President Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, made shocking revelations during his final day of testimony when he admitted to stealing thousands of dollars from his former boss’s company. The admission came as part of a larger effort by Mr. Trump’s lawyers to highlight unsavory details about Cohen’s past conduct.
Under questioning from lead defense lawyer Todd Blanche, Cohen confessed to stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization. When asked directly if he had stolen from the company, Cohen replied without hesitation, “Yes, sir.”
The ongoing criminal trial, the first against a former U.S. president, is nearing its conclusion, with closing statements expected to take place next week. Mr. Trump is facing 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records, specifically for recording reimbursements to Cohen for a hush-money payment made to an adult film star as legal expenses. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Throughout the trial, Mr. Blanche has worked to discredit Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness, in the eyes of the jury. One key revelation highlighted during the testimony was Cohen’s reimbursement request for a payment to the tech company RedFinch. Despite owing the company $50,000, Cohen admitted to repaying only $20,000 and submitting a reimbursement request to the Trump Organization for the full $50,000.
Cohen explained that he inflated the reimbursement amount out of anger over a reduced bonus, describing it as an act of “self-help.” The trial also delved into Cohen’s $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, with documents showing how he was to be reimbursed for both the Daniels payout and his RedFinch expenses.
Despite being portrayed as motivated by greed, Cohen denied any financial benefit from a conviction, stating that it would actually provide him with more material to discuss in his books and podcasts centered around Mr. Trump. The trial also featured testimony from lawyer Robert Costello, who described Cohen’s behavior as “manic” during a federal investigation in 2018.
As the prosecution rested its case, it remains to be seen how the defense will continue to challenge Cohen’s credibility and the validity of the charges against Mr. Trump. The trial’s outcome could have significant implications for the former president and his alleged involvement in the hush-money payment scheme.
