Michael Cohen, former attorney to Donald Trump, revealed that he secretly recorded Trump discussing a payment to David Pecker in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
This revelation is part of a larger case involving the alleged falsification of business records related to payments made to suppress claims of Trump's extramarital affairs.
According to Fox News, Cohen stated that he recorded Trump on his iPhone on September 6, 2016. The conversation involved a discussion about a payment to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.
Pecker had paid $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to purchase and suppress her story about an affair with Trump.
Cohen recorded the conversation to prove Trump planned to repay Pecker and to ensure Pecker's loyalty. In the recording, Trump asks, "So what do we got to pay for this? One-fifty?" Cohen argued that Trump knew about the payment and had agreed to it. He testified that he had made the recording while sitting across from Trump, who was unaware of it being recorded.
The case involves allegations that Trump falsified business records, with payments to Stormy Daniels logged as legal expenses. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case.
Stormy Daniels testified about her alleged affair with Trump in 2006 and her entry into the pornography business. Legal experts criticized the relevance of Daniels' testimony to the case.
Trump's legal team motioned twice for a mistrial, both denied by Judge Juan Merchan. Republican Sen. JD Vance attended the court with Trump and criticized Cohen on social media. "Michael Cohen admitting he secretly recorded his employer. Just totally normal conduct, right? The best part is he said he did it only once and only for Trump’s benefit. A standup guy!" Vance posted on X.
Vance and other Republicans condemned Cohen's credibility and testimony. "This guy is a convict and felon who admitted in his testimony that he secretly recorded his former employer, that he only did it once, allegedly, and that this was supposed to help Donald Trump. Does any reasonable, sensible person believe anything that Michael Cohen says? I don't think that they should," Vance said.
Since no longer serving as Trump's attorney, Cohen has been vocal in his criticism of Trump. "Trump 2024?" Cohen said in a TikTok video last month. It's more like Trump 20-24 years." Judge Merchan instructed prosecutors to tell Cohen to stop making public comments about the case.
This case highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding Donald Trump and the testimonies of those once close to him. Cohen's secret recording adds a complex layer to the allegations of falsified business records and the broader implications for Trump's legal troubles.
Michael Cohen's testimony revealed that he secretly recorded a conversation with Donald Trump in September 2016, discussing a payment to David Pecker.
This is part of a case alleging that Trump falsified business records to hide payments made to suppress stories about his extramarital affairs. Trump's legal team, supported by Republican Sen. JD Vance, has criticized Cohen's credibility and testimony.
