May 14, 2024,02:33pm EDT
Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen continued his testimony on Tuesday, marking his second day on the stand in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial. Cohen testified about the alleged mislabeling of reimbursement checks from the Trump Organization for his payment to Stormy Daniels. During cross-examination, Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, focused on Cohen’s social media posts criticizing Trump and his legal team, including a recent TikTok video where Cohen reportedly called Blanche a “crying little s—t.”
Key Facts:
- Cohen is a central witness in the trial, which centers on Trump’s alleged falsification of business records related to the reimbursement of Cohen’s payment to Daniels.
- Cohen testified that invoices he sent to the Trump Organization were falsely labeled as legal services, and check stubs indicated payments were part of a retainer agreement that didn’t exist.
- Trump continued to direct Cohen after the Daniels allegations surfaced, according to Cohen’s testimony, including involvement in a federal investigation and seeking a restraining order against Daniels.
- Blanche questioned Cohen about his social media comments, including calling Trump a “dictator douchebag” and referring to Blanche as a “crying little s—t.”
- Cohen agreed that he admired Trump while working for him, describing himself as “knee-deep into the cult of Donald Trump.”
- Cohen testified that he decided to cooperate with investigators against Trump after conversations with his family, who questioned his loyalty to Trump.
Crucial Quote: “I made a decision based again on the conversation I had with my family that I would not lie for President Trump anymore.” – Michael Cohen
Key Background: Cohen, once known as Trump’s loyal “fixer,” pleaded guilty to crimes including lying to Congress and campaign finance violations related to the Daniels payment. He has since become a vocal critic of Trump. Prosecutors allege that Trump’s payments to Cohen were falsely labeled as legal fees. The trial is expected to conclude soon, with Cohen serving as the final witness for the prosecution.