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
 Views
Related posts
🇺🇸 The Briefing Room 🇺🇸 🇮🇱

[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.

[mystery-ak]

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Rudy Giuliani wasn’t involved in representing President Trump at that time.

Soros funded DA’s office says but a few days later Rudy Giuliani was announced to represent President Trump. Costello reiterates but not at the time.

Costello says he did not want Cohen as a client when asked by the ADA if he was motivated to represent a high profile client.
3:28 PM · May 20, 2024

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Soros funded DA’s office now asking about the meeting on April 17, 2018 at the Regency Hotel.

There is a back and forth with Costello between who initiated the meeting, Costello’s law partner, Citron, or convicted felon, Michael Cohen.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
35s
Costello continues answering from Soros funded DA’s office about April 17th meeting at the Regency. Costello says Cohen was, “suicidal that day, pacing back and forth. He was manic.”

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1m
Cohen said to Costello two nights before that he couldn’t handle the pressure and was thinking about jumping off the roof and killing himself.

[mystery-ak]

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Soros funded ADA asking Costello about the lawyer Cohen ended up going with. Costello answers Guy Patrillo.

(This is when Cohen “flipped” for the Mueller investigation)

ADA stops questioning. Merchan asks lawyers to approach.

We are breaking for the rest of the day. Merchan is giving the jury their instructions.
3:36 PM · May 20, 2024

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
3m
The jury has left, Merchan has dismissed Bob Costello from the witness stand. He is exiting stage right.

Costello obviously has mastery of the courtroom and this could affect the jury.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Blanche gets up and makes the case that the case should be DISMISSED.

Mr. Cohen on the stand admitted that the business records were not falsified.

There’s no other evidence that the invoices were mishandled.

Also there is no evidence of any intent of fraud by President Trump with these filings.

[mystery-ak]

3 minutes ago
Robert Costello's email to son boasting about landing Michael Cohen as client
By Kyle Schnitzer

Robert Costello laughed before reading an email that he sent his son when he was going to represent Michael Cohen.

The email, sent on April 20, 2018, reads:

" 'I will be on the team. It would be an honor to have you part of my team. I will be eternally grateful for the help and guidance you have already given me.' [Signed] Michael Cohen, personal attorney for President Trump.

“This is not public yet so do not say anything to anyone about this," Costello wrote to his son in the email. "I do not know when we will make an announcement but I have been authorized to contact Rudy Giuliani as counsel to President Trump and tell him I will be representing Michael Cohen."

Costello's son replied: “Wow. Thats big news. Congrats Dad. I hope this leads to a lot of good things coming your way.”

Costello told prosecutors he was just using Cohen's language, and that they weren't his words.

“No, I was telling exactly what I told my son in this email, and this is his response to it," Costello said.

This came after prosecutors tried saying that Costello landing Cohen as a client would be a firm booster for him.

a minute ago
Court ends for the day

Judge Merchan just called an end to the trial for the day. Court will resume Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Blanche gets up and makes the case that the case should be DISMISSED.

Mr. Cohen on the stand admitted that the business records were not falsified.

There’s no other evidence that the invoices were mishandled.

Also there is no evidence of any intent of fraud by President Trump with these filings.
3:41 PM · May 20, 2024

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
5m
Blanche: the idea that there would be any intent of fraud by President Trump, which the President signed in the White House, there is no record that President Trump had any intent of fraud.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
4m
Blanche DISMISSAL attempt continues:

Blanche: third, there are no other crimes in relation to this. There’s also no evidence that anyone was thinking about a campaign finance charge when Cohen and Weiselberg met. They met months after the election.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
DISMISSAL ATTEMPT CONTINUES:

Blanche: At the end of the day, there is absolutely no evidence that David Pecker, Michael Cohen, President Trump, Dylan Howard or any of the other players that there was any attempt to violate a misdemeanor of state law that they never had any intent to break.
3:46 PM · May 20, 2024

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
DISMISSAL ATTEMPT CONTINUES:

Blanche: As it relates to Ms. Daniels, AMI wanted nothing to do with it. As it comes to a catch and kill, AMI jumped out of that alleged conspiracy.

There is simply no evidence of any criminal intent and for that reason, this case should be dismissed.
3:48 PM · May 20, 2024

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
DISMISSAL ATTEMPT CONTINUES:

There is no way that this court can let this verdict go to the jury on Mr. Cohen’s testimony. He lied under oath and he lied to this court.

Blanche now highlighting the October 24, 2016, 8:02pm call and how Cohen changed his testimony.

Merchan clarifies that Trump team wants him to consider that Cohen, as a witness, is so not credible that he takes decision, out of the hands of the jury.
3:51 PM · May 20, 2024

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
9s
DISMISSAL ATTEMPT CONTINUES:

Blanche said that Cohen irrefutably lied under oath.

Merchan interupts: so you think he irrefutably lied under oath and you think that it’ll fool 12 New Yorkers?

Merchan asks now to hear from the Soros funded DA’s office.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
DISMISSAL ATTEMPT CONTINUES:

Matthew Colangelo, the former Biden Justice Department Senior Official pushing back on all points that Blanche, Trump’s attorney made, trying to make the case to (what has been the obviously biased) Judge Merchan, to not dismiss the case.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Blanche back up: False filings on AMI records does not constitute a criminal conspiracy

At the end of the day you have a books and records violation, where you have a legal expense that’s false, allegedly. It’s hard to imagine, how was it supposed to be booked? It was a legal expense.

Now on Cohen: The exacting testimony about particular conversations he had with President Trump, we never saw those. Apparently the people knew he was gonna do that, we were never provided notes on that.

Colangelo gets back up and says they gave hundreds of pages of notes to the defense.
4:01 PM · May 20, 2024

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
3m
DISMISSAL DECISION COMING…

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
Merchan said he is going to reserve the decision until tomorrow morning.

We are dismissed, not from the trial, but from the courtroom today until 9:30am tomorrow.

[libertybele]

Does anyone think that the judge is going to dismiss the case??

[Cyber Liberty]

Does anyone think that the judge is going to dismiss the case??

Not a chance.

[libertybele]

Not a chance.

I doubt so either...'they' have a whole night to decide what to do next.

[Bigun]

[Bigun]

https://twitter.com/kylenabecker/status/1792675855245914301

[catfish1957]

This judge wouldn't allow it.

Agree fully, I am just fishing for the legalities of it.

[catfish1957]

And the deliberation aspects of trial is over and the Crime is:  Falsifying a Business Record. 6 years ago?

No sane voter is going to be swayed by this towards Biden.  More likely, Indys will bolt for Trump.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"a former Assistant Manhattan DA who worked in Alvin Bragg’s current office says his colleagues—even the Never Trumpers—are embarrassed that Bragg brought this case against Trump. “It’s destroyed the integrity of my old office” (Video)


https://x.com/_johnnymaga/status/1792628186607394929

[Right_in_Virginia]

6 minutes ago
Jury excused for the day; will return Monday
By Kyle Schnitzer

The jury was excused a few minutes ago. They will return to court Monday — not Friday — since Trump will attend his son Barron's high school graduation in Florida.

[mystery-ak]

DAY 20

Robert Costello, a former adviser to ex-fixer Michael Cohen, has been called as the defense’s second and potentially last witness in the case, in which Trump is charged with falsifying business records.

Tuesday could also see Trump’s defense rest its case. Trump’s team has also once again sought the dismissal of charges, which was left unresolved by the judge for now.

Trump’s potential expert witness confirmed he will no longer take the stand, citing the judge’s ruling restricting the scope of his testimony.

The defense had wanted to call Brad Smith, a former commissioner at the Federal Election Commission (FEC), to testify about campaign finance law.

But the judge severely limited the topics he can discuss to avoid a “battle of the experts”: Prosecutors would’ve called a rebuttal expert and the judge would’ve then given jurors his own instructions on applying the law, creating three sets of competing interpretations.

“Judge Merchan has so restricted my testimony that defense has decided not to call me. Now, it’s elementary that the judge instructs the jury on the law, so I understand his reluctance,” Smith wrote on social platform X.

“But the Federal Election Campaign Act is very complex,” Smith added.

He asserted that prosecutors elicited incorrect statements of law from their star witness, Michael Cohen, also accusing the judge of bias.

-Zach Schonfeld

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
1h
Trump Show Trial - Costello v Merchan
Round 2 - May 21, 2024
LIVE PREVIEW COMING SOON!

[mystery-ak]

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
While waiting for the jury, one of the Soros funded DA’s offices’ ADA’s asks Merchan if he wants to ask about the jury’s availability for next Wednesday before we send them home today. Merchan replies, I will.

The jury of 18 New Yorkers, 12 primary jurors and 6 alternate jurors, has entered the courtroom stage right.

They are walking between President Trump and “Judge” Merchan and are being seated.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
6m
A press pool of 5 photographers has come in to take pictures of President Trump. They are now departing.

Also joining President Trump as always are senior advisors @NatalieHarp
 & Boris Epshteyn.

Post
Conversation
Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Robert Costello has reentered the courtroom, walking in behind President Trump and his defense team.

Costello walks about 12 steps, makes a left hand turn, walks 5 more steps, makes a right and button hooks around a wooden divider to sit himself on the witness stand in a crimson colored chair.
8:30 AM · May 21, 2024

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
17s
We begin the day with the Soros funded District Attoney’s office questioning Bob Costello about an email where serial liar Michael Cohen asked Costello to stop contacting him.

They establish that it is in relation of the unpaid debt of Cohen.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Soros funded DA’s office asking about another email, subject line: GIULIANI where Costello writes to Cohen about a backchannel to President Trump.

ADA asks if the email speaks for itself?

Costello says, “No, there are surrounding circumstances to this email which I would be delighted to tell you about.”

ADA: No, that’s okay.

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
2m
Soros funded DA’s office now pulls up email from Bob Costello to law partner, Jeff Citron:

All the more reason for Cohen to hire me because of my relationship with Rudy Giuliani, which I told him about at our meeting

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
5m
Soros funded DA’s office establishes that Costello was very close to Rudy Giuliani. @RudyGiuliani
 even went to their wedding.

ADA questions about when Costello told Cohen about how Costello’s relationship with Rudy could be very important for you.

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
·
54s
Soros funded DA’s office reads an email from Costello to Cohen where Costello tells Cohen that he is loved and that he has friends in high places.

When the ADA asks if Costello was referring to Trump, Costello says: “Friends in high places definitely refers to President Trump.”

[mystery-ak]

Andrew H. Giuliani
@AndrewHGiuliani
Soros funded DA’s office pulls up another email from Bob Costello to his law partner, Jeff Citron.

Included in the email is this segment: “Our issue is to get Cohen on the right page without giving the appearance that we’re following instructions from Giuliani or the President”

Costello replies that the reason he wrote this email was to get everyone on the same page because Rudy Giuliani was saying things in the press that Cohen did not like.
8:46 AM · May 21, 2024