Important witness "Pitbull" Cohen heavily implicates Trump in legal issues.

Important witness "Pitbull" Cohen heavily implicates Trump.

What the prosecution has been aiming for since day one: in the hush money trial of Donald Trump, his former lawyer takes the stand against him. Michael Cohen, aka "Fixer" and "Pitbull," now sits on the witness stand to provide crucial details for the prosecution against his ex-boss and former president. It's the much-anticipated finale of the jury's deliberations, which could end with a guilty verdict and potentially years in prison for Trump.

No recording of the proceedings is permitted in the courtroom, but the trial is still a media spectacle. CNN, for instance, displays images, court drawings, Trump's appearance in court, portraits of those involved, and a live ticker with courtroom quotes while a panel of experts discuss it live. Is Trump's motivation political? Were these payments about interfering in an election? The prosecution intends to prove that money flowed in aid of the election campaign, with Trump pulling the strings.

Back in 2019, Cohen already informed Congress that Trump told him to use his own funds to keep anything from being traced back to him during the campaign. On the other hand, Trump's defense team argues that their client's primary concern was for his marriage and not election-related. Fox News, among others, supports this argument.

However, Cohen paints a different picture. "He wasn't thinking about Melania; it was all about the election campaign." Cohen recalls how Trump wanted to stay informed about every step and approve it himself. For instance, regarding Stormy Daniels' threatened publication about their affair, Trump expressed: "It's a disaster, a total disaster. Women will hate me. Guys will think it's cool, but it will be a disaster for the campaign." They devised a plan to keep the porn star silent until the election.

The key detail in Trump's trial concerns the cover-up of these payments in 2016 – if the jury believes it was done to help Trump during his Republican presidential campaign, he would be found guilty. Cohen recalls a conversation with Trump, who stated: "I want you to delay (the payment) as long as possible, until after the election, because if I win, it will be meaningless because I'm the president, and if I lose, I just don't care." Cohen had used his own money for 130,000 US dollars before the election out of fear of potential backlash from publication.

Throughout the trial, Trump's demeanor in the dock fluctuates. At first, he unwaveringly stares straight ahead, ignoring Cohen as he enters the courtroom. Then, he repeatedly closes his eyes for long periods. At some point, he starts reading printed texts – the cover page of which he previously brandished in the courtroom as an article from the "New York Times." Rarely does Trump show any reaction to the statements from his former lawyer. He glances at him a few times or shakes his head.

He used to defend Trump's interests, now he is testifying as a key witness for the public prosecutor's office against his ex-boss: Michael Cohen.

As the day's proceedings wear on, Cohen's answers transform into a mini-campaign thriller. It's about the "Access Hollywood" recording in which Trump famously said, "Grab 'em by the pussy" and the subsequent efforts to minimize the media backlash. The same goes for his conversation with Trump on October 28, when Cohen said that he had the Stormy Daniels story completely contained and secure. On the same day, he signed the confidentiality agreement with Daniels.

It was also on November 4, 2016, four days before the presidential election, that the Wall Street Journal published an article revealing the hush money payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal. According to her, she had a love affair with Trump in 2006. Trump denied this. Trump's campaign spokeswoman at the time, Hope Hicks, coordinated with Cohen and David Pecker, the head of American Media Inc on how to manage the situation. Cohen expressed concern that the story could "blow up" and create a "huge problem."

Cohen strongly suggests Trump's involvement in the incidents. Nevertheless, the legal team isn't cornering the ex-president just yet. It's worth noting that the key witness comes with a shaky reputation. Cohen used to represent Trump for a dozen years and declared he'd "take a bullet for him." He employed intimidation tactics, aggressive behavior, and deceitful oaths to protect his interests. Cohen aided in Trump's presidential bid and considered himself a part of his family. However, he cut ties with his former boss in 2018 and has become a staunch critic of him since then. Will the jury accept this new image?

Age 57, Cohen faced a three-year incarceration following his damaging testimonies regarding Trump's election process. The charges encompassed a 1.4 million US dollar tax evasion, lying under oath about Trump's interactions with Russia, and illegal campaign contributions during hush money deals. Expressing regret, he proclaimed, "I viewed it as my responsibility to cover up his misdeeds, rather than listening to my inner voice and moral compass." He first resided in prison and later under house arrest throughout his term.

Currently, the prosecution is aiming to prove Trump's involvement in illegal campaign financing. Cohen paid Stormy Daniels the money, albeit compensated for it later, as he maintains. As he delves into the specifics of the payment, its taxes, and the declaration of "legal services," his first day as a key witness ends. The prosecution will revisit this case on Tuesday to shore up Cohen's credibility with the jury. Subsequently, Trump's defense lawyers will cross-examine him, aiming to undermine the credibility of the key witness.