CNN host Brianna Keilar and a panel of legal experts have strongly criticized former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen for admitting to secretly recording phone calls with his clients, including former President Donald Trump. The panelists deemed Cohen's actions "highly uncool" and "wildly unethical."
CNN anchor Brianna Keilar and a network panel have condemned former Trump trial witness Michael Cohen for admitting that he secretly recorded phone calls with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and other clients.
During cross-examination in New York's case against Trump, Cohen acknowledged recording multiple phone calls without disclosing his actions to the parties involved. The panel expressed strong disapproval of Cohen's admission.
"Let's just be very clear, that is highly uncool," Keilar remarked after reading aloud Cohen's admission.
CNN legal analysts Elliot Williams and Elie Honig engaged in a brief discussion about the legality of such recordings without consent.
Williams explained that in New York, where Cohen worked as Trump's fixer, such recordings are permissible with the consent of one party. However, Honig emphasized that Cohen's actions were unethical, regardless of their legality.
"Recording your client as a lawyer, I've asked several defense lawyers who have been practicing for decades, 'Have you ever done this?'" Honig said. "If you ask them that, they look at you like, 'Why on earth? That would be wildly unethical and bizarre to do that.'"
Williams added, "Just creating all kinds of extra materials that could, you know, be subpoenaed or whatever. Just don't do it. It just seems like a silly thing to do."
Keilar highlighted the problematic nature of Cohen's actions, particularly since Trump was unaware of being recorded.
"Donald Trump didn't know he was being recorded," she said. "That's what is very clear from this. So it would be one thing to say to your client, 'Hey, is it cool? Do you want me to hang onto this for something?' But it wasn't done with consent and that is hugely problematic."
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper also criticized Cohen's testimony, pointing to an alleged lie Cohen told about a phone call to Trump in 2016.
"If I was a juror in this case watching that, I would think, this guy's making this up as he's going along, or he's making this particular story up," Cooper said.
Cohen's admission has raised ethical concerns about the behavior of attorneys and the importance of transparency in client relationships. The panel's condemnation reflects the broader legal community's disapproval of Cohen's actions.
