Michael Cohen admits he wants to see Trump convicted in hush-money cross-examination – as it happened

Michael Cohen is now being asked about his testimony in the Russia investigation.

It was about the Trump Tower Moscow deal and Russian connections to the campaign.

Cohen said he felt a “tremendous amount of pressure” testifying before Congress about this. He did have an attorney.

He said the Trump Organization was paying for his attorney, who was part of a joint defense agreement.

A joint defense agreement is when there are several different lawyers representing different people and they’re all working together for a common goal.

At the time, what – if anything – did he feel about it? Cohens says:

I felt I needed it, it was extremely important to me.

Did you make false statements to Congress in 2017? “I did,” Cohen testifies. Generally, what did those false statements relate to?

They dealt with the Trump Tower Moscow real estate project specifically the number of times I claimed to have spoken to Mr Trump …

Why did you make those false statements to Congress?

I was staying on Mr Trump’s message that there was no Russia, Russia, Russia and again in coordination with the joint defense team, that’s what was preferred.

1d ago10.26 EDT

Cohen says he continued to lie for Trump 'out of loyalty and to protect him'

Sam Levine

Michael Cohen says he continued to lie for Donald Trump after he was president.

Out of loyalty and to continue to protect him.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Michael Cohen about his comment yesterday that he saw compensation for his work as Donald Trump’s personal lawyer as part of a long game; he knew he wouldn’t get paid for his legal work, but knew his reputation as Trump’s personal attorney would pay dividends in the end.

Did that title assist you in getting other clients? “Yes ma’am.”

Was that your plan all along? “Yes.”

In 2017 and 2018, approximately how many clients did you have? Five.

How much did he make? “Approximately $4m.”

Michael Cohen said he did more legal work in 2018 than 2017.

The prosecution asks: “Did you get paid anything by Mr Trump or the Trump Organization?” Cohen says: “No, ma’am.”

Did you bill anything? “No, ma’am.”

Cohen says he earned $4m for consulting he did for five clients in 2017 and 2018. Cohen has said he intended to monetize his relationship with Donald Trump into consulting work.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asks Michael Cohen if he billed for the work he did for Donald Trump and Melania in 2017. Cohen says no.

Did you do any legal work for Mr Trump in 2018? “I did,” Cohen said.

As a result of the Stormy Daniels matter, and her electing to go public, Mr Trump wanted an action to be filed, an arbitration action to be filed, against her for breach of the non-disclosure agreement and so I was contacted by Eric Trump as well as Mr Trump regarding how to move forward with this arbitration proceeding.

Cohen said he worked with outside counsel on that issue, but did do work on that.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is asking whether Michael Cohen did any work for Donald Trump or Melania in 2017. “Minimal,” he said.

Cohen says he estimates he did less than 10 hours of work for Trump, Melania Trump, and the Trump Organization in 2017. He says:

It was a matter dealing with an individual named Summer Zervos.

He said that he gave Trump some papers in the Zervos matter but that Marc Kasowitz was the leading attorney on the matter.

As far as Melania, I think it had to do with some trademarks or maybe even Madame Tussauds … I received an agreement that Madame Tussauds sent to her to create her likeness and image for her museum.

Cohen said his work on Zervos was “very minimal.”

We’re now at December 2017. Michael Cohen said this was his last invoice in this vein. Why?

Now I had been reimbursed $420,000.

The check he received, also signed by Trump, was the last he received.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asks:

After the last check was sent to you in December of 2017, I think you mentioned, you never received any other checks from Mr Trump, or his Trust?

Cohen says: “That’s right.” “Or from the Trump Organization?” Cohen answered, “Also correct.”

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger has repeatedly asked Michael Cohen about checks to him for these repayments; the refrain is virtually the same every time, and directly points the finger at Donald Trump.

She goes one-by-one. “Do you see whose signature is on the check?” Hoffinger asks. “I do,” Cohen says.

“Whose is it?” she follows up. “Donald J Trump,” Cohen says.

1d ago10.12 EDT

Sam Levine

The members of Trump’s entourage that I can see – Lara Trump, Byron Donalds, and Eric Trump – appear to be alternating between looking down and then at the false invoices and checks that are being displayed on screen.

Besides former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, other members of Donald Trump’s court entourage today have also been posting to social media with their support of the former president.

Cory Mills, the Republican congressman from Florida, said he was “honored” to stand with Trump and described the case as a “victimless sham indictment” and “political theater and interference”.

Another Florida congressman, Byron Donalds, said Trump’s case is a “tragedy for the American justice system”. Donalds is widely viewed to be on Trump’s short list of vice presidential contenders.

The Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, has said he will hold a press conference this morning outside the courthouse.