(PatriotSpotlight.org) – Donald Trump’s ex-lawyer Michael Cohen has admitted to having stolen from his former boss. Cohen made the shocking admission in court on Monday, speaking during his fourth week on the stand at the former President’s landmark criminal trial. Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, directly cross-examined him regarding the misappropriated funds, asking him: “You stole from the Trump Org, right?,” to which Cohen replied in the affirmative.
This disclosure comes after Cohen’s previous testimony in which he detailed how he and erstwhile Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Allen Weisselberg arranged a $420,000 repayment to Cohen, for his $130,000 funneling of money to Stormy Daniels in 2016. The payment was seemingly made to ensure Daniels, a former adult film star who claims she partook in an extramarital fling with Trump in 2006, did not reveal the affair claims publicly. Trump has continued to vehemently deny Daniels’ claims they had a romantic relationship.
Cohen said that the $420,000 sum included a “grossed up” figure to ensure taxes and an extra $50,000 allegedly for tech company Red Finch’s services, the latter of which Cohen said had been a lie on Monday. He said he paid the tech firm approximately $20,000, keeping the other $30,000 for himself. During his 2017 talks with Weisselberg regarding the repayment, Cohen had lied that he had paid Red Finch all $50,000. On Monday he also told the court he had failed to repay the Trump Organization the misappropriated funds. Cohen fumbled to find excuses, claiming the stolen money “almost” amounted to “self-help,” wrought on by fury over his massively reduced salary bonus of around two-thirds less than usual.
As the trial rumbles on, Cohen’s credibility remains under question, with ex-federal prosecutor Katie Cherkasky stating that this reliability has been “annihilated”. It is possible that Cohen’s theft could also result in criminal charges. The result of the trial could have huge implications given that Trump will almost certainly be confirmed as the GOP’s Presidential candidate. The trial’s closing arguments are expected to be heard after Memorial Day.
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