Michael Cohen testified during Donald Trump’s criminal trial, revealing that the former president has been using the same legal strategy for almost a decade. Trump is facing multiple lawsuits and criminal indictments, including a trial in Manhattan Criminal Court where he is accused of 34 felony charges related to hush money payments made before the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges. Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer turned foe, testified that Trump has been relying on a strategy of delay to fend off his legal issues, with the goal of pushing them past the 2024 election.
During his testimony, Cohen detailed his involvement in resolving the issue of adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged to have had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Cohen testified that he was tasked with handling the situation less than a month before the 2016 election, as Daniels was threatening to go public with her story. Trump instructed Cohen to “get control” of the situation and “just get past the election,” indicating that he didn’t care about the potential fallout if he lost. Cohen admitted to delaying payment to Daniels until after the election, following Trump’s orders to continue pushing back the execution of funding the hush money.
Cohen revealed that he drafted an agreement with Daniels’ lawyer that included a punitive damage clause requiring Daniels to pay $1 million for each violation of the contract. However, Cohen testified that he had no intention of meeting the funding deadline of October 14, 2016, using various excuses, including the Yom Kippur holiday, to delay payment as per Trump’s demands. Eventually, Cohen paid the $130,000 from his own pocket after being informed that Daniels was planning to sell her story to the media. Trump assured Cohen that he would be reimbursed, leading to a subsequent agreement with the Trump Organization to pay Cohen $35,000 a month for a year.
Cohen’s testimony sheds light on Trump’s pattern of using delay tactics in legal matters, a strategy that has been in place since before his presidency. Trump’s legal team has been accused of filing last-minute appeals and lengthy motions to postpone his legal troubles until after the 2024 election. Cohen’s account provides insight into Trump’s approach to handling sensitive situations, prioritizing his political ambitions over legal obligations. As the trial continues, Cohen’s testimony will play a crucial role in determining Trump’s guilt or innocence in the hush money case and the broader implications for his legal troubles.
