Explosive Testimony: Michael Cohen Unleashes Bombshell Allegations Against Ex-Boss Donald Trump in High-Stakes Fraud Trial

Michael Cohen, previously a trusted associate of Donald Trump, transformed into a key witness against his former employer after being incarcerated for tax offenses and perjury. As Trump's former attorney and "fixer," Cohen openly testified before Congress regarding the illicit payments he orchestrated to silence women alleging affairs with Trump. He further depicted his scathing criticisms of the ex-president by penning literature.

On Tuesday, it is anticipated that Trump and Cohen will confront each other in a New York courtroom. Cohen will provide testimony as a component of the civil fraud case conducted by the New York attorney general against the ex-president.

As Cohen assumes the witness stand, he will confront a furious Donald Trump. According to various sources, this will be the initial encounter between the two individuals in the past five years, during which they have not shared a room or exchanged words.

Last week on the social media platform Threads, Cohen announced his upcoming testimony at the civil fraud trial led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, where he will have the opportunity to reconnect with his former client @realDonaldTrump. The trial aims to restrict Trump's business activities in the state, and while Trump has had minimal involvement thus far, it is anticipated that he will be summoned as a witness in due course.

Video Ad Feedback

Michael Cohen reacts to testimony about Eric Trump

03:24

- Source:

CNN

Trump willingly attended the initial days of the civil trials and made another appearance last week. However, Cohen's testimony was postponed due to his medical issue.

Moreover, Trump is now making a comeback to the courtroom following a $5,000 fine imposed by Judge Arthur Engoron last week. Additionally, Engoron cautioned Trump about the potential consequences of imprisonment for violating a gag order that prohibited him from discussing court staff members. The fine was a result of a social media post on Trump's campaign website that targeted Engoron's clerk and had not been taken down.

Cohen is expected to provide testimony regarding meetings he had with former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg and Trump related to Trump's financial statements and net worth. Cohen claims that these meetings took place prior to the filing of the financial statements. Weisselberg, however, testified earlier in the trial stating, "I don't believe it ever happened, no."

The attorney general's office has stated that Cohen's testimony before the House Oversight Committee in February 2019, where he alleged that officials at the Trump Organization exaggerated the value of its assets to obtain loans and insurance, and undervalued them for tax advantages, served as the catalyst for their investigation that ultimately led to the lawsuit against Trump.

Assistant Attorney General Colleen Faherty is set to conduct the direct examination of Cohen.

Cohen's testimony is an integral component of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's criminal case against Trump. Earlier this year, Bragg charged Trump with the falsification of business records in connection with the hush-money payments.

Cohen appeared before Congress in 2019 to discuss Trump's alleged involvement in a hush-money scheme with Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had affairs with Trump (which he denies). Cohen went as far as releasing a recording of a conversation with Trump about acquiring the rights to McDougal's story.

However, the focus of Tuesday's testimony will shift towards Trump's financial statements rather than the hush-money payments. The initial witness before Cohen will be Bill Kelly, the former general counsel of Mazars, Trump's former accounting firm.

The trial has entered its fourth week, during which the attorney general's office has presented a total of 12 witnesses for testimony. Among these witnesses are six individuals who are either current or former employees of the Trump Organization, with two of them, Weisselberg and former Controller Jeff McConney, being defendants in the case.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, is seen arriving at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Maquoketa, Iowa for a "Commit To Caucus" rally on September 20, 2023. This event marks the first of two rallies Trump has planned in Iowa for the day. The photo credit goes to Scott Olson/Getty Images.

Trump has decided to drop his lawsuit against Michael Cohen shortly before the deposition of the former president was scheduled to take place. Only around half of the witnesses have been cross-examined by Trump's legal team thus far, choosing to save their right to call upon them during the defense phase. The trial, which was allocated over three months by Engoron, may potentially extend until late December.

An appraiser from Cushman & Wakefield testified last week that Eric Trump, son of Trump, was actively engaged in multiple appraisal consultations with the real estate firm regarding the valuation of Trump assets, including Seven Springs and Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York. These appraisals resulted in significantly lower property values compared to the figures documented on Trump's financial statements during the same period.

During a deposition for the case, Eric Trump stated that he had no recollection of participating in any appraisals for Trump properties.

Attorneys are set to debate on Friday morning whether Ivanka Trump, daughter of the former president, can be compelled to testify at trial despite her dismissal as a defendant by an appellate court due to the expiration of claims against her.