Michael Cohen, the former lawyer of ex-President Donald Trump, has been cashing in on the hush money trial involving Trump by discussing the case on nightly TikTok livestreams. Cohen has been earning money through donations from viewers, discussing Trump, the ongoing trial, and the testimony. Legal experts warn that this behavior may harm his credibility as a key witness in the case. Despite not violating any court order, experts believe it is unwise for a witness to discuss the case outside of the courtroom.
Jeremy Saland, a defense attorney, suggests that Cohen’s behavior will only benefit Trump. Saland, who used to work in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office bringing the case, believes that Trump’s legal team will use Cohen’s livestreams to attack his credibility in court. Saland advises Cohen to stop commenting on the case for his own sake, as it may compromise the case. Cohen has announced that he will stop discussing Trump until he takes the stand in the ongoing trial, respecting the court and prosecutors.
Cohen, who was once known for his fierce loyalty to Trump, is now slated to be a crucial witness in a case where Trump is accused of manipulating business records to hide a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for crimes including tax evasion, making false statements to a bank, and campaign finance violations. He has acknowledged that his connection to Trump led to his incarceration and subsequent strained relationship with the former president.
In 2020, Cohen spent the final year of his prison sentence on home confinement at his condo before being released in late 2021. Despite his past willingness to defend Trump at all costs, Cohen’s actions on TikTok have raised concerns about his credibility as a witness in the hush money trial. Legal experts caution that his behavior may be exploited by Trump’s legal team to undermine his testimony in court. Cohen has announced that he will halt discussing Trump and the trial until after he testifies, in an effort to avoid further compromising the case.
As Cohen prepares to take the stand in the ongoing trial, his actions on social media have sparked debate about the potential impact on the case. While Cohen has a legal right to engage in public discourse, experts warn that his livestreams discussing the trial may hurt his credibility as a key witness. Despite his previous strong support for Trump, Cohen’s behavior on TikTok has led to concerns that his reliability as a witness may be questioned by Trump’s defense team. Cohen’s decision to refrain from commenting on the case until after his testimony aims to protect the integrity of the trial.
