Donald Trump was aware of payments to cover up “catastrophic” sex scandals during the 2016 presidential campaign, his former lawyer Michael Cohen accused on Monday, during shock testimony at the trial in New York of the former US president.
The one who was loyal to Donald Trump, but now swears his downfall, also claimed to have lied, intimidated and threatened on behalf of his former boss, during a tense hearing in the courtroom of the Manhattan criminal court.
At the heart of the affair: hidden payments in 2016 to a porn star, Stormy Daniels.
First nervous, then speaking quickly and calmly, Michael Cohen described one by one the steps that led him to pay $130,000 via the account of a shell company to this actress and director of pornographic films , real name Stephanie Clifford.
According to the sworn account given by this ex-lawyer, candidate Trump gave him the green light to pay Stormy Daniels and promised to reimburse him: “Absolutely, do it” and “don’t worry, you will get your money back,” Mr. Cohen said, quoting the ex-president, just before the November 2016 presidential election.
“Women will hate me”
Donald Trump, who was going to face Hillary Clinton, even told her about supposed extramarital affairs: “It’s a disaster (…) women are going to hate me.”
“He asked me to work with (a press boss at the time of a tabloid, David Pecker) to (…) stop this,” said Mr. Cohen in reference to this “catch and kill” process. purchase of stories by tabloid newspapers to “kill” them.
After the raw account delivered eight hours last week by Stormy Daniels about a sexual encounter in 2006 with Donald Trump – which he denies – the testimony of Michael Cohen, which should continue on Tuesday, is a key moment in this historic trial in heavy political issues.
At 77, the Republican candidate for the White House faces the first criminal conviction – possibly accompanied by a prison sentence – of a former president in the history of the United States.
This would not prevent him from running on November 5, 2024 against Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden.
” Yes Madam “
Did the former lawyer, who at the time did not deny Donald Trump’s nickname of “pitbull” with which he was given, already “lie” and “intimidate” to protect his former boss?
“Yes Madam” the prosecutor. “This is what had to be done to accomplish the tasks,” he justified.
Donald Trump remained impassive, listening to his ex-accomplice, sometimes a little slumped in his chair.
The two men who had a tenacious hatred for each other did not exchange a glance.
Michael Cohen also implicated Donald Trump by claiming that he was aware of payments to a Playboy model, Karen McDougal, to keep her silent because of an alleged affair.
Donald Trump reportedly asked him to “make sure” that the story “doesn’t get out.” The jury was again able to hear the audio recording of a private conversation where the two men discuss a payment to Ms. McDougal.
“Legal costs”
After Michael Cohen himself paid Stormy Daniels $130,000, Donald Trump reimbursed him in 2017 while he was president.
According to the prosecution, this had been disguised as “legal fees” in the accounts of the family’s real estate holding company, the Trump Organization. The objective was to hide that the money had been used to cover up this scandal, since Mr. Trump had been married to Melania since 2006.
The billionaire is being prosecuted for 34 accounting falsification offenses, which could theoretically earn him up to a prison sentence.
When the affair was revealed by the Wall Street Journal in 2018, Michael Cohen said he paid Stormy Daniels on his own initiative, without informing Donald Trump.
Caught by the law, the man who once prided himself on being ready “to take a bullet for Donald Trump” turned against him, claiming to have acted under his orders.
He pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, making false statements to Congress and violating campaign finance laws, the latter offense being directly linked to the payment to Stormy Daniels. Sentenced to three years in prison, he spent a year behind bars.
The former lawyer is expected to be subjected to a barrage of questions on Tuesday from the defense, which has portrayed him as a pathological liar.
