Legal analyst Norm Eisen commended Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for his handling of key witness Michael Cohen in the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump. Eisen praised Bragg for managing the jury’s expectations by eliciting criticism of Cohen from every witness, which helped suppress the jury and the judge’s expectations. By presenting Cohen in this way, the district attorney effectively played the expectation game to his advantage, similar to how candidates in a presidential debate aim to suppress expectations. Eisen highlighted the strategic approach taken by Bragg and his team in setting the stage for Cohen’s testimony.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani also commended Bragg’s office for their approach in presenting Cohen as a witness. By eliciting negative testimony from Cohen during their own examination, Bragg’s office was able to reduce the impact of this information when it came out during cross-examination. This tactic also demonstrates to the jurors that the prosecution is not hiding any evidence, even if it is unfavorable to their case. Despite attempts by Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche to discredit Cohen as a witness by highlighting his past grievances with the former president, the prosecution has presented hard evidence against Trump, including a secret recording of a conversation between Cohen and Trump discussing a hush money payment.
Cohen, who previously served as Trump’s attorney and personal “fixer,” has become a vocal critic of his former boss since pleading guilty to federal charges in 2018. By lowering expectations for Cohen while corroborating his testimony with hard evidence such as recordings and documents related to the hush money payments, the prosecution has effectively made the best use of their star witness. Rahmani noted that despite Cohen’s unlikeable past and history of lying, the prosecution has presented a compelling case against Trump by using independent evidence to support Cohen’s testimony.
The hush money trial against Trump revolves around allegations that he falsified financial documents to conceal his reimbursement of a $130,000 hush payment made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 criminal felony counts tied to this case and denies all allegations against him, including the alleged affair with Daniels. The prosecution is working to build a strong case against Trump by using Cohen’s testimony, along with other evidence including recordings and documents related to the hush money payments.
Despite challenges in presenting Cohen as a witness due to his history and credibility issues, the prosecution has strategically managed the expectations of the jury and the judge through their examination of Cohen and the presentation of corroborating evidence. By taking a proactive approach in eliciting negative testimony from Cohen and using independent evidence to support his claims, the prosecution has strengthened their case against Trump. The trial is ongoing, with Cohen expected to continue his testimony in the coming days as the prosecution seeks to prove the criminal charges against the former president. Through their careful presentation of evidence and witnesses, the prosecution is working to secure a conviction in this high-profile case.
