Hello and welcome. Donald trumps former lawyer is taking the stand at the former president s criminal trial in new york. Michael cohen is testifying about his role in what prosecutors say was a cover up of payments to hide an affair with the porn star Stormy Daniels. Mr trump denies falsifying Business Records to reimburse his then lawyer for the payment on the eve of the 2016 president ial election, when the story could have been politically damaging. Lets speak to our correspondent nada tawfik who is live for us in new york. This is a crucial day . Absolutely. Michael cohen this is a crucial day . Absolutely. Michael cohen is this is a crucial day . Absolutely. Michael cohen is the this is a crucial day . Absolutely. Michael cohen is the star this is a crucial day . Absolutely. | Michael Cohen is the star Witness For The Prosecution and the person whose reimbursement to Stormy Daniels underpins all the charges in this case. Michael cohen is on the stand right now and it so far he has been outlining his work with donald trump. Saying that he took care of payments to vendors, getting donald trump the price he wanted and that he also dealt with media, getting negative stories killed when he could. Joining me now to go through what we can expect for the rest of this is mitchell, a white collar Criminal Defence attorney and a formerfederal Criminal Defence attorney and a former federal prosecutor. Just like we have been discussing, we are seeing prosecutors get right to the heart of how Michael Cohen is somebody who is a problematic witness because he was not exactly somebody who was the most savoury figure. Somebody who was the most savoury fi. Ure. ,. Somebody who was the most savoury fiaure. ,. , ~. , figure. They are making it clear that his job figure. They are making it clear that his job was figure. They are making it clear that his job was not figure. They are making it clear that his job was not in figure. They are making it clear that his job was not in the figure. They are making it clear. That his job was not in the general that hisjob was not in the general councils that hisjob was not in the general councils office, but hisjob was that hisjob was not in the general councils office, but his job was to directly councils office, but his job was to directly report to donald trump because directly report to donald trump because he was not functioning really because he was not functioning really is because he was not functioning really is a because he was not functioning really is a lawyer but as somebody who was really is a lawyer but as somebody who was a really is a lawyer but as somebody who was a hammer in order to bank enables who was a hammer in order to bank enables we who was a hammer in order to bank enables. ~. , who was a hammer in order to bank enables. ~. ~. ,. , enables. We heard Michael Cohen we described as enables. We heard Michael Cohen we described as someone enables. We heard Michael Cohen we described as someone who enables. We heard Michael Cohen we described as someone who would enables. We heard Michael Cohen we. Described as someone who would take a bullet for donald trump, someone who was a fixer for him, his attack dog, why will that help the prosecutors convince jurors to take him at his word . The prosecutors convince urors to take him at his word . Prosecutors convince urors to take him at his word . The urors have got to decide whether him at his word . The jurors have got to decide whether michael him at his word . The jurors have got to decide whether Michael Cohen him at his word . The jurors have got to decide whether Michael Cohen is i him at his word . The jurors have got| to decide whether Michael Cohen is a bad guy to decide whether Michael Cohen is a bad guy who is telling the truth them bad guy who is telling the truth them if bad guy who is telling the truth them if they are going to convey, so having them if they are going to convey, so having him them if they are going to convey, so having him admit that he was a bad luy having him admit that he was a bad guy as having him admit that he was a bad guy as opposed to having him come out as guy as opposed to having him come out as during Cross Examination which out as during Cross Examination which could be hurtful to his credibility if they are going to convict credibility if they are going to convict he credibility if they are going to convict. ,. , credibility if they are going to convict. ,. ,. , credibility if they are going to convict. ,. ,. , convict. He has a history of lying under oath convict. He has a history of lying under oath and convict. He has a history of lying under oath and was convict. He has a history of lying under oath and was convicted i convict. He has a history of lying under oath and was convicted of| under oath and was convicted of federal finance violations are connected to this case in 2018, and the defence said this shows he has a vendetta against donald trump and that he is lying to save himself so how do prosecutors get ahead of that . , how do prosecutors get ahead of that . , a. , how do prosecutors get ahead of that . A. , that . The way the prosecutors do that . The way the prosecutors do that is by referencing that . The way the prosecutors do that is by referencing the that . The way the prosecutors do i that is by referencing the documents that is by referencing the documents that do that is by referencing the documents that do not that is by referencing the documents that do not change with Michael Cohens that do not change with Michael Cohens moves and sometimes he was Very Pro Donald Trump and sometimes anti donald Very Pro Donald Trump and sometimes anti donald trump but the documents do not anti donald trump but the documents do not change and some of those are the tweets do not change and some of those are the tweets donald trump put out where the tweets donald trump put out where he the tweets donald trump put out where he almost admitted everything that needs to be proved in this case about that needs to be proved in this case about the that needs to be proved in this case about the reimbursement for the nondisclosure agreement. That is ri. Ht. Nondisclosure agreement. That is right there nondisclosure agreement. That is right. There is nondisclosure agreement. That is right. There is so nondisclosure agreement. That is right. There is so much right. There is so much corroborating evidence that prosecutors have already presented to jurors to build prosecutors have already presented tojurors to build up prosecutors have already presented to jurors to build up to prosecutors have already presented tojurors to build up to Michael Cohen, so how do you think they have done . ,. ,. ,. ,. , done . The prosecutors have done as aood a ob done . The prosecutors have done as good a job as done . The prosecutors have done as good a job as can done . The prosecutors have done as good a job as can be done . The prosecutors have done as good a job as can be done. Done . The prosecutors have done as good a job as can be done. They done . The prosecutors have done as| good a job as can be done. They have known good a job as can be done. They have known from good a job as can be done. They have known from the beginning they have a very problematic witness at the centre very problematic witness at the centre of very problematic witness at the centre of the case and they have done centre of the case and they have done everything that they reasonably could do done everything that they reasonably could do to create the infrastructure to support him. We saw with infrastructure to support him. Saw with Stormy Daniels, that even the judge saw with Stormy Daniels, that even thejudge noted saw with Stormy Daniels, that even the judge noted she was a witness who prosecutors could not quite control. Michael cohen has been described as a loose cannon. You have represented clients like him, so how do you prepare Michael Cohen in advance . , so how do you prepare Michael Cohen in advance . So how do you prepare Michael Cohen in advance . ,. ,. , in advance . They would have prepared him at both for in advance . They would have prepared him at both for their in advance . They would have prepared him at both for their examination him at both for their examination and Cross Examination but the problem and Cross Examination but the problem with a witness like both Stormy Problem with a witness like both Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen is they have Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen is they have an agenda, they want to tell a they have an agenda, they want to tell a particular story rather than answering tell a particular story rather than answering the questions that are being answering the questions that are being asked of them, and the preparation is about getting them to Ust Preparation is about getting them to just answer the questions that are in front just answer the questions that are in front of just answer the questions that are in front of them. Crossexamination, i mean, in front of them. Crossexamination, i mean. How in front of them. Crossexamination, i mean, how lengthy in front of them. Crossexamination, i mean, how lengthy is in front of them. Crossexamination, i mean, how lengthy is that in front of them. Crossexamination, i mean, how lengthy is that going in front of them. Crossexamination, i mean, how lengthy is that going to | i mean, how lengthy is that going to be and how intense . The i mean, how lengthy is that going to be and how intense . Be and how intense . The Cross Examination be and how intense . The Cross Examination will be and how intense . The Cross Examination will be be and how intense . The Cross Examination will be both be and how intense . The Cross I Examination will be both lengthy be and how intense . The Cross Examination will be both lengthy and intense examination will be both lengthy and intense and my training and experience over the last 30 years is that the experience over the last 30 years is that the best Cross Examination iasts that the best Cross Examination iasts no that the best Cross Examination lasts no more than about 30 minutes and i lasts no more than about 30 minutes and i would lasts no more than about 30 minutes and i would expect these to go on for many and i would expect these to go on for many hours, may be more than a day, for many hours, may be more than a day, because for many hours, may be more than a day, because donald trump has demonstrated he wants his lawyers to beat up demonstrated he wants his lawyers to beat up figuratively the witnesses against beat up figuratively the witnesses against him, notjust score the points against him, notjust score the points that would help attack their credibility. Points that would help attack their credibili. ,. , points that would help attack their credibili. , , points that would help attack their credibili. ,. , points that would help attack their credibili. ,. , credibility. That has been what has really overshadowed credibility. That has been what has really overshadowed their credibility. That has been what has| really overshadowed their strategy, the fact that donald trump is a former president , he is running for office and he needs this to help his Political Campaign and he is a client who has many things going, notjust client who has many things going, not just what helps client who has many things going, notjust what helps him in the court room illegally. The notjust what helps him in the court room illegally notjust what helps him in the court room illegally. The best example of that was during room illegally. The best example of that was during the room illegally. The best example of that was during the stormy room illegally. The best example of that was during the Stormy Daniels| that was during the Stormy DanielsCross Examination, is attorney asked many Cross Examination, is attorney asked many questions about how well donald trump many questions about how well donald trump had many questions about how well donald trump had done at the Golf Tournament in reno, where he was participating, but there were a couple participating, but there were a couple of participating, but there were a couple of problems, Stormy Daniels had no couple of problems, Stormy Daniels had no idea and he had actually done well, had no idea and he had actually done well, but had no idea and he had actually done well, but there is no doubt in my mind well, but there is no doubt in my mind that well, but there is no doubt in my mind that donald trump was the person mind that donald trump was the person who insisted his attorney asks person who insisted his attorney asks those questions. Person who insisted his attorney asks those questions. When we look forward to what asks those questions. When we look forward to what else asks those questions. When we look forward to what else to asks those questions. When we look forward to what else to expect asks those questions. When we look forward to what else to expect from | forward to what else to expect from Michael Cohen, it is important to keepin Michael Cohen, it is important to keep in mind that his testimony is important notjust to the trial but a Potential Appeal . Tithe important notjust to the trial but a Potential Appeal . A Potential Appeal . One of the thins a Potential Appeal . One of the things that a Potential Appeal . One of the things that has a Potential Appeal . One of the things that has to a Potential Appeal . One of the things that has to happen a Potential Appeal . One of the things that has to happen is i a Potential Appeal . One of the i things that has to happen is that all of things that has to happen is that all of the things that has to happen is that all of the elements of the case have ot all of the elements of the case have got to all of the elements of the case have got to be all of the elements of the case have got to be proven, Notjust Of The ury got to be proven, Notjust Of The jury but got to be proven, Notjust Of The jury but for got to be proven, Notjust Of The jury but for the judges who will eventually review the jury on appeal if he is eventually review the jury on appeal if he is convicted. If there is something that is missing, the court could something that is missing, the court could overturn the conviction. So a lot for the could overturn the conviction. So a lot for the prosecution could overturn the conviction. Sr a. Lot for the prosecution to keep in mind. As they go through this very detailed questioning of Michael Cohen, someone who was there for every single aspect of the prosecution of� s alleged claims of a catch and kill conspiracy and the reimbursement to Stormy Daniels. Thanks forjoining us. We will return to you later. And for all the latest on Michael Cohens testimony, you can visit the bbc news app or go to our website where you can read and watch developments as they happen, with reporting from our correspondents in new york. The governor of the Kharkiv Region in northeastern ukraine has said Russian Forces are continuing to advance in several directions, after they launched a cross border attack on friday. Residents have been fleeing the town of vovchansk, which Russian Forces are battling to capture. Ukraine has been sending reinforcements, as it tries to prevent Russian Troops from getting within Artillery Range of kharkiv the second biggest city in the country. Commanders fear that if the russians get to within 30 kilometres of the city,