On Wednesday, the courtroom’s attention was abruptly diverted from Michael Cohen’s ongoing testimony when the judge summoned former President Trump to the witness stand. The issue at hand was Trump’s violation of a court-imposed gag order that prohibited him from speaking about anyone involved in overseeing the case, due to concerns about potential threats.
Shortly after, Trump was slapped with a $10,000 fine, as the judge pointed to comments Trump had made to the media earlier that day. The tension escalated when Cohen’s testimony seemed to contradict Trump’s own statements regarding the inflation of his assets. This led to Trump exiting the courtroom visibly agitated.
After the court session concluded for the day, Cohen spoke to reporters, defending his testimony and his ongoing legal battle against Trump. “We’re not backing down. We’re confronting every action that Mr. Trump throws our way,” Cohen stated.
Cohen also revealed that he had felt pressured into accepting a guilty plea in 2018, claiming that prosecutors had threatened to involve his wife in the indictment and had given him only three days to make a decision. He commended Judge Arthur Engoron for not dismissing the case, emphasizing the theme of accountability.
Cohen accused Trump’s legal team of selectively using his testimony to trap him into inconsistencies. During further questioning, Cohen likened Trump’s communication style to that of a “mob boss,” implying that Trump gives orders in a roundabout manner. He also referred to additional comments from his 2019 testimony, which Trump’s lawyers had brought up during cross-examination, that underscored Trump’s desire to climb higher on the Forbes list of wealthy individuals.
The government concluded its questioning of Cohen, who was left shaking his head as he remained on the witness stand.