Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen testified on Monday that ex-President Donald Trump was fully aware of hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and others before the 2016 election. The reimbursement scheme to pay Cohen back was also acknowledged, with Cohen stating that Trump was more concerned about how the allegations of infidelity would impact his campaign rather than his marriage. Cohen took the stand as the prosecution’s star witness at Trump’s trial, where he faces charges of falsifying business records based on reimbursement checks paid to Cohen in 2017.
Describing Trump as a “micromanager,” Cohen agreed with prosecutors that he would “lie” and “bully” people on Trump’s behalf to keep him happy. Cohen claimed that Trump did not use email because he was aware of the legal consequences that could arise from it. Cohen also testified that Trump warned him about multiple women coming forward before announcing his candidacy and was regularly updated on “catch and kill” schemes to silence people with allegations against him. Cohen asserted that everything he did was at the direction and for the benefit of Trump.
Cohen expressed concerns that allegations from Stormy Daniels in 2016 could have been catastrophic for Trump’s campaign if made public. He stated that Trump instructed him to “take care of it” and was kept informed about the hush money payment. Despite Trump’s attorneys arguing that he was trying to spare Melania Trump’s feelings, Cohen testified that Trump was solely focused on his campaign and not his marriage. Cohen also disclosed details of meetings with Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, revealing that Trump was present when reimbursement payments were discussed.
During the trial, Cohen shared a crucial quote from Trump, stating, “don’t worry, you’ll get the money back,” about the payment to Daniels. Cohen emphasized that he would not have made the payment if he did not expect reimbursement and that everything required Trump’s approval. Cohen also revealed a surprising fact that Melania Trump recommended the “locker room talk” spin for Trump’s derogatory comments about women on the “Access Hollywood” tape released before the election. Cohen is expected to be one of the prosecution’s final witnesses at the trial, with prosecutors planning to rest their case soon.
Cohen’s testimony has shed light on the close relationship he had with Trump as his former “fixer” and the lengths they both went to protect Trump’s reputation during the 2016 election. Cohen’s past crimes, including campaign finance violations related to the Daniels payment, have been acknowledged in court, with prosecutors addressing his credibility as a witness. Trump has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Despite facing criticism and requests for gag orders, Cohen continues to speak out against Trump publicly, drawing attention to their tumultuous relationship and the inner workings of Trump’s campaign.
