Michael Cohen, former personal attorney to Donald Trump, has been called to testify in the hush money trial involving a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Cohen, who is serving time in federal prison for campaign finance violations related to this payment, alleges that Trump directed him to make the transaction during the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign.
Despite attempts by Trump's legal team to prevent Cohen from testifying due to his past instances of perjury, the court has allowed him to take the stand. Cohen, once a close ally of Trump, has had a tumultuous relationship with the former president, which became public when he released a recording of a conversation with Trump discussing the purchase of rights to a former Playboy model's story about an alleged affair with Trump.
In his testimony before a House committee, Cohen implicated Trump in a hush-money scheme involving both the Playboy model and Stormy Daniels, who also claims to have had an affair with Trump. This testimony led to an investigation by the New York Attorney General's office into allegations that Trump inflated property values to secure favorable loan and insurance terms.
The trial has garnered significant attention as it delves into the complex relationship between Cohen and Trump, shedding light on the inner workings of the former president's circle and raising questions about potential legal implications for Trump.
