As Donald Trump’s hush money case comes to a close, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen admitted on the witness stand that he had stolen from his former employer while working for him.
While being cross-examined by Todd Blanche, Cohen stated that he paid a technology firm $20,000 in a brown paper bag. The payment was supposed to ensure that the firm boosted Trump’s standings in a CNBC poll about well-known businessmen. However, the payment was supposed to be for $50,000, and Cohen was reimbursed by the Trump Organization for the full amount.
Cohen’s concerning history of lying and legal troubles has caused many to criticize him for not being honest in the past. Nevertheless, the former lawyer to Trump has remained consistent in his story that Trump knew about the illegal hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
Trump has claimed that his team did nothing illegal and that he only paid a “legal expense.”
The case has been an interesting one as outbursts and violations of the judge’s orders have been defied.
Judge Juan Merchan threatened former president Trump with jail time after he found that he violated his gag order for the tenth time.
“It appears that the $1,000 fines are not serving as a deterrent,” said Judge Merchan.
The judge expressed his hesitancy to jail the former president.
“The last thing I want to do is to put you in jail,” he continued. “You are the former president of the United States, and possibly the next president as well.”
“There are many reasons why incarceration is truly a last resort for you,” he continued, stating that the measure would be “disruptive to the proceedings.”
“I cannot allow that to continue,” said Merchan.
Trump was not the only one Merchan reprimanded. On May 20, defense witness and former federal prosecutor Robert Costello was sternly corrected for his multiple courtroom disruptions. Furthermore, after Costello allegedly stared down Judge Merchan, the courtroom was cleared of all press while Merchan scolded Costello.
The closely followed case is slowly starting to wrap up, with jury deliberations potentially beginning as soon as next week.
