The hush money criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is ongoing, and federal criminal defense lawyer David Oscar Markus believes that Michael Cohen may be the next to testify. Markus says that the prosecution team is likely “salivating” at the opportunity to have Cohen testify against Trump. Cohen, who served as Trump’s personal attorney, has previously pleaded guilty to charges related to the hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal during Trump’s campaign in 2016. Markus believes that Cohen may have inside information that could be damaging to Trump in the trial, making him a valuable witness for the prosecution.
In addition to Michael Cohen, Markus also believes that other witnesses, such as Allen Weisselberg, the CFO of the Trump Organization, may be called to testify in the trial. Weisselberg has been a key figure in the investigation into Trump’s finances and business dealings, and his testimony could provide further evidence against Trump. Markus points out that the prosecution team will likely do everything in their power to secure testimony from witnesses who have direct knowledge of the alleged crimes, such as Cohen and Weisselberg.
Markus notes that one of the biggest challenges for the prosecution in the Trump trial is proving that Trump knowingly violated campaign finance laws. In order to establish Trump’s guilt, the prosecution will need to show that he was aware of and approved of the hush money payments made on his behalf. Markus explains that this can be difficult to prove, as it requires demonstrating Trump’s state of mind at the time the payments were made. However, Markus believes that witnesses like Cohen and Weisselberg could provide crucial testimony regarding Trump’s involvement in the scheme.
As the trial continues, Markus predicts that the defense team will likely focus on discrediting the witnesses brought forward by the prosecution. He points out that in high-profile cases like this, witness credibility can be a crucial factor in determining the outcome of the trial. Markus believes that the defense team will likely try to undermine the credibility of witnesses like Cohen and Weisselberg in order to weaken the prosecution’s case. He also notes that the defense may attempt to shift the focus away from Trump’s actions and onto the prosecution’s tactics in order to create doubt in the minds of the jurors.
Overall, Markus believes that the outcome of the trial will depend on the strength of the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense. He notes that high-profile cases like this often come down to the credibility of the witnesses and the skill of the attorneys on both sides. Markus predicts that the trial will continue to generate significant public interest as it unfolds and that the ultimate decision will have far-reaching implications for Trump and those involved in the case. In the meantime, he expects that both the prosecution and defense teams will continue to strategize and prepare for the upcoming phase of the trial.
