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NEW YORK (AP) — The pivotal witness in the hush money trial involving Donald Trump is scheduled to testify on Monday, potentially influencing the outcome of the first criminal case against a U.S. president.
Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and personal fixer, holds a crucial role as the Manhattan district attorney's main witness, indicating that the trial is approaching its conclusion. Prosecutors aim to conclude presenting their evidence by the end of the week. Cohen is expected to testify about his involvement in arranging hush money payments during Trump's initial presidential campaign, including the payment to Stormy Daniels. Last week, Daniels testified that the $130,000 payment she received in 2016 was intended to prevent her from disclosing a previous sexual encounter with Trump.
Cohen's testimony is significant as it forms the basis of the 34 felony charges of falsifying business records against Trump, related to reimbursements disguised as legal expenses to conceal the true nature of the payments.
Defense attorneys are preparing for an aggressive cross-examination of Cohen, describing him as an "admitted liar" with a vendetta against President Trump. Cohen's testimony could increase Trump's legal liabilities if the jury finds him credible. However, from a political perspective, Cohen's past could benefit Trump, portraying the case as a result of a biased criminal justice system.
Cohen's role as the star witness underscores the deterioration of his once-close relationship with Trump. Following Cohen's guilty plea to federal charges in 2018, including campaign finance violations and lying to Congress, Trump distanced himself from Cohen, suggesting he was untrustworthy.
Prosecutors plan to delve into Cohen's past crimes to preempt potential attacks on his credibility by the defense. However, defense lawyers intend to portray Cohen as unreliable and driven by revenge. Nevertheless, Cohen remains a central figure in the trial, with his name mentioned more than 130 times during opening statements.
Other witnesses, such as David Pecker and Hope Hicks, have highlighted Cohen's role in suppressing damaging stories during Trump's 2016 campaign. Jurors have also listened to a recording of Trump and Cohen discussing the purchase of the rights to a story about an alleged affair.
At a recent rally, Trump falsely blamed President Joe Biden for orchestrating the New York charges, although they were filed by local prosecutors independent of the White House. The Justice Department has stated that the White House had no involvement in the cases against Trump.