Former President Donald Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen is set to return to the stand for another day of cross-examination in a crucial chapter of the first criminal trial involving a former president. Cohen’s testimony, focused on a hush money payment Trump allegedly made to an adult film star and efforts to cover it up, could have significant implications for the upcoming election. Trump’s lawyer has been working to discredit Cohen’s credibility and challenge his memory of conversations with the ex-president.
The trial revolves around charges that Trump ordered the payment to cover up an alleged affair in order to mislead voters, potentially interfering in the 2016 election. There are questions about whether Trump will testify and how the defense will proceed, with the possibility that Trump’s attorneys could argue that the state of New York has not met the burden of proving Trump’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Once both sides have presented their cases, the jury will deliberate and determine whether a major political party will nominate a convicted felon for president for the first time in history.
The high stakes of the trial are amplified by the fact that the accused is a former president with a significant chance of winning back the White House, according to national polls. The trial, along with other critical events in the political calendar, is influencing the trajectory of the presidential race. Debates between President Joe Biden and Trump have been scheduled earlier than usual in the campaign, potentially impacting the outcome of the election and challenging the traditions of the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Biden’s decision to engage in early debates with Trump carries risks, as it provides the former president with a platform to challenge Biden’s fitness for office. However, Trump’s own inflammatory comments and behavior could work against him in the debates, allowing Biden to exceed expectations. A Supreme Court decision on Trump’s claims of immunity from prosecution could further shape the election landscape, potentially delaying his federal trial until after the election.
Trump’s legal team has been working to delay his reckoning on multiple cases until after the election, including a state case in Georgia and a federal case related to classified documents. The hush money trial may be the only one concluded before the election, and the outcome could sway undecided voters in swing states. Despite efforts to portray the trial as politically motivated, the possibility of a guilty verdict could impact Republican support for Trump leading up to the election. The trial is reaching a critical juncture as other factors that could determine the election, such as the debates and Supreme Court decisions, unfold.
