Copyright: Reuters/Jane Rosenberg
After the lunch break it will be the defence’s turn to ask Michael Cohen questions.
Donald Trump’s lawyers are almost guaranteed to attack his credibility before the jury, painting him as a liar who cannot be trusted.
One accusation they could lodge is a claim that Cohen perjured himself – or lied under oath – while giving evidence.
That claim arose from his evidence last year in another Trump trial – a civil business fraud case involving the Trump Organisation.
Under cross-examination then, Cohen said he did not actually commit the federal tax evasion charges to which he pleaded guilty to in 2018. Asked if he lied to the judge when he pleaded guilty, Cohen said yes.
A New York judge questioned Cohen’s credibility at a March parole hearing.
Cohen’s reversal at the civil fraud trial “gives rise to two possibilities”, Judge Jesse Furman said. “One, Cohen committed perjury when he pleaded guilty… Two, Cohen committed perjury in his October 2023 testimony.”
Judge Furman criticised Cohen for “ongoing and escalating efforts to walk away from his prior acceptance of responsibility for his crimes”.
His lawyer denied this interpretation of Cohen’s evidence at the time.
Cohen has not been charged with perjury for his statements last autumn, but don’t be surprised if Trump’s lawyers claim he lies.