(New York) Revenge
From the first moments of the cross-examination, Todd Blanche, Donald Trump’s main lawyer, asked Michael Cohen if he had recently broadcast videos on TikTok where he called the former president an “odious dictator” and where he wanted to see him in a cage “like a fucking animal”.
“That sounds like something I said,” Donald Trump’s former lawyer responded after the first video was mentioned.
“I remember saying that,” he added after the second video was mentioned.
Seeking to demonstrate that Michael Cohen was devoured by the spirit of revenge, Todd Blanche also played to the court an excerpt from Mea Culpa, the podcast show hosted by the witness. “I really hope that Donald Trump ends up in prison,” said in October 2020 the man who was then finishing a three-year prison sentence at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SKETCH BY JANE ROSENBERG, REUTERS
Court sketch showing Michael Cohen being questioned by Todd Blanche
Michael Cohen admitted having expressed this wish.
Todd Blanche returned to the issue during cross-examination.
“Do you want President Trump convicted in this case? »
“Of course,” replied Michael Cohen.
Obsession
“You were actually obsessed with President Trump, weren’t you?” » Often going from rooster to donkey, Todd Blanche asked Michael Cohen questions that seemed intended to destabilize him, like this one.
“I don’t know if I would call it an obsession, but I admired him enormously,” the witness replied.
Todd Blanche continued by recalling all the good things that Michael Cohen had already said about his former boss.
PHOTO CRAIG RUTTLE, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Donald Trump and his lawyer Todd Blanche
“You said this is a man who cares deeply about this country?” »
Cohen: “I said that. »
“At the time, you weren’t lying, were you?” », asked Todd Blanche after a series of questions on this theme.
Cohen: “At the time, I was neck-deep in the cult of Donald Trump, yes. »
To hear Todd Blanche’s questions, this cult has transformed into an anti-Trump obsession since the former president severed ties with Michael Cohen in 2018.
Greed
Donald Trump’s former lawyer is also driven by greed, according to Todd Blanche. The latter showed jurors various items sold on the website of Michael Cohen’s podcast show, including a $32 t-shirt showing Trump in an orange outfit behind the bars of a prison cell.
“Did you really wear that t-shirt last week on TikTok? asked Todd Blanche to Michael Cohen.
“I did,” the witness replied.
Todd Blanche also forced the witness to admit that he took home $3.4 million to write two books, Disloyal And revengeon his experience in the wake of Donald Trump.
PHOTO ALEX KENT, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Supporters of Donald Trump brandish a flag showing the former Republican president, where cameramen and photographers are massed.
The defense attorney also asked Michael Cohen if he posted videos on TikTok to make money.
“There is money to be made, yes,” replied Michael Cohen.
“That’s not my question,” Todd Blanche replied. One of the reasons you do it is to make money, yes or no? »
Cohen: “Yes. »
Credibility
Todd Blanche did not ask Michael Cohen any questions about payments to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels in exchange for their silence before the 2016 presidential election or about the falsification of business documents of which Donald Trump is accused. Those questions may come Thursday, when cross-examination resumes.
PHOTO CHENEY ORR, REUTERS
“Trump, save America again”, we can read on this banner installed by supporters of the former president.
In the meantime, Donald Trump’s lawyer attacked the credibility of Michael Cohen by returning in particular to the interview he gave to the team of special prosecutor Robert Mueller responsible for the investigation into the Russian affair.
“You told them on August 7, 2018, that you did not remember speaking with Trump about the video [d’Access Hollywood], That’s right ? asked Todd Blanche.
“I don’t remember,” Michael Cohen replied.
“But you testified yesterday that you had a distinct memory of talking to Mr. Trump about the recording ofAccess Hollywood. »
“That’s right,” Michael Cohen replied.
Todd Blanche provided other similar examples of the witness’s relative memory, including having him say that he did not remember recent conversations with officials from the Manhattan district attorney’s office, who asked him to stop speaking to the media.
Regrets
Michael Cohen’s cross-examination followed three more hours of direct testimony led by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger. The latter extracted mea culpa from him about numerous lies which Todd Blanche could return to on Thursday.
She also asked him to explain his decision to turn around in August 2018, several months after the FBI searched his home and office.
“My family – my wife, my daughter, my son – said to me, ‘Why are you holding on to this loyalty? What are you doing ? You’re supposed to be loyal to us first.” […] I made a decision based on the conversation I had with my family, that I would no longer lie for President Trump,” he said.
And added: “I regret having done for [Trump] things I shouldn’t have done – lying, bullying people to achieve a goal. I don’t regret working with the Trump Organization. As I said before, I had some very interesting times there. But in order to stay loyal and do the things he asked me to do, I violated my moral compass and suffered the consequences, as did my family. »