Former President Donald Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, has claimed that key witness Michael Cohen lied during his testimony about several matters during the closing arguments of Trump’s criminal trial in New York. The former president is facing charges of falsifying business records. Blanche stated that Cohen, a former Trump associate and lawyer, was dishonest in his testimony regarding an arrangement to pay off adult film performer Stormy Daniels. He further accused Cohen of lying multiple times about his work for Trump during 2017, calling him “an MVP of liars.
Prosecutors allege that Cohen wasn’t being paid for legal work in 2017 but was instead being reimbursed for the Daniels payment in a concealed manner. However, Blanche pointed to emails and testimonies showing that Cohen did engage in some legal matters for Trump that year. He also emphasized that Michael Cohen had been Trump’s personal attorney during this time.
Earlier in the month, Cohen told the court that he was directed by President Trump to initiate the repayment plan involving payments to Ms. Daniels and claimed that Trump was directly involved in the plan and personally authorized the payments, which prosecutors argue were fraudulently recorded as legal expenses to cover up an alleged crime.
Blanche urged jurors not to let their political biases influence their decision-making and reminded them that the verdict they have to reach must be based on the evidence heard in the courtroom. Prosecutors are set to make their closing arguments starting Tuesday.