One of Donald Trump’s closest White House aides concluded her testimony in his hush money trial, paving the way for key witness Michael Cohen to take the stand on Monday. Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, is expected to testify about a hush money agreement with Stormy Daniels and how Trump repaid him. Cohen’s testimony is crucial to prosecutors’ charges that Trump falsified business records by concealing the reimbursement to keep the payments hidden before the 2016 election. However, prosecutors introduced text messages and phone records into evidence for the jury, suggesting they could rest their case by the end of next week.
Cohen’s upcoming testimony implicates Trump in the hush money payment to Daniels and how he was reimbursed through retainer payments, at the heart of the charges against Trump. Cohen’s credibility with the jury is crucial for the prosecution, as he has faced federal charges in the past and changed his story about his interactions with Trump. Trump’s attorney requested that Cohen refrain from speaking about the trial and Trump, as he has been posting on social media attacking Trump. The judge sympathized with this position but stated he cannot gag witnesses in the case, though he will communicate a request to Cohen to refrain from making statements.
Trump exchanged smiles with his former White House assistant after her testimony concluded that he cares about his family and often multitasks while signing documents. She also testified about how personal mail was handled through a back channel rather than the White House system. The assistant distanced Trump from the Trump Organization’s CFO Allen Weisselberg during his time in office. Prosecutors introduced key text and call records into evidence to corroborate the charges against Trump regarding falsifying business records, including messages between Stormy Daniels’ manager and the National Enquirer editor about negotiations and payment for her story.
Prosecutors plan to rest their case after calling two more witnesses, potentially by the end of the following week. When the prosecution rests, it will be Trump’s turn to present his defense, which may depend on whether Trump himself takes the stand. The judge raised a potential curveball by considering allowing Weisselberg’s settlement agreement into evidence, despite objections from Trump’s lawyers. The lawyers argued that Weisselberg is a prejudicial witness currently in jail, but prosecutors believe the agreement explains his absence. The judge suggested bringing Weisselberg in without the jury present to see if he would invoke his Fifth Amendment rights, potentially extending the trial’s length.
