Tensions Flare as Trump’s Lawyer Accuses Star Witness of Lying
In a dramatic turn of events, tensions escalated in the courtroom on Thursday as Donald Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, hit back against prosecutors, accusing their star witness, Michael Cohen, of repeatedly lying.
The most tense day of cross-examination yet saw Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, describing a conversation with the former president about a hush-money payment to an adult-film star. However, Blanche vehemently refuted Cohen’s testimony, claiming it was “a lie” and presenting evidence that they actually discussed prank calls.
Blanche’s aggressive tactics were aimed at sowing doubt in the jury’s minds as they watched the heated exchange unfold. The courtroom was filled with intense focus as the two sides clashed.
Following the intense back-and-forth, Blanche returned to the defense table and sat down next to his client. The judge then announced an afternoon recess, bringing a collective exhale in the room.
The trial revolves around Trump facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, allegedly disguising payments to Cohen as legal expenses when they were actually reimbursements for silencing Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with him. Prosecutors argue that Trump sought to conceal damaging information to protect his 2016 presidential campaign, while Trump maintains his innocence.
Cohen, under pressure on the stand, stood by his previous testimony, insisting that he did discuss the payout to Daniels with Trump in 2016. Despite his credibility issues, Cohen’s testimony is crucial for prosecutors to establish Trump’s alleged direct knowledge of the payoff scheme.
Blanche seized on Cohen’s past lies and public criticism of Trump, painting him as a witness with a vendetta against the former president. Playing recordings from Cohen’s podcast and confronting him with derogatory social media posts, Blanche sought to undermine Cohen’s credibility in the eyes of the jury.
As the trial continues, the courtroom remains a battleground of conflicting narratives, with the outcome hanging in the balance.
