Former Trump attorney Jim Trustee, who has also been a federal prosecutor, and John Yoo, former deputy assistant attorney general and UC Berkeley law professor, provided insights on the recent testimony by Michael Cohen. Cohen's testimony has sparked differing opinions among legal experts.
Trustee criticized Cohen's credibility, labeling him as a failed cooperator, lawyer, and perjurer. He highlighted the tactical mistake of ending the testimony with Cohen, suggesting it played into the defense's hands. Yoo echoed Trustee's sentiments, emphasizing Cohen's credibility issues due to his past convictions for lying to Congress and the special counsel.
The discussion also touched on Cohen's allegations regarding former President Trump's involvement in hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. Yoo questioned the legality of the payments and raised concerns about the prosecution's heavy reliance on a witness with credibility issues.
As the prosecution nears the end of its case, the focus shifted to potential jury instructions and the defense strategy. Trustee suggested that ending with Cohen relieved pressure on the defense to present additional evidence. He proposed a defense tactic of emphasizing the lack of proof of criminal intent in the alleged payments.
The experts highlighted the importance of jury selection and potential legal arguments in the defense's closing statements. They underscored the need to challenge the prosecution's narrative and raise doubts about the legality of the alleged actions attributed to Trump.
Overall, the discussion shed light on the complexities of the case, with Trustee and Yoo offering critical perspectives on the prosecution's reliance on Cohen's testimony and the legal hurdles in proving criminal intent in the alleged actions involving the former president.
