Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen testified in the New York trial against the ex-president, detailing alleged cover-ups and questionable tactics. News outlets sympathetic to Trump face the challenge of portraying Cohen, who has admitted to past wrongdoings, as a credible witness.
Michael Cohen, the former lawyer turned star witness in the New York v. Trump trial, took the stand on Monday, providing a bombshell testimony that has left the media grappling with his credibility.
Known for his past loyalty to Trump, Cohen revealed that he secretly recorded Trump ahead of the 2016 election, admitted to lying and bullying people for Trump's benefit, and detailed an alleged attempt to cover up an affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels.
News outlets and pundits that have historically been critical of Trump face a dilemma in presenting Cohen's testimony. Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations, making false statements to Congress, and tax evasion, has a checkered past.
MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos attempted to downplay Cohen's credibility issues by focusing on the "misconception" that direct evidence is more powerful than circumstantial evidence. CNN aired footage of Cohen praising Trump in 2016, acknowledging that he often did so while on the former president's payroll.
"The question is," senior legal analyst Elie Honig asked, following the clip. "Is the jury going to be on board with this narrative that, ‘Well, when he flipped, he made a clean break, and now he’s a truthteller?’"
Cohen is expected to return for cross examination from Trump's lawyers on Thursday.
The challenge for the media lies in balancing Cohen's past actions with his current testimony against Trump. While Cohen's credibility has been questioned, his detailed account of alleged wrongdoing could potentially damage Trump's case.
The prosecution hopes to establish Cohen as a credible witness despite his past, while the defense will likely attempt to discredit his testimony by highlighting his previous legal troubles and his history of making false statements.
The media's coverage of Cohen's testimony will be closely scrutinized, as it could influence public perception of the trial and its potential impact on Trump's political future.
