Trump trial live updates: Michael Cohen admits he wants to see Trump convicted in hush money cross-examination

Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial continued on Tuesday before Judge Juan Merchan with further testimony and the cross-examination of the defendant’s estranged former “fixer” Michael Cohen.

Cohen is the attorney who made the $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels at the heart of the case in the hope of buying her silence about a sexual encounter she claims she had with Mr Trump in a Lake Tahoe hotel room in July 2006.

His testimony centred on fraudulent invoices and checks to cover up his reimbursement at the heart of the case. He remained composed as the former president’s defence team began to challenge his version of events and motive for testifying but admitted to wanting to see Mr Trump convicted.

The former president denies the affair and the 34 felony counts brought against him by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, who accuses him of falsifying business records to hide the payout.

Ms Daniels herself took to the witness stand last week to deliver some highly explicit and embarrassing evidence, appearing unflappable during cross-examination, as the defence worked hard to discredit her.

Alex Woodward and Kelly Rissman are covering the trial from Manhattan Criminal Court.

Donald Trump is brushing off Kristi Noem’s decision to shoot her dog as a “tough story” — suggesting that she is not out of the running as a vice presidential pick for thepresumptive GOP nominee.

His comments come after the Governor of South Dakota revealed in a new memoir that she shot her dog Cricket due to his poor behaviour. She also called the 14-month-old dog “untrainable” and “less than worthless.”

Katie Hawkinson has the story:

The South Dakota governor’s name has been thrown out as potential 2024 Trump running mate