The hush money trial against former President Donald Trump is underway in New York with Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, set to take the stand. Cohen is expected to testify about the hush money payments made on behalf of Trump during his first presidential campaign, including payments to porn actor Stormy Daniels. These payments were allegedly used to prevent Daniels from disclosing a sexual encounter with Trump. The reimbursements Cohen received form the basis of the charges against Trump for falsifying business records.
Defense lawyers have characterized Cohen as an “admitted liar” with an “obsession to get President Trump.” The reliance on Cohen as a key prosecution witness has political implications, as his checkered past, including pleading guilty to federal charges and lying to Congress, could be used by Trump to paint the case as a result of a tainted criminal justice system. Despite their previous close relationship, Cohen’s testimony further solidifies the breakdown of their once mutually beneficial association.
Cohen’s falling out with Trump began after his home and office were raided by the FBI in 2018. Trump initially expressed support for Cohen, but the relationship deteriorated further when Cohen pleaded guilty to federal campaign-finance charges and implicated Trump. Cohen admitted lying to Congress about a Moscow real estate project pursued on Trump’s behalf. The defense may attempt to portray Cohen as untrustworthy, vindictive, and agenda-driven in order to undermine his testimony.
The trial has featured testimony from other witnesses, such as former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and former Trump adviser Hope Hicks, who discussed Cohen’s role in stifling stories harmful to Trump’s 2016 candidacy. Jurors also heard an audio recording of Trump and Cohen discussing the purchase of rights to a story from Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged an affair with Trump. Despite Trump’s efforts to paint the case as a political attack orchestrated by President Joe Biden, the charges were filed by local prosecutors in Manhattan and are not connected to the White House or the Justice Department.
Cohen’s detailed testimony about his past crimes is expected to be used by prosecutors to soften the impact of defense questioning. However, defense lawyers are likely to challenge Cohen’s credibility and motives during cross-examination. Cohen has become a vocal critic of Trump since their fallout, speaking out against him on social media and in public appearances. The judge has instructed prosecutors to advise Cohen to refrain from making additional statements about the case or Trump during the trial. Cohen’s centrality to the case is evident in the frequent mentions of his name during opening statements and the reliance on his testimony to prove the charges against Trump.
