On Monday, under another round of intense cross-examination, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen admitted to stealing $60,000 from the Trump Organization.
From February to December 2017, Cohen was paid $35,000 a month by the former president.
Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg suggested that Mr. Cohen was in fact unable to hold any real work as Mr. Trump’s lawyer at the time. Rather, prosecutors say Cohen was paid primarily to repay the $130,000 he set aside in October 2016 to buy the silence of Stormy Daniels, a porn star who had threatened to publicize her secret meetings with President Trump. claims. Ten years ago.
Mr. Cohen also sought repayment of the $50,000 he paid to a digital services company called Red Finch to help compile the poll results. The Trump Organization agreed to reimburse Mr. Cohen for Stormy and Red Finch’s expenses and also agreed to double the amount to avoid Mr. Cohen’s tax liability. He also received an additional $60,000 bonus for a total of $420,000. One year of “work”, $35,000 per month.
However, Cohen admitted under cross-examination that he did not actually pay Red Finch the $50,000. He convinced the company to accept $20,000 and pocketed an additional $30,000.
In fact, he pocketed more than $30,000 — remember, the Trump Organization doubled its payments to Red Finch to protect Cohen from paying taxes.
Although Mr. Bragg indicted Mr. Trump but not Mr. Cohen, the revelation that Mr. Cohen stole from Mr. Trump in that transaction was an even bigger stain on the star witness’s credibility.
Cohen was convicted as a perjurer, fraudster, and tax fraudster. Now you can add the thief.
Additionally, the defense has convincingly argued that Cohen told another lie under oath last week.
He claimed that during a brief phone conversation in October 2016, he warned President Trump about completing a non-disclosure agreement with Stormy Daniels.
But documentary evidence revealed in court last week showed that the call actually involved Cohen’s attempt to report a 14-year-old boy who had made a prank call to the Secret Service.
Like Cohen, it undermines credibility to suggest that perhaps he talked about both the 14-year-old and Stormy’s contract in a 90-second phone call. There is no such evidence other than Cohen’s statement. He talked to Trump.
Blanche’s cross-examination of Cohen concluded this morning. As the three grueling days continued, it became increasingly clear why federal prosecutors chose not to charge Mr. Trump based on Mr. Cohen’s story.
Alvin Bragg made a different decision. He will have to accept the consequences.
Andrew C. McCarthy is a former federal prosecutor.
