Michael Cohen, former lawyer and fixer for Donald Trump, took the witness stand in a Manhattan criminal trial on Monday. His testimony centered on a $130,000 hush-money payment made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Cohen detailed an October 2016 conversation in which Trump expressed concern about Daniels’ story becoming public and its potential harm to his presidential bid. He instructed Cohen to pay Daniels to buy her silence, fearing it would spell “disaster” for his campaign. Cohen’s testimony provides an insider’s perspective into Trump’s decision-making and the efforts to conceal the payment.
Cohen described a plan to cover up the payment under the guise of legal fees, with Trump’s approval. He explained how he used a home equity line of credit to make the payment to Daniels. Cohen’s testimony is considered crucial for the prosecution, which seeks to prove that Trump falsified business records to hide the true nature of the payment.
Cohen also elaborated on Trump’s relationship with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. He testified that Pecker had agreed to help shield Trump from negative stories during the campaign. However, Pecker later balked at paying Daniels the agreed-upon amount, citing Trump’s failure to reimburse him for previous payments.
Cohen’s testimony is expected to be the most damaging against Trump in the trial thus far, providing a firsthand account of Trump’s alleged involvement in the hush-money payment and efforts to conceal it. The trial continues, with Trump’s lawyers expected to paint Cohen as a liar with a vendetta against his former boss.
