'Wondering what the strategy is here': Legal analysts confused by Trump attorney
May 16, 2024
- Legal analysts can't quite understand what Donald Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, is doing in his cross-examination of former lawyer Michael Cohen.
Cohen is in court this week as a star prosecution witness in the case involving 34 felony charges against Trump surrounding a hush money deal for an alleged affair.
Among the questions Blanche has been hammering Cohen with is if the outcome of the trial will have a direct impact on the witness.
Cohen answered "yes."
Read More: Michael Cohen: Trump mastered the art of the dodge to avoid accountability — until now
"They're working with what they have," said defense attorney Jeremy Saland, who was also a former prosecutor.
"They only have so much. One big point is the credibility of Michael Cohen. The agenda is that I abhor this man [Trump] and detest this man, I want to see the worst things happen to him. He made me go to jail. He made me be the fall guy. I can make money off this, which I have, and I'm admitting to making money off this. And I lied to my wife, I lied to Congress, and I lied to court under oath."
The problem, he noted is, "If you diminish him and make him look like a bad guy, what does it do? It steals away that this is really a falsifying business records case and make it the Michael Cohen case. If you can't believe Michael Cohen, you can't believe this whole house of cards."
MSNBC host Ana Cabrera said that what came after the question of the impact on Cohen is what is confusing her. Blanche seemed to go off on a totally different line of questioning, asking whether he or his lawyers told the judge that he felt pressured by prosecutors to make a plea deal.
Blanche then pivoted to asking about Cohen's wife and whether checks were made out to her. Cohen responded that the checks were made out to his corporations.
MSNBC host Jose Diaz-Balart asked what the strategy is.
ALSO READ: Marjorie Taylor Greene delays financial disclosure day after motion-to-vacate debacle
Former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg confessed of the switch in the line of questioning, "I'm not sure. It is a terrible strategy, frankly."
"It is a different pillar, but there may be a salutary reason for switching it," said Rosenberg. "Mr. Blanche got the answer he wanted. It was a bad answer."
"A witness on the stand, under oath, admitted he had a personal interest in the outcome of the case. The witness's interest in the case should be to tell the truth. And that justice be done."
"Cohen said, no, I really care what happens here. I want this guy in jail. I want this guy convicted."
See the full comments from the legal analysts below or at the link here.
Leave a Comment
