Cross-examination of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was initiated by the defense.
During the course of two days of testimony in the criminal hush money trial of the former president, Donald Trump, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen revealed the extent of Trump’s alleged involvement in a plot to conceal bad information about himself from voters in the run-up to the 2016 election.
Defense attorneys began trying to persuade the jury not to trust a word Cohen said on Tuesday afternoon.
Defense lawyer Todd Blanche immediately turned the cross-examination of Cohen into a confrontational grilling, drawing attention to Cohen’s hatred for his former employer, whom Cohen has referred to as a “dictator douchebag,” a “boorish cartoon misogynist,” and a “Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain.”
The more in-depth cross-examination of Cohen’s behavior in relation to the case was postponed until Thursday, when the hearings recommence. Instead, the cross-examination concentrated on Cohen’s statements and acts since his release from prison in 2020.
In order to enhance Trump’s chances of winning the 2016 presidential election, Cohen allegedly paid Stormy Daniels hush money, and Trump is accused of fabricating financial documents to conceal this payment. All wrongdoing has been denied by the former president.
These are the main lessons learned on Day 17 of the trial.
Defense inquiries Cohen’s reasons
Under intense cross-examination, Todd Blanche, the defense lawyer, emphasized Cohen’s purported “obsession” with Trump.
Cohen confirmed that he routinely references Trump during media appearances and has generated at least $3.4 million from his two books about Trump, as Blanche pushed the allegation that Cohen has made a career since 2018 profiteering from Trump.
Blanche focused her questioning on Cohen’s use of TikTok, citing the first report of the platform from ABC News.
“You are also hoping to make money on that?” Blanche enquired.
“I do make money on that, but it’s not significant,” Cohen stated.
Blanche also emphasized Cohen’s prior endorsement and respect for Trump.
“You’re actually obsessed with President Trump?” Blanche inquired, following up on a question he had brought up during the defense’s opening argument.
Cohen remarked, “I’m not sure if I would describe it as obsessed. “I can’t recall using that word, but I can’t say it would be wrong.”
When Cohen made complimentary remarks about Trump in the past, Blanche questioned if he was “knee-deep in the cult of Donald Trump”.
Cohen stated, “I felt that way.”
“Fair to say you admired President Trump when you were working for him?” Blanche enquired.
“Yes, sir,” replied Cohen.
Cohen describes their meeting at the White House.
Cohen described a conversation he had with Trump at the White House in February 2017, during which prosecutors said Trump directly addressed the terms of repaying Cohen for the hush money he had given to Stormy Daniels.
“So, as we were sitting together, President Trump asked me how I was doing. Did I need money, he asked me? I replied, “No, no problem.” “I can get a check,” he stated. I answered, ‘No, I’m OK,'” Cohen related the exchange.
“Okay, just make sure you deal with Allen,” Cohen added, addressing Allen Weisselberg, the CFO of the Trump Organization at the time.
“Did he say anything about anything that would be forthcoming to you?” asked Susan Hoffinger, the prosecutor.
Cohen responded, “Yes, there would be a check for January and February,” and then on to go over each of the fictitious invoices he had sent in and the checks he had received from Trump.
After the FBI uncovered Cohen’s office and hotel room, Cohen stated in his testimony that he last spoke with Trump in April 2018.
“I received a phone call from President Trump in response to me leaving a message for him to call,” Cohen stated. “Obviously, I wanted him to be aware of what was happening. There is nothing here, he assured them, reassuring them that he was the US president. Everything will work out OK. Remain firm. You’re going to be alright.
Trump’s words at the time, according to Cohen, “reinforced my loyalty and my intention to stay in the fold.”
Cohen outlines Trump’s campaign of pressure.
Cohen testified before the jury that in order to keep him from cooperating with federal prosecutors in 2018, Donald Trump planned a pressure campaign.
“Mr. Trump did not want me to cooperate with the government, certainly not to provide information or flip,” claimed Cohen.
A correspondence between Cohen and lawyer Robert Costello, which the jury perused, stated that representing Cohen “would be a great way to have a backchannel of communication to the president in order to ensure you’re still good and still secure,” according to Cohen’s testimony.
A correspondence between Costello and Cohen that the jury saw stated, “Sleep well tonight, you have friends in high places.”
President Trump was the friend in high places, according to Cohen’s testimony.
Cohen added that although Trump’s message was apparent, he finally turned down Costello’s offer to represent him.
“Avoid flipping. Stay silent. Don’t comply, Cohen urged.
Cohen explains his flip before the jury.
Cohen stated in court that he worked for Donald Trump for ten years before deciding to start assisting with the police in 2018 at his family’s request.
“My family — my wife, my daughter, my son — all said to me, ‘Why are you clinging onto this loyalty? How are you spending your time? Cohen testified, “We’re supposed to be your first loyalty.”
So, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger questioned, “So what decision did you make?”
Cohen remarked, “That it was about time to listen to them.” “To my wife, my son, my daughter, to the country.”
According to Cohen’s testimony, he entered a guilty plea to federal charges in August 2018.
“I would not lie for President Trump any longer,” Cohen stated.
Cohen claimed that he regretted a lot of the things he did on Trump’s behalf, even while he acknowledged that he had some “great times” working for the Trump Organization.
“I regret giving him stuff that I shouldn’t have given him. lying. bullying others to achieve a purpose, according to Cohen. “But to keep the loyalty and do things that he had asked me to do — I violated my moral compass, and I suffered the penalty, as has my family.”