Article Summary –
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former lawyer, testified against the former president in his hush money trial. Cohen is expected to discuss his role in arranging hush money payments during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, and he stands as the Manhattan district attorney’s most important witness in the case. Trump’s opponents have criticized the prosecutors’ reliance on Cohen due to his past crimes, including his guilty plea to federal charges related to these payments and lying to Congress.
Donald Trump’s Former Lawyer Testifies in Hush Money Trial
During a much-awaited testimony in the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, Trump’s ex-lawyer, painted a picture of his celebrity client as a hands-on manager. He admitted to lying and bullying on Trump’s behalf. Cohen’s testimony is a key component of the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president and signals the case’s final stages.
Cohen’s intimate knowledge of Trump’s activities could increase Trump’s legal exposure if the jury deems him credible. However, Trump could use the prosecutors’ reliance on a witness with a checkered past for fundraising and to discredit the case as the result of a biased criminal justice system. In fact, Cohen previously pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the hush payments and lying to Congress.
Details of Cohen’s Testimony
Cohen was tasked with arranging hush money payments during Trump’s first presidential campaign, including a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in 2016 to prevent her from publicizing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. The payments form the basis of the charges against Trump, namely 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors allege these payments were concealed as legal expenses in an effort to illegally interfere in the presidential election.
Cohen described Trump as a hands-on boss who wanted immediate updates on the tasks assigned to him. Cohen admitted that fulfilling these tasks and pleasing Trump often required him to lie and bully on his client’s behalf. He also stated that Trump had an “open-door policy” and was commonly referred to as “boss” or “Mr. Trump” by his executives.
Defense Strategy and Cohen’s Role in the Case
Defense lawyers are preparing for a rigorous cross-examination of Cohen, labeling him an “admitted liar” with an agenda against Trump. They plan to depict him as untrustworthy, vindictive, and driven by revenge. In the wake of his fallout with Trump, Cohen has become a harsh critic of the former president, expressing his desire to see Trump and his family imprisoned.
Despite the challenges associated with Cohen as a witness, he plays a central role in the case, as indicated by the numerous mentions of his name during the opening statements. Other witnesses have also attested to Cohen’s role in arranging payments to suppress stories potentially harmful to Trump’s 2016 candidacy. An audio recording was also presented to the jury, featuring Trump and Cohen discussing a plan to buy the rights to a story about Trump’s alleged affair with Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Trump continues to criticize the case, blaming President Biden for the charges despite the fact that the case was filed by local prosecutors in Manhattan, not the Justice Department or any White House office. Trump is facing four criminal indictments, and a civil lawsuit in what he calls a “Biden show trial.”
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