He once said he would take a bullet for Donald Trump. Now Michael Cohen is prosecutors’ biggest piece of legal ammunition in the former president’s hush money trial.
By Jennifer Peltz and Eric Tucker, Associated PressFILE - Michael Cohen, former attorney to Donald Trump, leaves the District Attorney's office in New York, March 13, 2023. Cohen is prosecutors' most central witness in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial. But Trump's fixer-turned-foe is also as challenging a star witness as they come. The now-disbarred lawyer has a tortured history with Trump.
Cohen, who is expected to take the stand Monday, can address the jury as someone who has reckoned frankly with his own misdeeds and paid for them with his liberty. But jurors likely also will learn that the now-disbarred lawyer has not only pleaded guilty to lying to Congress and a bank, but recently asserted, under oath, that he wasn’t truthful even in admitting to some of those falsehoods.
Cohen, who declined to comment for this story, had had an eclectic career that veered from practicing personal injury law to operating a taxi fleet with his father-in-law. He ultimately functioned as both a Trump lawyer and shark-toothed loyalist. Other witnesses have testified about the hush money dealings, but Cohen remains key to piecing together a case that centers on how Trump’s company compensated him for his role in the Daniels payoff.
While many types of convictions may be used to question a witness’ credibility, when crimes involve dishonesty, “there’s a treasure trove of stuff there for a cross-examiner,” Serafini said. The posts could give Trump’s lawyers fodder to paint Cohen as an agenda-driven witness out for revenge. In a nod to that vulnerability, Cohen posted two days after opening statements that he would cease commenting on Trump until after testifying, “out of respect” for the judge and prosecutors.
Prosecutors will need to persuade Cohen to be forthright, acknowledge his past wrongdoing and rein in his freewheeling commentary, Saland said, or the case can become “the Michael Cohen show.”Indeed, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche used his opening statement to hammer on Cohen’s “obsession” with Trump and his admitted past lying under oath.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Michael Cohen: A challenging star witness in Donald Trump’s hush money trialHe once said he would take a bullet for Donald Trump. Now Michael Cohen is prosecutors’ biggest piece of legal ammunition in the former president’s hush money trial.
Read more »
Michael Cohen: A challenging star witness in Donald Trump's hush money trialMichael Cohen is the most central witness for prosecutors in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial.
Read more »
Michael Cohen: A challenging star witness in Donald Trump's hush money trialMichael Cohen is the most central witness for prosecutors in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial
Read more »
Michael Cohen: A challenging star witness in Donald Trump's hush money trialMichael Cohen is the most central witness for prosecutors in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial. But Trump’s fixer-turned-foe is also as challenging a star witness as they come. He's expected to take the stand on Monday and offer jurors an insider’s view of the dealings at the heart of the case.
Read more »
Michael Cohen: A challenging star witness in Donald Trump's hush money trialMichael Cohen is the most central witness for prosecutors in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial.
Read more »
Judge directs Michael Cohen to keep quiet about Donald Trump ahead of his trial testimonyThe prosecution could rest its case by the end of next week.
Read more »