The ongoing trial facing President Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen has seen the two former allies come together again.
The high-stakes legal battle, which involves charges of civil fraud and money laundering, has captivated the nation as court proceedings unfolded during two days of hearings in Manhattan.
At the heart of the dispute is 10 million in payments reported by Cohen to AT&T, Novartis, and other companies he took from in 2017 and 2018. Although Cohen has admitted to criminal conduct, the real issue at stake is whether or not these payments constituted legal or fraudulent activities.
Two of the most high-profile players in the case are Cohen and Trump, who went from being partners in the many schemes hatched by the former attorney, to being enemies in the court of public opinion. Although the two men have not come face-to-face in over two years, Thursday’s hearing was the first time they were seen together in court since their falling out.
The clash between the two men was apparent, as Cohen appeared to be hesitate when asked questions from Trump’s attorney during his cross-examination. However, he did not back down, and maintained that he was never asked to make payments and that the money he had received was strictly legal.
The clash with Trump put him in a difficult position, but it appears that he may have the upper hand here. It is clear that Cohen is better equipped to handle legal problems than his former employer, and his unwavering resolve during the hearing was a clear indication that he plans to get out of the mud bowl he’s been in for some time.
Overall, the case is far from over and the legal proceedings set to take place in the near future will surely add more fuel to the fire. It appears that Cohen will not give in anytime soon and this could be a sign of things to come for Trump.