Cohen Says Trump ‘Approved’ Hush Money Payment, Defense Says He Wants ‘Revenge’

$ $ Mr. Cohen detailed his involvement in buying potential tabloid stories, which led to the 34 counts of falsifying business records at the core of the trial.$ $

$ $

Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing Manhattan criminal court in New York on May 13, 2024. (Mark Peterson / POOL / AFP via Getty ImagesFormer Trump attorney Michael Cohen’s testimony on Monday in former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial provided crucial insider insights and grievances as prosecutors aim to bolster their case.

Describing his decade-long “amazing experience” with Mr. Trump, Mr. Cohen portrayed an environment where praise from the former president drove him to do whatever he felt necessary, including lying, bullying, and threatening legal action. His testimony shed light on his role in managing President Trump’s affairs, which he has previously dubbed as that of a “pitbull” and “fixer.”

While testifying, Mr. Cohen said he spoke directly with President Trump, revealing that the former president “never had an email address” and confirming, when asked, his self-proclaimed status as President Trump’s personal “fixer.” Hope Hicks, a former aide, had testified earlier in May that Mr. Cohen “used to like to call himself ‘Mr. Fix It,’ but it was only because he first broke it)