The hush-money trial involving Donald Trump is at a crucial and complex stage, with the former president facing 34 counts of falsifying business records. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stem from payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to keep quiet about an alleged affair before the 2016 election. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has increased the charges to felony counts, accusing Trump of trying to conceal an election campaign violation. Cohen is set to take the stand in the trial, and his testimony is expected to be a key moment in the case.
Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance noted the complexity of Cohen’s testimony in her analysis of the trial. She mentioned that Cohen’s prior convictions could impact both sides of the case, with Trump’s legal team potentially trying to discredit him and the prosecution using pre-corroborated evidence to support his testimony. Questions about Cohen’s character are likely to arise during the proceedings, with Trump’s team attempting to paint him as unreliable. However, Vance suggested that attacking Cohen’s character may backfire if he is found to be credible in his testimony regarding the charges against Trump.
Cohen has a history of legal issues, including pleading guilty to lying to Congress and committing perjury during Trump’s civil fraud trial. Judge Jesse Furman ruled that Cohen may have committed perjury when he denied committing tax evasion despite pleading guilty to charges in 2018. Cohen’s previous statements could be used to undermine his credibility during the trial, but the prosecution has pre-corroborated his testimony with documents and other witnesses. The defense may attempt to portray Cohen as untrustworthy, but his credibility with respect to the pertinent facts may ultimately determine the impact of his testimony.
Attorney John J. Perlstein suggested that attacking Cohen’s character may not be effective and could even backfire for Trump’s legal team in the hush-money trial. He emphasized that the key issue is whether Cohen is believed by the jury, regardless of his personal likability. Perlstein predicted that Cohen’s credibility regarding the information related to the charges against Trump would be crucial in the trial. Despite any attempts to discredit him, Cohen’s testimony, supported by evidence and other witnesses, could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the case. The trial is entering a critical phase, with Cohen’s testimony expected to shed light on key aspects of the alleged hush-money payments made by Trump’s former lawyer.
