During Michael Cohen's testimony, he implicated his former boss, Donald Trump, in a hush money scheme involving payments to Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 election. Cohen stated that he paid $130,000 at Trump's direction and was promised reimbursement. This testimony connects Trump to allegations of breaking the law by falsifying business records to conceal the hush money payment.
Key takeaways from Cohen's testimony include his detailed account of working with former National Enquirer editor David Pecker to suppress negative stories about Trump during the 2016 campaign. Cohen also revealed how he kept Trump informed about his negotiations with the attorney for Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal regarding hush money payments. Additionally, Cohen testified that Trump approved and was aware of the false repayment scheme for the Daniels payment in 2017.
Furthermore, Cohen's testimony linked Trump to the reimbursement of hush money through falsified business records. Prosecutors have charged Trump with 34 counts related to falsifying records, including invoices, vouchers, and checks that were allegedly used to reimburse Cohen for the hush money payment to Daniels.
Cohen portrayed himself as Trump's protector, describing how he worked to suppress media stories and secure nondisclosure agreements to shield Trump from negative publicity before the election. He testified that he kept certain documents confidential to protect Trump's identity and used a company, Essential Consultants LLC, to facilitate the payment to Daniels in order to isolate Trump from the transaction.
Overall, Cohen's testimony provided direct evidence linking Trump to the hush money payments and reimbursement scheme, shedding light on the intricate web of actions taken to protect Trump's image and interests.
