CNN panelists clash over Michael Cohen's credibility in heated debate on Trump trial: 'A fraud'
CNN panelists debated Thursday night over Michael Cohen's credibility as a witness in the trial of his previous boss, former President Trump.
"If there’s any human being on the planet Earth [whose] picture should be next to the definition ‘reasonable doubt,’ it’s Michael Cohen," Arthur Aidala told Trump critic and lawyer George Conway.
Cohen allegedly lied to Congress in a February 2019 hearing. He also pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations, making false statements to Congress and tax evasion, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison.
But as Trump's former legal counsel, Cohen has become a star witness in the prosecution against Trump.
Conway defended Cohen in a heated on-air exchange with Aidala on CNN.
"At the end of the day, what’s a reasonable doubt?" Conway said.
"A reasonable doubt has to be that there has to be some plausible, alternative explanation for all these things that happened," he continued, arguing that the jury would not believe Trump's explanation for sending money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
Conway also rejected Aidala's claims that Cohen was not a credible witness.
Aidala pointed to Cohen's "history of being a liar" and "a fraud."
"As opposed to the defendant?" Conway responded, laughing.
"The defendant’s credibility, unless he takes the stand, is not on trial," Aidala said.
"It is!" Conway said, raising his voice. "Because he’s been saying all sorts of stuff. They’ve been showing him lying and lying and lying."
"No! It is all about Michael Cohen," Aidala replied.
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"Show us something that he lied about that has something to do with what he’s saying on the stand!" Conway told Aidala.
"It all goes to credibility," Aidala added, referring again to Cohen. "They're going to destroy his credibility."
Cohen has also used TikTok to raise money for himself, speaking at length about the trial NY v. Trump on social media.
Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.