Former Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's two days of testimony this week in New York Attorney General Letitia James' financial fraud civil suit handed members of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's office valuable information into how to use the former Trump "fixer" when the Stormy Daniels hush money criminal trial convenes.
The ways in which Cohen handled cross-examination questions from Trump's lawyers defending the former president in the $250 million suit levied against Trump and the Trump Organization being held in Judge Arthur Engoron's courtroom was closely monitored by Manhattan prosecutor Susan Hoffinger who will be taking the lead in Trump's other Manhattan trial.
According to a report from the New York Times, Hoffinger sat in the gallery and took notes on Cohen's strengths and weaknesses under questioning, thereby gaining insight into how to prep him for the trial centered on hush money payments made to adult film star Daniels made during Trump's first presidential run.
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?
Of concern to prosecutors is Cohen's credibility after admitting during his second day on the stand this week that he had previously lied while under oath.
With the Times noting that Cohen was the conduit Trump used to pay off the adult star, one legal expert claimed the experience of watching Cohen being grilled hands prosecutors an advantage.
Former Manhattan prosecutor Daniel J. Horwitz told the Times, "The jury might find him detestable and despicable as an individual. But they may choose to believe him because when he says, ‘I had conversations with Donald Trump about paying hush money to Stormy Daniels,’ it’s backed up by other witnesses and other pieces of evidence.”
The Times report added that this week prosecutor Colleen Faherty used the strategy of being upfront about Cohen's credibility from the outset, which will be helpful in the hush money trial that will be tried before a jury, unlike the current one before Judge Engoron.
RELATED: 'Shiver down the spine': Reporter explains which witness keeps Trump up at night'Shiver down the spine': Reporter explains which witness keeps Trump up at night
The Times did note that, in the current civil trial, "Mr. Cohen took the stand without preparing for the testimony with lawyers from the attorney general’s office, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. Mr. Cohen became so worried about the lack of assistance that his lawyer, E. Danya Perry, prepared him to object on his own behalf."
You can read more here.
