Live Thread: Trump's hush money trial begins in NYC

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
18m
Robert Costello has now been called to the stand!

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
12m
The Soros funded ADA is objecting to the scope of what Costello can testify to, saying that Costello should only be asked TWO questions.

Let’s see what Merchan does here. We know he rules almost all the time with the Prosecution…

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
15m
Judge apologizes to the jury but he asks them to step outside for a few minutes. Jury is exiting the courtroom, briefly.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Emil Bove is pointing out to Merchan that Costello will testify that there was no pressure campaign, in direct contrast to what Cohen testified to, and the basis of this case that the Soros funded DA has presented to the jury.

Merchan is pushing back on Bove now…this sadly is predictable and consistent with what Merchan has done the entire trial.
2:38 PM · May 20, 2024

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
8m
Bove saying part of what Mr. Costello is going to do is testify that some of what Cohen said at this trial was false.

Bove cites Cohen committing perjury, Soros funded DA interupts. Merchan says he’s going to take five minutes & “don’t leave the courtroom.”

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
3m
Judge says Bove can have some latitude in questioning Cohen. It is somewhat narrowing, but it should also be narrowing for the Prosecution as well.

Now we await Robert Costello to take the stand…

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Entering the courtroom, stage right is Mr. Robert Costello, he walks behind President Donald J. Trump making a left turned, walking ten more feet or so and making a button hook to sit on the witness stand.

Costello is wearing what appears to be a black (maybe navy blue) suit with a blue tie.
2:48 PM · May 20, 2024
·

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Trump Defense Attorney Emil Bove asking Costello where he works and his experience. Costello says he was an assistant US Attorney in the Southern District and ran the Criminal Division.

Bove asks if he knows Cohen.

After establishing further, Bove asks if it was understood that the attorney-client privilege was in affect for that meeting.

Simultaneously, Costello says yes as the ADA objects. The judge sustains and asks to strike it from the record.
2:51 PM · May 20, 2024

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Costello answers to Bove: I explained to Michael Cohen the entire legal problem he has would be solved if he told the truth to the Southern District of New York.

Costello says Cohen: “I swear to God, Bob I don’t have anything on Donald Trump.”

[mystery-ak]

a minute ago
'Maniac' Michael Cohen wanted to know his 'escape route' in meeting: testimony

Attorney Robert Costello said Michael Cohen was "maniac" when he first met him at the Regency Hotel on April 17, 2018, after Cohen's home and law offices were raided by law enforcement.

“He was absolutely maniac from the beginning, marching back and forth, pacing," Costello said about the meeting.

Cohen was there with Costello and Jeffrey Citron, one of his partners, for the two-hour meeting.

“He kept on pacing left and right and myself and Jeff were seated," Costello said, adding that Cohen said his life was "shattered."

"[He wanted to know] what my escape route is, that was his words," recalled Costello.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
After an objection by the Soros funded DA’s office that is sustained by Merchan, the lawyers are told to approach.

While this is going on Costello seems to say into a hot mic:

“Ridiculous!”

[mystery-ak]

a few seconds ago
Cohen said Trump 'knew nothing' several times about Stormy Daniels payments: Costello

“Michael Cohen said numerous times that President Trump knew nothing about those payments, that he did this on his own, and he repeated that numerous times," Costello testified.

This was Robert Costello's response when asked what Cohen said to him about payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Bove back, Costello says that Cohen said at their meeting that Donald Trump had no awareness of the Stormy Daniels repayment and that Cohen said he made the payment on his own.

Bove: Rudy Giuliani come up at this meeting?

Costello: His name came up briefly, just that I was a student assistant of his.
2:57 PM · May 20, 2024

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Now an email exhibit up from Michael Cohen to Costello that says:

Robert,
Great news for Rudy. I know I owe you a call. I have been working with lawyers all day and just now am coming up for air. I will try you tomorrow.

Michael D. Cohen, Esq.
Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump
2:59 PM · May 20, 2024

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
41s
After a few more sustained objections by the Merchan, Costello says, “Jeez” rather loudly.

Merchan said, “Excuse me?”

Costello apologizes.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
11s
Costello through questioning from Bove clarifies that Cohen was actually seeking a “backchannel” to Rudy Giuliani.

Costello breathes heavily now, in what is an obviously frustrated way.

Merchan immediately dismisses the jury.

[mystery-ak]

a minute ago
Witness, judge getting after each other: 'Geez!'

Brief fireworks between the judge and Robert Costello just now.

When Trump attorney Emil Bove tried asking Costello about a conversation he had with Michael Cohen around April 19-20, 2018, Costello said he couldn't think about it at the top of his head.

Prosecutors objected to the question, and Justice Merchan sustained the objection — which irked Costello.

"Geez," he snarled, causing the judge to interject.

"I'm sorry?" an annoyed judge asked twice.

Costello kept quiet after that one.

[Hoodat]

Donald Trump refused to pay a tech company that helped boost his position on a CNBC poll about the most famous businessmen in the last century because he only finished in ninth place, Michael Cohen testified.

"Mr. Trump’s name was on that list. And in the beginning of this poll, he was polling toward the very, very bottom and it upset him," Cohen testified.

Cohen said he called up Red Finch, a technology company, to assist in the CNBC poll to create an algorithm that would help Trump "rise, rise significantly in this poll." The scheme would have Red Finch acquire IP addresses to boost Trump's polling position.

Cohen said Trump gave him his permission to go ahead with Red Finch, but Trump ultimately finished ninth in the poll.

"He refused to make a payment," Cohen said about Trump, citing where Trump finished.

Red Finch was ultimately owed $50,000. Cohen paid the company $20,000 and pocketed the remaining $30,000 because Trump stiffed him on his holiday bonus, he testified.

Am I reading this correctly?  Red Finch was due $50k.  Trump set aside $50k to pay them and put Cohen in charge of paying it.  But instead of giving them the entire $50k, Cohen gave them only $20k and pocketed the remainder?  That's called 'embezzlement'.

[mystery-ak]

a few seconds ago
'Are you staring me down right now?': Judge, Costello get heated

Tempers flared inside Trump's hush money trial between the judge and witness Robert Costello.

The judge excused the jury to speak to Costello about "proper decorum" inside his courtroom, telling him that if he doesn't like a ruling, "you don't say geez."

"If you don't like my ruling, you don't give me side eye and you don't roll your eyes."

The judge then ordered to clear the courtroom, before accusing the witness of staring him down.

"Are you staring me down right now?" the judge fired. "Are you staring me down right now?"

"Clear the courtroom!" the judge said.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
FIREWORKS!!

Merchan says to Costello if he doesn’t like a ruling, don’t roll his eyes or say Jeez or strike it!

And if you don’t like my ruling, you don’t give me side eyes!

Costello says he understands.

Merchan now asks if he’s staring him down, asking loudly.

Judge and the witness leave the bench to go have what I’m sure is a spirited conversation behind closed doors.
3:08 PM · May 20, 2024
·
1,444
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[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
12s
We are back in the courtroom, Costello is back on the stand.

Jury coming in now, let’s see how this FIREWORKS display continues…

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Costello is showing the same level of respect to Merchan that the “Judge” has shown for the criminal code and the concept of blind justice throughout this case: NONE!

[Hoodat]

I am not a lawyer, and this is just a wild thought out of the blue.  Considering the precedent setting of this case,  would it be admissable for the defense to call Bragg and Letitia James to the stand to establish nefarious political motive?

This judge wouldn't allow it.

[mystery-ak]

Nick Sortor
@nicksortor
·
55s
Judge Merchan is so frustrated that he’s losing this case 🤣

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
We are back in the courtroom, Costello is back on the stand.

Jury coming in now, let’s see how this FIREWORKS display continues…

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Bove is now asking Costello about an email where Costello told Cohen that he would not bother Cohen, that he would only talk to him if he heard from him.

Bove questioning Costello about phone records on 5/27/2018, a 90 minute call. Costello says that Cohen and he talked about legal issues on this call.
3:15 PM · May 20, 2024

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Costello is asked about Rudy Giuliani again by Bove.

They are back looking at the phone records form 6/7/2018. There are 7 calls, one of which was 46 minutes.

Did Cohen instruct you to contact Rudy Giuliani?

After Costello saw a text message saying that he contacted Rudy, Costello confirms that it refreshes his recollection that Cohen intructed Costello to contact @RudyGiuliani
 .
3:17 PM · May 20, 2024

[Hoodat]

Nick Sortor
@nicksortor
·
55s
Judge Merchan is so frustrated that he’s losing this case 🤣

His payoff is conditioned on a conviction.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
9s
Costello says that Cohen was later complaining about what Rudy Giuliani was saying in the press. Didn’t specify what bothered Cohen.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
32s
Costello said to Cohen that if he had any complaint, he would pass it on to Rudy Giuliani

[mystery-ak]

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Bove: Did you ever pressure Mr. Cohen at all?

Costello: No

Bove: Did Mr Giuliani ever put pressure on you to talk to Mr. Cohen?

Objection, Merchan sustains

Bove: Did Mr. Cohen pay?

Cohen: No
3:21 PM · May 20, 2024

[mystery-ak]

a minute ago
Costello now on cross-examination

Manhattan prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is leading the cross-examination of Robert Costello.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Bove asking Costello if he testified infront of the House Judiciary Committee last week. Costello confirms. Bove has no further question.

Now the Soros funded DA’s office will Cross-examine Bob Costello.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
40s
Soros funded DA now questioning Cohen about an email from Jeffrey Citron, one of Costello’s law partners, to Michael Cohen.

ADA is trying to push Costello to say that he wanted to represent Cohen and he pursued him out of desire for high profile cases.