Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified again in Manhattan yesterday against the former president on day 17 of the hush money trial.
Cohen recounted a White House meeting in 2017 where he claimed he and Trump discussed a reimbursement strategy for a payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress. The ex-attorney has insisted he made the $130,000 payment on Trump’s orders to prevent Daniels from publicly disclosing a sexual encounter she claims she had with the former president. Trump has claimed it never happened. While it’s not illegal to make payments to a porn star, it is illegal under New York state law to falsify business records about that or any other type of transaction.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and several senators were outside the courtroom to voice their support. Some of their names have been floated as potential vice presidential contenders on a ticket led by Trump.
“President Trump is a friend, and I wanted to be here to support him. I’m here speaking with you outside because the court won’t allow us to speak inside the building,” Johnson said.
Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, spent about two hours cross-examining Cohen in an attempt to undermine his accusations against Trump. He highlighted Cohen’s “obsession” with Trump due to the latest social media references and the sale on Cohen’s website of a T-shirt of Trump behind bars. Cohen ended up corroborating that the payments were made and that the records were falsified.
Trump is on trial fighting 34 counts of falsifying business records.
The trial will resume on Thursday, when Blanche will continue to cross-examine Cohen.
