In a dramatic turn of events, former President Donald Trump has been directly implicated in a hush money scheme by his former fixer and personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. Cohen testified in court on Monday, revealing that Trump approved substantial payouts to silence stories about alleged sexual encounters that could have jeopardized his 2016 White House campaign.
Cohen recounted a conversation with Trump regarding a doorman’s claim that Trump had fathered a child out-of-wedlock. Trump’s response, according to Cohen, was a simple directive: “You handle it.” The doorman was paid $30,000 to keep the story from going public, despite it being ultimately deemed unfounded. A similar situation arose when Cohen informed Trump about a Playboy model alleging an extramarital affair with the former president. Once again, Trump’s order was clear: “Make sure it doesn’t get released.” The model received a payment of $150,000 to remain silent.
Cohen’s testimony holds significant weight in the Manhattan district attorney’s case against Trump, marking a crucial phase in the first criminal trial of a former American president. Prosecutors anticipate concluding their presentation of evidence by the end of the week. The credibility of Cohen’s testimony could potentially increase Trump’s legal exposure, as jurors assess his reliability. Politically, Trump is expected to exploit the prosecutors’ reliance on a witness with a questionable past, including previous lies to Congress, as he seeks to raise funds and portray the case as a product of a tainted criminal justice system.
While other witnesses have already testified about the practice of “catch-and-kill” in the tabloid industry, where stories are purchased and suppressed, Cohen’s testimony is particularly significant due to his close proximity to Trump and his direct coordination with the then-candidate regarding the payments. The charges against Trump revolve around the reimbursements Cohen received for the payments, which are alleged to have been falsely recorded as legal expenses to conceal their true purpose, thus violating the law.
Prosecutors have laid the groundwork to establish Trump’s endorsement of these deals by presenting Cohen’s testimony. Cohen, who served as a senior executive in the Trump Organization for a decade, portrayed Trump as a hands-on manager who would task him with various matters and demand to be kept informed, particularly if they were troubling to him. Cohen emphasized that failure to inform Trump directly would have severe consequences.
Defense lawyers are preparing for a rigorous cross-examination of Cohen, aiming to undermine his credibility by highlighting his status as an “admitted liar” with a personal vendetta against Trump. Prosecutors, on the other hand, plan to counter these attacks by eliciting detailed testimony from Cohen about his past crimes. They have also called other witnesses to support Cohen’s claims, including a former National Enquirer editor who negotiated on behalf of Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, and Daniels herself.
During Cohen’s testimony, Trump remained silent with his eyes closed, seemingly avoiding eye contact with his former lawyer. Cohen’s role as the star prosecution witness further solidifies the disintegration of their once-close relationship, which had prompted Cohen to famously state that he would “take a bullet for Trump.” However, after the FBI raided Cohen’s home and office in 2018, their relationship irreparably fractured. Trump publicly distanced himself from Cohen, and Cohen eventually pleaded guilty to federal campaign-finance charges, implicating Trump in the process.
Regardless of the unfolding testimony, Cohen’s centrality to the case is undeniable, as evidenced by the repeated mention of his name during opening statements. Other witnesses have already testified about Cohen’s involvement in arranging payments to suppress damaging stories during Trump’s 2016 campaign. Additionally, jurors have heard an audio recording of a discussion about purchasing the rights to Karen McDougal’s story.
As the trial progresses, the defense is expected to exploit the challenges associated with a witness like Cohen, portraying him as untrustworthy, vindictive, and driven by personal agendas. Cohen’s relentless criticism of Trump since their fallout, including recent appearances on social media platforms, may be used against him. The judge has already urged prosecutors to advise Cohen against making further statements about the case or Trump.
1 Response
As someone who closely followed the news during the Trump presidency, I remember the shock and disbelief I felt when I first heard about the hush money scheme involving Michael Cohen. It was a dramatic turn of events that added another layer of controversy to an already tumultuous presidency.
I vividly recall watching the news coverage as Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including campaign finance violations related to the payments made to silence two women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump. It was a moment that seemed to confirm