Michael Cohen must speak in hush money case.
Michael Cohen, a once close confidant to former President Donald Trump, is set to take the stand as a key witness in Trump’s hush money trial. Identified as a crucial witness for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, Cohen’s involvement has generated significant attention since the commencement of witness testimonies on April 22.
For those following the trial, here are some essential points to keep in mind ahead of Cohen’s highly anticipated testimony.
❓What was his relationship to Trump?
Cohen served as Trump’s attorney for over a decade at the Trump Organization, starting in 2006. During his time in this position, he earned a reputation as Trump’s “fixer” for his role in handling and concealing Trump’s legal issues.
Initially introduced to Trump in 2006 by Donald Trump Jr., Cohen swiftly rose to the role of executive vice president at the Trump Organization and acted as a special counsel to Trump. In a 2017 interview with Vanity Fair, Cohen expressed deep loyalty to Trump, stating that he was willing to “take a bullet” for him.
💸 What’s Cohen’s role in the hush money trial?
Cohen disclosed that just before the 2016 presidential election, he made a payment of $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The payment was intended to prevent Daniels from publicizing an alleged affair she had with Trump in 2006 to major media outlets, aiming to safeguard Trump’s presidential prospects.
According to Cohen, Trump reimbursed him for the payment following his presidency through a shell company created specifically for this purpose. Prosecutors allege that Trump misrepresented these payments as legal services in falsified documentation. The 34 counts of falsified records regarding these payments form the basis of the charges against Trump.
As Cohen prepares to testify in Trump’s trial, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on his disclosures and the potential impact of his testimony on the proceedings.
