Michael Cohen is set to face cross-examination in the New York versus Trump trial following his admission of lying to protect the former president during his testimony. The prosecution's last witness, Cohen, is expected to be questioned by former President Trump's defense attorneys when court resumes tomorrow.
Cohen confessed to several falsehoods while on the stand, including falsifying invoices to the Trump Organization to obtain reimbursement for payments to Stormy Daniels by disguising them as a monthly retainer. He also revealed using a bank account meant for management consulting to make hush money payments to Daniels, leading to federal charges in 2018. Additionally, Cohen admitted to delaying payment to Daniels during the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur in 2016 to ensure the issue would not impact the election.
Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yu criticized Cohen's credibility, citing his prior convictions for perjury and tax evasion. Yu suggested that attacking Cohen's credibility has been advantageous for the defense, given the Justice Department's decision not to rely on him as a witness.
Meanwhile, a New York State Appeals Court upheld a gag order on former President Trump, asserting that it does not infringe on his free speech rights. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who attended court with Trump, expressed support for the former president, denouncing the legal proceedings as 'lawfare' that undermines public trust in the justice system.
