**NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen, once Donald Trump's trusted attorney and now a primary witness against him, is set to face rigorous questioning by Trump’s legal team on Tuesday. This follows his testimony that implicated Trump in orchestrating a hush money operation aimed at protecting his 2016 presidential campaign.**
On Monday, Cohen provided straightforward testimony that underscored Trump's involvement in the scheme. Cohen detailed how Trump personally approved crucial decisions regarding payments intended to silence stories that could damage his campaign.
Cohen recalled a specific directive from Trump to prevent the disclosure of adult film actress Stormy Daniels’ story. “We need to stop this from getting out,” Cohen quoted Trump as saying. Trump was particularly worried about the impact of Daniels’ story on his support among female voters. Similarly, when Cohen informed Trump about allegations from Playboy model Karen McDougal, Trump instructed, “Make sure it doesn’t get released.” McDougal received $150,000 after Trump was fully briefed on the situation.
Cohen’s testimony highlighted that he acted on Trump's orders and for his benefit. Despite Trump’s denials and not-guilty plea, Cohen's detailed knowledge of Trump's actions could heighten Trump's legal jeopardy if the jury finds Cohen credible.
However, Cohen’s past, including a guilty plea to federal charges related to the payments, presents challenges for the prosecution. Trump’s defense is expected to attack Cohen’s credibility, emphasizing his disbarment and criminal record. Prosecutors plan to address this by corroborating Cohen’s testimony with other evidence and witnesses.
Jurors had previously been introduced to the tabloid industry's "catch-and-kill" tactics used to suppress damaging stories. Cohen’s direct communications with Trump, however, are crucial to the case. His account of the $130,000 payment to Daniels, which led to 34 felony charges against Trump for falsifying business records, highlights Trump’s role in the reimbursement process, which was falsely recorded as legal expenses.
Cohen testified that Trump, along with former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, discussed disguising the reimbursements as legal services paid in monthly installments. Cohen also revealed that Trump wanted to delay the payment to Daniels until after the election, believing it wouldn’t matter post-election.
Additionally, Cohen detailed his dealings with David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, who kept a confidential file of Trump-related stories. This became more urgent after the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape in October 2016, which featured Trump making crude comments about women.
Cohen’s testimony painted Trump as a hands-on manager who insisted on being kept informed of all developments, particularly those that were troubling. This characterization further emphasizes Trump’s direct involvement in the hush money scheme.