Current:Home > MyIn Michael Cohen's testimony against Donald Trump, a possible defense witness emerges-LoTradeCoin
In Michael Cohen's testimony against Donald Trump, a possible defense witness emerges
View Date:2024-12-24 07:40:04
During Michael Cohen's testimony in former President Donald Trump's criminal trial Tuesday, questioning turned to a series of 2018 exchanges between Cohen and a lawyer named Robert Costello.
Cohen said he spoke to Costello about an FBI raid and investigation that would ultimately end with his guilty plea to federal charges later that year.
Emails shown to the jury depicted Costello as a "back channel of communications" for Cohen while he was under investigation, someone who could relay messages to then-President Trump via his attorney Rudy Giuliani.
"The back channel was Bob Costello to Rudy to Rudy to President Trump," Cohen said on the stand Tuesday.
"Sleep well tonight. You have friends in high places," Costello wrote in one email to Cohen, describing a conversation he said he had with Giuliani.
Reached by phone while Cohen was on the stand, Costello told CBS News he recently received a call from Trump's lead attorney, Todd Blanche.
Would he be called as a witness? Costello said maybe.
"I had a brief conversation with Todd Blanche, but there was no commitment," Costello said, adding the discussion "was not witness prep."
Still, Costello said he thinks he might end up being called by the defense.
Costello appeared before the grand jury investigating Trump on March 20, 2023, at the request of Trump's attorneys. He sought to discredit Cohen with his testimony, and told reporters after that Cohen has said things "that are directly contrary to what he said to us."
Trump was indicted later that month, charged with 34 felony counts of falsification of business records. The charges relate to reimbursements to Cohen for a "hush money" payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had a sexual encounter with Trump. He entered a not guilty plea and has denied having sex with Daniels. Trump has claimed the prosecution was pursued by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for political gain.
Costello is scheduled to testify Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee's Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. He said he'll introduce exculpatory information that includes material he was unable to bring before the grand jury in 2023. He did not elaborate on what exactly he intends to tell Congress.
- In:
- Michael Cohen
- Donald Trump
- Stormy Daniels
Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at [email protected] or [email protected]
veryGood! (49)
Related
- Hill House Home’s Once-A-Year Sale Is Here: Get 30% off Everything & up to 75% off Luxury Dresses
- Inside Clean Energy: Here Is How Covid Is Affecting Some of the Largest Wind, Solar and Energy Storage Projects
- Days of Our Lives Actor Cody Longo's Cause of Death Revealed
- The U.S. economy ended 2022 on a high note. This year is looking different
- NFL overreactions: New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys going nowhere after Week 10
- Do Leaked Climate Reports Help or Hurt Public Understanding of Global Warming?
- FBI Director Chris Wray defends agents, bureau in hearing before House GOP critics
- And Just Like That Costume Designer Molly Rogers Teases More Details on Kim Cattrall's Cameo
- Gisele Bündchen Makes First Major Appearance Since Pregnancy
- 8 Simple Hacks to Prevent Chafing
Ranking
- Trading wands for whisks, new Harry Potter cooking show brings mess and magic
- What tracking one Walmart store's prices for years taught us about the economy
- Here's what the latest inflation report means for your money
- M&M's replaces its spokescandies with Maya Rudolph after Tucker Carlson's rants
- All the Ways Megan Fox Hinted at Her Pregnancy With Machine Gun Kelly
- After Hurricane Harvey, a Heated Debate Over Flood Control Funds in Texas’ Harris County
- To all the econ papers I've loved before
- From a Raft in the Grand Canyon, the West’s Shifting Water Woes Come Into View
Recommendation
-
Sting Says Sean Diddy Combs Allegations Don't Taint His Song
-
How Shanna Moakler Reacted After Learning Ex Travis Barker Is Expecting Baby With Kourtney Kardashian
-
Why higher winter temperatures are affecting the logging industry
-
A man accused of torturing women is using dating apps to look for victims, police say
-
Unexpected pairing: New documentary tells a heartwarming story between Vietnam enemies
-
5 People Missing After Submersible Disappears Near Titanic Wreckage
-
Ecocide: Should Destruction of the Planet Be a Crime?
-
Inside Clean Energy: With a Pen Stroke, New Law Launches Virginia Into Landmark Clean Energy Transition