Former Trump fixer Michael Cohen’s testimony in a Manhattan court reveals crucial details about Trump’s alleged role in hush-money payments, with implications for a historic criminal trial against the former president.
Michael Cohen, former fixer for Donald Trump, testified in a Manhattan criminal court on Monday, providing crucial details about Trump’s alleged involvement in hush-money payments during the 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen claimed that Trump explicitly directed him to pay adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to prevent her from disclosing a past sexual encounter with Trump. He also testified that after Trump’s election victory, Trump approved a plan to reimburse Cohen through monthly payments, which were disguised as routine legal fees in Trump’s company records.
Cohen’s testimony is central to the prosecution’s case, where Donald Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to these transactions. This trial marks the first criminal case against a former U.S. president. Cohen, who has had a fallout with Trump leading to personal legal consequences, portrayed their former association as an operation to manage damaging stories, thus protecting Trump’s presidential campaign.
In a linked testimony, Stormy Daniels, wearing a bulletproof vest due to security fears, had previously detailed her alleged 2006 encounter with Trump, which he denies. Her testimony was aimed at corroborating the claims about the hush-money agreement orchestrated by Trump and Cohen.
The trial has drawn intense media attention, with Trump criticizing the prosecution and claiming victimization. As the case progresses, the defense is expected to challenge Cohen’s credibility, given his previous conviction on charges related to the same payments and other offenses. The trial continues as legal professionals and the public keenly observe the proceedings.
