In a historic trial, Michael Cohen, once a close associate of Donald Trump, testified on Monday, revealing Trump’s personal approval of hush money payments to silence a porn star’s allegations during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Cohen recounted Trump’s direct instruction to pay Stormy Daniels $130,000 to conceal an alleged affair, emphasizing Trump’s involvement in efforts to suppress scandalous stories.
The trial, now in its fifth week in a New York state criminal court, centers on the legality of these payments and potential campaign finance violations.
Cohen’s testimony portrayed Trump as deeply concerned about the potential fallout from Daniels’ story surfacing, especially following the notorious “Access Hollywood” tape release.
Trump’s defense asserts that the payments are aimed at protecting his family’s image, not influencing the campaign, though Cohen’s account suggests otherwise.
The former Trump aide also detailed other payments orchestrated to mitigate damaging stories, including a deal with National Enquirer to silence Playboy model Karen McDougal. Trump’s defense argues that Cohen acted independently, but Cohen maintains that all significant decisions required Trump’s approval.
Throughout the trial, Cohen’s testimony paints a picture of him as Trump’s “fixer,” tasked with resolving any issues that arose. Cohen’s guilty plea in 2018 for campaign finance violations related to these payments further solidifies his role in executing Trump’s directives.
As the trial progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Cohen’s revelations could have significant legal ramifications for Trump, who faces charges of falsifying business records tied to the reimbursements.
Despite Trump’s denials and claims of political bias, Cohen’s detailed account sheds light on the inner workings of Trump’s campaign and the extent of his involvement in efforts to suppress damaging information.
