The ongoing criminal trial of former President Donald Trump over alleged hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels took a dramatic turn on Thursday as a recording of Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen was played. In the recording, Cohen is heard saying that Trump “hate(d) the fact that we did it,” in reference to the $130,000 payment made to Daniels. This marks the first time the jury heard Cohen’s voice, as he is expected to be a key witness for the prosecution in the trial.
During the recorded phone call between Cohen and Daniels’ lawyer, Keith Davidson, Cohen expressed Trump’s feelings about the hush money payment, stating, “I can’t even tell you how many times he said to me ‘I hate the fact that we did it.’” The New York Times reported that Davidson clarified to the prosecution that the comment was indeed about the payment to Daniels, indicating that Trump was aware of the deal. Cohen also mentioned in the recording that he told Trump, without naming him, that “every person you spoke to said it was the right thing to do,” in reference to the payment.
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to causing an unlawful campaign contribution by making the hush money payment to Daniels. Trump has continuously denied any wrongdoing, maintained that the payment was legal, and pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial has been ongoing for over two weeks in New York, where Trump faces 34 felony charges related to an alleged reimbursement to Cohen. Trump’s legal team has been working to discredit Cohen, claiming he is biased, untrustworthy, and cannot be trusted. Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, suggested in his opening statements that Cohen may be acting out of spite after being denied a position in Trump’s administration and that his livelihood depends on Trump’s downfall, as Cohen has written multiple books about him.
The revelation of the recorded phone call adds a new layer of insight into Trump’s knowledge and involvement in the hush money payment to Daniels. The fact that Cohen mentioned Trump’s disapproval of the payment in the recording could potentially impact the outcome of the trial. As the trial continues, it remains to be seen how this new information will shape the case against Trump and how his defense team will respond to these latest developments. The role of Cohen as a key witness for the prosecution also raises questions about the credibility of his testimony and the potential impact it could have on the final verdict in the case.
