Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Todd Blanche now focuses his questioning on whether Michael Cohen felt he was “induced” or “forced” to plead guilty to criminal charges - some of which related to the Storm Daniels hush-money payment.

Cohen has testified today and on Tuesday that his guilty plea came quickly because he had 48 hours to give prosecutors his answer, and his lawyer told him that his wife could be implicated in the charges if he didn’t plead guilty.

Cohen is denying he was forced to plead guilty, however, and says he was taking “responsibility” for his misdeeds.

He says he did disagree that he was ultimately charged.

“I never denied the underlying facts. I just believed that I shouldn’t have been criminally charged for either of those… offences.”

He has claimed before that he thought that he shouldn’t have been charged because it was his first offence.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

It is notable how vulgar this trial has to be at times.

Lawyers from both sides regularly bring up the harsh language employed by Trump and some of those in his orbit - many were raised using the typically sharp-elbowed rhetoric of New York City.

A few examples from Cohen’s testimony: Just a few moments ago, we saw a Truth Social post from Trump that he did “NOTHING wrong in the ‘Horseface’ case”. “Horseface” is a word Trump has used to describe adult-film star Stormy Daniels.

We also heard Cohen confirm that he called the former president “dumbass Donald”.

And the ex-lawyer’s testimony began with Blanche asking Cohen whether he went on TikTok and called him a "crying little shit”. Cohen replied, it "sounds like something I would" say.

These are only a few of the insults and obscenities that have had to be repeated during Cohen’s and others’ testimony.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to several charges, some which related to Donald Trump and the hush-money payment at the centre of this trial, and others which were unrelated - including a tax evasion charge.

Todd Blanche is going over these guilty pleas now, and Cohen's decision to plead guilty.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Todd Blanche is now zeroing in on a line of attack we expected: Cohen's guilty plea for lying to Congress.

It's a way for Blanche to try and portray Cohen to the jury as someone who has previously lied under oath.

Cohen got himself in trouble when, in 2017, he gave false testimony to Congress about a Trump real estate project in Russia. He later pleaded guilty for that offence.

He also did not tell the truth to a special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Cohen said earlier, during direct examination by prosecutors, that he lied on behalf of Trump, out of loyalty.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, is trying to connect the dots in this questioning. He’s brought up Cohen’s podcast, his books, and his media appearances to stress that Cohen felt “excited” about Trump’s indictment.

He asks whether Cohen said that he believes that all of this had “a role in the indictment in this case”.

”I took some credit, yes,” Cohen responds.

Blanche has also noted that Cohen did not enjoy his time in prison, and he had an axe to grind against Trump for how it affected him and his family.

Blanche is likely winding up to an argument that Cohen is not motivated by the truth, but by his anger towards Trump.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

It's almost like there are two different Michael Cohen's here today.

Though we're hearing Todd Blanche play and read some of Cohen's more firebrand comments about Donald Trump and this case, the man on the stand is maintaining a poker face and keeping his voice low and even.

Cohen isn't making this easy for Blanche.

At one point, the lawyer asks Cohen if he had called the former president, "dumbass Donald".

"Sounds correct," Cohen replied.

It's a way for Cohen to give himself some rhetorical distance from the statements - though we don't know whether or not the jury is believing it.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Another recording of Michael Cohen's podcast, from some time after Donald Trump's indictment dropped, is being played to the court.

Cohen is heard hoping for Trump to be convicted and sent to prison.

He tells listeners that they'd better believe “I want this man to go down” and “rot inside” - perhaps referring to inside prison.

Trump's lawyer is picking up on a thread that he brought up on Tuesday: that Cohen has openly expressed a desire to see Trump behind bars.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Todd Blanche asks Michael Cohen to put on headphones to listen to the next piece of evidence.

An image quickly flashes onto the evidence screen - it's an episode of Cohen's Mea Culpa podcast.

A member of Trump's legal team rushes over to the evidence desk and waves his arms, likely indicating it should be taken down.

But proceedings continue, and the whole court is now hearing the podcast episode.

Cohen's thick Long Island accent booms through the courtroom - a far more performative and combative tone than he's using at the witness stand.

“I want to thank the Manhattan district attorney's office and their fearless leader, Alvin Bragg” with whom he spent “countless hours” laying out evidence for the Trump investigation, Cohen says in the podcast.

He adds that Trump is "about to get a taste of what I went through, and I promise you it's not fun".

Cohen says on the recording that picturing Donald Trump going through the booking process “fills me with delight and sadness all at the same time”.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Matt Gaetz, a conservative firebrand in Congress and close ally of Donald Trump, is attending the trial today.

He took to X to share a photo of himself standing behind Trump in court, captioned: “Standing back and standing by, Mr. President.”

It’s a clear callback to a comment that Trump made during the 2020 election about the Proud Boys, a group of American far-right extremists, whom he told to “stand back and stand by”.

Image source, X

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Image source, Reuters

Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, is trying to draw out a response about when and how Michael Cohen had found out Donald Trump was getting indicted last year.

The news of the indictment broke before the documents were unsealed in court.

Blanche tries to ask Cohen repeatedly about his exchanges with the detective.

Blanche keeps getting interrupted by mostly successful objections from the prosecutors, and the judge has occasionally asked him to rephrase the question.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Michael Cohen also seems perplexed by Todd Blanche’s cross-examination. The ex-lawyer has to ask Blanche to repeat his question multiple times.

”I’m sorry I don’t understand the question. I’m confused.”

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Todd Blanche stumbles here in court, after accidentally bringing up the incorrect evidence. He had to apologise for the error, and now his questioning is interrupted by the prosecutor‘s objection.

Trump has reportedly been unhappy with his lead lawyer, according to US media outlets, and would like him to be more aggressive.

If true, Blanche’s slow start likely won’t make his client happy.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Todd Blanche appears to be ready to introduce some evidence.

He shows Michael Cohen a document privately, but prosecutors briefly interrupt to approach the bench. After, Blanche prepares to draw on more exhibits, which he says are redacted texts between Cohen and the detective.

Prosecutors are keeping a close eye on this. Before Blanche can display the texts, prosecutors ask Cohen about clarifying the text messages. After a brief exchange with the witness, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger objects and the parties approach the bench again.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Donald Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche has resumed his cross-examination of Michael Cohen.

Blanche begins by asking Cohen about his discussions with a detective with the Manhattan district attorney's office. This was from when he began to participate with this investigation.

They had communicated about handing over Cohen's phones, he confirms.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Justice Merchan tells the jury that because the trial schedule will be broken up by breaks and holidays in the next week, it may be necessary to work next Wednesday during the court's usual day off.

He asks jurors to share any conflicts with court officials.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Lawyers have been speaking quietly with the judge for about 10 minutes. It's the longest sidebar we've seen during this trial so far, but it has finally wrapped up.

The lawyers have returned to their seats.

"I apologise for all the whispering," Justice Merchan said.

It looks like he won't be sharing what the sidebar was about in court, but we might find out later in transcripts.

Meanwhile, Congressman Matt Gaetz has swapped seats with Eric Trump. The second-eldest Trump child now has a more typical seat right on the aisle behind his father.

Michael Cohen has returned to the witness stand, and Justice Merchan calls for the jury. Here we go.

Cohen is wearing a dark suit jacket and a pale yellow tie. He has dressed more formally for this trial then he did when appearing at Trump's civil fraud trial, a signifier of the higher stakes.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

This is a very lengthy sidebar, it's been going on for several minutes now. Usually these discussions are brief, but it seems like there's quite a bit of haggling going on with the judge, who seems particularly invested in it.

We’ll see whether what is said is shared with the court, or if we’ll be left in the dark.

Image source, Getty Images

While we wait for proceedings to begin, here is one of the first photos of Donald Trump in court today.

You can just make out his son, Eric Trump, in the background.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Justice Merchan has entered the courtroom, and Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche has asked for a sidebar when the judge asks for an update about scheduling.

We’ll see what comes of this.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Donald Trump has arrived in the courtroom, along with so many House Republicans they may as well form their own caucus.

Notable guests include Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Andy Biggs of Arizona, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, along with several others.

It appears so many have come that there is not enough room in the two rows of guest seats behind Trump, and at least one VIP guest has had to sit in the back of the courtroom.

Image source, Getty Images