Testifying in the “hush money” trial of former US President Donald Trump, Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen confirmed that Trump made payments to cover up potential scandals that could have damaged the 2016 election campaign. Cohen testified that Trump told him, “Just get through the election. If I win, it won’t matter.”
The trial of former US President Donald Trump for allegedly paying “hush money” to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election continued at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York.
During today’s hearing, Trump’s former lawyer and right-hand man at the time, Michael Cohen, testified as a witness. Cohen stated that Trump was worried that stories about his personal life would come out before the presidential race and that Trump told him, “Be prepared, many women will come out.” Cohen said Trump was angry about the news about Daniels’ alleged affair and panicked about the campaign. “This is a disaster for the campaign. Women will hate me,” he said.
Cohen said Trump was only interested in the impact the payment to Daniels would have on his presidential candidacy, İHA reported. Referring to Trump’s wife Melania Trump, Cohen said, “He wasn’t thinking about Melania. It was all about the campaign.” He also said Trump told him, “Just get through the election. If I win, it won’t matter. Because I’ll be president, and if I lose, I won’t care.”
Cohen said Trump made other payments to cover up potential scandals that could have damaged the 2016 election campaign. As an example, he cited a $150,000 payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal for the rights to her story about her alleged affair with Trump. Cohen added that Trump told him about McDougal’s story, “Make sure it doesn’t get published,” and that David Pecker, former executive editor of the National Enquirer, helped him block negative stories about Trump.
In what is known as the “hush money” case, Trump is accused of paying Daniels “hush money” ahead of the 2016 presidential election and falsifying official records to cover up the payment. Trump is the first former US President to be tried in a criminal case in US history and could face up to 4 years in prison.
