Former Trump fixer Michael Cohen faced intense questioning from Trump attorney Todd Blanche during his testimony in the hush money case. Blanche portrayed Cohen as “obsessed” with former President Donald Trump, questioning whether his admiration for Trump bordered on obsession. Cohen, the star witness in the case, detailed his loyalty to Trump, including the payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels and the reimbursement he allegedly received. The defense began their cross-examination after Cohen’s testimony over the last two days.
Cohen, who admitted to admiring Trump tremendously and enjoying working for him, described himself as being “knee-deep into the cult of Donald Trump” during the 2016 election. Despite later regretting some of the actions he took for Trump, Cohen expressed that he did not regret working for the Trump Organization. Blanche confronted Cohen about positive comments he made about Trump, questioning the truth behind those statements. The two men engaged in a tense cross-examination, with Cohen presenting an aloof demeanor and offering evasive answers, frustrating Blanche.
Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to the hush money payment to Daniels. He has denied Daniels’ claims of a sexual encounter, and Cohen’s testimony is a pivotal part of the case. Cohen, who was introduced to Trump in 2006 through Trump’s son Don Jr., quickly became a self-described “fixer” for Trump, going to great lengths to show his allegiance to the former president. The hush money payment is central to the case, with Cohen detailing how he arranged it and was later reimbursed.
The cross-examination between Cohen and Blanche delved into the nature of Cohen’s loyalty to Trump and the extent of his involvement in the hush money payment. Cohen expressed admiration for Trump but also acknowledged that he violated his moral compass in some of the actions he took for his former boss. The trial is set to resume on Thursday with Cohen returning to the stand for the remainder of his cross-examination. Despite the combative nature of the questioning, Cohen’s testimony is crucial in shedding light on the events surrounding the hush money payment and its implications for Trump. The case continues to draw attention as it unfolds.
