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Michael Cohen’s ex-attorney contradicts Trump ‘fixer’s testimony, gets ripped by judge in fiery scene at hush money trial
https://nypost.com ^ | 5/20/2024 | Kyle Schnitzer and Ben Ko

Posted on 05/20/2024 3:53:11 PM PDT by bitt

An attorney who once represented Michael Cohen testified Monday that Donald Trump’s fixer-turned-foe had told him the ex-president “knew nothing” about the hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels — moments before irking the judge by rolling his eyes and muttering on the stand.

Robert “Bob” Costello, the second witness called by Trump’s lawyers at his Manhattan criminal trial, contradicted previous testimony by Cohen that the real estate mogul was aware of the deal to pay Daniels $130,000 to silence her story about having a tryst with him.

“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,” claimed Costello, a Trump ally who last week bashed the prosecution’s case in front of Congress.

Cohen also whined to him that “I don’t understand why they’re trying to put me in jail” over nondisclosure agreements, such as the one struck with Daniels, Costello, a former federal prosecutor in New York, added from the stand.

Tensions flared minutes later after Costello grew visibly peeved — muttering under his breath — after Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan sustained several objections from prosecutors to his testimony.

“Jeez,” he exclaimed at one point.

“I’m sorry?” the annoyed judge asked Costello twice.

It came after Trump attorney Emil Bove tried asking Costello about a conversation he had with Cohen around April 19 or 20 of 2018, and Costello said he couldn’t remember off the top of his head.

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

The judge then excused the jury to lecture Costello about “proper decorum” inside his courtroom, telling him that if he doesn’t like a ruling, “you don’t say jeez.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: hushmoneytrial; juanmerchan; michaelcohen; robertbobcostello; robertcostello; trump; trumppersecution
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To: Sequoyah101

What the hell is this “trial” about?


Make no mistake. This “trial” is about PIAPS calling in markers from her and Bubba’s connections to muddy up President Trump before the election. FFS, one of the lead prostitutors went right down that path in the opening statements. “He stole the 2016 election!”

The dumb bitch will never get over President Trump kicking her lazy ass on the way to her certain coronation.


21 posted on 05/20/2024 4:32:18 PM PDT by nesnah (Infringe - act so as to limit or undermine [something]; encroach on)
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To: bitt; ClearCase_guy

In Nazi Germany, People’s Court judge Roland Freisler didn’t allow the Defendant to actually have any defense.

Why waste time with things that didn’t matter?

So, here we are.
posted on 5/20/2024, 4:01:00 PM by ClearCase_guy


22 posted on 05/20/2024 4:38:37 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (“If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it!” )
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To: ChronicMA
when the jury hangs, the judge just removes some of those jurors who are voting for acquittal

Almost nothing would surprise me with this judge and prosecutor. I wouldn't be surprised if they have something on each and every juror for just such an occasion, then bring in one of the 6 alternate jurors.

23 posted on 05/20/2024 5:08:29 PM PDT by ETCM (“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.” — Ronald Reagan)
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To: ETCM

When it goes to the jury the alternates are dismissed, unless one of the 12 gets ill


24 posted on 05/20/2024 5:23:52 PM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: bitt

Merchan is losing it. He’s try to hold this house of cards up but the walls are caving in. It’s now become an every day spiraling out of control comic entertainment show. The crowning finale of this farce has to be a conviction without any crime.


25 posted on 05/20/2024 5:31:23 PM PDT by iontheball
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To: forYourChildrenVote4Bush

It is either guilty or not guilty or hung.


26 posted on 05/20/2024 5:32:37 PM PDT by thegagline (Sic semper tyrannis! Goldwater & Thomas Sowell in 2024)
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To: forYourChildrenVote4Bush

I bet it’s a jury comes back guilty. They had their minds made up before they even sat down.


27 posted on 05/20/2024 5:47:56 PM PDT by roving (Deplorable Erectionists Listless Vessel )
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To: Sequoyah101
Clifford (Daniels) signed 2 sworn affidavits and has said, publiclly, on video, that she did NOT have sex with PDJT.

Now, she is accusing him of rape.

"Were you lying then, Ms Cifford, or are you, now?"

She should have been charged with extortion, slander, libel and defamation.

28 posted on 05/20/2024 6:08:10 PM PDT by Eagles6 (Welcome to the Matrix . Orwell's "1984" was a warning, not an instruction manual. )
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To: AndyJackson

Good one...


29 posted on 05/20/2024 6:13:02 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the USofA & to the Constitutional REPUBLIC for which it stands. )
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To: AndyJackson

That one stinks, but it had to be said. LOL


30 posted on 05/20/2024 6:13:26 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the USofA & to the Constitutional REPUBLIC for which it stands. )
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To: Sacajaweau

Obviously what Costello did today was orchestrated

But why ? What was the intention of Costello? Was it to garner a sever reaction by the judge ? And if so why ?

Thanks in advance for any insight


31 posted on 05/20/2024 6:13:52 PM PDT by forYourChildrenVote4Bush
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To: Sacajaweau

If he dismisses the case, his daydreams of a cushy lifetime seat on the Federal Bench go fluttering away on dainty little wings.


32 posted on 05/20/2024 6:58:19 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: bitt

Judge Juan lost it.....succumbed to the eye roll of a witness.

Contempt for eye rolling?

Judge Juan is finished...kaput, dunzo!


33 posted on 05/20/2024 8:03:36 PM PDT by Candor7 (Ask not for whom the Trump Trolls,He trolls for thee!),<img src="" width=500</img><a href="">tag</a>)
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To: forYourChildrenVote4Bush

Where did you get orchestrated from? The judge limited his questioning. You apparently did not listen to Costello before Congress. He had a lot more to say.


34 posted on 05/20/2024 8:49:24 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Sacajaweau
hung jury most likely

I hope so, but Bragg has charged Trump with 34 counts. Doesn't that mean the jury will vote 34 times? If any of those votes are 12-0 guilty, off to the appeals courts, and the media will gleefully report "Trump convicted of X felonies."

35 posted on 05/20/2024 9:24:31 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
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To: DoughtyOne; Sacajaweau
It came after Trump attorney Emil Bove tried asking Costello about a conversation he had with Cohen around April 19 or 20 of 2018, and Costello said he couldn’t remember off the top of his head.

Wouldn't any answer to that question quoting Cohen be hearsay?

36 posted on 05/20/2024 9:30:39 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
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To: Sacajaweau

WHY did Cohen take out a home Equity loan to pay Stormy so his wife wouldn’t find out? Sounds like Cohen was having sex with her, not Trump!


37 posted on 05/20/2024 10:30:39 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: forYourChildrenVote4Bush

Guilty! The jurh are NY DEMOCRATS!


38 posted on 05/20/2024 10:31:46 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Ann Archy
"Sounds like Cohen was having sex with her, not Trump!"

". . .cable network One America News retracted a story and apologized Monday after it falsely claimed former President Donald Trump’s ex lawyer Michael Cohen was the one who had an affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels and secretly used it to “extort” the Trump Organization."

With the low ethics Cohen has shown us, maybe he did have an affair. OAN just did not have enough corroborative evidence and jumped the gun.

39 posted on 05/20/2024 11:18:04 PM PDT by jonrick46 (Leftniks chase illusions of motherships at the end of the pier.)
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To: Eagles6
"Were you lying then, Ms Cifford, or are you, now?"

She should have been charged with extortion, slander, libel and defamation.

In a SANE world that is a VERY ACCURATE statement and VERY SOUND course of action.

Unfortunately.. this is a NYC "Kangaroo Court Clown Show" headed up by one VERY CONFLICTED judge!"

40 posted on 05/20/2024 11:56:47 PM PDT by VideoDoctor
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