Michael D. Cohen, once one of Donald J. Trump’s closest confidants and loyal protector, offered a narrative Monday that could ultimately doom the man he once called “the boss.” enemy.
Testifying at the first criminal trial of a US president, Mr Cohen said he paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, a porn star who in testimony last week described a brief sexual encounter she said had with Mr. Trump in 2006. On the stand Monday, Mr. Cohen said he paid Ms. Daniels to ensure her silence in the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election, saying her story would have been “catastrophic” for the campaign.
$130,000 payment led to charges against former president: Mr. Trump falsified 34 business files to hide a refund from Mr. Cohen. Mr Trump, 77, has denied the accusations and says he did not have sex with Ms Daniels. If convicted, he could face prison or probation.
Here are five takeaways from the 16th day of Mr. Trump’s trial:
Cohen crammed four weeks into one day.
Since testimony began April 22, prosecutors have pieced together the motive and methods of the $130,000 payment, using evidence such as phone records, emails and text messages, as well as witness testimony. Mr. Cohen brought many of those moments to life, describing Mr. Trump’s micromanagement and his campaign’s panic after the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape just before the 2016 election.
Mr. Cohen also bolstered the testimony of David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, striking a deal to suppress unflattering stories about Mr. Trump. He also ratified the account of Keith Davidson, Ms. Daniels’ former lawyer, that he had bought her story.
But Mr. Cohen’s credibility will no doubt be aggressively challenged during defense cross-examination. Whether the jury finds Mr. Cohen credible could impact its verdict.
Two cryptic sentences could be overwhelming.
It was a direct accusation of intent: Mr. Cohen said that Mr. Trump made it clear in late October 2016 that he wanted to pay Ms. Daniels.
“He told me, ‘Do it,’” Mr. Cohen said.
He also said that in a conversation with Mr. Cohen and Allen Weisselberg, then the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer, Mr. Trump was informed of Mr. Cohen’s plan to pay Ms. Daniels and have Mr. Cohen reimbursed. Mr. Cohen said his boss responded, “Good, good.”
This arrangement forms the basis of the charges of falsification of business documents. Mr. Cohen also added more details: “Once I got the money from Mr. Trump, I would deposit it and no one would notice. »
Cohen could destroy Trump’s defense as a family man.
One possible defense argument – that Mr Trump paid Ms Daniels only because he was deeply concerned about the impact on his family and his marriage to Melania Trump – was contradicted by Mr Cohen. He said the former president “wasn’t thinking about Melania” when the porn star’s story threatened to become public.
“It was all about the campaign,” Mr. Cohen said.
Mr. Cohen also said that when he mentioned Ms. Daniels and Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump, the candidate’s reaction had to do with the fact that they were both “beautiful”.
Gagged, Trump lets other allies tackle the matter.
For some Republicans, the trial is an opportunity to show their loyalty to the former president and, potentially, burnish their reputation in his eyes.
On Monday, among them was Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, considered a possible vice presidential candidate and sitting behind the defense table. He also held a news conference lambasting Democrats, whom he and Mr. Trump accuse of being responsible for the affair, as well as Mr. Cohen. This was a public criticism of a witness whom the accused is prohibited from attacking due to a gag order.
Mr. Vance was only the last Republican to pass. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and Ken Paxton, attorney general of Texas, have been visitors in recent weeks.
On Monday, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a former Alabama football coach, complained about the aesthetics of the courtroom.
“This courtroom,” he said, “is depressing. »
Cohen has been described as a maniac. But it wasn’t a Monday.
Prosecutors had allowed several witnesses to disparage Mr. Cohen in previous weeks, likely to preempt potential defense arguments that he would be an unreliable witness. People portray him as a maniac, an explosive character with an ax to grind. That could blunt the defense’s cross-examination, which could cover his time in federal prison and admitted lies in earlier testimony.
But Michael Cohen on the stand Monday was largely measured, speaking clearly and rarely showing his temper. He has described it on occasion, including when he saw his bonus sharply reduced for 2016 and called it “insulting.”
“I didn’t expect more,” he said. “But I certainly didn’t expect anything less.”
Direct questioning of Mr. Cohen by prosecutors — who said last week they could finish their witnesses this week — will continue Tuesday morning. The defense will surely try to make him lose his cool later today, when cross-examination is expected to begin.
