During the ongoing trial involving Donald Trump in Manhattan, Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for the ex-president, has provided crucial testimony linking a hush-money arrangement in 2016 directly to Trump.
Cohen revealed that he communicated with Trump immediately after transferring $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, stating that this was just one instance of many where he acted “at the direction of and for the benefit” of Trump.
Trump, who faces multiple charges including business fraud, has pleaded not guilty to the allegations against him.
Prosecutors argue that the payment to Daniels, intended to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump, and subsequent attempts to conceal it, constitute election interference.
In court, Cohen detailed how Trump approved the repayment plan during a meeting with him and Allen Weisselberg, Trump’s top financial officer.
Weisselberg outlined a reimbursement scheme involving several payments, disguised as legal retainers, totaling far more than the initial $130,000.
Cohen’s testimony, anticipated for weeks, marks a significant moment in the trial, potentially influencing Trump’s future political aspirations.
His statements could corroborate allegations of Trump’s involvement in the reimbursement scheme and shed light on his motives for potential fraud, according to prosecutors.
Cohen also recounted Trump’s instructions to handle other hush-money payments and manage negative publicity, indicating a pattern of behavior aimed at protecting Trump’s image and political ambitions.
Outside the courtroom, Trump criticized the trial as politically motivated, while his supporters denounced Cohen’s testimony as part of a Democratic agenda.
Despite attempts by Trump’s lawyers to distance him from the payment, Cohen’s testimony stands as a pivotal moment in the trial, potentially shaping its outcome.
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