Michael Cohen testified in New York on Monday regarding the hush money agreement with Stormy Daniels in 2016, alleging that the main reason for the agreement was to benefit former President Trump’s campaign. Cohen, who was Trump’s attorney at the time, stated that Trump’s focus was on the campaign and not on his wife, Melania. This testimony was given during Trump’s criminal trial, where Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused Trump of falsifying records related to the payment made to Daniels. In order to prove felonies, Bragg must demonstrate that Trump conspired with Cohen to make the payment and knowingly violated election laws.
Cohen, known as Trump’s “fixer,” negotiated the settlement with Daniels’ attorney, paying her $130,000 for her silence about an alleged encounter with Trump. Cohen’s testimony provided insight into Trump’s motives when the scandal emerged before the election, revealing Trump’s concern about the impact on his campaign. Despite Trump’s apparent preference for delaying the payment until after the election, Cohen made the payment shortly before the election, with Trump reimbursing him later through a payment plan arranged by Allen Weisselberg.
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to violating campaign finance laws related to the payment to Daniels. The Department of Justice chose not to prosecute Trump in connection with this matter. Defense attorneys are preparing to challenge Cohen’s credibility during cross-examination, focusing on his criminal past and his strained relationship with Trump following his prosecution in 2018.
