During the recent court proceedings, the defense attorney, Emil Bove, brought up an email exchange between individuals identified as Costello and Cohen. The email contained a message from Costello stating that he would not contact Cohen unless Cohen reached out first. This email was presented to the jury, along with phone records displayed on screens throughout the courtroom.
Following the email discussion, it was revealed that Cohen had called Costello for a lengthy conversation lasting one hour, 36 minutes, and 15 seconds over Memorial Day weekend. Despite objections from the prosecution, the judge allowed this information to be presented to the jury.
Costello then testified that Cohen had directed him to contact Rudy Giuliani on his behalf, expressing dissatisfaction with Giuliani's public statements. Cohen also reportedly complained about legal fees not being paid by Trump in 2018.
Throughout the questioning, the judge repeatedly reminded Costello to answer questions directly and avoid going into unnecessary details. When asked if he pressured Cohen in any way or influenced his interactions with Giuliani, Costello firmly denied any such actions, emphasizing his obligation to Cohen rather than President Trump's interests.
Trump himself was observed closely following the proceedings, indicating his interest in the testimony being provided. The defense attorney's line of questioning aimed to establish Costello's professional conduct and loyalty to his client, Michael Cohen.
Despite objections from the prosecution and the judge's interventions to keep the testimony focused, the court session provided insights into the dynamics between Cohen, Costello, and Giuliani, shedding light on the interactions and concerns within this legal context.