Michael Cohen returns to witness stand as decision on Trump testimony in hush money trial looms
Michael Cohen returned to the witness stand in a New York courtroom for a third day of cross-examination by Donald Trump’s lawyers Monday in what could be the final day of testimony in the first criminal trial of a former president.
Michael Cohen returned to the witness stand in a New York courtroom for a third day of cross-examination by Donald Trump’s lawyers Monday in what could be the final day of testimony in the first criminal trial of a former president.
One possibility that could lengthen the trial would be Trump's taking the stand in his own defense. Trump said before the trial began that he would "absolutely" testify. He has softened that position since then, and his attorney Todd Blanche told the judge when they were last in court Thursday that he didn't know yet whether Trump would take the stand. Court wasn't in session Friday so Trump could attend his son's high school graduation.
At the start of court Monday, the judge announced that closing arguments, which he had tentatively scheduled to begin on Tuesday, would be pushed back one week because of the holiday weekend. They're now tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 28.
Trump looked noticeably upbeat and animated Monday morning as two rows of prominent allies were seated behind him in court.
Blanche began his questioning of Cohen by focusing on the time Cohen paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to buy her silence on Trump's behalf. Cohen spoke to Trump twice on Oct. 26, 2016, the day Cohen moved money to the account he was using to pay Daniels.
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