CNN Reporter Admits Michael Cohen Gave Trump His ‘Best Day’ In Court So Far
Mainstream media outlets are starting to hedge their bets on the possibility of President Donald Trump being convicted, with another CNN analyst predicting the Michael Cohen’s testimony has only helped him.
Stephen Collinson, the network’s senior White House reporter, admitted Trump “had his best day so far” in his hush money trial with Cohen’s testimony on Thursday. The former advisor and fixer to Trump was visibly nervous on the stand, contradicting himself multiple times and begrudgingly calling his past misstatements “lies” when pressed by defense attorney Todd Blanche. If Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had hoped that the convicted liar who paid off Stormy Daniels would seal his case against Trump, the miscalculation appears to have backfired badly, according to Collinson.
“[Trump] got to savor his former fixer-turned-enemy Michael Cohen wobbling on the stand under a fearsome cross-examination,” he writes. “Cohen appeared to be tripped up over an account of a call he’d previously said under oath was to discuss Trump’s hush money payment to adult film Star Stormy Daniels. It emerged under questioning on Thursday that, at least to begin with, the topic of the call was about another matter entirely.”
“It was the kind of inconsistency that Trump’s attorneys can use to try to sow reasonable doubt about Cohen’s truthfulness and credibility in the mind of a single juror. That’s all it would take for Trump to walk.”
Ryan Goodman, a New York University law professor, offered a similar assessment when asked by evening host Erin Burns whether Trump would skate on charges after Cohen’s weak showing on the stand.
“I think what happened today still is so devastating they have to do something,” Goodman said. “If the case ended today and there were final statements, I think there would not be a conviction.”
President Trump appeared outside the court following testimony, as he often does to make winding statements about the perceived corruption of judge Juan Merchan, Bragg, or Democrats writ large he blames with coordinating “lawfare” against his presidential campaign.
“I think it was a very interesting day, it was a fascinating day. And it shows what a scam this whole thing is,” the former president said as a phalanx of Republican supporters, including Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), stood by his side. Appearing at Trump’s trial has become somewhat of a proving ground for aspirational vice presidential candidates such as North Dakota’s governor Doug Burgum.
Judge Merchan has told both sides to prepare for closing arguments as soon as Tuesday, meaning jury deliberations could begin soon after. If so, jurors could be left with the final impression that Cohen – the best witness Bragg could produce – is a serial liar who even former advisors admit will do or say anything to save himself and blames Trump for having served time in prison.
Even when the judge reprimanded Blanche for being too aggressive, he still got his point across that Cohen was muddying the waters about his truthfulness regarding the payment to Daniels. Cohen insisted at one point, “I believe I also spoke to President Trump and told him everything regarding the Stormy Daniels matter was being worked on and it’s going to be resolved.” Blanche fired back, “We are not asking for your belief – this jury doesn’t want to hear what you think happened,” prompting Merchan to sustain an objection.
