In the final month of the campaign, Michael Cohen hashed out a deal with Ms. Daniels to keep her silent about her affair with Donald Trump. However, David Pecker, CEO of American Media, refused to pay her, putting the onus on Trump, and subsequently Cohen, to handle the situation. Cohen tried to stall the payment by making excuses, even resorting to using Yom Kippur as a reason for delaying. When Daniels threatened to walk away, Cohen paid her out of his own pocket to keep her quiet. He believed he was doing all he could to protect his boss, as he had done for a long time.
Despite Cohen’s efforts, Trump did not offer him a job in Washington or a substantial bonus after winning the election. This angered Cohen, who felt he deserved more for his loyalty. Cohen expressed his frustration to the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, who promised to increase the bonus and reimburse him for the hush money paid to Daniels. Weisselberg drafted a plan which Cohen testified was approved by Trump.
Cohen’s frustrations with Trump came to a head when he felt he was not adequately rewarded for his loyalty. He testified that Weisselberg had drafted a plan to increase his bonus and reimburse him for the hush money paid to Daniels, which Trump approved. Cohen believed he had done everything in his power to protect his boss and was disappointed when he did not receive the recognition and compensation he felt he deserved.
The tensions between Cohen and Trump escalated when Cohen was not awarded a job in Washington and received what he considered to be a small bonus. He voiced his displeasure to Weisselberg, who assured him that Trump would increase the bonus and reimburse him for the hush money paid to Daniels. Weisselberg created a plan, which Cohen testified was approved by Trump.
Despite initially refusing to pay Ms. Daniels, Michael Cohen eventually paid her out of his own pocket when she threatened to walk away. Cohen believed he was following orders to protect his boss, Donald Trump. This payment, along with Cohen’s frustrations over not being adequately rewarded for his loyalty, came to a head during the final months of the campaign. Cohen testified that Allen Weisselberg drafted a plan, approved by Trump, to increase Cohen’s bonus and reimburse him for the hush money paid to Daniels.
