In a bombshell revelation, Michael Cohen testified that he paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 at the direction of Donald Trump just days before the 2016 election. This implicates Trump in the hush money scheme to keep Daniels quiet about an alleged affair, with Cohen stating that he was promised reimbursement by Trump. The prosecution alleges that Trump broke the law by falsifying business records to repay Cohen and conceal the hush money payment, a charge that Trump denies as he pleads not guilty.
During his testimony, Cohen and Trump often avoided eye contact, with Cohen looking at the prosecutor and Trump either closing his eyes or reading news stories. Trump’s attorneys are expected to question Cohen and challenge his credibility, painting him as a convicted perjurer who has changed his story multiple times. This cross-examination is crucial for Trump’s defense in the hush money trial.
Cohen provided detailed insights into his work with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker on Trump’s behalf, as well as his negotiations with Keith Davidson, the attorney for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. He revealed how Trump approved and was aware of the false repayment scheme for the hush money payment to Daniels. Cohen’s testimony connects various witnesses involved in the hush money payments, establishing him as a key figure in the trial.
Cohen described his conversations with Trump during the hush money negotiations, backed up by phone records showing their interactions. He emphasized the importance of keeping the affair quiet to avoid a campaign catastrophe. Cohen delayed the payment process at Trump’s direction until after the election, believing that the timing wouldn’t matter once Trump was elected. Despite Daniels’ frustration with the delays, the settlement agreement was eventually renewed and the payment was made.
Leading up to the money transfer, Cohen had two calls with Trump where he informed him about opening the LLC account for the payment. Cohen emphasized the need for Trump’s approval in every step of the process, including the false statements on bank records about the purpose of the LLC. He admitted that his bank would not have opened the account if he had been truthful about its intended use, highlighting the level of deception involved in the hush money scheme orchestrated by Trump and carried out by Cohen.
The testimony provided by Cohen serves as a crucial piece in the hush money trial, linking Trump directly to the payment made to Stormy Daniels. Cohen’s detailed account of his interactions with Trump and others involved in the scheme sheds light on the extent of Trump’s knowledge and approval of the illegal activities. As Trump continues to deny the allegations and plead not guilty, his defense team will have the opportunity to cross-examine Cohen and challenge his credibility in an attempt to sway the jury in Trump’s favor. This trial highlights the legal repercussions and consequences of engaging in illegal activities to cover up damaging information during a high-stakes political campaign.
