Michael Cohen, the disgraced former lawyer of President Donald Trump, is set to take the witness stand on Monday in what is being called the "hush money" case against the former president. While Cohen's testimony is highly anticipated by those eager to see Trump face legal consequences, his credibility as a witness is likely to come under intense scrutiny during cross-examination by the defense team.
Cohen's role in the alleged scheme to arrange payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal before the 2016 election has been well-documented. Both women claimed to have had brief affairs with Trump more than a decade ago, and the payments were allegedly made to prevent their stories from becoming public knowledge during the campaign.
Last week, Daniels herself took the stand and provided graphic details of an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. However, many legal experts have argued that her testimony, while salacious, did little to bolster the prosecution's case against the former president.
At the heart of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case is the accusation that Trump falsified business records to conceal "unlawful activity" related to the payments, with the alleged goal of improperly influencing the 2016 election. The prosecution claims that reimbursements made to Cohen after he paid Daniels were part of this effort to hide the true nature of the payments.
Cohen's upcoming testimony has been the subject of much speculation, particularly given his history of publicly criticizing and commenting on Trump's behavior. Some observers have raised concerns about a potential double standard, as Trump himself has been under a gag order throughout the trial, while Cohen has been free to speak openly about the case. Judge Juan Merchan has thus far refused to impose a similar gag order on Cohen, although he did request that prosecutors inform the witness that he should refrain from discussing the trial or Trump.
As Cohen prepares to take the stand, the trial has already appeared to be a challenging one for the prosecution. Several key witnesses, including former Trump communications aide Hope Hicks, have provided testimony that seems to undermine Bragg's central argument that the payments were made primarily to influence the election. Hicks, for example, stated that Trump's main motivation was to spare his wife and family from the embarrassing accusations made by Daniels.
Other witnesses, such as David Pecker, the former CEO of the National Enquirer, and Keith Davidson, the former lawyer for both Daniels and McDougal, have also provided testimony that challenges the facts presented in the indictment. Pecker acknowledged that his arrangement with Trump predated the 2016 election and was a "mutually beneficial relationship," while Davidson stated that the payments were part of a "civil settlement agreement" rather than a "payoff" or "hush money."
Cohen's own credibility as a witness has also come under fire in recent weeks. Memos reviewed by Just the News and reported in early March reveal that Cohen repeatedly insisted to his own attorney in 2018 that he had no incriminating evidence against Trump related to the hush money payments. These statements appear to contradict Cohen's public claims and the testimony he is expected to provide in the current trial.
Furthermore, Cohen's previous convictions for lying to Congress, tax evasion, and bank fraud are likely to be used by the defense to cast doubt on his reliability as a witness. Another potential blow to his credibility stems from an incident last year in which Cohen and his lawyer were reprimanded by a federal judge for submitting a court filing that included three fake citations generated by an AI tool. Although they were not formally sanctioned, the incident raises questions about Cohen's attention to detail and truthfulness in legal matters.
Trump's legal team has already sought to block Cohen's testimony based on his prior perjury conviction and allegations that he lied during Trump's civil fraud trial last year. In a surprising development, another judge reviewing Cohen's request for early release suggested that he may have committed perjury once again during his testimony in that trial.
As the "hush money" case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how much weight will be given to Cohen's testimony and whether the prosecution will be able to overcome the credibility issues surrounding their key witness. Critics of the case argue that it is politically motivated and that the charges against Trump are flimsy at best, while supporters believe that the former president must be held accountable for his alleged wrongdoings.
Regardless of the outcome, the trial has already generated significant media attention and has the potential to impact Trump's political future as he continues to hint at another run for the presidency in 2024. As the nation watches the proceedings closely, it is clear that the "hush money" case will be a defining moment in the ongoing saga of Donald Trump's legal troubles.
He’s a paid off joke. No credibility or spine.
Michael Cohen's credibility is only worth something if they think he is going to say Trump knew more than he did or made him do something against his will. Either way, the rest of the world knows he is a compulsive LIAR and anything he has to say at this point is going to be something to ease his prison time. He is a 'What do you want me to say" kind of person and will never be credible.