Lawyers of former US President, Donald Trump, have hit back against prosecutors, accusing their star witness repeatedly of lying amid the ongoing hush-money trial involving adult movie star – Stormy Daniels
Thursday was the most intense day of cross-examination as Michael Cohen, Mr Trump’s former fixer, described talking to the former president directly about a hush-money payment to an adult-film star.
However, attorney Todd Blanche tried to convince the court that Cohen’s testimony was “a lie.”
Records, he said, show Cohen called Mr Trump’s bodyguard about a prank caller
Blanche’s theory of the phone call was designed to sow doubt on Cohen’s third day on the stand, as the jury watched the furious exchange with intense focus.
Following the heated moment, Mr Blanche stormed back to the defence table and sat down next to his client.
When the judge announced an afternoon recess, there was a collective relief in the court room.
Mr Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, for allegedly disguising payments to Cohen as legal expenses when they were in fact reimbursements for paying off Stormy Daniels, who claims she had sexual relations with the former President
Prosecutors allege Mr Trump sought to keep damaging information from the public to protect his 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts and denied having any affair with Miss Daniels.