In a startling turn of events, Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney to Donald Trump, has made a staggering admission during his testimony in the hush money case against the former president. The case, which revolves around payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, took a dramatic twist as Cohen confessed to “stealing” money from Trump via fraudulent reimbursement claims.
During cross-examination by defense attorney Todd Blanche, Cohen was confronted with financial records detailing transactions between himself and Alan Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Organization. Blanche meticulously laid out evidence showing that Cohen manipulated reimbursement processes to pocket additional funds. In one particularly damning revelation, Cohen admitted to receiving $50,000 for a tech company payment, but only paying $20,000 to the actual vendor. The remaining $30,000 was siphoned off by Cohen, who sheepishly acknowledged his actions under intense questioning.
“So the $50,000 that you got back from Red Finch… you only paid the Red Finch owner $20,000, right?” Blanche asked.
“Yes sir,” Cohen responded, further clarifying that he didn’t want to take out $20,000 all at once.
But the plot thickens. Blanche pointed out that Cohen didn’t just stop at skimming $30,000 — due to gross-up calculations, the total amount of money Cohen swiped amounted to $60,000. When asked if he had confessed this theft to multiple prosecutors, Cohen somberly confirmed that he had.
Despite these shocking admissions, Cohen has not been charged with larceny. This raises critical questions about the legal proceedings and the selective prosecution seen in many high-profile cases today.
Adding fuel to the fire, Cohen’s testimony also revealed a deeper layer of resentment. He expressed bitterness over not being reimbursed for the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, a sentiment that apparently fueled his broader schemes. Handwritten notes displayed in court showed how Cohen calculated what he believed he was owed, including this payment and another sum of $50,000 to a tech company called Red Finch, though he never fully paid the latter.
Trump, ever the showman, reportedly glared daggers at Cohen during the proceedings. This case holds significant implications as it edges closer to Election Day, with District Attorney Alvin Bragg preparing for closing arguments. Legal experts have voiced skepticism over the reliance on circumstantial evidence in the case, suggesting that it might not hold up under scrutiny.
Cohen’s admission is a thread that could unravel much more than just financial misdeeds. It paints a picture of a man driven by vengeance and greed, entangling himself deeper into a web of lies and deceit.