The recording was made by Cohen in September of 2016 and first reported on by CNN in 2018.
In it, Trump and Cohen discussed buying the rights to McDougals story.
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Well have to pay, Cohen said.
Donald Trump in court on Thursday.Photo by Mark Peterson-Pool/Getty Images
It wasnt clear from the garbled audio at that point whether Trump agreed.
Cohen also secretly recorded a phone call with Davidson of a conversation in October 2017.
Bove highlighted Davidsons history of cutting deals for clients selling celebrity gossip.
Bove also had jurors listen to other recordings of phone calls between Davidson and Cohen.
The calls also were secretly recorded by Cohen.
And I said no.
The him referred to Trump.
You and I both want the truth out there, Davidson said.
I do, Cohen agreed.
Bove accused Davidson of trying to squeeze Trump for more money.
Hypothetically speaking, Davidson added.
Earlier, Davidson told a prosecutor about a phone call with Cohen the month after Trump was elected.
After everything Ive done for that fing guy?
… Ive saved that guys ass so many times you, dont even know.
Bove returned to that call, saying Cohen sounded disheartened.
I thought he was going to kill himself, Davidson replied.
The prosecutors wrapped up Thursdays testimony with a digital data analyst who works for the Manhattan District Attorney.
The forensic analyst, Douglas Daus, said he extracted data from two mobile phones belonging to Cohen.
One contained the September 2016 recording made by Cohen of his client Trump.
Daus is expected to return to the stand on Friday.
The tape was ultimately published by the now-defunct gossip site Gawker.
Davidson said repeatedly during cross examination that he couldnt recall specific statements he might have made.
That experience gave you familiarity with extortion law, correct?
Perhaps, I dont know, Davidson replied.
One of your concerns was staying on the right side of the law with respect to extortion, right?
I suppose, Davidson replied.
Is it fair to say that your memory seems a little fuzzy around these issues?
Davidson objected to Bove saying he had extracted money from Sheen.
And if youre not here to play legal games, he retorted to Bove, then dont say extract.
I dont recall, Davidson replied.
Before then, TheJournalhad asked Daniels to comment.
So Davidson drew up a statement for Daniel to put out.
As he explained it to Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass, It wasnt a payoff.
It wasnt hush money.
It was a consideration in a civil settlement.
In the statement, Daniels also denied having a romantic sexual relationship with Trump.
I think youd have to hone in on the definition of romantic sexual affair, Davidson said.
I dont think anybody ever alleged any interaction between she and Mr. Trump was romantic.
He said the statement was technically true with an extremely fine reading of the language.
PREVIOUSLY:Donald Trump was the subject of another contempt hearing this morning in his Manhattan hush-money trial.
The area is mostly all Democrats.
Merchan cut Blanche off, asking, Did he violate the gag order?
Im not accepting your argument, Merchan snapped.
The 30-minute hearing ended with no ruling.
Money wired, I am told, Davidson wrote.
Unbelievable, Howard replied.
Trump was en route to winning the presidency in 2016 when the payment was made.
He has denied any sexual involvement with Daniels and said he paid Cohen for standard legal work.
Jurors on Tuesday saw reams of texts between Davidson and Howard.
I think he was seconding my opinion, Davidson testified.
