Former personal attorney Michael Cohen resumed his testimony in Manhattan Criminal Court, providing details on how Trump reimbursed him for a payment to Stormy Daniels amidst allegations of falsifying business records.
Michael Cohen, former personal attorney to Donald Trump, resumed his testimony on May 14, 2024, in Manhattan Criminal Court, where Trump faces allegations of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. This payment aimed to secure Daniels’s silence on an alleged 2006 affair with Trump, which he denies.
Cohen’s cross-examination by Trump’s defense lawyer Todd Blanche aimed to discredit Cohen as biased and motivated by personal vendetta. Cohen admitted to wanting Trump convicted but insisted his testimony was truthful. He detailed how Trump reimbursed him for the payout through fraudulent invoices and checks labeled as legal services.
This trial is one of several legal challenges facing Trump, who denies all 34 felony counts brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Cohen, once vehemently loyal to Trump, confessed his shift in allegiance following an FBI raid on his home in 2018.
Additionally, President Joe Biden announced new tariffs on various Chinese imports, including electric vehicles and advanced batteries, aimed at protecting U.S. industries from what he described as unfair competition subsidized by Beijing. The tariffs will be phased in starting this year, increasing friction between the U.S. and China as both countries ramp up efforts to dominate emerging technologies. The move is seen as part of Biden’s broader economic strategy and comes ahead of the 2024 presidential election, where he is competing against Trump.
