Former President Donald Trump was deeply involved in a scheme to suppress stories about his alleged sexual encounters during his 2016 campaign, according to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Cohen testified that Trump was aware of efforts to bury stories involving porn actor Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, promising to reimburse Cohen for the hush money payments made to the women. Cohen emphasized that he was following Trump’s orders and acting for his benefit.
Cohen’s testimony, though not as dramatic as other witnesses, directly linked Trump to the hush money payments and provided crucial insight into the behind-the-scenes efforts to suppress damaging stories. He detailed the steps taken to conceal the payments and indicated that Trump was focused on protecting his campaign from negative publicity rather than his family from scandal. The prosecution is banking on Cohen’s credibility to strengthen their case, despite his checkered past and guilty pleas to federal charges.
Trump’s legal team has argued that the payments were legitimate business expenses and part of efforts to shield his family from salacious stories. Cohen’s testimony, however, portrayed Trump as primarily concerned with the impact the stories would have on his election prospects. Trump reportedly wanted to delay finalizing the payments until after the election to avoid any financial repercussions. Cohen also described his negotiations with David Pecker, a close Trump ally and publisher of the National Enquirer, to bury stories about Trump’s alleged affairs.
Cohen testified that Trump was directly involved in discussions about the payments and assured him that he would take care of reimbursing the hush money. The payments were falsely categorized as legal expenses to conceal their true purpose, according to prosecutors. Cohen also recounted interactions between Trump and Pecker regarding the McDougal affair and the efforts to control the story. Trump’s hands-on management style was highlighted, with Cohen stating that Trump wanted to be kept informed of any troubling matters.
Despite Cohen’s past criminal activities and admissions of lying, prosecutors are relying on his testimony to tie Trump to the hush money payments and prove their case. The defense has planned a vigorous cross-examination of Cohen, portraying him as a dishonest witness with a personal vendetta against Trump. However, prosecutors are prepared to counter these attacks by acknowledging Cohen’s past offenses and presenting corroborating witnesses, including lawyers involved in the hush money negotiations and Stormy Daniels herself. Cohen’s transformation from Trump loyalist to whistleblower has added a layer of complexity to the trial and has implications beyond the courtroom.
