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During the trial involving former President Donald Trump's alleged hush money payments, Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorney, provided detailed testimony about Trump's efforts to conceal negative information about himself before the 2016 election. Defense lawyers sought to discredit Cohen, highlighting his past criticisms of Trump and suggesting that Cohen has profited from his association with Trump.
The cross-examination focused on Cohen's actions and statements since his release from prison in 2020, with a more detailed examination of his conduct related to the case scheduled for Thursday. Trump is charged with falsifying business records to hide reimbursements for hush money paid to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress, in an effort to improve his chances in the 2016 election. Trump denies any wrongdoing.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche pressed Cohen on his public remarks about Trump, pointing out Cohen's financial gains from books about Trump and his use of TikTok. Blanche also highlighted Cohen's past admiration for Trump, suggesting an obsession. Cohen admitted to frequently discussing Trump in media appearances and earning money from his books but denied being obsessed.
Cohen recounted a 2017 White House meeting with Trump, where they discussed the repayment arrangement for the hush money. Cohen also described a phone call with Trump in 2018, after the FBI raided his office and hotel room, in which Trump reassured him and reinforced his loyalty.
Cohen testified that Trump orchestrated a pressure campaign in 2018 to discourage his cooperation with federal investigators. He described emails with an attorney who implied Trump's support.
Ultimately, Cohen decided to cooperate with authorities in 2018, influenced by his family's urging to prioritize them over Trump. He pleaded guilty to federal charges and expressed regret for his actions on Trump's behalf, stating that he violated his moral compass to maintain loyalty to Trump, which resulted in penalties for him and his family.