Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, took the stand in the hush money trial on Tuesday, providing crucial testimony linking the former president to a scheme aimed at silencing damaging stories during his 2016 campaign. Cohen testified that all aspects of the hush money payments required Trump's approval, with the former president allegedly being directly involved in efforts to bury stories that could harm his campaign.
Cohen detailed how Trump was informed about payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal to prevent their stories from becoming public. He emphasized that his actions were carried out at the direction and for the benefit of Trump, who allegedly promised to reimburse him for the payments.
Despite Trump's denial of the alleged sexual encounters, Cohen's testimony shed light on the behind-the-scenes efforts to suppress damaging information. Prosecutors are relying heavily on Cohen's account to establish Trump's involvement in the hush money scheme, which forms the basis of multiple felony charges against the former president.
Trump's legal team is expected to challenge Cohen's credibility, highlighting his criminal past and portraying him as a vindictive witness with an agenda against the former president. However, prosecutors aim to counter these attacks by acknowledging Cohen's past crimes and presenting additional witnesses to support his testimony.
Cohen's testimony also revealed Trump's close involvement in the payment arrangements, including discussions about reimbursements and efforts to delay finalizing payments until after the election. The trial has provided insight into Trump's management style and hands-on approach to handling potentially damaging situations.
The trial continues to unfold as Cohen's testimony offers a glimpse into the inner workings of Trump's circle and the lengths taken to protect his image during the 2016 campaign.
