Trump trial dwell updates: Hush cash case returns after chaos in courtroom

The resting of the defense case means Donald Trump has decided NOT to take the stand to give evidence in his trial.

The jury has been sent home until after the Memorial Day Weekend holiday.

Judge Merchan asked them to return next Tuesday for the start of closing speeches by the prosecution and defense.

Judge Merchan told the jury:

Thank you, I’ll see you in a week.

Judge Merchan said closing speeches will last about a day on Tuesday, and his own summation will take about an hour.

The jury will then begin deliberating.

‘Last week on May 15th didn’t you go to Congress?’ she asked him.

‘Yes, he responded. ‘And you went there to publicly vilify Michael Cohen in the middle of his testimony?’ she asked.

‘I went there to testify,’ was Costello’s response. Asked if it was an effort to ‘intimidate’ Cohen, he called the notion ‘ridiculous.’

During his testimony, which came amid Cohen’s multi-day appearance on the witness stand, he accused Cohen of repeatedly lying.

Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche tells the court:

The defense rests.

The prosecution ofers no rebuttal witnesses.

Joshua Steinglass, for the prosecution, says:

Nothing further judge.

Costello was shown an email he sent to his business partner Jeff Citron on June 22, 2018.

In it, he called Cohen an ‘a******’ and accused him of trying to ‘slow play’ the [most powerful man on the planet’ – Donald Trump.

Costello wrote: ‘What should I say to this a******? He is playing with the most powerful man on the planet.’

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger said: ‘That email certainly speaks for itself?’

Costello replied: ‘It certainly does.’

Costello went on to deny the prosecutor’s suggestion that he had ‘lost control of Cohen’ having tried to control him on behalf of Trump.

Asked by the prosecutor if he had ‘animosity’ toward Cohen, Costello said firmly: ‘No.’

He said it was ‘ridiculous’ to suggest that he had tried to ‘intimidate’ Cohen.

Former Federal Election Commissioner Brad Smith has slammed the hush money trial judge for not letting him testify for the defense.

In a lengthy post on X, Smith that the jury needs to understand the complexities of federal election law that is central to the case against Trump.

Manhattan prosecutors say Trump hid the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about the affair as a legal expense to help him win the 2016 election.

He wrote: ‘While judge wouldn’t let me testify on meaning of law, he allowed Michael Cohen to go on at length about whether and how his activity violated FECA. So effectively, the jury got its instructions on FECA from Michael Cohen!’

Smith also took issue with how the judge did not want to separate testify on how reporting of the payments may have lined up with the dates of the election.

‘We were going to go over the reporting schedules, showing that even if they thought it was a campaign expenditure to be reported, an expenditure made on October 27 (when $$ sent to Daniels atty) would not, under law, be reported until Dec. 8, a full 30 days after election’.

Robert Costello is back on the stand. He clashed with Judge Juan Merchan yesterday, who warned him about his ‘contemptous’ behavior with eye rolls and sighs at prosecution objections.

He started off rather contrite, trying to be helpful and polite as his cross-examination resumed. It didn’t last long.

As he was being asked about an email in which he accused Michael Cohen of ‘playing’ him, he offered to explain exactly what he meant by that.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked him if he meant he hadn’t been paid by Cohen.

Costello says no, and again that he’d be happy to explain what he meant.

Defense attorney is on his feet: ‘There’s a pending question that the witness…’

But Merchan cuts him off: ‘There is no pending question.’

Costello is on thin ice. He had to be repeatedly reminded yesterday to answer only the questions he was asked, and to use ‘yes’ or ‘no’ if possible. And he is up to his old tricks again.

Trump defense witness Robert Costello appears calm on the stand today after receiving a tongue-lashing from the judge yesterday.

Costello, wearing a gray suit and pink shirt, is looking straight at prosecutor Susan Hoffinger and giving concise answers to her questions.

A few feet to Costello’s right Judge Merchan is watching him closely.

As yet there have been no unusual interactions between the two.

Sitting in a ‘freezing’ courtroom hasn’t kept Donald Trump from securing some red hot fundraising numbers.

In fact, stunning new campaign finance data reveals the criminal defendant has been outraising President Joe Biden even while cooling his heels inside a Manhattan courtroom.

Trump and the Republican Party brought in $76 million in April. That’s about 50 per cent more than the $51 million Biden and the Democratic National Committee brought in last month.

Biden’s camp has $84 million in the bank, giving him a cash edge over Trump’s who had $49 million in cash-on-hand at the end of April.

Biden still has an overall cash edge after keeping up a record-setting pace throughout the year.

Much of Trump’s haul came from a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser hosted by billionaire John Paulson that brought in more than $50 million. Biden’s big-ticket event came during the prior period, in a March fundraiser featuring former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at Radio City Music Hall.

His next blockbuster event features Hollywood luminaries including George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

But if the trial is working out for Trump financially, it won’t last forever. Comments by the judge indicate closing arguments will begin next Tuesday.

Judge Juan Merchan did not rule on the defense motion to dismiss the case, which was made at the end of the day on Monday.

The judge said:

I did receive your submission. It’s helpful. I was going to ask if you could do the same for other sections of the charges. I do find it helpful’.

Trump’s lawyers Todd Blanche and Emile Bove smiled.

Trump has arrived in the courtroom with another big entourage. On his way in he spots NBC’s Andrea Mitchell who is resplendent in red, and greets her warmly.

Legal adviser Boris Epshteyn plays traffic director, making sure everyone in the retinue gets a seat.

Eldest son Don Jr. has the prime spot in the front row on the aisle. His other son Eric, who has attended almost every day, is not present for what is likely the end of the defense case.

Trump looks relaxed and in a good mood as he talks to lead attorney Todd Blanche.

Separate from the trial a furor has erupted this morning over a post on Trump’s Truth Social network.

A video posted to Trump’s account included references to a “Unified Reich” among hypothetical news headlines if he wins the election in November.

The headline appears among messages flashing across the screen such as ‘Trump wins!!’ and ‘Economy booms!’.

The word ‘Reich’ is often largely associated with Nazi Germany’s Third Reich.

The mention in the video Trump shared appear to be a reference to the formation of the modern pan-German nation, unifying smaller states into a single Reich, or empire, in 1871.

Joe Biden, on his social media account, accused Trump of ‘echoing Nazi Germany’.

Trump later deleted the post which his campaign said was not put up by him.

Trump said he would like to be out campaigning right now but he has to be in court.

He said there’s ‘no case’ and ‘no crime.’

Once again, the ex-president went after a ‘highly conflicted judge.’

He said this should be an easy ruling. He said Judge Juan Merchan should rule from the bench that it’s a ‘witch hunt.’

The ex-president declared he won the case before the jury has deliberated.

Trump also complained about about the freezing cold courtroom.

Donald Trump’s aide Margo Martin is seen in a bright pink wrap jacket leaving Trump Tower as the ex-president heads downtown to the Manhattan criminal court.

His other blonde bombshell aide Natalie Harp similarly dressed in a hot pink number.

She paired the look with a black jacket and handbag and nude pumps.

Donald Trump’s entourage continues to include a mix of heavyweight Republican officals and lawmakers.

According to the campaign, he will be joined by Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt as well as Reps Daniel Webster, Dan Meuser, Ronny Jackson, Troy Nehls, Dale Strong and Maria Salazar all at the Manhattan criminal court today.

Former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker and former Florida AG Pam Bondi are also in New York to show support for Trump in his criminal trial.

Sebastian Gorka, Chuck Zito, Joe Piscopo and Bill White are also backing him in court today.

The former president departed Trump Tower Tuesday morning as his lawyers resume their defense with lawyer Bob Costello set to return to the stand.

Donald Trump has departed Trump Tower on his way to court for what could be the last day of defense witness testimony.

Robert Costello, who was at the center of theatrics in court on Monday, will retake the stand to be cross-examined by the prosecution.

Both sides have signaled their cases won’t take much longer.

As he left, Trump posted on Truth Social: ‘KANGAROO COURT’

An entourage of family members and allies are joining Donald Trump in court for Day 20 of the trial.

Comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Joe Piscopo is also getting behind the former president in court.

His group of supporters include:

Don Trump, Jr.

Former Acting AG Matt Whitaker

Former FL AG Pam Bondi

Sen. Eric Schmitt

Rep. Daniel Webster

Rep. Dan Meuser

Rep. Ronny Jackson

Rep. Troy Nehls

Rep. Dale Strong

Rep. Maria Salazar

Sebastian Gorka

Chuck Zito

Joe Piscopo

Bill White

Donald Trumo’s aide Margo Martin began Tuesday morning by posting a photo overlooking Central Park from the former president’s Manhattan residence.

Martin, who has been at most of the trial with Trump, shared the update on X as they prepared to make their way to court for Day 20 of the hush money trial.

The Trump campaign announced it will sue the ‘pretend filmmakers’ behind a controversial new movie that shows the presidential candidate raping his wife Ivana.

It said it was riddled with long debunked lies and belonged in a ‘dumpster fire.’

Sebastian Stan plays Trump in ‘The Apprentice’ as a younger man and ‘Succession’ star Jeremy Strong portrays his fixer Roy Cohn. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday night.

The movie tells the story of the end of his marriage to Ivana, and at one point it depicts Trump raping his wife and asking: ‘Did I find your g spot?’

In a divorce deposition in 1989 Ivana made an accusation of rape but rescinded this in 2015. She has since died.

‘We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers,’ said Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director.

Donald Trump’s hush money trial on Monday was rocked but an unexpected reference to his daughter Tiffany Trump – about a stunning disclosure involving an apparent blackmail just weeks before election day in 2016.

At the time, Tiffany Trump was a relatively low-key member of the Trump family.

She appeared with her farther at the 2016 Republican convention, but didn’t have the same public profile as half brothers Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, and half sister Ivanka Trump.

Ivanka Trump would later join her father at the White House, and Don Jr. and Eric helped run the Trump Organization while Trump was president.

Blanche pressed witness Michael Cohen during cross-examination on Monday about the apparent ‘extortion’ attempt involving the president’s daughter.

The reason: to establish that Cohen had multiple reasons to be speaking with Donald Trump during a critical period, beyond the Stormy Daniels matter that he testified about.

DailyMail.com’s Nick Allen recaps the showdown between Bob Costello and Judge Juan Merchan from inside the courtroom

There were astonishing scenes at Donald Trump’s hush money trial on Monday – and for once it had little to do with the former president.

The drama began to unfold as Trump lawyer Emile Bove questioned a defense witness, Bob Costello, and Judge Juan Merchan repeatedly upheld objections from the prosecution.

Before Bove had even finished his questions there would be a quiet ‘objection’ from the prosecutor, followed a split second later by ‘sustained’ from the judge.

After yet another ‘sustained’ Costello became exasperated at not being able to answer, and said ‘Jeez..’

The judge, a few feet away, bent his head forward toward Costello and said in an irritated voice ‘Sorry?…Sorry?…What did you say?’

Costello did not answer and looked away, appearing to mumble something inaudible.

At another point when the judge yet again said ‘sustained’ Costello, a former prosecutor himself, followed up by saying ‘strike it…’ to the jury.

The increasingly annoyed judge then asked Bove to stop his questioning and directly addressed Costello.

In a forthright voice, he said: ‘I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom…

‘If you don’t like my ruling, you don’t say ‘Jeez’. You don’t give me side eye, and you don’t roll your eyes.

‘You don’t say ‘strike it’ because I’m the only one who can strike testimony in my court.’

After the brief lecture, Costello appeared to momentarily look back at Judge Merchan, who then exploded in a fury.

Appearing incredulous, Judge Merchan said to Costello: ‘Are you staring me down right now?’

Costello was silent and looked away.

After a moment’s pause, the judge then loudly ordered: ‘Clear the courtroom!’

Court officers were momentarily stunned and nobody moved.

The officers then started yelling at members of the public and press to ‘clear the courtroom’ and they were ushered out.

Members of the media objected but were taken out into a hallway next to some crash barriers.

People in Mr Trump’s entourage, including his son Eric, were allowed to stay inside the court.

When the media returned, after several minutes, Costello was still on the stand but looked a little redder in the face.

It could only be surmised that he had received a severe tongue-lashing from the clearly irate judge.

Judge Merchan, now fully the master of his own courtroom, continued to sustain objections and Costello studiously avoided looking at him or showing any dissent.

Donald Trump attacked the judge as conflicted immediately after leaving court on Monday.

He said he hopes the motion to dismiss the trial ‘will go through’ and claimed the case is a ‘disaster’ for the country and New York.

‘This is a witch hunt. This is a witch hunt,’ Trump said.

He also claimed yet again ‘we did nothing wrong.’

Just like he has been doing nearly every day before and after spending time in the criminal courtroom, Trump read off some quotes from mostly Fox News legal experts printed out on pieces of paper before the camera.

‘I think the case is going very well,’ Trump said.

He did not answer shouted questions about whether he would testify.

From Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in courtroom 1530:

Donald Trump‘s former fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen made a string of startling admissions in court on Monday, where he is the key witness linking the former president to a plot to hide porn star hush money payments.

Yes he had lied under oath, he admitted.

Yes he had stolen tens of thousands of dollars from his former employer the Trump Organization, he said.

Yes he had worked with an IT firm to rig an online poll in Trump’s favor.

And then, having admitted to deception and lies in public statements, he said he had a future career in mind: Member of Congress.

While speaking to the media after leaving court, Donald Trump appeared to violate his gag order which prevents him from speaking about witnesses in the case.

Trump mentioned both Robert Costello and Bradley Smith by name. They are defense witnesses.

‘You saw what happened to a highly respected lawyer today, Bob Costello. Wow,’ Trump said. ‘I’ve never seen anything like that. Highly respected.’

Trump mentioned Smith while complaining that he is not able to ‘put in an expert witness’ on election law.

‘Brad Smith, he’s considered the Rolls Royce or we’ll bring it back to an American car Cadillac, but the best there is.’

‘He can’t testify. He’s not being allowed to testify,’ Trump added.

At another point while looking down at his papers, Trump said he couldn’t read the article aloud with a quote from CNN because of his gag order.

Throughout the remarks, Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche was standing by his side.

Donald Trump will return to Manhattan Criminal Court after a dramatic day in the hush money trial where Michael Cohen finished four days of testimony and the judge cleared the courtroom.

The former president’s fixer stepped down from the stand after 17 hours and the prosecution rested its case.

There were shocking scenes as Trump’s lawyers began their defense when Judge Juan Merchan scolded their second witness, Bob Costello, who accused Cohen of spewing ‘lies’.

Costello said ‘jeez’ as the judge sustained multiple objections against Trump lawyer Emil Bove.

The judge, a few feet away, bent his head forward toward Costello and said in an irritated voice ‘Sorry?…Sorry?…What did you say?’

Follow DailyMail.com’s coverage from our reporters inside court as the historic case draws to a close.