Former federal prosecutor Andrew Cherkasky commented on the commencement of the hush money trial involving former President Trump in New York. The trial began on Tuesday, with Cherkasky highlighting some key aspects of the legal proceedings.
Cherkasky noted that Michael Cohen, a central figure in the trial, is not under a gag order and is free to give TV interviews during the trial. In contrast, Judge Juan Merchan has prohibited Trump from engaging in media interviews, limiting his ability to respond to Cohen's public statements.
One significant point raised was that Cohen's freedom to speak without consequences, as he is not under penalty of perjury, could potentially impact the trial. Given Cohen's past conviction for perjury, concerns were raised about his credibility as a witness.
Sources mentioned the frustration of not being able to challenge Cohen's statements due to the gag order imposed on Trump. The inability to counteract the testimony of a witness with a history of dishonesty was highlighted as a challenge for the defense.
Cherkasky expressed skepticism about Cohen's suitability as a witness, describing him as a 'terrible' choice due to his track record of lying. Despite this, prosecutors are expected to rely on Cohen's testimony as a key component of their case.
