The legal defense assembled by Donald Trump and his team in the hush money trial rested their case on Tuesday. This follows from Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen admitting in court to having stolen tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization.
“You stole from the Trump Organization?” Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche asked.
“Yes, sir,” Cohen replied.
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The New York Post released its paper of the day showing the headline: “Liar. Con artist. Thief. Michael Cohen admits stealing from Trump.”
Today's cover: Trump’s ex-fixer Michael Cohen admits stealing $60K from him after Trump stiffed vendor in bizarre scheme to rig popularity poll https://t.co/FlDGMwmrJv pic.twitter.com/C0cfifawt5
— New York Post (@nypost) May 21, 2024
Specifically, Michael Cohen confessed in court to stealing $30,000 from Trump’s company, having billed the Trump Organization $50,000 for “technology work” done by an outside contractor, tech firm Red Finch, but ultimately only paying the contractor $20,000 out of his own pocket. When Cohen received reimbursement from the Trump Organization, he kept the difference, according to the Associated Press. The Trump Organization also doubled the payment to cover any tax liability Cohen may have incurred for making the payment, a practice called “grossing up.”
Blanche also made the point that Cohen has never been charged for stealing money from Trump, despite having plead guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violation and unrelated tax evasion crimes.
“Have you paid back the Trump Organization the money you stole from them?”
“No, sir,” Cohen responded.
When asked by Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger why he took the $30,000, Cohen replied he was frustrated because his end-of-the-year bonus had been slashed from $150,000 to $50,000, “I just felt like it was almost like self-help. I wasn’t going to let him have the benefit this way,” Cohen said.
“This just got interesting: Michael Cohen is now admitting to stealing money from our company,” Eric Trump posted on X at the time. Donald reportedly sat with his eyes closed during most of Cohen’s testimony, but looked over at him when he admitted to stealing.
This just got interesting: Michael Cohen is now admitting to stealing money from our company.
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) May 20, 2024
When defendant Robert “Bob” Costello, a defense attorney Cohen spoke to during his 2018 federal investigation, took to the witness stand, Judge Juan Merchan reportedly interrupted him. Merchan is said to have gotten angry with Costello over his “demeanor,” ordering people out of the court including reporters. They were invited back in as Costello proceeded with his testimony, but Costello wasn’t able to finish before the court was dismissed for the day.
The judges treatment of Bob Costello is truly disgraceful – he will not allow him to tell his story – the same story he told Congress – as he knows it will be devastating and end this sham trial. This is not justice!
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) May 20, 2024
Trump did not take the witness stand before his lawyers rested their defense on Tuesday, inching the case closer to the final judgment by the jury.
“Your honor, the defense rests,” Blanche told the judge. The jury was then dismissed until May 28th, next Tuesday, when closing arguments will be heard. Attorneys first instructed jurors before they left about the decision on whether Trump is guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
Shane Devine is a writer covering politics and business for VT and a regular guest on The Unusual Suspects. Follow Shane’s work here.
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