Michael Cohen admits he stole from Trump organization

NEW YORK (NewsNation) — The prosecution’s star witness, Michael Cohen, admitted on the stand at former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial Monday that he stole money from his former bosses’ company.

Cohen, who used to be Trump’s lawyer, began testifying last week in the trial over alleged payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. While these payments, noted in internal Trump Organization records, were marked as legal expenses, prosecutors say they were really reimbursements for hush money paid to Daniels, in an attempt to keep her quiet about an alleged affair she had with the president. Trump has denied such an affair.

Defense attorneys began cross-examination of Cohen with questioning designed to portray the one-time Trump loyalist as a media-obsessed opportunist who turned on the former president after he was denied a White House job.

Cohen testified as he was questioned by defense attorney Todd Blanche that he took money that was supposed to be reimbursement for a $50,000 payment to technology firm Red Finch.

“So you stole from the Trump Organization?” Blanche asked, to which Cohen answered: “Yes, sir.”

Cohen has not been charged with stealing from Trump’s company.

Eric Trump, the former president’s son, reacted to Cohen’s testimony on X, saying, “This just got interesting.”

After Cohen ended his remarks and the prosecution rested, Robert Costello, a former federal prosecutor, testified. Costello, a former federal prosecutor in New York, had offered to represent Cohen soon after the lawyer’s hotel room, office and home were raided by law enforcement. Cohen served prison time after pleading guilty to charges including lying to Congress and a bank and engaging in campaign finance violations.

Costello said that Cohen had told him Trump didn’t know about the $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels.

“Michael Cohen said numerous times that President Trump knew nothing about those payments, that he did this on his own, and he repeated that numerous times,” Costello testified.

But Cohen said he stood by his recollections of conversations with Trump about the payment. Pushed by Blanche, Cohen said he had “no doubt” that he had specific conversations with Trump about the Daniels matter.

During his testimony, Costello muttered under his breath, and continued to speak after objections by lawyers were sustained.

Eventually, Merchan excused the jury, telling Costello that he wants “proper decorum” in his courtroom.

After excusing the jury, Merchan told the witness: “Mr. Costello, I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom. When there’s a witness on the stand, if you don’t like my ruling, you don’t say ‘jeez’ … You don’t give me side eye, and you don’t roll your eyes.”

Will Trump take the stand?

It remains unclear whether Trump will testify. However, Trump has previously indicated he’s willing to do so.

NewsNation legal contributor Jesse Weber told “Morning in America” Monday that the decision lies solely with Trump. Weber noted that Trump could surprise his attorneys by choosing to testify, even if they advise against it; ultimately, the choice is his.

When will closing arguments begin?

Judge Juan Merchan said he expects closing arguments will take place the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Merchan on Monday cited scheduling issues in giving the May 28 date.

After the scheduling update Monday, the discussion turned to prosecutors’ objections to a planned defense exhibit. This kind of legal wrangling isn’t uncommon before a day’s testimony. The jury was not yet in court.

What happens if Trump is convicted?

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to Daniels. These charges center on a $130,000 payment allegedly made through Cohen shortly before the 2016 election. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said he will testify if needed.

The charges are punishable by up to four years in prison — though it’s unclear if the judge would seek to put Trump behind bars. A conviction would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he wouldn’t be able to pardon himself if found guilty.

The case is the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president and the first of four prosecutions of Trump to reach a jury.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.