‘Dicey’: Trump prosecutors accused of taking risks as they're ‘dreading’ Cohen testimony
An expert in New York law says Donald Trump’s legal team is “dreading” putting key witness Michael Cohen on the stand — and they’re making some “dicey” moves to prepare for it.
Janos Marton, who unsuccessfully ran for Manhattan district attorney, says part of the reason the defense called its latest witness was to delay Cohen’s appearance.
Prosecutors did not want what they fear could be a disastrous cross-examination to be the last thing jurors saw before having a weekend to mull it, he said.
"Overall, the ho-hum end to the testimony this week was probably to avoid the possibility of watching a chaotic Michael Cohen cross-examination right before breaking for the weekend," he told Newsweek.
"He remains their most important witness, which has always been a tension in this case due to his past history and unpredictable behavior."
Their ideal was to start the week with Cohen, he said. Trump’s team is expected to take full aim at the witness's credibility, focusing on a five-year prison sentence he received for a conviction involving tax evasion and campaign finance violations.
Trump is facing 34 charges of business fraud surrounding hush money payments to an adult movie star to keep her quiet about a sexual relationship the two allegedly had.
Marton said the prosecution’s strategy created a big risk because they delayed Cohen’s appearance by putting a witness on the stand who was sympathetic to Trump.
He said former Trump Org. staffer Madeleine Westerhout's testimony "didn't move the needle much,” but she broke down in tears as she praised Trump.
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"It's always dicey to put a witness on the stand who is sympathetic to the defendant, but the prosecution has been doing everything they can to cement the ties between Donald Trump, David Pecker, and Michael Cohen, a witness they are likely dreading having to call next week.
"Westerhout ultimately didn't move the needle much for the prosecution, and Trump's lawyer, Susan Necheles, smartly cross-examined her to paint a picture of a Trump operation where he might not have been involved in all of the details around how letters were sent and payments were made."