Judge Jeanine: Trump knew exactly who Michael Cohen was

Fox News

13 May 202413:21

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses the trial against Donald Trump involving hush money payments, with Michael Cohen as a key witness. Cohen, Trump's former attorney, is portrayed as desperate for approval and willing to go to great lengths, including secretly recording Trump. The discussion highlights Cohen's credibility issues, his past as a convicted felon, and the ethical concerns regarding his secret recordings. The speakers argue that despite the media's portrayal of Cohen's testimony as a 'bombshell,' there is still no concrete evidence of a crime. They also criticize the prosecution's reliance on Cohen's testimony and the potential legal and ethical implications of the case.

Takeaways

📚 Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former attorney, is taking the stand in a hush money trial against Trump, where he is portrayed as a desperate and duplicitous man seeking Trump's approval.
🎤 Cohen is accused of secretly recording Trump without his knowledge and using a home equity line of credit to handle situations for his boss, yet there is still no evidence of a crime presented.
🚫 Trump is currently unable to respond to Cohen's allegations due to legal constraints.
🗣️ Public opinion seems to be that there is no crime committed, and the case is seen as an attempt to keep Trump from being paid for four weeks.
🤔 Trump's lawyers have not yet addressed Cohen's credibility, which is expected to be a key point in their defense.
📺 Cohen has been criticized for his actions, including posting about Trump on TikTok and promoting a reality show called 'The Fixer,' which could impact his credibility.
😡 There is a strong sentiment against Cohen, with some suggesting that the prosecutors are acting worse than the person they are targeting, Trump.
🤨 The media's portrayal of Cohen's testimony as 'bombshell' is questioned, especially when it involves privileged attorney-client conversations.
📉 Cohen's credibility is further undermined by his history, including being disbarred, convicted of felonies, and serving prison time.
👥 The jury is presented with a contrast between the positive accounts of working for Trump and the negative portrayal of Cohen.
📝 The legality and ethics of Cohen secretly taping his client, Trump, is a point of contention, with some viewing it as a violation of attorney-client privilege.

Q & A

What is the main subject of the trial mentioned in the transcript?
-The main subject of the trial is the hush money payments allegedly made by Donald Trump, with Michael Cohen as a key witness.
Why is Michael Cohen considered a controversial figure in this trial?
-Michael Cohen is considered controversial due to his past as a convicted felon and his history of lying, which raises questions about his credibility as a witness.
What is the criticism against Michael Cohen for secretly recording Donald Trump?
-Critics argue that secretly recording a client is an ethical violation of attorney-client privilege and reflects poorly on Cohen's trustworthiness.
What is the significance of the fact that there is still no evidence of a crime presented in the trial?
-The lack of evidence of a crime raises doubts about the strength of the case against Donald Trump and suggests that the prosecution may not meet the burden of proof.
Why is the media's portrayal of Michael Cohen's testimony as 'bombshell' questioned in the transcript?
-The questioning arises because the media's portrayal implies a significant revelation, yet the content of the testimony and its reliability are disputed by the discussants.
What is the argument made by the discussants regarding the use of a convicted felon as a witness against Donald Trump?
-The discussants argue that using a convicted felon as a witness may backfire, as it could taint the jury's perception of the case and the credibility of the prosecution.
What is the implication of Michael Cohen's actions in seeking redemption and 'paying it forward' as mentioned in the transcript?
-The implication is that Cohen is attempting to rebuild his reputation and contribute positively to society after his legal troubles, although the sincerity of his actions is questioned.
Why is there skepticism about the effectiveness of the legal system in the transcript?
-The skepticism stems from the perception that the legal system is being weaponized and used for political purposes, rather than upholding justice.
What is the discussants' view on the strategy of the District Attorney (D.A.) Alvin Bragg in the trial?
-The discussants express doubt about D.A. Bragg's strategy, suggesting that it may be flawed and that he may be risking his career on a weak case.
How is the discussion framing the role of Michael Cohen in relation to Donald Trump?
-The discussion frames Michael Cohen as a disgruntled and desperate former associate who is willing to do anything to gain approval and possibly exact revenge.
What is the general sentiment towards the jury's perception of the case as discussed in the transcript?
-The general sentiment is that the jury may not be convinced by the prosecution's case, particularly due to the controversial nature of the main witness, Michael Cohen.

Outlines

00:00

📛 The Testimony of Michael Cohen: Trump's Former Attorney

The first paragraph discusses Michael Cohen's testimony in the hush money trial against Donald Trump. Cohen, described as a desperate and duplicitous man, is portrayed as someone who would do anything for Trump's approval, including secretly recording him. Despite allegations, there is still no concrete evidence of a crime. The paragraph also touches on the inability of Trump to respond due to legal constraints, and the perception of the case as politically motivated, with references to the New York legal system being 'weaponized.' It further mentions Cohen's credibility being questioned due to his past actions and his attempt to profit from the situation through a reality show called 'The Fixer.'

05:00

🎤 Credibility Concerns and the Role of Client-Attorney Privilege

The second paragraph focuses on the credibility issues surrounding Michael Cohen, particularly his secret recording of his client, Donald Trump. It emphasizes the breach of attorney-client privilege and the negative implications this has on Cohen's trustworthiness. The discussion also includes the reactions of various legal scholars and the public to the taping of conversations, with some finding it odd but not illegal. The paragraph further speculates on the motivations behind the payments made and the lack of direct evidence implicating Trump. It concludes with anticipation for the cross-examination, which is expected to be intense and revealing of Cohen's credibility challenges.

10:02

🏛 The Legal and Ethical Implications of Cohen's Actions

The third paragraph delves into the legal and ethical implications of Michael Cohen's actions, including his status as a convicted felon and perjurer. It highlights the negative perception of Cohen and the potential motivations for him to lie and attempt to tarnish Trump's reputation. The discussion points out that Trump did not sign any documents related to the alleged wrongdoing and questions the relevance of conversations that did not involve him directly. The paragraph also criticizes the prosecution's reliance on Cohen's testimony and the ethical violation of taping a client without consent. Finally, it emphasizes the burden of proof on the prosecution and the lack of obligation for the defense to present a statement, asserting that the case against Trump is weak.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Michael Cohen

Michael Cohen is a former personal attorney for Donald Trump. He is a central figure in the video's narrative as he is involved in a trial against Trump, where he is portrayed as a discredited witness. His role as Trump's 'fixer' and his subsequent fall from grace due to legal troubles are key themes in the video.

💡Donald Trump

Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, is a central figure in the video's discussion. He is mentioned in the context of a hush money trial and his relationship with Michael Cohen. The video explores the implications of the trial on Trump's reputation and legal standing.

💡Alvin Bragg

Alvin Bragg is the District Attorney involved in the trial against Donald Trump. His role is significant as he is portrayed as heavily invested in the outcome of the trial, which is criticized in the video for its reliance on Cohen's testimony.

💡Hush Money Trial

The hush money trial refers to the legal proceedings against Donald Trump, where allegations of payoffs to silence individuals are central. This trial is the main subject of the video, with discussions focusing on the evidence presented and the credibility of the witnesses involved.

💡Testimony

Testimony in this context refers to the evidence given by Michael Cohen in court. It is a key element in the video as it is debated whether Cohen's testimony is credible and what impact it will have on the trial's outcome.

💡Attorney-Client Privilege

Attorney-client privilege is a legal principle that protects certain communications between a client and their attorney. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of Cohen secretly recording Trump, which is seen as a violation of this privilege and a significant ethical breach.

💡Perjury

Perjury is the act of lying or making false statements under oath, typically in a court setting. Michael Cohen is described as a 'serial perjuring convicted felon,' which questions his credibility as a witness in the trial discussed in the video.

💡

💡The Fixer

The term 'The Fixer' is used to describe Michael Cohen's self-proclaimed role when he was Trump's personal attorney. It is also the name of a reality show that Cohen is said to be shopping around, which is criticized in the video as an attempt to capitalize on his notoriety.

💡Weaponized Legal System

The phrase 'weaponized legal system' is used in the video to suggest that the legal process is being used as a tool to target and potentially harm Donald Trump. It reflects the video's narrative that the trial is part of a broader effort to undermine Trump.

💡Cross Examination

Cross examination is a part of the legal process where a witness is questioned by the opposing counsel. In the video, it is anticipated that Trump's lawyers will challenge Cohen's credibility during this phase of the trial, which is crucial for the jury's assessment of his testimony.

💡Ethical Violation

An ethical violation refers to a breach of professional or moral standards. In the context of the video, it is used to describe Cohen's actions in secretly recording his client, Trump, which is seen as a breach of attorney ethics and client trust.

Highlights

Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former attorney, is taking the stand in the hush money trial against Trump.

Cohen is described as a desperate and duplicitous man, longing for Trump's approval.

Cohen secretly recorded Trump without his knowledge, raising questions about attorney-client privilege.

Despite the trial, there is still no evidence of a crime directly linked to Trump.

Trump's lawyers have not yet had the opportunity to challenge Cohen's credibility.

Cohen's recent actions, such as posting on TikTok about Trump, may affect his credibility in court.

Cohen is promoting a reality show called 'The Fixer,' which could be seen as an attempt to profit from the situation.

The discussion highlights the potential ethical violation of a lawyer secretly recording their client.

There is debate over whether the taped conversation between Cohen and Trump is admissible and relevant to the case.

The prosecution's reliance on Cohen's testimony, a convicted felon, is questioned by the participants.

The defense argues that the prosecution may actually be retrying Cohen with Trump as the target.

The jury is presented with contrasting images of Trump, from Cohen's negative perspective and others' positive experiences.

Cohen's lack of a law license and job, and his desperation, are highlighted as factors that may influence his testimony.

The importance of the jury believing Cohen's motive for making payments on behalf of Trump is emphasized.

The defense suggests that the prosecution has not proven Trump's direct involvement in the alleged crimes.

The expectation of an intense and revealing cross-examination of Cohen by Trump's lawyers is mentioned.

The burden of proof lies with the prosecution, and the defense is under no obligation to present a statement.

The final argument emphasizes the unethical nature of Cohen taping a client and questions the significance of the recording.