Michael Cohen returns as final witness in NYC AG Bragg's criminal prosecution of Trump

. Cohen is said to be the star witness and will give the final testimony in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case against the former president. Prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified business records 34 times to conceal a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic performer, in the lead-up to the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains his innocence.

So far, Cohen has testified he personally made the $130,000 payment to Daniels using a home equity line of credit in an effort to conceal the payment from his wife. Cohen said he did this because Trump told him to 'handle it' and prevent a negative story from coming out ahead of the election. Cohen testified that he was 'reimbursed $420,000' for the $130,000 he paid to Daniels.

The prosecution presented Cohen with 11 checks totaling $420,000. Cohen confirmed that they were all received and deposited. The checks had a description of a 'retainer,' which Cohen said was false.

Blanche also asked Cohen if he was obsessed with Trump. 'I don’t know if I would call it obsessed,' Cohen said. 'I admired him tremendously.' Under cross-examination, Cohen also admitted to meeting with former New York prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, who resigned in 2022 when Bragg took over the Manhattan DA's probe of Trump after Pomerantz signaled he was uninterested in bringing charges against the former president.

The former president appealed the gag order, arguing it violated his First Amendment rights. But as Cohen testified Tuesday, the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court denied Trump’s appeal of the gag order. Now Trump’s attorneys will have the opportunity to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals.

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