, moving quickly into key issues.

Discussions about the payments to Karen McDougal and the involvement of AMI's David Pecker have been addressed.

The Stormy Daniels story is central to the case, with 34 criminal counts built around it.

Michael Cohen's eye contact, or lack thereof, in the courtroom has been noticeable.

Donald Trump and Michael Cohen have avoided looking at each other throughout the proceedings.

The jury has remained stone cold and attentive, taking notes throughout the testimony.

Legal contributor Brian Buckmire is anticipating a 'smoking gun' in the testimony.

The courtroom layout allows Trump and Cohen to avoid direct eye contact during the trial.

Eric Trump's presence in the courtroom is seen as a show of support and force.

The defense's strategy is expected to focus on casting doubt on Cohen's credibility.

Cohen's admission of lying for Trump may aid the prosecution's case.

The absence of certain Trump family members from the court is being highlighted.

Melania Trump is not expected to attend the proceedings due to past events.

The defense may attempt to paint Cohen as the ringleader of the hush money scheme.

Cohen's temperament and ability to remain calm under questioning will be tested.

Previous testimony hints at Cohen's emotional state, which the defense might use to question his stability.

Cohen's background as an attorney could both help and hinder his performance on the witness stand.