Michael Cohen, former President Trump’s personal attorney, testified in Manhattan court that he used his own funds to pay former pornographic actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to silence her claims of an alleged affair with Trump. Cohen stated that he took out a line of credit on his home as the 2016 election neared its end in order to execute a non-disclosure agreement with Daniels and obtain rights to her claims of the affair. Daniels alleges the affair occurred in 2006, while Trump denies the allegations. Cohen testified that he had urgent discussions with Trump and Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg about funding the payment to Daniels, as it needed to be settled before Election Day to avoid damage to Trump’s campaign.
Weisselberg assured Cohen that he would be repaid for the payment to Daniels. Cohen decided to use his personal funds through a home equity line of credit to avoid raising suspicions from his wife, who was the household CEO. Cohen emphasized that he was willing to take the risks to protect Trump but would not have handled the $130,000 payment for somebody else. He also stated that he would not have proceeded with the payment to Daniels without Trump’s approval and involvement, as everything required Trump’s sign-off.
Cohen opened a bank account with First Republic Bank to transfer the funds to Daniels, fraudulently describing it as related to management consulting to avoid disclosing its true purpose. He wired the funds to Daniels’ attorney and marked it as a “retainer” even though its actual intent was to execute the non-disclosure agreement and gain exclusive rights to Daniels’ claims. The trial in NY v. Trump revolves around the alleged falsification of business records, with prosecutors claiming that Cohen was reimbursed by the Trump Organization and that the payments were falsely logged as legal expenses with the intent to commit or conceal a second crime.
Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case and has criticized it as a “scam” orchestrated by the Biden administration in preparation for the 2024 election. On the day of Cohen’s testimony, Trump boasted about leading in battleground states according to a poll from The New York Times. He mentioned leading in states such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada. Trump also highlighted the large rally he held in New Jersey over the weekend, where he claimed that over 100,000 people attended. Despite claims that mainstream media did not properly cover the event, Trump expressed confidence in his support in New Jersey.
Monday’s court proceedings shed light on the events surrounding the payment to Stormy Daniels, with Michael Cohen detailing his efforts to handle the situation and protect Trump’s interests. The testimony provided insight into the discussions and decisions made regarding the payment and the subsequent attempts to conceal the true nature of the transaction. As the trial continues, the prosecution will seek to prove that Trump and the Trump Organization were involved in reimbursing Cohen and falsifying records, with Trump maintaining his innocence and criticizing the case as politically motivated.
