Another legal setback for hunter biden as the judge rules his federal Gun Crimes Trial will proceed as scheduled. A big primary for voters in maryland and West Virginia as republicans speak gain control of the u. S. Senate and Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken visits ukraine as the u. S. Sends in more weapons. Rain showers for donald trump start the crossexamination of the key witness in the former president s criminal case. That trial of course centers on 34 case against counts on falsifying Business Records for a payment to an Adult Film Actress who alleged a sexual encounter with mr. Trump ahead of the 2016 election. This is the first ever criminal prosecution of an expresident. Former Trump Attorney and selfdescribed fixer Michael Cohen was immediately grilled on crossexamination about his often profane social media posts. Concerning his former boss after prosecutors on direct tried to link the former president to that payment and the record of it. Correspondent nate foy is outside the New York State Supreme Court again tonight with the summary. Good evening, nate. Nate good evening, bret. At the end of court tonight Trump Attorney blanche asked michael cofinance he is obsessed with former President Donald Trump. Cohen says that he isnt, insisting, instead, that he admired trump tremendously. But that admiration turned into animosity and it was on full display in the courtroom today. Why do they call you the fixer. Today the defenses turn with the crossexamination of Michael Cohen. Cohen admitted he wants to see former President Donald Trump convicted in this trial. Cohen once served as trumps lawyer but now makes a living largely off criticizing the former president on social media and in podcasts and books. You have a constitutional problem without ability to say anything about your own case. I am not allowed to talk about big portions of my case. On the witness stand today. Cohen admitted to lying before congress in 2017. And, again, to special counsel prosecutors during the mueller investigation. Today cohen claimed he submitted false monel invoices in 2017 and received checks. Sometimes signed by trump himself. As a reimbursement for paying Adult Film ActressStormy Daniels 130,000. Trump maintains always those payments represent legitimate Legal Expenses. Trump detailed how once close relationship with trump fell apart. In the spring of 2018 the fbi raided cohens office and apartment. Shortly after cohen says he spoke directly to trump for the final time alleging trump said, quote dont worry, im the president of the united states. There is nothing here. Everything is going to be okay. Stay tough. Cohen testified he believed trump later exerted pressure on him through social media with trump post, quote most people will flip if the government lets them out of trouble. Even if it means lying or making up stories. Sorry. I dont see michael doing that but soon after cohen agreed to cooperate with the Southern District of new york and pleaded guilty to federal Campaign Finance violations and tax evasion. Cohen continues criticizing trump while the former president is bound by the courts gag order. An Appellate Court denied trumps challenge of that order today. Theyre overriding his constitutional trite defend himself from political smears from his harshist critics at the most important time. Tonight, trump will attend a fundraiser hosted by g. O. P. Billionaire donors here in new york city prosecutions final witness. After that trumps lawyers will have the opportunity to bring their own witnesses forward. Bret . Bret nate foy outside the courthouse. Thanks. Lets get analysis of todays developments from former u. S. Attorney brett tolman, thanks for being here. First on the direct examination what was your thoughts on the prosecution wrapping up its case . Bret, thanks for having me on. I will tell you i was a bit stunned to learn this is going to be their last witness. When you put someone on the stand like this that, you know, his reputation, his convictions his perjury while under oath. Your last witness has to be a corroboration witness. It has to be a witness that comes in and says hey, despite, you know, his prior track record, this is the truth without that. You really have a case that i would never bring as a prosecutor. I would never walk into that courthouse and expect a jury to buy what the witness has to tell them. Bret this is representative dan goldman from new york he deposed and got cohen ready for his previous testimony in the a. G. Trial. What he said today about what he thought cohen brought in that direct. Take a listen. I have deposed Michael Cohen. I have met with him a number of times to prepare him. This was different testimony than what his demeanor was during the a. G. s case. This is different than he has been in the past. Bret basically, those folks in the analysis and the analysts are saying that they precorroborated with cohen was saying even though he has, you know, major problems, obviously, on and can be challenged. We have seen some of the crossexamination. Has this been effective . You know, i think they are just getting started. And crossexamination really has to be methodical. Keep in mind, bret, you had a witness, a really compromised witness on for two days. Typically, you would not doing that as a prosecutor. You would want to show the jury you have very quick points to hit and evidence come in and get him on and off the stand because you are limiting crossexamination when you do that. They are limited to the scope of the direct. Now this direct has been so, so broad that they will be up there crossexamining for quite some time because they can now go into virtually everything outside of what i think the prosecution probably intended. This is from the Court Transcript from Michael Cohen, blanche asking im just asking you to say yes or no, do you want President Trump to get convicted in this case . Cohen says sure. He goes on to get questioned about tiktok and social media where he says he wants him in a cage. That tracks with Stormy Daniels saying, you know, he want she wanted him behind bars and that she hated him. Does that play with the jury . Well, it does. And, you know, keep in mind, other witnesses came in and all said something fairly positive, you know, while they were testifying against President Trump. They did say positive things. Many had negative things to say about mr. Cohen. So now you have him in front of the jury. And when he indicates, you know, that he wants him in jail and then you have the track record. And then you have the convictions and incentives and the monetizing that has gone on with mr. Cohen, you know, what juror doesnt look at that and say, you know, thats thats reasonable doubt. I would expect a number of jurors are not impressed by what the prosecution has presented so far. Bret could be a hung jury where they dont decide. Last thing quickly we hear the former president talk about gag order and how he feels its constitutionally a big problem for him he might win on appeal if he did lose. About this gag order not being able to push back on some of the testimony, whats your thought . Well, the gag order is a tool thats typically used used to preserve the fairness of the trial for the defendant. I have never seen it, bret, used against the defendant. I have seen it applied to everyone so that in a particular case. There may be reasons or justifications that typically is for safety or otherwise. But here just applied to one side and the other doesnt have the gag order, thats where youre running afoul of the first amendment. The president should be able to talk about the case against him, the witnesses, the evidence, and his thoughts about it, especially since is he on the campaign trail. Bret brett tolman, we appreciate the time. Thank you. He thank you. Bret well, were nearing the start date for another historic trial the first criminal proceeding against the son of a sitting president. This morning a federal judge heard arguments during a Pretrial Hearing on gun charges against hunter biden. Correspondent david spunt reports tonight from wilmington, delaware about that. Good evening, david. Bret, good evening to you. Hunter biden will head to trial the week of june 3rd here in his hometown of wilmington, delaware. Today in a tense Court Hearing behind me that lasted about two hours, federal judge maryellen nor like can a ignored and basically denied the attempt by Hunter Bidens team try to postpone this even more she said this is not a complicated case. Hunter was not in court today but his attorney Abbe Lowell First requested to begin the trial in september then suggested july result Natalie Judge im not taking anything aplay lowell, you havent done anything you need to do. The president s son is facing three charges of lying on a federal firearm form in 2018 when he said he was not addicted to drugs. He owned a gun for 11 days. Beau bidens Widow Halle Biden threw out the gun in a trash can behind a local supermarket in 2018. Special counsel david weiss brought three charges against hunter biden. He pleaded not guilty to all three. Abbe lowell also told a judge in another tax case involving hunter in california thats taking his time, meaning two cases in about a month. He wants a delay there the trial is scheduled to begin june 20th but could be pushed back as we await an Appeals Court ruling. As of today, bret, hunter biden could see two verdicts under his belt before his dad takes the stage at the Democratic National convention in august. Bret . Bret david spunt in wilmington, delaware. David, thanks. Meantime, President Biden is taking a new hard line on imported chinese electric powered cars and other chinese items. These are stiff, new tariffs. The president is hoping to shift the campaign conversation, perhaps, away from the border and israel where those polls are upside down and the stubbornly high Inflation Numbers that were seeing across the board. White house correspondent peter doocy joins us tonight with that live from the north lawn. Good evening, peter. Peter good evening, bret. Officials here are getting nowhere talking about the middle east. So, today, a pivot to china as President Biden looks abroad trying to blame the chinese for an american ev market that is not thriving as advertised. 100 percent tariff on electric vehicles made in china. Peter plus 50 tariffs on semiconductors and 25 on aluminum. Future of americas vehicles will be Made In America by union workers. Period. Peter didnt take long for this president to respond to the former president. China is eating our lunch right now. He has been feeding him a long time. But trump imposed tariffs on china long before biden and at the time in 2019 biden promised to reverse them on twitter writing any Freshman Econ Student could tell you that the American People are paying his tariffs and on the trail with this. American farmers, manufacturers and consumers losing and paying more. Administration officials claim this is not a flip flop. Im going to reject the assertion that he changed his mind. The chinese are upset. China always opposes unilateral tariff increases that violate wto rules. Colorados governor, democrat jared polis calls these tariffs horrible news writing tariffs are a direct Regressive Tax on americans and this tax increase will hit every family. And officials admit todays announcement isnt just a policy decision but a political one that follows a string of dismal election polling. I guess that you understand that people are hurting right now. Why is it that nothing you are doing to address their concerns is working . What im saying is were going to continue to do the work. 301 tariff, thats part of it, right . Making sure that we are protecting american workers. Peter officials here dont seem to be planning any kind of major Course Corrections to change public opinion, saying they basically hope that voters give them credit later on this year for things they did years ago during the pandemic and during putins invasion of ukraine. Bret . Bret peter, we heard that officials saying im going to reject the assertion that he changed his mind. But going back to 2019, he went on to tweet its easy to act tough when someone else is feeling the pain i will reverse his senseless policies about trumps chinese tariffs. Peerst peter well, yeah. We were there standing outside the speech in new york city when he went through and laid out how his trade policy and how his Foreign Policy would be so different, but the reality is that china was and is flooding the u. S. Market with this cheap steal and cheap aluminum and before they can flood the u. S. Market with cheap electric cars that would really really hurt, union shops, like ford and g. M. That President Biden has leaned on to increase Ev Production over the next 10 years, he had to do something, they thought. And this is what they got but, yes, it is very, very similar to what trump did. Bret all right. Peter doocy live on the north lawn. Peter, thanks. Up next, some congressional lawmakers want to force President Biden to send those weapons to israel. Bret new York Democratic mayor eric adams says the ongoing migrant crisis could help solve a Lifeguard Shortage for his city but, quote bureaucracy is in the way. Mayor adams was asked today how the city was addressing the shortage at pools ahead of memorial day. How do we have a large body of people that are in our city and country that are excellent swimmers, and at the same time we need life guards . And the only obstacle is that we wont give them the right to work to become a lifeguard. Bret mayor adams went on to give examples in other industries in need of workers where he believes Immigration Processing should be expedited. Meantime a debate between new York Democratic congressman Jamaal Bowman and primary challenger turned emotional last night. Latter member contends bowman is ineffective congressman. He chided bowman for preaching and screaming at people. Do you see why is he ineffective congressman . Why. Because he. The people here understand passion . He is ineffective for this very reason that you just said. We are going to have a lot of disappointed voters. Angry black man, the angry black man. Lets stay on topic, please. The southern strategy in the north. Bowman gained National Attention for her censure over pulling a fire alarm ahead of a vote at the u. S. Capitol. At the u. S. Capitol lawmakers are debating a bill that would prohibit President Biden from pausing Weapons Transfers to israel. We have been covering that all week. Democrats are actively opposing that move right now. Congressional correspondent Aishah Hasnie explains whats at stake up on the hill. You guys are pushing to restore the aid to israel. In an exclusive sitdown with foxs Brian KilmeadeHouse Speaker mike johnson says he is stunned that House Democratic leadership is whipping against a g. O. P. Bill to stop President Biden from blocking or conditioning weapons for israel. It surprises me and our plan is to be very aggressive to ensure that the actual will of congress is maintained. A note obtained by fox says the bill is another part isnt a stunt by extreme maga republicans. The bills coauthor disagrees. The one who has changed his mind once again, the one who is incompetent and inept and confused is the president of the united states. The president is facing a mutiny over his israel policy. Last week Senate Foreign relations chairman ben cardin the highest ranking democrat to break with the president s decision to pause aid. And now 26 House Democrats are demanding a classified briefing about the policy change. An Official Rebuke on the house floor is something the white house wants to avoid. We strongly, strongly oppose attempts to constrain the president s ability to deploy u. S. S. Security assistance. Johnson says he is simply holding this administration accountable. The irony what joe biden is doing for political purposes to try to appease the prohamas, you know, people in his party, i guess, the propalestinian, is he doing real harm to the cause. And the protection of innocent life. And, bret, there is a democratic whip meeting happening right now. They have got just about a day to get everybody to fall