During the trial, Trump attorney Todd Blanche raised questions about the credibility of Michael Cohen's testimony regarding conversations with Trump concerning the Karen McDougal deal. Blanche pointed out discrepancies between Cohen's account and statements made by ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.
Blanche emphasized Pecker's testimony that Trump had told him, 'I don’t buy stories,' which contradicted Cohen's claim that Trump assured him, 'no problem I will take care of it.' Blanche questioned the veracity of these conflicting accounts, highlighting the fact that neither the Trump Organization nor President Trump had paid Pecker for the McDougal stories.
Blanche specifically challenged Cohen's assertion about a lunch meeting with Pecker in September 2016, during which Cohen alleged that Pecker mentioned needing to retrieve money. Blanche adamantly stated, 'That lunch did not happen. Cohen made it up,' casting doubt on the validity of Cohen's testimony.
Blanche further argued that even if Pecker had simply forgotten about the alleged lunch, there was no concrete evidence to support Cohen's claim, such as a credit card receipt or other documentation.
The defense's efforts to undermine Cohen's credibility and raise doubts about the accuracy of his statements regarding conversations with Trump and Pecker are central to the ongoing legal proceedings. The conflicting narratives presented by the defense and prosecution underscore the complexity of the case and the challenges of establishing the truth amidst differing accounts.
