Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers are pulling out all the stops in his ongoing trial, calling Robert Costello as their key defense witness to challenge the credibility of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney and the prosecution’s key witness. The courtroom drama escalated when Judge Juan Merchan cleared the courtroom after Costello made disparaging remarks towards him during his testimony. Costello, a longtime attorney to Rudy Giuliani, reached out to Cohen after news of his $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels became public, trying to act as a backchannel to communicate with Trump.
Prosecutors rested their case on Monday afternoon, with the defense calling Costello to the stand over their objections. Before the prosecution rested, Trump attorney Todd Blanche cross-examined Cohen for a third day, focusing on his involvement in the hush money scheme to pay off Daniels. Blanche highlighted Cohen’s admission that he stole $30,000 from the Trump Organization, alleging that Cohen inflated expenses to benefit himself. Cohen stood by his testimony that he spoke to Trump about the Daniels payment before the 2016 election, despite Blanche’s suggestions that they could have been discussing other matters.
Costello’s testimony came after he criticized Cohen’s testimony in a congressional hearing, where Cohen accused him of lying about Trump’s involvement in the Daniels payment. Costello maintained that Cohen told him multiple times that Trump was unaware of the payments, contradicting Cohen’s claims. Blanche also accused Cohen of lying under oath, but prosecutors noted that Cohen was not on trial and did not have a reason to lie in his testimony, emphasizing that he faced legal consequences for perjury in the past.
During the trial, Cohen revealed that he is working on a television show based on his life, titled “The Fixer,” where he will offer expertise and advice to contestants to solve their problems. The trial is expected to continue for at least another week, with closing arguments scheduled for after Memorial Day. Trump is facing 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records, which could result in fines and imprisonment if he is convicted. Legal experts have advised against Trump testifying in his defense, given the serious charges he is facing.
Cohen’s testimony has been crucial in detailing how he kept Trump informed about the payment to Daniels and alleging that Trump was involved in the scheme. The ex-president has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, denying any wrongdoing. The prosecution alleges that Trump orchestrated the payment to Daniels through the Trump Organization, falsely labeling them as business payments, which Trump denies. Blanche has used cross-examination to question Cohen’s credibility, pointing to his past criticisms of Trump and history of lying under oath as reasons to doubt his testimony.
As the trial continues, all eyes are on the developments in the courtroom as both sides present their arguments. The defense’s strategy to challenge Cohen’s credibility and the prosecution’s efforts to prove Trump’s involvement in the hush money scheme will be key aspects to watch. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for Trump’s future, as he faces serious legal consequences if convicted. Stay tuned for more updates on this high-stakes legal battle.
