© Elizabeth Williams via AP |
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Trump trial: Michael Cohen grilled in second day on stand |
Former President Trump‘s fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen wrapped up his testimony during Trump’s hush money case Tuesday, detailing what he called a “pressure campaign” to remain loyal amid an FBI investigation into the real estate mogul.
Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels to keep her from disclosing during the 2016 presidential campaign an alleged previous sexual encounter with Trump. Cohen allegedly facilitated a $130,000 hush money payment at the center of the criminal trial. Daniels testified last week.
During the defense’s questioning Tuesday, Cohen admitted that he had made millions of dollars from his books and other avenues linked to his connections to Trump.
At one point, Trump attorney Todd Blanche noted Cohen’s fallout with Trump and asked point blank: “Do you want President Trump to get convicted in this case?”
“Sure,” Cohen replied, after repeatedly refusing to give a direct answer. Other highlights: - Cohen expressed regret for what he did to remain loyal to Trump, saying the “bullying” and lying was a violation of his “moral compass,” and that he was “knee-deep into the cult of Donald Trump.”
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Trump attorney Todd Blanche flagged some of Cohen’s social media posts about Trump, such as one from last month where he referred to the former president as a “dictator douchebag.”
- Trump kept his eyes closed during most of Cohen’s testimony.
Check out the highlights from The Hill here.
Trump brought out the big guns for Cohen’s second turn on the stand. Republicans House Speaker Mike Johnson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Rep. Byron Donalds, Rep. Cory Mills and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy joined from the sidelines. Nearly all mimicked Trump’s signature red tie and navy suit look and defended him outside the courtroom in remarks to reporters.
“This is the fifth week that President Trump has been in court for this sham of a trial. They are doing this intentionally to keep him here and keep him off of the campaign trail,” Johnson said, addressing reporters. “And I think everybody in the country can see that for what it is.” After adjournment, Trump addressed a crowd of reporters outside the courthouse, repeatedly noting he was limiting his remarks because of the gag order he’s under.
“I would love to not be under a gag order,” he mused.
Trump said he felt the second day of Cohen’s testimony amounted to “a very, very good day.”
“Voters are getting it,” he said. “The voters see through this scam and don’t like what’s going on.”
Trump has frequently complained that the trial is keeping him off the campaign trail, though he’s continued to hold rallies and high-dollar fundraisers that have drawn thousands of supporters in recent weeks. Related coverage: |
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Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Liz Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. |
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Biden defends ‘strategic and targeted’ China tariffs, seeking contrast with Trump
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President Biden is defending his plan to increase tariffs on Chinese imports, seeking to contrast his policies with those of former President Trump, his Republican rival in the November presidential election.
“My administration is combining investments in America with tariffs that are strategic and targeted. It’s a smart approach,” Biden said at the White House Rose Garden under cloudy skies Tuesday (VIDEO). “Compare that to what the prior administration did.” Union workers, business owners and lawmakers, including representatives from Michigan, joined Biden for the public remarks on the new initiative, which is part of a push to cut down on U.S. emissions.
The plan is set to be phased in over the next three years, with electric vehicles (EVs), solar cells and steel and aluminum targeted for 2024. “Bottom line, I want fair competition with China, not conflict,” Biden said. “And we’re in a stronger position to win that economic competition in the 21st century against China than anyone else because we’re investing in America again.” The effort comes as Biden and Trump are engaged in a heated battle for four more years in the White House. But not everyone — even from Biden’s own party — is on board.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) is among those who have criticized Biden over the new tariffs policy, which Polis said will negatively impact consumers and be a “major” blow to clean energy.
“This is horrible news for American consumers and a major setback for clean energy,” Polis said in a post on the social platform X. “Tariffs are a direct, regressive tax on Americans and this tax increase will hit every family.”
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Maryland Dems to decide on opponent for former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in November
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It’s Primaries Day in Maryland, West Virginia and Nebraska.
The big one to watch will be the heated Senate Democratic race in Maryland between Rep. David Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. The winner will go on to face two-term former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in November.
Sen. Ben Cardin, 79, (D) announced last year that he wouldn’t seek a fourth term. Only five people have represented Maryland in the Senate in the past four decades. Maryland is a deep blue state, but Hogan’s popularity across the aisle and his vocal “Never Trump” status has added a new dynamic.
An Emerson College/The Hill poll recently showed that Alsobrooks, the favorite of the state’s Democratic establishment, has gained a slight lead.
Katie Grant Drew, a Democratic strategist who was a longtime top aide to former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told The Hill: “Maryland is a small state in terms of politics, and everybody knows everybody. Nobody wanted to see this turn into a nasty fight …
“It’s not surprising that things get heated towards the end,” she said, “but especially given the fact that the winner of the primary will be facing a popular former governor, there was not an unreasonable expectation for the candidates to stay focused on the broader goal of keeping the seat in Democratic hands.” Catch up on five things to watch from the primaries in Maryland and beyond Tuesday. |
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Former Situation Room officer: Pence came ‘close’ to being killed on Jan. 6
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A former Situation Room officer is backing up the view that former Vice President Pence was in imminent danger as rioters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“It’s important to me that we don’t forget that it did come that close, and that we did have discussions, ‘If we lose the [vice president,] if the 25th [Amendment] is invoked,'” Mike Stiegler said in an interview that aired Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “We started running through all of these game plans because it was getting close.”
Pence faced threats of violence on Jan. 6, after he refused Trump and his supporters’ calls to go outside of his authority and overturn the 2020 election results. He had to be whisked to safety amid the attack, as rioters chanted “Hang Mike Pence” and erected gallows on the Capitol lawn.
Stiegler, who was interviewed for ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos’ forthcoming book “Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis,” said the Jan. 6. riot was one “of our own people” and “inspired” by Trump.
“But at the time, that’s not even in the forefront of our mind,” Steigler said. “It doesn’t matter how we got here. We’re here. How do we execute? How do we move forward?” (The Hill)
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Almost half of recent homebuyers stretch to make on-time mortgage payments: Study
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Nearly half of new homebuyers are struggling to pay their mortgages, according to a new survey, but many of the respondents said they are still happy they chose to buy when they did.
Real estate researchers at Clever found 43 percent of recent homebuyers said they have trouble making on-time mortgage payments. About 47 percent also said they feel in over their heads financially, the survey found.
A similar number of buyers, about 44 percent, say they have taken on additional nonmortgage debt since purchasing a home.
Most of the homebuyers surveyed, 82 percent, said they had regrets about their purchase or that it didn’t improve their happiness. Still, 68 percent said they’re happy they bought when they did, despite high interest rates. (More from the survey’s findings) |
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“We need a ‘Most Embarrassing Member of Congress’ award,” writes Merrill Matthews, resident scholar at the Institute for Policy Innovation in Dallas.
“In Cohen vs. Trump, which liar will the jury believe?” writes former federal prosecutor James D. Zirin. |
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62 days until the Republican National Convention.
97 days until the Democratic National Convention.
174 days until the 2024 general election. |
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7:35 p.m. Tuesday: President Biden will deliver remarks at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ 30th Annual Gala at the Washington Convention Center. |
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