Trump's New York criminal hush money trial continues into a fifth week of testimony

NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump's Manhattan criminal trial is expected to continue for another week before the jury begins its deliberation. New York Judge Juan Merchan instructed the parties ahead of testimony on Monday that while he originally hoped to hear closing arguments this week, that would now get pushed to next week.

Prosecutors are nearing the end of their own case. Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is back on the stand this morning for a fourth day of questioning that is expected to wrap up before lunch. Prosecutors for the Manhattan District Attorney allege Trump committed 34 felony counts of falsified business records — and Cohen is central to proving it.

The duration of Trump's defense is not known, though lawyers previously noted if they call any witnesses it wouldn't take long. Trump could still testify in his defense, as he originally vowed to, though he didn't answer reporters' questions Monday morning about his plan.

Michael Cohen continues his testimony into a second week

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche on Monday morning picked up his cross-examination from last week by questioning whether Cohen would have had a legal retainer to perform legal work for Trump, his family and his organization. Trump argues that the payments to Cohen were simply him paying his own lawyer.

Cohen testified that he has not had retainers with Trump. Blanche questioned Cohen about his features in multiple media outlets, and a farewell email to the Trump Organization, announcing his incoming role as "personal attorney to the President of the United States." They also discussed legal work that Cohen did for Trump, including legal filings, and for then-first lady Melania Trump.

"Did you view this as part of your job?" Blanche asked.

"Yes, sir," Cohen said, agreeing it was his job to be President Trump's lawyer.

On Thursday, Blanche also walked through Cohen's history of perjury, including lying to Congress and federal investigators. On Tuesday last week, Blanche questioned Cohen's motivations against Trump and about his recent profiting off of merchandise promoting Trump being put in jail.

Last week Blanche questioned Cohen about past testimonies related to that case before Congress in 2019, while under oath at the Southern District Court of New York and during Trump's civil fraud trial in the fall. In those examples, Blanche was highlighting shifting statements from Cohen.

"I accepted responsibility and I suffered the consequences," Cohen said last week, while also recalling that he testified in October that he falsely plead guilty to the tax evasion charges.

Prosecutors have spent weeks setting up Cohen's corroboration of Trump's knowledge of the 34 allegedly falsified documents. But they also set him up as someone bullish, unlikeable and self-interested. At the same time, the defense and Trump himself have long attacked Cohen's credibility.

The jury has so far listened to four weeks of testimony, including from Daniels herself last week. Jurors have also heard from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who first testified to the details of the deals made to flag potentially damaging stories to Cohen and Trump. And jurors heard from Keith Davidson, the lawyer who negotiated the nondisclosure agreements and settlement payments for Daniels and former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal. McDougal is not expected to be called to testify.

Trump has pleaded not guilty, and he has denied allegations of extramarital affairs, though he has acknowledged the payments were made.

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