Former President Trump's Criminal Trial: The Role of Michael Cohen and the Contested 'People's 35'

New York, New York, USA United States of America
Crucial evidence is 'People's 35'
Former President Trump faced criminal trial in New York on May 14, 2024.
Manhattan District Attorney's Office relied on Michael Cohen's testimony.
Outcome depends on jurors believing Cohen's testimony
Payment aimed at silencing claims of affair with Trump.
Trump accused of being directly involved in hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
Trump faces 34 felony counts related to $130,000 payment
Former President Trump's Criminal Trial: The Role of Michael Cohen and the Contested 'People's 35'

In a dramatic turn of events, former President Donald Trump faced his criminal trial in New York on May 14, 2024. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office relied heavily on the testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorney and fixer. Prosecutors accused Trump of being directly involved in a scheme to conceal a hush money payment made in October 2016 to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star. The payment was aimed at silencing her claims of an affair with Trump. This case revolves around the crucial piece of evidence known as 'People’s 35', which allegedly proves that Trump personally approved the hush money transaction. The outcome of the trial hinges on whether jurors believe Michael Cohen's testimony, who claimed to have seen and approved the contents of 'People’s 35'. The $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels is central to the 34 felony counts faced by Trump. Despite Cohen's history of lying under oath in Congress, special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, and federal court, the prosecution believes his credibility is vital for their case. The trial has captured national attention and could have significant implications on Trump's political future.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • Is Cohen a credible witness despite history of lying under oath?
  • Is the evidence 'People's 35' admissible and authentic?

Sources

85%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Opinion: Credibility is the key at Trump trial

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Richard Galant Sunday, 19 May 2024 12:25
  • Unique Points
    • Michael Cohen is testifying in the New York trial of former President Donald Trump.
    • Cohen could provide direct evidence that Trump intended to conceal hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
    • Defense lawyer Todd Blanche highlighted Cohen’s prior lies under oath in Congress, to special counsel Robert Mueller, and in federal court.
    • Cohen had raised his right hand and taken an oath to tell the truth in those instances but betrayed it. He was sentenced for tax offenses and false statements on his bank paperwork related to the hush money payment.
    • The $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels is at the core of the 34 felony counts faced by Trump.
  • Accuracy
    • Michael Cohen is a lawyer and admitted liar and convicted criminal.
    • The case is likely headed to the jury after Memorial Day weekend.
  • Deception (50%)
    The author makes editorializing statements and attempts to manipulate the reader's emotions by implying that Michael Cohen is a liar and a criminal. He also selectively reports information by focusing on Cohen's past lies under oath without mentioning the context or circumstances surrounding those lies.
    • Editor’s Note: Sign up… to get this weekly column as a newsletter. We… all do it, Twain archly observed: What chance has the ignorant uncultivated liar against the educated expert? What chance have I … against a lawyer?
    • He is also the only person testifying who could provide direct as opposed to circumstantial evidence that Trump broke the law by intending to conceal the hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
    • The defense lawyer pummeled Cohen about the fact that in those instances he had raised his right hand and taken an oath to tell the truth (just like here in this court) and betrayed it.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Mark Twain and using the opinions of legal analyst Norm Eisen. The author also engages in inflammatory rhetoric by describing Michael Cohen as an 'admitted liar and convicted criminal' multiple times.
    • “What chance has the ignorant uncultivated liar against the educated expert? What chance have I … against a lawyer?” - Mark Twain
    • “Again and again, the defense lawyer pummeled Cohen about the fact that in those instances he had raised his right hand and taken an oath to tell the truth (just like here in this court) and betrayed it.”,
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Trump's hush money verdict hinges on a single piece of paper. See the most important evidence in the case.

Business Insider Laura Italiano Sunday, 19 May 2024 19:56
  • Unique Points
    • On October 27, 2016, Michael Cohen wired $130,000 from his account to a lawyer for Stormy Daniels.
  • Accuracy
    • ] Michael Cohen wired $130,000 from his account to a lawyer for Stormy Daniels on October 27, 2016[
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Michael Cohen seemed to have delivered for prosecutors — if jurors believe him

The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Perry Stein Wednesday, 15 May 2024 22:05
  • Unique Points
    • Michael Cohen testified in New York during Donald Trump’s criminal trial on May 14, 2023
    • Manhattan District Attorney’s Office relied on Michael Cohen to make their case against Donald Trump for falsifying business records
    • Prosecutors accused Donald Trump of being directly involved in a scheme to conceal a hush money payment in October 2016
  • Accuracy
    • Cohen could provide direct evidence that Trump intended to conceal hush money payment to Stormy Daniels
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication