Cohen is the last witness called by prosecutors. He will continue to testify on Thursday.
of the former President of the United States Donald Trump’s in the criminal trial, Trump’s lawyers were able to question the ex-president’s former lawyer and creditor on Tuesday Michael Cohen.
Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche pressed Cohen about social media publications insulting Trump, attempts to gain financial benefit from his connections with Trump, and his criminal history.
Trump is accused of falsifying his accounting by a porn actress by Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about paying during the 2016 presidential election. According to prosecutors, Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 not to reveal that he and Trump had sex in 2006.
Trump has denied the charges and the allegation of a sexual relationship.
Refund with fake invoices
Blacnhe pointed out that Cohen has called Trump an “idiot dictator” and “a mean caricature of a misogynist” in his social media posts.
– Do you want President Trump to be convicted in this lawsuit, Blanche asked Cohen.
– Sure, he answered.
By bringing up Cohen’s criminal history, Trump’s legal team is trying to create an image of an unreliable witness. In 2018, Cohen received a total of three years in prison for tax evasion, lying in a congressional hearing, and arranging hush money.
Earlier on Tuesday, Cohen, who was questioned by the prosecutors, said that he made up invoices as agreed in order to get back the cheating money he paid Daniels. According to Cohen, he was paid in eleven checks, most of which bore Trump’s signature.
Cohen is the last witness called by prosecutors. The defense will continue questioning Cohen on Thursday.
Trump’s allies as advocates
A judge in a lawsuit Juan Merchan has imposed a partial restriction on Trump’s right to comment, which Trump has already violated several times. This week, his Republican allies have spoken on behalf of the ex-president in front of the courthouse.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson spoke outside the courthouse on Tuesday. Johnson claimed the lawsuit was politically motivated and assured that Trump had done nothing wrong.
On Monday, the senator JD Vance was outside the courthouse in support of Trump. On Tuesday, Trump was accompanied at the courthouse by the governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum. Burgum and Vance are considered Trump’s possible choices for vice presidential nominees.
Sources: AFP, AP, Reuters