In a tense and heated exchange, former President Donald Trump’s lead defense attorney, Todd Blanche, sought to unravel Michael Cohen’s claim that he spoke by phone with Trump “to discuss the Stormy Daniels matter and the resolution of it” just days before wiring her lawyer $130,000.
Cohen testified earlier, “I called Trump’s bodyguard, Keith Schiller, just after 8 p.m. on Oct. 24, 2016, as a way of getting a hold of Trump because I knew he’d be with him.”
In the most notable exchange during cross-examination on Thursday, Blanche noted Cohen was dealing with harassing calls at that time and had messaged the supposed harasser before contacting Schiller.
He cited texts showing Cohen messaged Schiller at 7:48 p.m.: “Who can I speak to about harassing calls to my cell and office,” and the harasser had “identified himself as a 14-year-old boy who’d promised not to do it again.”
Blanche then pointed to records showing Schiller called Cohen at 8:01 p.m., leaving a voicemail, followed by a text “call me” at 8:02 p.m. Cohen then called Schiller’s number for 1 minute and 36 seconds.
Blanche accused Cohen of lying while under oath.
“Your claim that you were talking to Trump about the Daniels deal was a lie because you were actually talking to Mr. Schiller about getting harassing phone calls from a 14-year-old,” the defense attorney said.
Cohen responded, “Part of it was about the phone calls, but I knew that Keith was with Mr. Trump at the time, and it was more than potentially just this.”
Blanche, his voice rising, was incredulous.
“You had enough time in that one minute and 36 seconds to update Mr. Schiller about all the problems you were having with this harassing phone call and also update President Trump on the status of the Stormy Daniels situation?” he demanded.
Cohen insisted, “Yes, I believe I was telling the truth.”
“We are not asking for your belief. This jury does not want to hear what you think happened,” Blanche said loudly, prompting an objection.
Blanche’s questioning on Thursday was otherwise slow and methodical, witnesses reported. He would often tease out short and nondescriptive answers from Cohen to try to portray him as an unreliable witness.