NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen, once a loyalist who vowed to take a bullet for Donald Trump, has now become prosecutors’ star witness in the former president’s hush money trial. As Cohen prepares to testify this week, he brings with him a complicated history with Trump, having served as his personal attorney before facing federal investigations that led to his own felony convictions and prison time. Despite his past dishonesty, Cohen is expected to address the jury as someone who has paid for his misdeeds and now offers an insider’s view of the dealings central to the case.
Cohen’s new persona as a Trump critic, through a podcast, books, and social media posts, adds another layer of complexity to his credibility as a witness. While prosecutors have other evidence against Trump and portray Cohen as just one piece of the puzzle, Trump’s defense argues that Cohen’s admitted lies and criminal past make him an unreliable witness seeking revenge. Prosecutors will have to ensure Cohen remains forthright and reins in his commentary to avoid the trial becoming “the Michael Cohen show.”
Despite his tarnished credibility, prosecutors maintain that Cohen’s past mistakes do not detract from his ability to tell the truth in this case. While Trump’s lawyer emphasized Cohen’s obsession with the former president and past lies under oath, prosecutors have highlighted Trump’s own violations of a gag order in relation to the case. As Cohen takes the stand, the trial will likely continue to focus on whether jurors can believe his testimony despite his troubled past.
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