Former President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified in court on Monday that he secretly recorded Trump discussing a payment to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker to hush up an alleged affair with Karen McDougal just weeks before the 2016 election.
Former President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified in court on Monday that he secretly recorded Trump discussing a payment to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker to hush up an alleged affair with Karen McDougal just weeks before the 2016 election.
Cohen's testimony marked a bombshell moment in the ongoing trial against Trump, in which he is accused of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to Daniels and McDougal.
The recording, played for the jury, captured Trump and Cohen discussing the need to "open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David," referring to Pecker.
Cohen argued in his testimony that Trump knew Pecker had purchased the rights to McDougal's claims of an affair and agreed to pay $150,000. "He already knew based upon conversation with David, which is why he mentioned the number 150," Cohen said.
Cohen testified that he recorded the exchange while holding his iPhone while sitting across a desk from Trump. Trump was unaware he was being recorded at the time.
The Trump legal team twice motioned for a mistrial, but were denied by presiding Judge Juan Merchan.
Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who was seen attending court with Trump on Monday, responded to Cohen's testimony on Twitter, where he balked at Cohen admitting to secretly recording Trump.
"Michael Cohen admitting he secretly recorded his employer. Just totally normal conduct, right? The best part is he said he did it only once and only for Trump’s benefit. A standup guy!" he posted.
Cohen was slammed as a "grifter" by some critics in the lead-up to his testimony, and has been vocal in his condemnation of Trump after he no longer served as his attorney.
"Trump 2024?" Cohen said in a TikTok video last month. "More like Trump 20-24 years.
On Friday, Judge Merchan called on New York prosecutors to instruct Cohen to stop making public comments about the case and Trump ahead of taking the stand. Cohen, unlike Trump, is not under a gag order in the case.
The trial is expected to continue for several more weeks, with the prosecution and defense presenting their respective arguments. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for Trump's future political aspirations and the ongoing investigations into his conduct.
