Donald Trump’s hush money trial: Why his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen’s testimony matters

Donald Trump’s ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, is testifying against the former United States president in a hush money trial. Cohen, who described himself as Trump’s “designated thug”, is a star witness for prosecutors who are trying to prove that the Republican leader falsified business records after making a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Cohen, who once reverently called Trump “The Boss”, is expected to deliver a scathing testimony that would be a defining moment in the former president’s trial.

But is his testimony crucial? Let’s understand.

Michael Cohen’s link to Donald Trump

Cohen caught Trump’s eye in the early 2000s when the former was a condo board member at Trump World Tower in New York. He sided with Trump in a dispute between residents and management, as per the Associated Press (AP) report.

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Soon, Trump brought Cohen into his company, giving him an office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower.

Cohen worked as a lawyer and fixer for Trump. However, his work often went beyond that of a lawyer.

In his book Disloyal, Cohen recounted he threatened a paint company with bad publicity to get thousands of gallons of free paint for Trump’s golf resort outside Miami, noted New York Times (NYT).

The ex-lawyer also protected the Trump family, including by reassuring the ex-president’s wife, Melania, that her husband had been faithful, NYT reported.

Cohen once called himself Trump’s “spokesman, thug, pit bull and lawless lawyer.” As Trump’s personal attorney, he was aware of the Republican’s business and personal life, knowing “all his secrets”, as per CNN.

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Cohen, once one of Trump’s loyalists, wrote in the book, “I know where the skeletons are buried because I was the one who buried them.”

He testified before the US Congress in 2017 that he had made approximately 500 threats on behalf of Trump, as per NYT.

From ally to foe

Cohen had a falling out with Trump in 2018 when the FBI raided the former’s home and office. After this, the then-US president began distancing himself from his lawyer.

Cohen claims he paid Daniels ’ attorney $130,000 from a shell company to keep her sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 a secret.

The heart of the hush money trial lies here: Cohen says that Trump, the then US president, repaid him for the hush money after the 2016 election. However, the Republican leader falsified records to disguise those payments as legal expenses, reported NYT.

Trump denies any role in falsifying the records and rejects the claim that he had sex with the porn star.

Why Cohen could be targeted

Cohen’s criminal past is bound to be used by Trump’s defence in disregarding his witness testimony before the jurors.

The ex-lawyer has admitted to lying before the Congress about a Trump Organization real estate project in Moscow, saying he did it for his former boss.

In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to violating tax law but has now claimed he did not commit the crime, reported Reuters.

Cohen has also acknowledged arranging illegal campaign donations in the form of hush money payments.

As per AP, he said in his 2018 sentencing that his “blind loyalty” to Trump made him feel “it was my duty to cover up his dirty deeds, rather than to listen to my own inner voice and my moral compass.”

The ex-lawyer has already spent over a year in federal prison for paying the hush money and other crimes.

Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche has implied that Cohen sought revenge as he did not get any role in the then-Republican president’s new administration in 2017.

“He criticises President Trump. He has talked extensively about his desire to see President Trump go to prison. He has talked extensively about his desire to see President Trump’s family go to prison. He has talked extensively about President Trump getting convicted in this case,” Blanche said, as per CNN.

Trump also portrays his former ally as a “convicted liar”.

According to CNN, Cohen has tried to counter these claims that he is seeking revenge by indicating he is after redemption and wants to warn the public about the dangers of electing Trump as president in November.

The allies-turned-foes have also viciously targeted each other on social media. Cohen’s remarks against Trump could be used by his defence to portray the ex-lawyer as an “agenda-driven witness out for revenge”, noted AP. 

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Cohen’s key testimony

Cohen’s testimony could make Trump the first ex-US president to be convicted of a crime.

Trump is facing 34 felony counts and has pleaded not guilty. He alleges the case is a politically motivated attempt to interfere with his 2024 election campaign.

After his election as US president in 2016, Trump is accused of chalking out a plan to reimburse Cohen for the hush money payment in installments, disguising them as legal service bills. “The defendant falsified those business records because he wanted to conceal his and others’ criminal conduct,” Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said in his opening statement at the  trail, as per CNN.

Trump’s defence maintains Cohen was paid for legal work, claiming the agreements he facilitated with Daniels and others were not illegal.

The outcome of this trial is sure to have effects beyond the court. As CNN noted, Trump will use any acquittal to claim all cases against him lack merit.

On the other hand, he might lose the support of some Republicans if he is convicted, according to some polls.

With inputs from agencies