Former President Donald Trump has been directly implicated in a hush money scheme by his former fixer, Michael Cohen. Cohen testified in court that Trump approved substantial payouts to suppress damaging stories about his personal life during his 2016 White House campaign. One incident involved a claim from a doorman that Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock. Trump’s response was, “You handle it,” and the doorman was paid $30,000 to keep the story quiet, even though it was eventually proven false. Another instance occurred when Cohen informed Trump that a Playboy model was alleging an extramarital affair with him. Trump’s order was clear: “Make sure it doesn’t get released.” The model, Karen McDougal, received $150,000 as part of a hush money arrangement after giving Trump a complete update on the situation. Cohen emphasized that he acted under Trump’s direction and for his benefit.
Cohen’s testimony is significant because he is the Manhattan district attorney’s key witness in this case, which could become the first criminal trial of a former American president. His insider knowledge of Trump’s activities could potentially increase the legal consequences for Trump if jurors find him credible. However, relying on a witness with a checkered past like Cohen comes with risks for prosecutors and may even benefit Trump politically as he uses his legal troubles to rally support and criticize the criminal justice system.
While other witnesses have discussed the practice of “catch-and-kill” in the tabloid industry, where stories are bought and suppressed, Cohen’s testimony is crucial due to his direct communication with Trump about preventing embarrassing stories from coming to light. In addition to payments made to the doorman and McDougal, another payment was made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from going public about a sexual encounter she claims to have had with Trump a decade earlier.
The reimbursements Cohen received for these payments form the basis of the charges against Trump, specifically 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors argue that the reimbursements were falsely recorded as legal expenses to conceal their true purpose. Cohen provided jurors with an insider account of his negotiations with David Pecker, the publisher of the National Enquirer, and the newspaper’s top editor to suppress damaging stories about Trump. This effort became more urgent after the release of the “Access Hollywood” recording in which Trump made vulgar remarks about women. The payment to Daniels was finalized a few weeks after this revelation, but much of Cohen’s testimony focused on the earlier deal with McDougal.
Pecker testified earlier that he pledged to be the “eyes and ears” of the Trump campaign and maintained a file drawer with documents related to Trump. Cohen testified that he immediately informed Trump when the National Enquirer alerted him to the McDougal story, and Trump instructed him to ensure it didn’t get released. Trump also checked in with Pecker about the situation, and Pecker assured him they had it under control. Cohen quoted Trump as saying, “No problem, I’ll take care of it,” indicating that the payments would be reimbursed.
To establish that these deals were done with Trump’s approval, prosecutors elicited testimony from Cohen that portrayed Trump as a hands-on manager who expected to be kept informed of troubling matters. Cohen emphasized that if Trump learned of an issue through another source, it wouldn’t bode well for those involved.
The defense is preparing for a rigorous cross-examination of Cohen, aiming to portray him as an unreliable witness with an agenda against Trump. Despite this, Cohen’s testimony solidifies the breakdown of their once close relationship. Cohen famously stated that he would “take a bullet for Trump,” but after his home and office were raided by the FBI in 2018, their relationship deteriorated. Trump publicly distanced himself from Cohen, calling him an “admitted liar” and predicting that he wouldn’t turn against him. However, Cohen ultimately pleaded guilty to federal charges related to campaign finance violations and implicated Trump. Since then, Cohen has become a vocal critic of Trump, further damaging their relationship.
Moving forward, defense lawyers are expected to exploit the challenges that come with a witness like Cohen. They will likely emphasize his lack of trustworthiness and paint him as vindictive and driven by personal motives. Despite these potential attacks, Cohen’s testimony provides valuable insider information and adds weight to the prosecution’s case. The trial will undoubtedly continue to captivate the public’s attention as it enters its final stages.
