A former lawyer for Donald Trump has admitted to jurors within the Republican’s hush cash trial that he stole tens of hundreds of {dollars} from his then-boss’s firm.
The landmark trial returned with defence cross-examination of Michael Cohen, whose testimony final week straight tied Trump to the alleged hush cash scheme.
Defence legal professionals have questioned Cohen for hours about his felony historical past and previous lies to color him as a serial liar who’s on a revenge marketing campaign aimed toward taking down Trump.
Whereas being pressed by defence lawyer Todd Blanche, Cohen admitted he pocketed money that was presupposed to be reimbursement for a $50,000 cost he claimed he had shelled out to a know-how agency.
However Mr Cohen really gave the know-how agency simply $20,000, he stated.
“So that you stole from the Trump Organisation,” Mr Blanche requested.
“Sure, sir,” Mr Cohen replied.
Donald Trump pictured in court docket on 20 Might. Pic: Mark Peterson/Pool Picture through AP
Mr Cohen stated he by no means paid the Trump Organisation again. He has by no means been charged with stealing from Trump’s firm.
He’s the final prosecution witness, and it isn’t but clear whether or not Trump’s legal professionals will name any witnesses, not to mention the presumptive Republican presidential nominee himself.
Jurors may start deliberating as quickly as subsequent week to resolve whether or not Trump is responsible of 34 felony counts of falsifying enterprise information within the first felony trial of a former US president.
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The fees stem from inside Trump Organisation information the place funds to Cohen have been marked as authorized bills, when prosecutors say they have been actually reimbursements for porn star Stormy Daniels’ hush cash cost.
Trump has pleaded not responsible. His legal professionals say there was nothing felony in regards to the Daniels deal or the way in which Cohen was paid.
“There is no crime,” Trump advised reporters after arriving on the courthouse on Monday. “We paid a authorized expense. You recognize what it is marked down as? A authorized expense.”
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Trump and lawyer audio about hush cash
Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg’s workplace is predicted to relaxation its case as soon as Mr Cohen is off the stand, however prosecutors may name rebuttal witnesses if Trump’s legal professionals placed on witnesses of their very own.
Choose Juan M Merchan has stated he expects closing arguments to occur on 28 Might.
Cohen is the prosecutors’ most necessary witness, however he’s additionally weak to assault.
The now-disbarred legal professional has admitted on the witness stand to beforehand mendacity underneath oath and different falsehoods, lots of which he claims have been meant to guard Trump.
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Cohen served jail time after pleading responsible to varied federal prices, together with mendacity to Congress and a financial institution and fascinating in marketing campaign finance violations associated to the hush cash scheme.
And he has made hundreds of thousands of {dollars} off essential books in regards to the former president, whom he commonly slams on social media in typically profane phrases.
