Michael Cohen Takes Center Stage in Trump's Hush Money Trial

[Social Media]

 

Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former lawyer and self-described "fixer," is set to testify against his ex-boss. Cohen's testimony is expected to shed light on a pivotal payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence her allegations of a sexual encounter with Trump.

 

Facing questioning from seasoned prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, Cohen will provide insights into the payment, which he claims he made at Trump's direction. The trial has garnered significant attention as Cohen's testimony is crucial to the prosecution's case, alleging that Trump falsified business records related to the reimbursement of the hush money.

 

Cohen's journey to the witness stand has been years in the making, with extensive cooperation with prosecutors and multiple interactions with investigators. His testimony is anticipated to reveal intricate details surrounding the payment and its subsequent reimbursement by Trump.

 

However, Trump's defense team led by attorney Todd Blanche aims to undermine Cohen's credibility, highlighting his criminal convictions, including perjury charges related to false statements made to Congress. Blanche contends that Cohen's motivations are fueled by an obsession with Trump and a desire to shift blame for his own legal troubles.

 

The trial has seen its share of dramatic moments, including Cohen's public criticisms of Trump on social media, prompting the presiding judge to caution against further violations of the gag order. Despite attempts by Trump's legal team to impose additional restrictions on Cohen, the judge refrained from granting a separate gag order but emphasized the need for restraint.

 

Cohens testimony so far:

So far, Michael Cohen has done exactly what prosecutors hoped he would do: Tying Donald Trump to every step and decision in the process of paying Stormy Daniels and others for their silence. Cohen has claimed Trump's motivations were to protect his presidential campaign, and he emphasised it was not for any other reason (as the defence has claimed).

 

Over and over again, Cohen has alleged he communicated with and received approval from Trump before taking each action that led to the hush-money payout to Daniels. But there is still much to come. We have yet to get to the actual actions that spurred charges in this case. We've only just gotten to how Cohen was reimbursed for the payment to Daniels, and how those payments were recorded in Trump's business records.

 

Prosecutors must also use his testimony to show intent - that Trump sought to conceal the true nature of the reimbursement of Cohen. We heard a bit of that today, but prosecutors will likely need more to make their case.

We will also likley see the defence's cross examination tomorrow, and we can expect them to vigorously look for holes and contradictions in Cohen's account of Trump's alleged involvement.

 

As the trial nears its conclusion, with only a few witnesses remaining, Cohen's testimony holds significant weight in determining the outcome of the case. Trump's potential decision to testify in his defense adds another layer of uncertainty to the proceedings, with the trial unfolding against the backdrop of his son's high school graduation.

 

Credit: NBC News 2024-05-14

 

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[Tug]

It’s been a busy day in trump world lol 😂 I was personally delighted when the prosecutor was reading trump tweets praising cohen then when cohen turned states evidence of course trumps tweets changed it had the entire court laughing…..then there is Trump trying to delay payment because if he lost it dident matter but if he won he didn’t care.another words obviously he doesn’t care how his wife feels about it quell surprise ……..what a specimen!

[Skipalongcassidy]

11 minutes ago, Tug said:

It’s been a busy day in trump world lol 😂 I was personally delighted when the prosecutor was reading trump tweets praising cohen then when cohen turned states evidence of course trumps tweets changed it had the entire court laughing…..then there is Trump trying to delay payment because if he lost it dident matter but if he won he didn’t care.another words obviously he doesn’t care how his wife feels about it quell surprise ……..what a specimen!

And other than a voyeuristic yearning what do the tweets have to do with the evidence?  This really is a trash trial when it comes to points of law and admissibility of evidence.  But that is the democrap party way... so get your jollies now while you can... 

[Tug]

16 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

And other than a voyeuristic yearning what do the tweets have to do with the evidence?  This really is a trash trial when it comes to points of law and admissibility of evidence.  But that is the democrap party way... so get your jollies now while you can... 

yup there’s that pesky evidence big time in black and white on tape ya da ya da ya da your trump is in deep trouble the only thing that will let him get away with it is a hung jury that’s it they have him dead to rights

[TorquayFan]

Skip - I couldn't disagree with you more. This 'Election interference' trial has been conducted very fairly. It's Law and Order asserting itself, not political. Judge Merchan has been benevolent in not jailing Trump already.

 

Trump has lied and cheated for decades and it may be coming home to roost. Michael Cohen's evidence is damning and confirms much evidence presented already, by other witnesses.

 

Trump's behaviour outside the Court each day and at his rallies is frankly unbelievable. Did you see him extolling the virtues of Hannibal Lector at the NJ rally? 100,000 claimed for there last weekend !  Ha Ha ! 

 

It's a source of amazement to me that Trump has any supporters left. He appeals to Folks who are looking to be different, 'special', macho or some other blather.

 

Wake up !

 

 

[Danderman123]

The facts show that Trump is guilty, but the overall story may be what convicts Trump - that Trump hid key facts from the voting public before the 2016 election. No one can deny that Trump engaged in a lie to win the election, and the jurors  may convict for that.

 

Hey, Trumpers, anyone of you deny that Trump hid facts from the voters in 2016?

 

Cue "what about"........

[newbee2022]

Track him down, Michael🙏

[Purdey]

Forgive me if I misunderstood, but I thought the charges were not about paying women to keep quiet but from where the money was illegally diverted. 

[Bangkok Barry]

7 hours ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

And other than a voyeuristic yearning what do the tweets have to do with the evidence?  This really is a trash trial when it comes to points of law and admissibility of evidence.  But that is the democrap party way... so get your jollies now while you can... 

 

You do know that the courts are not a voice piece for the Democrats, don't you, but about punishing liars and lawbreakers. Obviously you are confused and can't separate politics and a court of law. Like so many of Trump's ignorant supporters. I suppose that's the only alternative to not being able to accept the truth.

[Danderman123]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Forgive me if I misunderstood, but I thought the charges were not about paying women to keep quiet but from where the money was illegally diverted. 

The issue is the illegal campaign contribution. What the money was used for is irrelevant except for context.

 

Also, Trump's attorney claimed that Trump never had sex with Stormy Daniels and so opened the door for her testimony.

[TorquayFan]

Danderman . . . or 34 counts of falsifying business records by falsely coding payments as legal expenses, misdemeanors but upgraded to felonies, because it was done for the purpose of keeping it from the electorate, (the hushing up), and actually, the tax man too.

 

It's evident that it was nothing to do with Melania.

 

Trump and the GOP were in a panic because of the 'access Hollywood' debacle.

 

https://youtu.be/oloQmY6sMn4?t=7

 

 

[Yellowtail]

9 hours ago, Tug said:

yup there’s that pesky evidence big time in black and white on tape ya da ya da ya da your trump is in deep trouble the only thing that will let him get away with it is a hung jury that’s it they have him dead to rights

What evidence? 

[Walker88]

10 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

What evidence? 

Many different media sites have the trial proceedings in great detail, listing each piece of evidence entered plus transcripts of all testimony. Rather than list fifty odds pages here, perhaps you might take it upon yourself to go look. It's all readily available online.

 

I suspect the defense will try to disparage Cohen as an ex-con and a proven liar. I don't think that will work, firstly, because he is an ex-con as a result of doing what trump told him to do, and secondly because there is plenty of precedence of a mob insider---someone who has committed crimes---of being taken seriously by juries when on the stand and under oath.

 

Sammy "The Bull" Gravano was the right hand man of John Gotti as well as a "made man" in an organized crime syndicate, but his testimony that Gotti ordered the killing of Big Paul Castellano outside Spark's Steak House was believed by the jury and led to Gotti's conviction.

 

Cohen remains on probation, so if he was found to have committed perjury, he would be returned to jail for the remainder of his original sentence. Defense is going to have to try to make Cohen not believable, because no way will defense allow trump to take the stand. I would not be surprised if in their closing arguments, the prosecution brings up Sammy The Bull.

 

Cohen's testimony today laid bare that trump's concern was the election and how it would impact female voters. Cohen said trump told him to try to delay payment if possible, because if trump won, it wouldn't matter anymore (so no need to pay) and if trump lost, he wouldn't care if it came out. That kind of says trump didn't care if it would hurt his 3rd wife.

 

When word came that the Stormy tale was about to come out days before the election, trump told Cohen (about the payment to Stormy), "Just do it".

 

Hope Hicks has already testified that trump told her he was worried word of the Stormy thing would hurt the campaign, and Hope Hicks is not, unlike Cohen, an ex-con. Cohen yesterday corroborated what Hicks testified.

[Yellowtail]

2 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

Many different media sites have the trial proceedings in great detail, listing each piece of evidence entered plus transcripts of all testimony. Rather than list fifty odds pages here, perhaps you might take it upon yourself to go look. It's all readily available online.

 

I suspect the defense will try to disparage Cohen as an ex-con and a proven liar. I don't think that will work, firstly, because he is an ex-con as a result of doing what trump told him to do, and secondly because there is plenty of precedence of a mob insider---someone who has committed crimes---of being taken seriously by juries when on the stand and under oath.

 

Sammy "The Bull" Gravano was the right hand man of John Gotti as well as a "made man" in an organized crime syndicate, but his testimony that Gotti ordered the killing of Big Paul Castellano outside Spark's Steak House was believed by the jury and led to Gotti's conviction.

 

Cohen remains on probation, so if he was found to have committed perjury, he would be returned to jail for the remainder of his original sentence. Defense is going to have to try to make Cohen not believable, because no way will defense allow trump to take the stand. I would not be surprised if in their closing arguments, the prosecution brings up Sammy The Bull.

 

Cohen's testimony today laid bare that trump's concern was the election and how it would impact female voters. Cohen said trump told him to try to delay payment if possible, because if trump won, it wouldn't matter anymore (so no need to pay) and if trump lost, he wouldn't care if it came out. That kind of says trump didn't care if it would hurt his 3rd wife.

 

When word came that the Stormy tale was about to come out days before the election, trump told Cohen (about the payment to Stormy), "Just do it".

 

Hope Hicks has already testified that trump told her he was worried word of the Stormy thing would hurt the campaign, and Hope Hicks is not, unlike Cohen, an ex-con. Cohen yesterday corroborated what Hicks testified.

 

Was any of what was proven in the trial not already known? 

 

Show trial

[eisfeld]

20 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

 

Was any of what was proven in the trial not already known? 

 

Show trial

 

The prosecution has to present evidence to the jury. Known already or not doesn't matter. How else do you think this trial should work?

[Gecko123]

I thought these two pictures taken May 13th provide excellent insight into what Michael Cohen's demeanor on the witness stand was like. Does not look to me like someone whose credibility would be easy to undermine, especially with all of the corroborating evidence. I suspect the tragic sadness in his eyes and his stoic bearing will resonate with the jury. This simply does not look like a man who is committing perjury.

 

 

Michael Cohen, former lawyer of Donald Trump, leaving his apartment to testify at the criminal trial of the ex-president of the United States on May 13, 2024.  Photo credit: Mike Segar / Reuters

 

 

 

Michael Cohen returning to his residence after testifying at the criminal trial in Manhattan on May 13th, 2024. Photo credit: Michael M. Santiago / AFP

 

[earlinclaifornia]

The review I read Cohen was surprisinly a different person today on the stand.

Leaving the Defence job in a bad position and a difficult time convince the jury other wise. 

[Yellowtail]

[KhunLA]

A convicted liar (to Congress) ready to take the stand.   Think OJ trial  ...  should be a short deliberation as well.

 

Some quality testimony, Daniels & her convicted lawyer (if testifying)  ... 

... they're joking right.

[Danderman123]

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

 

Was any of what was proven in the trial not already known? 

 

Show trial

You are suggesting that Trump is innocent because the prosecution hasn't surprised us?

[Danderman123]

35 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

A convicted liar (to Congress) ready to take the stand.   Think OJ trial  ...  should be a short deliberation as well.

 

Some quality testimony, Daniels & her convicted lawyer (if testifying)  ... 

... they're joking right.

Plus Hope Hicks and David Pecker all saying the same thing.

 

What part of the prosecution's case don't you believe?

 

[Danderman123]

12 hours ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

And other than a voyeuristic yearning what do the tweets have to do with the evidence?  This really is a trash trial when it comes to points of law and admissibility of evidence.  But that is the democrap party way... so get your jollies now while you can... 

Is there any part of the prosecution's case with which you disagree?

[KhunLA]

10 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Plus Hope Hicks and David Pecker all saying the same thing.

 

What part of the prosecution's case don't you believe?

Not following it at all, and just seeing the headlines here.   How many cases against the leading political opponent ?  

 

Tyranny rules IMHO.   The USA that might have been (or never was), will never be again.  Total control to the puppeteers ... IMHO

 

Love it or Leave it ... cheney/bush 2 was the last straw for me.

walk it like I talk it ... nuff said

[Danderman123]

Just now, KhunLA said:

Not following it at all, and just seeing the headlines here.   How many cases against the leading political opponent ?  

 

Tyranny rules IMHO.   The USA that might have been (or never was), will never be again.  Total control to the puppeteers ... IMHO

 

Love it or Leave it ... cheney/bush 2 was the last straw for me.

walk it like I talk it ... nuff said

The issue here isn't your feelings, when Charles Manson was on trial, a lot of his followers felt badly.

 

The question is whether the prosecution has laid out the facts of the case correctly.

 

However, you are free to state that you don't care about the facts, you just think that Trump is above the law, and should be released immediately.

[Danderman123]

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

What evidence? 

Your memory is no good.

[KhunLA]

2 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

However, you are free to state that you don't care about the facts, you just think that Trump is above the law, and should be released immediately.

Don't know where I stated that, but read into and make up whatever you want, as you always do.

[Yellowtail]

25 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

You are suggesting that Trump is innocent because the prosecution hasn't surprised us?

I never said Trump was innocent.

 

I think it is a made-up crime, that no one has ever been prosecuted for, and Biden's DOJ sent one of their top guys to spin up. 

 

What do you think his is guilty of?

[Yellowtail]

12 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Don't know where I stated that, but read into and make up whatever you want, as you always do.

That's all he ever does it make stuff up. 

[Yellowtail]

28 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Plus Hope Hicks and David Pecker all saying the same thing.

 

What part of the prosecution's case don't you believe?

 

The part where Trump has committed an actual crime, much less a felony. 

[Yellowtail]

16 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

The issue here isn't your feelings, when Charles Manson was on trial, a lot of his followers felt badly.

 

The question is whether the prosecution has laid out the facts of the case correctly.

 

However, you are free to state that you don't care about the facts, you just think that Trump is above the law, and should be released immediately.

I thought you said there were no facts yet, which is it?