[desertsolitaire]

“Cohen could have been on a retainer for years...and he probably was.
Of course. However, President Trump would say that he was replenishing each retainer for future work, not paying the retainer for completed work.”

Would President Trump have to take the stand to get that point distinction across to the jury (as I am reading here he is not advised to testify himself)?

[mware]

Cohen second book was called, Revenge.

[Political Junkie Too]

He shouldn't have to. His lawyers can ask on cross whether Cohen was paid in advance, paid by retainer and billed, or reimbursed after-the-fact.

I believe Cohen already admitted to being paid by retainer, so Trump's lawyers can ask if Cohen used an IOLTA to hold the retainer, how frequently he drew down the retainer, whether Trump knew in advance specifically how each replenishment of the retainer was going to be used, how many times did unexpected issues pop up that required spending down the retainer, etc.

However, they better know the answers to these questions before they ask them, because Cohen can just lie to them.

-PJ