NEW DELHI: A day after Michael Cohen, who was previously the lawyer of ex-President Donald Trump, gave testimony against his former boss, he underwent a rigorous cross-examination by the defense attorneys in the hush money trial on Tuesday, as reported by CNN.
Cohen admitted in one of the major takeaways that he desires for Trump to be convicted in the case.
As the fiery cross-examination started, Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche asked Cohen about comments he made on social media, including one in which he said “Trump belongs in a cage’.
On being asked if he wanted Trump to be convicted, Cohen answered “sure’, according to CNN.
The former Trump aide admitted that he continued to pressure people like attorney Keith Davidson in 2018 to lie about the deals with Karen McDougal and adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He said he continued to lie “out of loyalty and in order to protect him (Trump).”
Recalling being raided by the FBI in 2018, Cohen said he was “concerned, despondent, angry’. He asserted that when he discussed the case with Trump, Trump reassured him, leading Cohen to remain in Trump’s camp.
Trump said, ‘”Don’t worry. I’m the president of the United States,”” according to Cohen.
Speaking about Trump, Cohen said he “admired him tremendously.” But, he later acknowledged that he changed his views about his former boss when Trump’s attorney pointed out Cohen’s 2019 comments to Congress that Trump had potentially committed a variety of financial crimes.
Describing his fallout, Cohen said he pleaded guilty after talking to his family and deciding he “would not lie for President Trump anymore.”
Meanwhile, Cohen is scheduled to be the final witness to testify for the prosecution according to CNN’s report citing the court transcript.
Blanche said he expects the cross-examination of Cohen “will continue until the end of the day Thursday,” according to the transcript. Blanche also mentioned that it is uncertain whether Trump would testify.
Earlier on Monday, Cohen, while testifying in the case, admitted that he “lied and bullied’ on behalf of his former boss. He also said that Trump authorised the payment of “hush money’.
It is important to mention that Trump desired to lift the restriction on him in the criminal trial related to hush money, but a New York appeals court rejected it. Trump said that the gag order implemented by Judge Juan Merchan is “unfair’ to him and should be lifted.
Trump faces allegations of tampering with business documents connected to a payment agreement with a pornographic film star before the 2016 election. Trump, however, has pleaded not guilty, denying any such encounter and calling the charges “politically motivated.”
According to the prosecutors’ explanation, Donald Trump avoided campaign finance laws by sending $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels through his attorney Michael Cohen, and then falsely stating that the money given to Cohen was for legal services.
(With inputs from agencies)
Cohen admitted in one of the major takeaways that he desires for Trump to be convicted in the case.
As the fiery cross-examination started, Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche asked Cohen about comments he made on social media, including one in which he said “Trump belongs in a cage’.
On being asked if he wanted Trump to be convicted, Cohen answered “sure’, according to CNN.
The former Trump aide admitted that he continued to pressure people like attorney Keith Davidson in 2018 to lie about the deals with Karen McDougal and adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He said he continued to lie “out of loyalty and in order to protect him (Trump).”
Recalling being raided by the FBI in 2018, Cohen said he was “concerned, despondent, angry’. He asserted that when he discussed the case with Trump, Trump reassured him, leading Cohen to remain in Trump’s camp.
Trump said, ‘”Don’t worry. I’m the president of the United States,”” according to Cohen.
Speaking about Trump, Cohen said he “admired him tremendously.” But, he later acknowledged that he changed his views about his former boss when Trump’s attorney pointed out Cohen’s 2019 comments to Congress that Trump had potentially committed a variety of financial crimes.
Describing his fallout, Cohen said he pleaded guilty after talking to his family and deciding he “would not lie for President Trump anymore.”
Meanwhile, Cohen is scheduled to be the final witness to testify for the prosecution according to CNN’s report citing the court transcript.
Blanche said he expects the cross-examination of Cohen “will continue until the end of the day Thursday,” according to the transcript. Blanche also mentioned that it is uncertain whether Trump would testify.
Earlier on Monday, Cohen, while testifying in the case, admitted that he “lied and bullied’ on behalf of his former boss. He also said that Trump authorised the payment of “hush money’.
It is important to mention that Trump desired to lift the restriction on him in the criminal trial related to hush money, but a New York appeals court rejected it. Trump said that the gag order implemented by Judge Juan Merchan is “unfair’ to him and should be lifted.
Trump faces allegations of tampering with business documents connected to a payment agreement with a pornographic film star before the 2016 election. Trump, however, has pleaded not guilty, denying any such encounter and calling the charges “politically motivated.”
According to the prosecutors’ explanation, Donald Trump avoided campaign finance laws by sending $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels through his attorney Michael Cohen, and then falsely stating that the money given to Cohen was for legal services.
(With inputs from agencies)