Buffalo Bills

Manhattan Criminal Court — Donald Trump's attorney was schooled on the law by the former president's ex-attorney Michael Cohen as he sat in the witness box during his cross-examination Thursday.

Cohen delivered his lesson to attorney Todd Blanche, the lead defender in Trump's criminal hush money case, as the two discussed conversations that Trump's former fixer had recorded.

Blanche took a stern tone when he demanded to know if Cohen had informed those he recorded of that fact, and appeared astounded when Cohen said he had not.

But Cohen remained calm as he said into the microphone, "It’s not illegal in New York."

New York allows "one-party consent," which allows anyone participating in a conversation to legally record it without informing other parties.

This check did not stop Blanche from pushing Cohen on recorded conversations he shared with reporters such as New York Times Maggie Haberman and with clients who Blanche argued were unilaterally protected by privilege.

When Blanche asked if there were any exceptions to attorney-client confidentiality, Cohen yet again had an answer: the rule that mandates lawyers to disclose conversations — advice for example — that would contribute to criminal activity.

ALSO READ: Trump told to pay up before rallying in N.J. town he previously stiffed

Blanche sputtered a question asking incredulously if Cohen was claiming to have relied on this exception. Again, Cohen was calm.

"You asked if there were exceptions," a deadpan Cohen replied. "And I said 'Yes, the crime-fraud exception."

This exchange occurred on the second day of Cohen's courtroom battle with Blanche in the Manhattan criminal courtroom where Trump stands accused of falsifying business records to conceal hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump pleaded not guilty, denies an affair with Daniels and contends he is the victim of a political witch hunt, without evidence.

Blanche had a rocky start Thursday morning that saw his request to consult Judge Juan Merchan swiftly shut down with a resounding "No."

His jab at members of Congress fell flat, and in front of several Republican House members who came to the New York City courtroom to back up Trump.

ALSO READ: 'Bootlickers': GOP lawmakers supporting Trump nailed by protest sign at hush money trial

The morning's session also saw Merchan sternly order Blanche to fix a problem raised by prosecutor Josh Steinglass that Blanche had unfairly suggested Cohen was engaged in improper conduct tied to the District Attorney's criminal indictment.

In Belgrade, Serbia, protesters voiced their displeasure with a real estate deal involving former Trump White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, former Trump Administration aide Richard Grenell and the Serbian government.

The project, according to the New York Times' Eric Lipton, calls for a $500 million hotel that would be built on the site the former Yugoslav Ministry of Defense. And it would, Lipton notes, put Kushner, "Directly into business with a European state as his father-in-law, Donald J. Trump, vies to return to the White House."

"The complex was bombed in 1999 by NATO forces with the backing of the United States during the war Serbia was then waging with Kosovo," Lipton explains.

"It is now considered a prime undeveloped real-estate site in the middle of a much-changed city, and Mr. Trump himself had considered building a hotel at the same site in 2013."

READ MORE:'Corrupt': Jared Kushner's overseas business deals under fire as Trump runs for president

The reporter adds, "For Mr. Kushner, who is also planning two luxury hotel projects in neighboring Albania, these deals in the Balkans are among the largest he has made since starting his investment firm, (Affinity Partners)…. Mr. Kushner and his partners plan to build a hotel, retail space and more than 1500 residential units."

But not everyone in Serbia's federal government is happy about the deal, which, according to Lipton, has "drawn criticism from opposition leaders in the Serbian parliament."

Lipton reports, "Protesters blocked traffic in front of the former defense ministry headquarters on Thursday and put up signs questioning the decision, including some that said: 'Stop Giving Army HQ as a Present to American Offshore Companies'…. Some in Serbia object to the plan because of the United States' role in the bombing 25 years ago."

Dragan Jonic is among the Serbian MPs voicing his opposition to the deal.

READ MORE: Comer refuses to investigate Trump family member over 'influence peddling' allegation

Meanwhile, in the United States, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) are among the Democrats who have been speaking out against Kushner's activities in Europe.

In a March, Raskin and Garcia warned, "Jared Kushner is pursuing new foreign business deals, just as Donald Trump becomes the presumptive Republican nominee for the presidency."

Read The New York Times' full report at this link (subscription required).