Former President Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen stands behind Trump. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst | Reuters)
Eko Hot Blog reports that Michael Cohen, the key witness in Donald Trump’s criminal trial, was confronted Tuesday with his own foul-mouthed statements about Trump and his lawyers as the defense got its first opportunity to question him.
According to CBS News, Cohen was calm but occasionally combative while fending off attacks from Trump attorney Todd Blanche, who targeted his motivations and credibility.
Confronted with recent statements in which he called Blanche a “crying little s—t” and Trump a “dictator d—–bag,” Cohen replied dryly: “Sounds like something I would say.”
Michael Cohen on his way to Manhattan criminal court in New York on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo: Seth Wenig / AP)
Asked about a series of times when he effusively praised Trump in 2015, Cohen said he was “knee deep into the cult of Donald Trump.”
The exchanges highlighted inflammatory comments Cohen has made about his former boss in media appearances, social media posts and a pair of books.
Blanche argued that Cohen has made a lucrative career out of criticizing Trump, including through a pair of books that have netted him roughly $3.4 million.
The defense also highlighted Cohen’s admitted track record of lying about his dealings with Trump, saying he changed his story as he sought to reduce a prison sentence in 2019.
Cohen pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and ultimately served 13 months in prison.
This sketch from court shows former President Donald Trump, left, and Michael Cohen, right, in court on Tuesday, May 14, in New York. (Photo: Christine Cornell)
Earlier in the day, Cohen told the jury that he hoped Trump would shield him from the charges if he remained loyal and lied about a $130,000 “hush money” payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
He has testified that Trump approved of a plan to reimburse Cohen for the payment over the course of the following year.
Before Cohen’s cross-examination, prosecutors walked jurors through the 34 business records they say were falsified to cover up the payment to Daniels, showing the invoices, vouchers and checks that correspond to each felony charge Trump faces.
Cohen will return to the stand on Thursday to face more questions from both sides. Prosecutors said he is expected to be their last witness, and the trial will not meet on Friday.
Blanche told the judge that the defense is currently planning to call one expert witness, but that he doesn’t know whether Trump will testify.
Trump has been accused of taking part in an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election and an unlawful plan to suppress negative information, which included a hush money payment made to an adult film star to hide an affair.
Prosecutors allege that Trump allegedly disguised the transaction as a legal payment and falsified business records numerous times to “promote his candidacy.”
Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. He has pleaded not guilty and denied the affair.
Adult-film star Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels, allegedly received a $130,000 payment just days before the 2016 presidential election.
The $130,000 payment to Daniels was made by Cohen, then Trump’s personal attorney, who landed in federal prison over that transaction for breaking campaign finance laws.
Sketch of Former President Donald Trump and Michael Cohen in court. (Photo: Jane Rosenberg)
Cohen, now a critical witness, has said that Trump directed him to make the payment to Daniels.
Trump and his legal team attempted to bar Cohen from testifying, arguing that he’s committed perjury more than once in other cases, but the request was denied.
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