In the ongoing court proceedings, the focus is on Susan Hoffinger's questioning of Michael Cohen to assess his credibility. Cohen, a non-party subpoenaed witness, clarified that he is not on trial, unlike in 2018 when he faced tax charges. The prosecuting attorney probed Cohen about his work for the Trump Organization, specifically questioning the absence of a retainer agreement during his tenure.
The crux of the matter revolves around a $420,000 payment and whether it was related to legal services or part of a repayment scheme. Cohen affirmed that the payment in question, allegedly used to reimburse him for hush money paid to Stormy Daniels, was not for legal services rendered in 2017. He admitted to never expecting payment upon transitioning from an employee to Trump's personal attorney.
Hoffinger pressed Cohen on the authenticity of invoices submitted to the Trump Organization, each claiming to be for services under a retainer agreement. Cohen refuted these claims, stating that the invoices were false and that he never engaged Costello nor paid any fees to him.
The courtroom exchange shed light on the intricate financial dealings between Cohen, Trump, and the Trump Organization. Cohen's testimony underscored the convoluted nature of the transactions and the lack of formal agreements governing the financial arrangements.
