I want the Defense will use Cohen to destroy the notion that killing an attack story was somehow “election fraud” in the November 2016 election. Fantasy lines of questioning:
Do celebrities and business people want to avoid having negative stories come out about them in the media? Why? Do they benefit by killing negative stories, whether the stories are factually true or false? Did Trump have a “brand”, that he used to add value and promote his ventures? Does Trump have a wife and children? Is it possible that he would want to protect them from hearing negative stories about him?
Have you ever negotiated payments and NDAs to kill stories that you believed were not true? Why?
If Cohen believed killing the Daniels story was election fraud, why did Cohen willfully break the law? What specific “law” does Cohen think he was guilty of violating? Why hasn’t he (Cohen) been charged with that? You have been convicted of perjury and fraud in unrelated matters. Did you received reduced sentences for “cooperating” with prosecutors by providing negative information and testifying against Trump?
When did he first become aware that Trump’s accountants booked the payments to Cohen as “Legal Expenses”? How would the public know what was in Trump’s bookkeeping records? SO, how could the public know about the NDA expense before the election, no matter how it was categorized?
Did Cohen ever consider using his knowledge of the negative stories he bought and killed on Trump’s behalf to gain something from Trump? How about the payments and how they were charaterized as Legal Expenses? Did Cohen typically perform legal services for Trump?
If a person in the public eye who is not running for office buys a story to kill it, is that a crime? So if Trump does the same thing, it’s a crime; if someone else does the exact same thing it’s NOT a crime? Is that equal treatment under the law?
Did Cohen ever, even for a moment think that Stormy Daniels might have contrived her story to shake down Trump? Did he ever discuss with Daniels getting money or career opportunities out of Trump? Did Cohen have an affair or any sort of relationship with Daniels?
Doess Cohen blame Trump for ruining Cohen’s career? Does he bear ill will against Trump for this?
That line could get very dangerous.
Brilliant line of questioning. Well done.
Melania knew according to Cohen’s testimony today.
I’d take anything he says with a grain of salt.