NY v Trump: Defense guts Bragg's star witness Cohen for doing what he does best

Hell hath no fury like Michael Cohen scorned. After Donald Trump was elected in 2016, the new president told Cohen to pound sand when he begged his then-boss to let him tag along to the pinnacle of power in Washington. Cohen, Trump’s personal attorney, had delusions of grandeur that he’d serve as the next attorney general or White House chief of staff. But by then, Trump had figured out that his bumbling, self-proclaimed 'fixer' couldn’t fix a broken shoelace.

Those lies were exposed and Cohen’s credibility was shredded on Thursday in the Manhattan trial of the former president. District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s star witness was put through the equivalent of a woodchipper in a searing cross-examination. On the stand, Cohen was rendered into a pile of mulch. Under withering questions, lie after lie after lie was laid bare. The defense peeled Cohen like an onion.

It was foolhardy for Bragg and his team of partisans to hang their case on a notorious fabulist. But even if jurors believe some of Cohen’s testimony, there is still no credible evidence that business records were falsified as the indictment alleges. Reimbursements to Cohen for his own Stormy Daniels payments were booked as 'legal expenses' because that is precisely what they were —a negotiated non-disclosure contract .

What exactly was unlawful? Campaigns are designed to influence elections. That’s their core purpose. No matter. Bragg criminalized non-criminal behavior by conjuring up an inapplicable statute to persecute Trump under the guise of a prosecution. Yet, the D.A. seems utterly unbothered that he is butchering the law. Trump used his personal money, not campaign funds to compensate Cohen. That’s perfectly lawful.

Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Donald Trump's Defense Puts Alvin Bragg on the Back FootThe former president's team insists to the jury that Stormy Daniels payments were legal and the DA cannot prove otherwise
Source: Newsweek - 🏆 468. / 52 Read more »

Alvin Bragg 'Counting On' Michael Cohen Lying During Trump Trial—Attorney'It may take a full day in the courtroom just to read aloud his endless falsehoods and fabrications,' Fox News legal analyst and attorney Gregg Jarrett wrote.
Source: Newsweek - 🏆 468. / 52 Read more »

Bragg’s star witness Michael Cohen to testify in Trump’s hush money trialMichael Cohen is set to tell jurors in Trump’s hush money trial the only firsthand account of Trump's alleged knowledge of an illegal payment scheme.
Source: dcexaminer - 🏆 6. / 94 Read more »

Michael Cohen returns as final witness in NYC AG Bragg's criminal prosecution of TrumpDefense attorneys for former President Trump are expected to continue their cross-examination of Michael Cohen when court resumes Thursday morning
Source: FoxNews - 🏆 9. / 87 Read more »

NY vs. Trump: Bragg's own witness, Hope Hicks, implodes case against TrumpOn Day 11 of the Trump hush money trial prosecutors called former campaign press secretary to the stand. That's when their case began to collapse.
Source: FoxNews - 🏆 9. / 87 Read more »