On Monday, Donald Trump‘s former “fixer” Michael Cohen made a number of shocking admissions during his testimony in the ongoing hush money trial.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to alleged hush money payments made to pornography actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
The prosecution's star witness admitted to secretly recording this former employer.
Cohen testified that he recorded a conversation on his iPhone regarding payment to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who claims he paid for the rights to a story about an affair between Trump and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, an affair Trump has denied.
According to Cohen's testimony, Pecker was anxious to be paid back for buying the rights to the story, spurring Cohen to record the private conversation with Trump as proof Trump planned on paying Pecker back.
Cohen said he held the iPhone in his hand while recording the conversation across the desk from Trump, who was unaware he was being recorded.
Cohen confirmed his voice, Trump's, and longtime Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff in the recording.
Cohen's credibility has been questioned by Trump allies, with top GOP lawmakers Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) arguing that the former lawyer is a “convicted liar.”
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations, making false statements to Congress and tax evasion. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
