“Just do it”: Ex-lawyer Cohen: Trump ordered the hush money payment himself
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Once a loyal Trump man, then a convicted liar and now a key witness: Donald Trump’s former “cleaner” Michael Cohen is becoming a heavy burden for Trump in the hush money trial. There is now a showdown in New York.
In the criminal trial against former US President Donald Trump, key witness Michael Cohen testified, accompanied by huge media interest, about details of the hush money payments to a porn actress. Shortly before the 2016 US election, then presidential candidate Trump ordered him to pay erotic star Stormy Daniels and promised a refund of the money, Cohen said in court in New York on Monday. Trump was personally present in the hall, but mostly appeared uninvolved. Cohen will continue his testimony this Tuesday.
At the time, Daniels wanted to sell her story of an alleged affair with Trump to the media. According to his own statements, Trump then instructed his lawyer Cohen to transfer $130,000 to buy her silence. “Just do it,” Trump said to Cohen – and also agreed to refund the money.
Prosecution: Trump was always informed about the payment
Cohen is seen as a central figure in establishing a direct link between Trump and the hush money payments to Daniels. Prosecutors accuse Trump of trying to improve his chances of winning the 2016 presidential election by paying porn actress Daniels $130,000. Although the payment itself was not illegal, the now 77-year-old is said to have manipulated documents when refunding the amount to Cohen in order to conceal the true reason for the transaction. This made the payments illegal campaign financing.
To support the testimony of Cohen, who is seen as a problematic witness because of lies in the past, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger showed the twelve jurors a large number of emails, phone call data and other documents. The prosecution also wanted to show that Trump was always informed about the latest events surrounding the payment of the hush money.
Cohen: Prevent articles about Trump affairs
This is the first criminal trial against a former president in the history of the United States. Trump faces a prison sentence of several years, which could also be suspended, or a fine. The proceedings could have an impact on the election campaign in the USA. Trump, who wants to become US president again in November, has pleaded not guilty.
Cohen also described on Monday how he systematically suppressed negative reports about the then presidential candidate before the 2016 US election. He worked with the former editor of a tabloid, David Pecker. On the one hand, it was about spreading “positive stories about Mr. Trump that were beneficial” for the upcoming presidential election in the Trump-affiliated “National Enquirer.” On the other hand, he worked with Pecker to prevent negative reports that accused Trump of extramarital affairs. For this purpose, among other things, the rights to these stories were bought without ever wanting to publish them. Cohen confirmed Pecker’s statement from the end of April.
Trump mostly stoic – except once
Trump reportedly appeared unmoved most of the time and had his eyes partially closed, leading some media outlets to speculate that he had fallen asleep. The defendant brought his largest entourage to date with him to the trial. His son Eric Trump was also present, and his look at Cohen was described as disparaging.
The prosecution also seeks to support its claim that Trump’s goal was to protect his campaign from negative reports in order to have a better chance of voting in November 2016. This is intended to counteract a possible defense argument that Trump’s payment to porn star Daniels was simply about preventing damage to his family.
Cohen was clear about the possible publication of Daniels’ story on Monday: It would have been “catastrophic,” and Trump was also aware of that. “He wasn’t thinking about (wife) Melania. This was all about the election campaign,” Cohen said. At this description, Trump shook his head vigorously, the media reports said.
Once a loyal Trump man, now a convicted liar – and key witness
Cohen became known as Trump’s legal “cleaner” with a close relationship and direct access to him – he once said he would take a bullet for Trump. However, during the opening statements, Trump’s defense portrayed Cohen as someone driven by a desire for revenge who had already lied under oath. She is also likely to portray him as untrustworthy in the upcoming cross-examination.
Cohen, now 57, had already pleaded guilty in 2018 for his role in the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels – and served a prison sentence for, among other things, making false statements. In 2018, Trump was still US President and was not prosecuted by prosecutors.
The witness Pecker initially testified at the trial in New York. The former editor of the “National Enquirer” also confirmed the prosecution’s narrative that he and Cohen were supposed to suppress negative reports on Trump’s behalf before the 2016 US election by buying the rights to them. Last week, porn star Daniels herself took the stand and gave an unflattering and detailed statement about sexual intercourse with Trump.
The public prosecutor’s office had announced that it could end the questioning of its witnesses this week. It would then be up to the defense to call exonerating witnesses before closing arguments. The twelve jurors must then make a unanimous decision. Judge Juan Merchan would determine the sentence if convicted.