Cohen admitted to stealing tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company
Cohen sought reimbursement for $50,000 paid to a technology firm that boosted Trump's online poll standing
Jury will begin deliberations to determine if Trump falsified business records
Michael Cohen testified about undisclosed financial transactions involving Trump Organization
Trump defense team cross-examined Cohen during proceedings
In a dramatic turn of events at the ongoing hush money trial against former President Donald J. Trump, key witness Michael Cohen testified about previously undisclosed financial transactions involving the Trump Organization. According to Cohen, he had stolen tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company and was seeking reimbursement for $50,000 paid to a technology firm that artificially boosted Trump's standing in an online poll.
Cohen's testimony marked the final witness presentation for the prosecution in this case. The defense is expected to begin its case soon, with closing arguments likely to be delivered by May 28.
The trial, which began on May 17, centers around allegations that Trump falsified business records when he reimbursed Cohen for the hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 campaign. The Manhattan district attorney's office is prosecuting this case.
Cohen's testimony was meticulously cross-examined by Trump's defense team, who sought to challenge his credibility and question the motives behind his actions. Despite this, Cohen maintained his composure throughout the proceedings.
The jury will now begin deliberations to determine whether Trump is guilty of falsifying business records as charged in this case.
It is important to note that all parties involved in this trial are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. This article aims to provide factual information about the trial proceedings and should not be construed as an endorsement or bias towards any particular party.
Cohen testified that he stole from the Trump Organization after his holiday bonus was slashed to $50,000 from the usual $150,000
Cohen claimed to have paid $5o,ooo to a technology firm for its work artificially boosting Trump’s standing in a CNBC online poll about famous businessmen and sought reimbursement from Trump for the full amount
Cohen told jurors that he stole from the Trump Organization after his holiday bonus was slashed to $50,000 from the usual $15o,ooo
Accuracy
Donald Trump’s lawyers urged the judge to throw out his hush money case after prosecution rested
Cohen claimed to have paid $50,o to a technology firm for its work artificially boosting Trump’s standing in a CNBC online poll about famous businessmen and sought reimbursement from Trump for the full amount
Deception
(50%)
The article contains editorializing and selective reporting. The author uses phrases like 'prosecutors are trying to prove' and 'defense lawyers seized on Cohen's past lies and criminal history', which implies a bias towards the defense. The author also only reports details that support the defense's position, such as Cohen's past lies and criminal history, while omitting details that may support the prosecution. For example, the article does not mention any evidence presented by the prosecution or any testimony from witnesses other than Cohen.
prosecutors are trying to prove that Trump sought to bury unflattering stories about himself and then falsified internal business records to cover it up as part of a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election.
defense lawyers seized on Cohen’s past lies and criminal history.
Michael Cohen testified that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump’s company which was not mentioned in other articles.
Cohen claimed to have paid $50,00o to a technology firm for its work artificially boosting Trump’s standing in a CNBC online poll about famous businessmen and sought reimbursement from Trump for the full amount which was not mentioned in other articles.
Accuracy
The prosecution rested their case against Donald Trump on Monday in the former president's hush money trial.
Michael Cohen testified that he discussed the Stormy Daniels matter with Donald Trump on Oct. 24, 2016.
Cohen was the last witness for prosecutors in the hush money trial.
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.
Cohen insisted, ‘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.’
No one can say how individual members of the jury will sift the evidence and competing testimony. But experienced trial lawyers immediately spotted a potential turning point.
Accuracy
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.
Blanche then wielded a rhetorical dagger, telling Cohen: ‘We are not asking for your belief - this jury doesn’t want to hear what you think happened.’
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as the author focuses on the inconsistency in Michael Cohen's testimony regarding a call with Donald Trump and only reports details that support this narrative. The author also uses emotional manipulation by describing Trump's day in court as 'good' and 'satisfied,' implying that the trial is a scam.
But on Thursday, he got to savor his former fixer-turned-enemy Michael Cohen wobbling on the stand under a fearsome cross-examination.
Trump left court after a day in which he was supported by another posse of GOP lawmakers, including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, well satisfied.
It shows what a scam this whole thing is.
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.
The presumptive GOP nominee has often seemed embarrassed and infuriated by his first criminal trial, which has featured salacious exposés of his personal life and details of his alleged attempts to cover it up.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting legal experts and their opinions on the trial. This does not constitute a logical fallacy as long as it is clear that the author is reporting their words and not endorsing them. However, the author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing Trump's day in court as 'good' or 'fascinating', which can be subjective and potentially biased.
]I think there would not be a conviction.[/
If the case ended at that moment and there were final statements, I think there would not be a conviction.[
Bias
(75%)
The author expresses a clear bias towards Donald Trump throughout the article. The author describes Trump's day in court as 'good' and 'satisfied', and quotes him making hyperbolic statements that spin the events in his favor. The author also quotes Ryan Goodman, a professor at NYU Law, who expresses doubt about the prosecution's case based on the inconsistency of Cohen's testimony. The author does not provide any counter-arguments or evidence to challenge these statements.
Donald Trump finally had a good day in court.
He left court after a day in which he was supported by another posse of GOP lawmakers, including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, well satisfied.
If the case ended at that point and there were final statements, I think there would not be a conviction.
Trump's hyperbolic spin and unique take on proceedings rang less hollow than usual given several positive moments for the defense in what has largely been a grim month for Trump in the courtroom.
Michael Cohen testified that he discussed the Stormy Daniels matter with Donald Trump on Oct. 24, 2016.
Accuracy
Cohen insisted that he believed his account was true based on the records and documents he reviewed.
Cohen pleaded guilty to tax evasion and other charges in 2018 but has since maintained that he was pressured to do so by federal prosecutors and a corrupt judge.
Deception
(35%)
The article is not highly deceiving but it does contain some deceptive practices. The author presents statements from the defense lawyer Todd Blanche without disclosing that he is trying to discredit Michael Cohen's testimony. This creates a misleading impression for the readers as they do not know that Blanche's statements are part of a defense strategy. Another example of deception is when the article refers to Stormy Daniels' nondisclosure agreement as a
[Defense lawyer Todd Blanche] insisted the call [between Cohen and Trump] was at 8:02 p.m. and lasted 90 seconds and that at 8:04 p.m., Cohen texted Schiller the phone number of a 14-year-old he'd complained had been prank calling him. He shouted that Cohen’s account of talking to Trump that night ‒,
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting the defense lawyer Todd Blanche's assertions without providing any counterargument or evidence. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that Trump's defense attorneys have been trying to paint Cohen as a dishonest and unreliable narrator, but does not provide any evidence to support this claim.
The defense lawyers have been trying to paint Cohen as a dishonest and unreliable narrator whose claims cannot be believed.
Blanche noted the call was at 8:02 p.m. and lasted 90 seconds and that at 8:04 p.m., Cohen texted Schiller the phone number of a 14-year-old he’d complained had been prank calling him. He shouted that Cohen’s account of talking to Trump that night ‘was a lie!’ The real conversation was about the teenager, Blanche insisted.
Cohen said he ‘believed he was telling the truth, based upon the records and documents’ he reviewed. 'We are not asking for your belief. This jury does not want to hear what you think happened,' Blanche snapped.
Bias
(75%)
The author does not directly demonstrate bias in the article. However, the author does mention that Trump's defense attorneys have been trying to paint Cohen as a dishonest and unreliable narrator whose claims cannot be believed. This could potentially indicate a subtle pro-Trump bias, as the authors are presenting information that may be favorable to Trump's defense. Additionally, the author mentions that Cohen has a history of lying and an ax to grind against his former boss. This statement could potentially indicate a negative bias against Cohen.
][author] The defense lawyers have been trying to paint Cohen as a dishonest and unreliable narrator whose claims cannot be believed. [[//][],
