Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and fixer, is the key witness for the Manhattan district attorney's case. His testimony, anticipated to start this week, suggests that the trial is nearing its conclusion. Prosecutors aim to wrap up their evidence presentation by the week's end. Cohen is expected to discuss his role in arranging hush money payments during Trump's first presidential campaign, including payments to Stormy Daniels. She testified last week that the $130,000 she received in 2016 was to prevent her from disclosing a sexual encounter with Trump in a hotel suite a decade earlier.
Cohen's testimony is crucial because the reimbursements he received are the basis of the 34 felony charges against Trump for falsifying business records. Prosecutors allege that these reimbursements were falsely logged as legal expenses to conceal their true purpose.
The defense plans to aggressively cross-examine Cohen, describing him to jurors as an "admitted liar" with an "obsession to get President Trump." If jurors find Cohen credible, it could increase the legal risk for Trump. However, politically, Trump's team may use Cohen's testimony to argue that the case is part of a biased criminal justice system, potentially benefiting Trump's fundraising efforts.
The trial marks a significant break in the once-close relationship between Trump and Cohen. After the FBI raided Cohen's home and office in 2018, Trump praised him on social media, but the relationship soured when Cohen pleaded guilty later that year to federal campaign-finance charges, implicating Trump. Cohen has since emerged as a vocal critic of Trump.
Cohen's credibility is central to the case. Prosecutors plan to discuss his past crimes to counter defense attacks on his character. Despite efforts to undermine him, Cohen remains a pivotal figure in the trial, with his name mentioned more than 130 times during opening statements.
Other witnesses, including David Pecker and Hope Hicks, have testified about Cohen's role in suppressing damaging stories during Trump's 2016 campaign. Additionally, an audio recording of Trump and Cohen discussing payments related to a Playboy model's story has been presented as evidence.
During a recent rally, Trump wrongly attributed the charges against him to President Joe Biden. However, the case was filed by local prosecutors in Manhattan, not by the Justice Department or the White House. The Justice Department has confirmed that the White House had no involvement in the cases against Trump.