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| Michael Cohen (File Photo) |
By Onil Osman
Former President Donald Trump’s longtime attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, took the stand Tuesday as a key witness in the trial of a former Trump Organization employee charged with illegally helping funnel secret payments to two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump.
Cohen testified that he arranged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, both of whom alleged affairs with Trump, in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election. He said the payments were made at Trump's direction to buy their silence.
The trial revolves around charges against Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s longtime chief financial officer. He is accused of orchestrating a scheme to evade taxes on $1.7 million in income, including the payments to the two women, by disguising them as legitimate business expenses.
Cohen's testimony is crucial as he was intimately involved in the transactions and has already pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme. He has been cooperating with investigators and providing information about Trump and his business dealings.
During his testimony, Cohen detailed how he worked with Weisselberg to create invoices for services that were never performed in order to justify the payments to Daniels and McDougal. He also described conversations he had with Trump about the scheme, alleging that Trump was fully aware of and approved the payments.
The defense argued that Cohen is not a credible witness, pointing to his previous conviction for lying to Congress and his motivation to cooperate with prosecutors in order to receive a reduced sentence.
Cohen's testimony is expected to be a focal point of the trial, providing insight into the inner workings of the Trump Organization and potentially implicating Trump himself in the illegal scheme. It could also have broader implications for Trump's political future as he continues to face legal challenges and investigations.
The trial comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for Trump and his associates, with multiple investigations ongoing into various aspects of his business dealings and personal conduct. It also adds to the legal woes facing the former president, who is already facing multiple lawsuits and investigations related to his time in office.
As Cohen continues to testify, all eyes are on the courtroom to see how his testimony will impact the trial and potentially the future of Trump and those around him.
Former President Donald Trump’s longtime attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, took the stand Tuesday as a key witness in the trial of a former Trump Organization employee charged with illegally helping funnel secret payments to two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump.
Cohen testified that he arranged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, both of whom alleged affairs with Trump, in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election. He said the payments were made at Trump's direction to buy their silence.
The trial revolves around charges against Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s longtime chief financial officer. He is accused of orchestrating a scheme to evade taxes on $1.7 million in income, including the payments to the two women, by disguising them as legitimate business expenses.
Cohen's testimony is crucial as he was intimately involved in the transactions and has already pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme. He has been cooperating with investigators and providing information about Trump and his business dealings.
During his testimony, Cohen detailed how he worked with Weisselberg to create invoices for services that were never performed in order to justify the payments to Daniels and McDougal. He also described conversations he had with Trump about the scheme, alleging that Trump was fully aware of and approved the payments.
The defense argued that Cohen is not a credible witness, pointing to his previous conviction for lying to Congress and his motivation to cooperate with prosecutors in order to receive a reduced sentence.
Cohen's testimony is expected to be a focal point of the trial, providing insight into the inner workings of the Trump Organization and potentially implicating Trump himself in the illegal scheme. It could also have broader implications for Trump's political future as he continues to face legal challenges and investigations.
The trial comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for Trump and his associates, with multiple investigations ongoing into various aspects of his business dealings and personal conduct. It also adds to the legal woes facing the former president, who is already facing multiple lawsuits and investigations related to his time in office.
As Cohen continues to testify, all eyes are on the courtroom to see how his testimony will impact the trial and potentially the future of Trump and those around him.
