In the ongoing criminal trial involving former President Donald Trump, his ex-fixer Michael Cohen is set to continue his testimony. Cohen, previously a staunch ally of Trump, revealed that Trump personally sanctioned a payment to a porn star before the 2016 election to keep her quiet about an alleged affair. This payment, totaling $130,000, is a focal point of the trial, which is the first of its kind for a former U.S. president.
Cohen's testimony suggests that Trump approved multiple payments to suppress damaging stories during his presidential campaign. Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, faces accusations of reimbursing Cohen for the payment to Stormy Daniels using false records, leading to charges of falsifying business records.
Cohen's credibility is expected to be challenged by Trump's defense due to his past convictions for lying under oath. Despite this, Cohen maintains that Trump was primarily concerned about the impact on his campaign, not his family, further supporting the prosecution's case.
Additionally, Cohen disclosed a prior agreement involving Trump, himself, and tabloid publisher David Pecker to use the National Enquirer to benefit Trump's campaign, including payments to bury stories such as Karen McDougal's alleged affair with Trump. This practice, termed "catch and kill," aimed to acquire rights to damaging stories to prevent their publication.
The trial's significance is noted in light of other criminal cases Trump faces, including charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents. Despite the outcome of this trial, the legal challenges surrounding Trump continue to draw attention.