CNN's Anderson Cooper Questions Michael Cohen's Credibility as Witness

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper expressed doubts about the reliability of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen's testimony, particularly regarding his alleged request to Trump's bodyguard about discussing the Stormy Daniels payment.

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper has cast a shadow of doubt over the credibility of Michael Cohen's testimony in the Trump trial, acknowledging that he would have reservations if he were on the jury.

Cooper's skepticism stems from an incident during cross-examination, where Trump's attorney Todd Blanche confronted Cohen with text messages revealing he had requested to speak to Trump's bodyguard, Keith Schiller, about a teenage prankster harassing him shortly before the alleged call about the Daniels payment.

Cohen initially testified that the phone call was solely to discuss the payment, but under Blanche's questioning, he admitted it was also partly about the prankster. Cooper described the moment as "devastating" for Cohen's believability on that specific issue.

"Absolutely. I think it's devastating for Michael Cohen's credibility on this one particular topic," Cooper told CNN legal analyst Elie Honig when asked about the trustworthiness of Cohen's testimony on the phone call.

Cooper pointed out the palpable shift in the courtroom atmosphere as Blanche unfolded the inconsistencies. "You could tell the import of the moment and everyone in the courtroom could tell," he said.

"If I was a juror in this case watching that I would think, 'This guy's making this up as he's going along, or he's making this particular story up,'" Cooper added.

Cohen has faced scrutiny over his past statements and legal dealings. He had previously testified that Trump was not involved in the Daniels payment, only to later admit to making the payments with Trump's knowledge. He also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump's plans to build a tower in Moscow.

Cooper's doubts about Cohen's credibility are significant given his status as a prominent television journalist. His comments reflect the growing skepticism surrounding Cohen's reliability as a witness, which could impact the jury's evaluation of his testimony.

Trump's legal team has been aggressive in challenging Cohen's credibility, highlighting his past inconsistencies and his immunity deal with prosecutors. The jury will ultimately decide how much weight to give Cohen's testimony, but Cooper's reservations raise questions about the former lawyer's ability to provide a reliable account of events.

As the Trump trial progresses, the credibility of witnesses will be paramount in determining the outcome. Cohen's testimony has become a focal point, and his credibility will continue to be tested by both the prosecution and defense.