Michael Cohen's History of Lying and the Lack of Evidence against Trump

Jonathan Turley analyzes Michael Cohen's testimony, highlighting his past history of lying and the lack of concrete evidence presented against former President Trump.

As the Manhattan District Attorney's office presents its case against former President Donald Trump, defense attorneys continue to scrutinize the credibility of star witness Michael Cohen. Jonathan Turley, a Fox News contributor and renowned legal expert, has delved into Cohen's history of lying and the challenges faced by prosecutors in establishing guilt against Trump.

Cohen, once a close associate of Trump, has admitted to lying to Congress and making false statements to prosecutors in the past. During his testimony, he confessed to making these misrepresentations to protect himself and his family. However, Turley emphasizes that Cohen's credibility has been significantly diminished due to these previous lies.

Moreover, Turley contends that the prosecution's case against Trump suffers from a lack of solid evidence. While Cohen has asserted that Trump directed him to handle the Stormy Daniels payments and reimbursed him subsequently, Turley notes that these claims remain uncorroborated by independent witnesses or documentary proof.

Turley points out that Cohen's testimony is based solely on his own recollection, which could be unreliable given his history of fabrication. Additionally, Turley highlights that the prosecution has not presented any evidence of Trump's knowledge or involvement in the payments beyond Cohen's word.

The defense team, led by attorney Todd Blanche, has aggressively challenged Cohen's credibility, grilling him about his negative past statements about Trump and his obsession with the former president. Cohen has conceded to making derogatory remarks about Trump but denied being driven by an unhealthy fixation.

The trial has taken an unexpected turn with the testimony of Robert Costello, Cohen's former lawyer, who claimed that Cohen boasted about handling the Stormy Daniels payments independently without receiving any compensation from Trump. Costello's account contradicts Cohen's testimony, further casting doubt on his reliability.

Turley opines that the prosecution faces an uphill battle in proving Trump's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, given the lack of corroborating evidence and the diminished credibility of their star witness. The proceedings are expected to continue with further cross-examination of Cohen and the introduction of additional evidence.

Meanwhile, Trump remains under a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan, prohibiting him from commenting on the witnesses or court staff. The former president has appealed the order, arguing that it violates his First Amendment rights, but his request has been denied.