Michael Cohen's testimony praised by the media: 'An excellent prosecution witness'

Michael Cohen, the star witness in the landmark New York v. Trump case, received star treatment from the mainstream media after his testimony Monday.

Cohen, who served as Trump's personal lawyer and fixer before emerging as his sworn enemy, has seen his credibility questioned on all sides, with critics labeling him everything from a “serial perjurer” to a “con man.”

The former lawyer, who is a central part of the prosecution's case against Trump, testified that he secretly recorded Trump before the 2016 election, admitted to lying and intimidating people for Trump's benefit and detailed the alleged attempt to cover up an alleged adventure that Trump had had. with adult film star Stormy Daniels.

“The fact that they are literally relying on a serial perjurer to make their case shows how weak this case is, so I don't think things will go well for the prosecution in the court of law. In the court of public opinion , they' “We're doing even worse,” Marc Thiessen said Monday on Fox News.

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Media outlets and pundits who have historically been hostile to Trump had the difficult task of making Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations, false statements to Congress and tax evasion, seem credible.

However, some tried.

MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos appeared to downplay Cohen's credibility issues by focusing on the “misconception” that direct evidence is more powerful than circumstantial evidence.

“Direct evidence is someone saying they saw something or heard something, and that may not be reliable. Eyewitness testimony is not reliable, Michael Cohen may be unreliable, but circumstantial evidence, documents, do not lie.” Cevallos said.

“The prosecution's view here has obviously been that by the time Michael Cohen testifies, all the other documents will mitigate his perceived [unreliability]”Cevallos said while Andrea Mitchell spoke of the rest of her thoughts.

Longtime trial consultant J. Lee Meihls joined MSNBC to offer his thoughts on Cohen's testimony. It turned out she was a big fan.

Meihls told MSNBC viewers that Cohen was “calm,” “answered direct questions with direct answers,” was not emotional and was not “too personal.”

“He knows how important he is as a witness,” Meihls said.

MICHAEL COHEN WITNESS WHO SECRETLY RECORDED TRUMP BEFORE THE 2016 ELECTION

Michael Cohen is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger during the criminal trial of former US President Donald Trump accused of falsifying business records to hide money paid to hush porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan State Court in New York City. York, USA, May 13, 2024. in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)

MSNBC analyst Tim O'Brien similarly praised Cohen's performance later on the channel.

“There are a lot of weak people in Trump's world who pretend to be tough. Michael Cohen is a genuinely tough guy. And I think he showed enormous discipline on the stand today. I thought he was an excellent prosecution witness. He was firm. He stood by his controlled temperament,” O'Brien said.

The case revolves around the alleged falsification of business records. Prosecutors say Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 to silence her claims about the alleged extramarital sexual encounter with Trump. Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen and fraudulently recorded the payments as legal expenses, and are working to prove that Trump falsified records with the intent to commit or conceal a second crime.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case.

CNN aired footage of Cohen praising Trump in 2016, noting that it was common when he was on the former president's payroll.

“The question is,” senior legal analyst Elie Honig asked after the video. “Is the jury going to agree with this narrative that, 'Well, when he changed, he made a clean break and now he's telling the truth?'”

The answer is unclear, but CNN legal analyst Elliot Williams told viewers that prosecutors “carefully” asked questions in the context of evidence that emerged earlier in the trial.

“There are some credibility issues, memory issues and all of the above, and they're trying to make their testimony as airtight as possible,” Williams said.

MICHAEL COHEN TIKTOK AND FUNDRAISING VIDEOS STUNN LEGAL OBSERVERS: THEY MAY HAVE 'TORPETED THE CASE AGAINST TRUMP'

Journalists praised Cohen's testimony despite acknowledging his credibility problems. (Getty Images)

Despite this, some CNN correspondents and guests spoke optimistically about Cohen. Legal correspondent Paula Reid called the testimony “credible,” while her fellow correspondent Kara Scanell described it as “measured,” “deliberate” and “controlled.”

CNN's Tom Foreman also recounted: “The fact is that the cornerstone of Cohen's testimony has always been that he lied, committed crimes and went to prison for it, where he also said he did something else: He learned to tell the truth about Donald Trump “

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Other commentators commented on Trump himself, stating that he was visibly shaken by the testimony.

“He walked out of the courtroom and didn't mention him by name. But this is a very angry Donald Trump walking out of the courtroom. There have been some days where he's been more nonchalant or just completely gone. But this one It was clearly frustrating. And I think the part is that there is mutual frustration,” described NBC journalist Vaughn Hillyard.

CNN's Jake Tapper also suggested that Trump was “angrier than ever,” and former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi commented that while they don't know what the jury sees, Trump's facial expressions will matter.

“I don't think he's stone-faced,” Rossi said.

Trump appeared “angry” to some journalists and commentators after Cohen's testimony. (Photo by SETH WENIG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Republicans have rushed to defend Trump.

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, who was seen attending court with Trump on Monday, responded to Cohen's testimony on X, where he objected to Cohen admitting to secretly recording Trump.

“Michael Cohen admits that he secretly recorded his employer. It's totally normal behavior, right? The best part is that he said he did it only once and only for Trump's benefit. Serious guy!” public.

Vance, along with fellow Republicans such as Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, held a brief press conference Monday about the trial, where Vance continued to condemn Cohen's testimony.

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Cohen is expected to take the stand again Tuesday morning.