Donald Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen resumed testifying on May 14 at the Republican presidential candidate's criminal trial, a day after telling jurors that Trump personally authorised him to make a hush money payment to a porn star weeks before the 2016 election.
Mr Cohen, once so loyal to Trump that he claimed he would take a bullet for his boss, is the prosecution's star witness. In hours of testimony on May 13, he said Trump ordered him to pay the adult film actress Stormy Daniels "Just do it," Mr Cohen remembered Trump saying to ensure her silence about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter.
US$130,000 Mr Cohen's (S$176,000) payment in October 2016 is at the heart of Trump's trial, the first for a former United States president, which began in New York state criminal court in Manhattan in April.
Prosecutors say Trump paid Mr Cohen back after the election and hid the reimbursements by creating false records indicating they were for legal fees. Those reimbursements provide the basis for the 34 counts of falsifying business records that Trump faces.
In early testimony on May 14, Mr Cohen recounted an Oval Office meeting with Trump in February 2017 when the newly inaugurated president told him he would soon be receiving the first two installments of a bonus package. That package, Mr Cohen said, included reimbursements for the Daniels payment.
Trump spoke at times with his lawyer Emil Bove, seated to his left, as prosecutor Susan Hoffinger walked Mr Cohen through a series of invoices and cheques - some signed by Trump himself - that Mr Cohen said were falsely marked as paying for retainer services.
"There was no retainer agreement, was there?" Ms Hoffinger asked.
Esta historia es de la edición May 15, 2024 de The Straits Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 15, 2024 de The Straits Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
THE NEW BERNABEU A REAL PROBLEM
Locals and neighbourhood residents hate noise from concerts and construction work
Japan seek to beat the heat and Saudi Arabia
HONG KONG - Japan face second-placed Saudi Arabia in Group C of Asia's third round of World Cup qualifiers in Jeddah on Oct 10, looking to continue their prolific start as top-of-the-table clashes take centre stage across the continent.
Police investigating Spanish pair over protests in S'pore
A Spanish man and woman in their 30s are assisting the police with investigations after photos appeared on social media of the man holding a banner in various parts of Singapore to protest against Singaporean business magnate Peter Lim, who owns Spanish top-tier football club Valencia.
FROM SAUDI SPLURGE TO SPENDING SLUMP
Football transfer outlay drops in 2024 as officials assess the commercial returns
Future looks bright for America's Cup: Ainslie
BARCELONA - Sailing has a great opportunity to develop as a sport if the America's Cup can involve more frequent events and evolve the boats now being raced, according to British skipper Ben Ainslie.
Sport can be 'solution multiplier' for climate
LONDON – Sports clubs and organisations must raise their game and become leaders in the battle to prevent catastrophic climate change, Sport England chairman Chris Boardman said on Oct 8.
SINNER TO BE GIVEN NO QUARTER
Medvedev vows to put up a better fight against world No. 1 in Shanghai last eight
Ryder Cup captains won't exclude LIV Golf players
NEW YORK - Ryder Cup captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald said on Oct 8 that they will not shy away from including LIV Golf players in their respective teams for the 2025 biennial showdown between the United States and Europe.
MISTY SWIFT EARNS EVEN MORE FANS AT TRIALS
Ex-Kranji runner No More Delay also struts his stuff at hit-outs
MediShield Life can be made more effective. Its review holds the key
We must incentivise outpatient treatment and accept that, in some cases, personalised medicine can save lives.