Cohen says hush money paid at direction of Trump
Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen took to the stand on Monday to testify in the former president’s New York hush-money case.
Cohen, the star witness, in the Manhattan trial has repeatedly tied a 2016 hush-money arrangement back to Trump.
Cohen says he spoke to the former president immediately after wiring the $130,000 (£104,000) payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
It was one of many times he operated “at the direction of and for the benefit” of Mr Trump, he testified.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to felony charges against him.
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Trump is facing 34 counts of business fraud for allegedly reimbursing Cohen for the payment through transactions masked as legal expenses.
Daniels had, in exchange for the money, agreed to keep quiet about allegedly having sex with Trump while he was married.
Prosecutors charge that the payment, made in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign, and the subsequent attempt to conceal it by falsifying records qualifies as election interference.
@abcworldnews Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen told jurors that Trump gave him clear directions to pay Stormy Daniels to keep quiet and boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election, telling Cohen to “just do it.” Aaron Katersky has more. #WorldNewsTonight #WNT #ABCNews #Trump #MichaelCohen #StormyDaniels #Trial