He then submitted a request for reimbursement to the Trump Organization for the full $50,000 in early 2017, which was $30,000 more than he actually paid the technology company, according to BBC News partner CBS.
Cohen explained last week that Cardinal was hired to improve Trump’s ranking in online polls of the most prominent business leaders in history.
Prosecutor Susan Hofinger later asked Cohen to elaborate on why he was demanding payment in full.
“Why take an extra $30?” Ms. Hofinger asked on Monday.
Cohen responded that he was angry about the reduction in bonuses that year and that asking for larger reimbursements was “almost like self-help.”
When Ms. Hoffinger asked him if he understood what he was doing was wrong, Cohen replied that he did.
Cohen also testified that while he is seeking repayment of the Cardinal payment, he is also seeking repayment of a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
A document at the heart of the case shows that Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer, handwritten Cohen’s reimbursement plan. Weisselberg’s notes show how Cohen was paid by Daniels and reimbursed for his Cardinals expenses.
In early 2017, Cohen began submitting invoices for repayments.
The trial focused on the consequences of hush money payments to Ms. Daniels, who said she had sexual contact with Mr. Trump. He denied having sex with Ms Daniels.
The total reimbursement of these expenses and the alleged fraudulent manner in which they were recorded form the basis of the charges in this case.
As the person who received the allegedly fraudulent reimbursements, Cohen was subpoenaed by prosecutors to question his boss about his alleged intentions and knowledge of the repayment plan.
But Cohen’s criminal record and history of lying — lying to Congress in 2017 and, by his own admission, lying to a judge in a subsequent criminal proceeding — gave Trump’s lawyers ample reason to attack his credibility.
“Without Mr. Cohen, there would be no case,” Mr. Branch told Judge Juan Merchant late Monday in a procedural motion to dismiss the case. “Not only has he lied repeatedly under oath in the past, but he has also lied in court.”
During cross-examination, Mr Branch sought to paint Cohen as motivated by greed. Under questioning, Cohen testified that he made more than $4 million from books and podcasts that focused primarily on Trump.
“The question before you today is whether a conviction will bring you financial benefit,” Mr Branch asked.
“The answer is no,” Cohen replied. “It would be better if he didn’t exist [convicted]because it gives me more to talk about in the future.
Trump’s lawyers also called attorney Robert Costello, who worked with Cohen during his 2018 federal investigation.
Mr Costello described Cohen’s behavior at the time as “manic”, but his evidence was soon overshadowed by his behavior in the witness box, which drew the ire of Judge Merchant.
At one point, Judge Merchant cleared the courtroom, presumably to rebuke Mr. Costello for remarks he made on the witness stand.
Prosecutors were given another chance to close holes that Mr. Branch had worked hard to close in the case.
Ms. Hoffinger disputed the defense’s contention that Mr. Cohen’s involvement in the case was for personal gain.
How has the case impacted your life? she asked him.
“It directly changed my whole life,” Cohen told her.
Soon after, prosecutors officially closed the case.
