Trump’s ex-lawyer admits to cheating on him. Will this affect the jury’s decision?
Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, has admitted in court that he cheated Trump out of a significant amount of money in the past, reports Spiegel. Cohen, who is playing a central role in the hush money trial against Trump, said he should have paid $50,000 to a technology company. In fact, he only paid $20,000 and kept the rest for himself.
The Trump Organization reimbursed him $100,000 for the transactions. When asked whether he stole from Trump, Der Spiegel quotes Cohen as saying: “Yes, sir.” Cohen justifies his behavior with displeasure over a cut in his annual bonus after he advanced hush money for porn star Stormy Daniels out of his own pocket.
Der Spiegel adds that the lawsuit accuses Trump of falsifying corporate records related to the payment to Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. Cohen paid the hush money to prevent revelations about an alleged 2006 sexual affair. Trump has admitted repaying Cohen but denies the affair and the charges. He claims the proceedings are politically motivated.
There are questions about whether Cohen’s confession to stealing from Trump calls into question his credibility with the jury. They will ultimately have to decide whether Trump will be found guilty in the first trial of its kind against a former US president. If Trump is convicted of document falsification, he could face up to four years in prison or a fine.