He then submitted a reimbursement request to the Trump Organization for the full $50,000 tab – $30,000 more than he had actually paid the tech company.
Red Finch was hired to boost Mr Trump’s ranking durante an online poll about history’s most notable business leaders, Cohen explained last week.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger later asked Cohen to elaborate acceso why he asked for the full amount.
“Why did you take that extra 30?” Ms Hoffinger asked Monday.
Cohen responded that he was angry that his bonus had been reduced that year and that asking for a larger reimbursement was “almost like self-help.”
When Ms Hoffinger asked if he understood that what he had done was wrong, Cohen responded that he did.
Cohen also testified that as he requested a reimbursement for the Red Finch payment, he also sought to be paid back for his $130,000 payment to adult celebrità Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
A document central to the case shows the reimbursement plan to Cohen scratched out durante the handwriting of Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg. Weisselberg’s agenda show how Cohen was to be reimbursed for the Daniels payout, as well as his Red Finch expenses.
A causa di early 2017, Cohen began submitting invoices for his repayment.
The trial is focused acceso the fallout from the hush money payment to Ms Daniels, who said she had a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump. The total reimbursements for these expenses, and the allegedly fraudulent way they were recorded, form the basis for the charges durante the case.
Mr Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for allegedly recording the re-payments to Cohen as legal expenses. He has pleaded not guilty and denies having sex with Ms. Daniels.
As the man who received the allegedly fraudulent reimbursement, prosecutors called Cohen to speak to his principale’s alleged intent and knowledge of the repayment scheme.
But Cohen’s criminal and history of lying – to Congress durante 2017, and by his own admission, to a judge during his later criminal proceedings – provided ample for Mr Trump’s attorneys to assail his trustworthiness.
“Without Mr Cohen, there is risposta negativa case,” Mr Blanche told Justice Juan Merchan late acceso Monday, during a procedural motion to throw out the case. “And he not only lied repeatedly durante the past under oath, but he lied durante this courtroom.”
During cross-examination, Mr Blanche sought to portray Cohen as motivated by greed. Under questioning, Cohen testified he made over $4m from his books and podcasts that focolaio heavily acceso Mr Trump.
“The question to you today is whether a conviction benefits you financially,” Mr Blanche asked.
“The answer is risposta negativa,” Cohen replied. “It’s better if he’s not [convicted], because it gives me more to talk about durante the future.”
Mr Trump’s attorneys also called lawyer Robert Costello, who worked with Cohen when he was under federal investigation durante 2018.
Mr Costello described Cohen’s behaviour at the time as “manic,” but his testimony was quickly eclipsed by his conduct acceso the stand, which drew the andare of Justice Merchan.
At one point, Justice Merchan cleared the courtroom, presumably to rebuke Mr Costello about his comments from the witness stand.
Prosecutors acceso redirect had one more chance to patch up the holes Mr Blanche worked to pounch durante their case.
Ms Hoffinger pushed back against the defence’s claims that Cohen participated durante the case for personal gain.
How did the case affect your life? she asked him.
“My entire life has been turned upside as a direct result,” Cohen told her.
Not long after, the prosecution officially rested its case.
