Michael Cohen, a former trusted legal adviser to Donald Trump, has been called to testify against his former boss in a criminal trial where Trump faces 34 felony charges. This trial is unprecedented in U.S. history, with a former president sitting at the defense table. Over the last three weeks, 19 witnesses, many of whom were Trump’s employees, have testified. Cohen is expected to testify that Trump authorized payments to him as reimbursements for hush money paid to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who alleges she had a sexual encounter with Trump.
The prosecution’s first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, described Trump and Cohen’s efforts to keep stories like Daniels’ under wraps, fearing it would harm Trump’s chances with voters. Defense attorneys are expected to attack Cohen’s credibility, highlighting his guilty plea to federal charges related to the Daniels payment and lying to Congress. They will also bring up instances where Cohen admitted to lying under oath in a separate Trump civil case in October.
Defense attorneys are likely to challenge Cohen’s motivations, as they did with Daniels, accusing him of profiting off the case. Cohen has been a vocal critic of Trump and a supporter of cases against him through various platforms such as books, podcasts, social media, and television appearances. Lawyers may also confront Cohen with his use of foul language when referring to Trump, similar to how they challenged Daniels with her tweets about Trump.
In preparation for his testimony, the defense raised concerns about Cohen’s social media activity, particularly a TikTok video he posted. The judge instructed prosecutors to advise Cohen not to discuss the case in the days leading up to his testimony. Trump, on the other hand, is under a gag order and prohibited from speaking about Cohen during the trial, which he has violated multiple times.
As Cohen takes the stand, the focus will be on his testimony regarding Trump’s involvement in the hush money payments to Daniels. With the prosecution’s case nearing its end, Cohen’s testimony is crucial in determining Trump’s fate in this high-profile trial. The defense’s strategy of attacking Cohen’s credibility and motivations will play a significant role in shaping the outcome of the trial. Ultimately, the trial represents a historic moment in U.S. legal history, with a former president facing serious criminal charges and his former confidant testifying against him.
