Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted in testimony Monday that he stole hundreds of dollars from the Trump Firm by overstating how significantly he compensated a tech corporation that furnished providers for the Trump Firm.
“You stole from the Trump Org, ideal?” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche requested Cohen Wednesday early morning.
“Certainly, sir,” Cohen responded.
The testimony stems from his responses last week, when he in-depth to the courtroom that he and previous Trump Business CFO Allen Weisselberg calculated a $420,000 reimbursement to Cohen for his $130,000 payment to previous pornography star Stormy Daniels. Cohen’s payment to Daniels arrived in advance of the 2016 election to quiet her promises of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
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Donald Trump’s former law firm, Michael Cohen, returned to the witness stand in the NY v. Trump demo. (Getty Visuals)
Cohen previously testified that the reimbursement was “grossed up” to protect against him from having a tax strike, and also incorporated reimbursement for shelling out tech organization Pink Finch an alleged $50,000.
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Cohen testified Monday that he went to TD Financial institution and withdrew funds in excess of a few of days to fork out Red Finch for its solutions, which he saved in a brown paper bag. The cash in the long run totaled about $20,000, which he gave to Crimson Finch’s CEO, according to Cohen, but he said he in no way gave the business the total $50,000.
Michael Cohen is questioned by defense law firm Todd Blanche during previous President Trump’s prison trial in Manhattan condition courtroom in New York Town, May possibly 16, 2024, in this courtroom sketch. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg )
During a 2017 conference on the compensation prepare, Cohen claimed he instructed Weisselberg he paid out Red Finch $50,000 – which means he pocketed a $30,000 big difference.
“You lied to Weisselberg about how a lot you needed for Pink Finch?” Blanche questioned Cohen, and Cohen verified he had.
He testified that the Trump Business assumed he paid the whole sum, for which he was still reimbursed irrespective of not acquiring actually paid out it.
Trump speaks to the media on May perhaps 13. (Seth Wenig/Pool/AFP via Getty Photographs)
“Have you paid again the Trump Corporation for the funds you stole from them?” Blanche also asked Monday.
“No, sir,” Cohen responded.
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Cohen’s testimony marks the fourth working day he has taken the stand. Trump’s legal crew final week explained they anticipated wrapping up cross-examination with Cohen on Monday. Closing arguments for the case are predicted up coming Tuesday, following the Memorial Day holiday.
Michael Cohen on the stand all through former President Trump’s prison trial in Manhattan condition courtroom, May well 14, 2024, in this courtroom sketch. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg )
Cohen’s testimony past 7 days involved him describing that he made use of his individual money to pay out Daniels in 2016 via a dwelling fairness line of credit score. Cohen testified he did this since Trump advised him to “take care of it” since the story could be harming to the campaign.
Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case, and has also continuously denied at any time owning an affair with Stormy Daniels.
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Very last 7 days, a lawyer who formerly encouraged Cohen, Robert Costello, testified prior to Congress that Cohen is a serial liar. Costello testified just before Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg’s grand jury in March, before Trump was indicted, and recalled interactions with Cohen.
Fox Information Digital’s Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.
