Catastrophic for his 2016 campaign where that come out before voters went to the budds. But did Michael Cohen convinced the jury that trump himself directed him to pay off daniels to protect from election. Im going to ask a Criminal Defense Attorney who was in the courtroom for todays testimony. And live images right now from baltimore, where a major demolition is just minutes away, engineers plan to use explosives to remove parts of the Francis Scott key bridge that collapsed back in march. And by the way, the 21 member crew on the ship that caused the collapse theyre still on the boat and theyre going to stay on board for todays Demolition Plus A frankly puzzling move by russias whenever putin, he fired the head of the Russian Military and replaced him with an economist, the money man. As russia is running out of weapons for war. But lets begin outside the new york courthouse with the new york hush money cover up conspiracy. Case. Cnns Paula Reid There and paulette its a wrap on day one of testimony from Michael Cohen, the most critical witness in this case so far, is this going the way that the prosecution hoped yes. So far, jake has been going well for prosecutors Michael Cohen laid out how long before he announced his candidates, who were the White House Trump was worried the stories from other women would come out in the open and potentially impact his candidacy. Now. Michael cohen also testified how involved he was and suppressing negative stories ahead of the election and how in the wake of the access hollywood tape, he facilitated that Hush Money Payment to Stormy Daniels. He testified that trump told him, dont worry, youll be reading in burst and then towards the end of the day, we got to the really critical part of his testimony for prosecutors, which is that he testified that trump was aware of the scheme to reimburse him by making it all seem like a Legal Expenses and to really increase the mountain whos being paid back so that he didnt of course he didnt have to pay taxes, so that wed be made whole. Whats not clear take though these records were going to be falsified. And of course, cohens testimony still has a long way to go. This was certainly not easy for him or for the prosecution, but it really is the is he part because after they get through 2017 and the receipt of this reimbursement, then were going to have to walk through how cohen eventually flipped on trump, how we also pleaded guilty to federal crimes, including leinz to Congress Line to the irs line to banks also election crimes related to this hush money scheme. And then he has to talk about how he has relentlessly attack the defendant for years and really made a living doing that. So so far its been going okay. But its only going to get more difficult bill for cohen and prosecutors tomorrow morning when theyre back. All right. Paula reid. Thanks. Lets discuss with Wall Street Journal reporter, korean ramy and defense attorney bernardo via both were in the courtroom today, also here with me in studio, former us attorney Michael Moore. So bernard, let me start with you. You were in the room. Youre an attorney. How is Michael Cohen coming across on the stand . Do you think how receptive does the jury seem to him jake Michael Cohen, definitely. I think gold was excellent on the stand, but you expected that because his homecourt advantage when youre talking about the prosecution, give it doing the direct examination of Michael Cohen, his case he didnt whats important, his delivery was important. He was making eye contact, especially when he was talking about taking out that home equity loan. So i think he definitely came off credible in the end. The one line that sticks out to me is just like nike just do it. And that was the theme that donald trump gave to Michael Cohen. Just do what you need to do. I think the prosecution was essential and crucial to Michael Cohen because they find it he provided that leaf that donald trump authorized these payments and the payments worked for the purposes of affecting that campaign of purposes of paying off stormy get is because they knew that story will affect the campaign. So Michael Cohen did deliver. But again, this is only direct examination we have to see how he stands up during crossexamination im not concerned about his prior record. It hasnt come in yet but i know when it does come in, im never concerned with that because ive put on witnesses with criminal record longer than my arm in a former prosecutor, 60 senior. So just lets do it. Thats the line of the day. Great. What did you think . How do you think Michael Cohen came across and how receptive do you think the jury was based on their Body Language . Gender, facial expressions, and how much they were paying attention well, i think jurors had heard so much about Michael Cohen before Michael Cohen even appeared. On the stand. Theyd heard he was a jerk. They heard he was a pants on fire type of guy that basically nobody liked him. And then today they met the real Michael Cohen and he didnt seem like a jerk or even a pants on fire type guy. He was straightforward. He was matter of fact he had an awful lot of yes, maam. Yes, maam. No, maam. The answers to questions and i think, you know i spent a lot of time looking at the jury today trying to figure out what those people were possibly thinking because some of them we looked at cohens, some of them took notes, some of them looked away and at the end of the day, im not sure, but they were paying attention. They werent just sort of ignoring him and thinking about other things Michael Moore do you think the prosecution has proven its case . I dont i dont think they have cases are like a Roller Coaster and you have a good day and you have a good direct examination of a witness and then crossexamination cavity. He sort dropped to the bottom again, i think thats where they are. This the idea that trump is saying, do what you just do it, take care of it. I dont think thats a really crosses the line. Were the prosecution needs to be and i say that because they also talked about Allen Weisselberg. And his input into what would be done and setting up the company and even the Tape Recording that we heard from cohen when he taped record his client, which i thought was ridiculous, but that to me was sort of a it really cut both ways, frankly, i think more for them defense because it says we have talked to al and everythings fine. This is what were gonna do. And then he tells the jury today and in the court, he says, i told trap and i kept him up to date on everything that was going on except the fact that he was taping him i mean, these line again, hes already started lottery. I dont think theyve gotten there. Theyve got to get to the place where they say he looked trump knew that the records are gonna be phosphide. He had actually some some input and direction into that specific part, not just pay it off is formal relationship, but he had a real hand in falsifying these records or directing someone to do that, not just to clean up his mess, it was outside of his marriage. Bernardo some of the legal experts weve had on the show have been talking about the missing Witness Theory or the opportunity that the defense could say, well given all the references to Allen Weisselberg, the former cfo of the Trump Organization that the defense could say when they want two and why didnt the prosecution call him . What where is he supposedly hes intricately involved in this scheme. Ask yourself why he wasnt asked to testify. Do you think thats a real threat thats definitely a concern because its the unanswered question and the reason why is because Allen Weisselberg, his name is began being mentioned all throughout Michael Cohens testimony and also the only other person that can corroborate what Michael Cohen is saying about that crucial meet and where donald trump was yeah. And Allen Weisselberg was there and he was explaining how he was going to disperse these payments. So the only person that can corroborate that is alan. So the way to go how about it. I think what the prosecution has to do, i remember that judge merchan may mention of this on friday. Is that what steps have you taken to try to compel him to come in . Testify because the judge has not allowing the agreement that the prosecution that actual the way to go about it is that the prosecution which ive done before, because you could get no material witness order. Is that base you have a detective getting contact with ireland at rikers alan. Alan, tell them on my coming to testify, im going to exercise its my fifth remember privilege. Im not cooperating. Dan, you call that detective to the stand and that detective, you asked him, did you meet with this man . Yes. Where did you meet with him . At rikers island. Did you ask them what that he will come in and testify willfully. He said no, hes not willing to cooperate. And that way you close that hope because its easy to tell a jury and sell to them of course, hes not going to cooperate. Hes a Coconspirator In For A Penny and a pound, or three of these people had the role to play. And when you put it together, the conspiracy, because not every one of them has to have done each and every part of the conspiracy. Thats how you get to a guilty verdict. The prosecution has to know though, how to argue are doing closing arguments, and how to present that evidence about mr. Weisselbergs being missing current Michael Cohen course as a slew of Social Media Posts, insulting dominant donald trump. Some of them and rather crude and personal terms, youre reporting that the defense will likely point to these Social Media Posts is the prosecution going to try to get ahead of that in some way or have they at all did they at all today in court thats a good question. They havent today, but i would expect they would realize were only at say early 20 2017 here so the prosecution is still has a ways to go. But yes, i think what we saw with Stormy Daniels is the prosecution raised some of those Social Media Posts before crossexamination, and i think because we can expect a similar thing with cohen and cross, that theyll go after just all these sort of names. Hes called trump, the crude post, the tic videos the podcast, and the books that this will especially ones cross start. So this will be a major the line of questioning. Michael, did you hear anything from Michael Cohen today that you expect the defense to seize on when its their turn for cross . Yeah. I mean, i mentioned the part about what was lying about saying that id kept trump up tonight, but didnt tell anybody and i think they better address this issue with the media posts and all that i mean, i think thats gonna be a big deal. I think the prosecution better day if you know, youre on witnesses, you dont get beat with a ball bat. Its better to take the flushwater to first yourself. And so thats what they need to do to disarm the defense i think Allen Weisselberg issue is going to remain because weve been here in his testimony really through some statements that cohen getting in and im surprised i mean, that would typically be some hearsay objections, i think. And so im that to me will be an issue. And if the prosecution tries to come back, i think that offense will be able to say, wait a minute, they could have cut a deal with him. They chose not to do that. Instead, their own when theyre given he was the guy whos already admitted not telling the truth. Yeah. In ethnic, thats something theyll ride all the way. He and so codec theyll have their day with him and i think that any feelings of empowerment, maybe that the state feels right now after some simple direct examination, i think youll see sort of their land thanks. Got out from under when they get across. Very interesting. All right. Michael moore, korean, ramy and bernardo via ilona. Thank you so much. Just breaking in right now breaking news just moments ago that controlled demolition broke down one of the remaining standing parts of that collapsed Francis Scott key bridge in baltimore. Engineers used explosive sieves on the sanction that landed on the cargo ship thats sunk the bridge on march 26. Its hard to believe but 21 members of the crew of the boat that hit the bridge, 21 members are still onboard the boat. They reportedly went below deck for the demolition. Theyve been assisting investigators and union leader say that crew is struggling with emotional distress. Official said to ship could be refloated within two days and the ports busy Shipping Channel could be reopened by the end of this month. As Donald Trumps motorcade left the new york courthouse earlier today, he passed right by the federal courthouse in new york. Were another big trial just started. That one for democratic sitting senator bob menendez. The bribery and Corruption Case against him has started. 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