Former President Trump’s criminal trial resumes on Monday, with defendant Michael Cohen scheduled to take the stand during a third day of cross-examination by his defense.
Cohen, who previously served as Trump’s lawyer and described himself as the former president’s “fixer,” is scheduled to take the stand again in lower Manhattan at 9:30 a.m. Monday.
New York v. Trump: ‘Star witness’ Michael Cohen testifies as Trump allies flock to court to ‘support a friend’
Cohen, described as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s “star witness,” took the stand for the first time last week as New York prosecutors seek to advance their case against the former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee. answered the authorities’ questions.
Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen returned to the witness stand Tuesday in the New York v. Trump trial. (Getty Images)
Prosecutors say Trump made 34 payments to porn performer Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election to keep her quiet about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. It must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that business records were falsified.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains his innocence.
“I have not broken any laws,” President Trump said after court Thursday. “This is a scam.”
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, began cross-examining Cohen on Tuesday, which continued into Thursday. Court was not in session Friday so the former president could attend his youngest son Barron Trump’s high school graduation in Palm Beach, Florida.
Michael Cohen once swore Trump was not involved in Stormy Daniels’ payments, his former lawyer testifies
Court will not be held on Wednesday.
So far, Mr. Cohen has testified that he personally used a home equity line of credit to pay Mr. Daniels $130,000 in order to hide the payments from his wife. Cohen said he did so because President Trump told him to “deal with it” and prevent negative stories before the election.
Cohen testified that of the $130,000 he paid Daniels, “$420,000 was reimbursed.” Cohen said former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg suggested that he “examined the gross amount” of the payments and claimed that Trump knew the details of the repayments.
Prosecutors gave Cohen 11 checks totaling $420,000. Mr. Cohen confirmed that they were all received and deposited. The check had a “retainer” description on it, which Mr. Cohen claimed was false.
Michael Cohen leaves his home for Manhattan Criminal Court for former President Trump’s trial in New York City on May 14, 2024. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, was able to get Cohen to testify about the non-disclosure agreement signed by Daniels in October 2016.
Cohen confirmed that the contract, which Trump never signed, was legal and acknowledged that non-disclosure agreements are not unusual. The contract was signed using a false name.
Mr. Cohen also testified that Mr. Trump sent a statement to reporters declaring that he was not a party to the payments to Mr. Daniels.
Blanche also highlighted Cohen’s history of lying under oath to Congress and federal investigators from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office about the Trump Tower Moscow project dating back to 2017.
After pleading guilty last October to charges including campaign finance fraud and lying to Congress, Cohen told Judge William H. Pauley in 2018 that he lied multiple times under oath.
Mr. Cohen again agreed Thursday that he did lie under oath to Mr. Pauley.
Stormy Daniels may leave the United States if former President Trump is acquitted, according to her husband. (Philip Farawan/Getty Images)
Under questioning by Blanche, Cohen also acknowledged that he believes he should not have been charged with several federal crimes in 2018, including tax evasion related to an investment in New York City’s Taxi Medallion.
“I thought I wasn’t evading taxes, but I had to plead guilty to protect my wife and family?” Blanche asked.
“Exactly,” Mr. Cohen replied.
Blanche also said Cohen lied when he said he spoke to Trump on October 24, 2016, claiming that Cohen spoke with then-candidate Trump about the payment to Daniels.
Michael Cohen testifies that he secretly recorded President Trump in preparation for the 2016 election
Blanche again accused Cohen of lying and claimed she never spoke to Trump that day.
Mr. Cohen replied, “I always followed my boss’ instructions and did everything right away.”
“That was a lie. I didn’t talk to President Trump,” Blanche said.
“I don’t know if that’s accurate,” Cohen replied.
Mr. Cohen claims, based on records he was able to review, that he spoke to Mr. Trump’s former bodyguard Keith Schiller, but he also believes he spoke to Mr. Trump about the deal with Daniels.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg will speak at a press conference on February 8th. (Barry Williams, NY Daily News, via Getty Images)
“We’re not asking what you believe,” Blanche replied.
Cohen also acknowledged that Bragg “takes some credit” for the indictment of Trump last year that led to the former US president’s historic and unprecedented criminal trial.
In a 2020 podcast interview, Blanche played footage of Cohen in court saying, “I absolutely hope he goes to prison…”
Asked by Blanche if he believed he had played a role in New York prosecutors’ indictment of Trump, Cohen said: “I think I took some credit for it.”
Defendant Michael Cohen is cross-examined by defense attorney Todd Blanche in former President Trump’s criminal trial. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg)
Cohen also testified that he wanted to serve in top positions in the Trump administration, such as attorney general and chief of staff, for “ego purposes.”
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Blanche said the defense plans to finish cross-examination on Monday. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger said Cohen would be given less than an hour to cross-examine him.
Defense attorneys said they expected other witnesses to be sentenced soon, and it was understandable that they could “come and go” from the stand Monday.
At this point, it is unclear whether Trump will testify in his own defense.
