Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, has been vocal in his defense of the former president as Trump faces numerous charges in a pivotal hush-money trial in New York. Gaetz has stirred considerable debate with his forceful critique of testimony given by Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, in the ongoing legal proceedings, suggesting that Cohen’s testimony has weakened the prosecution’s case.
Challenging Cohen’s Credibility
Michael Cohen has become a central figure in the legal battles surrounding former President Trump, who is accused of falsifying business records connected to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to suppress damaging information. Trump has pleaded not guilty and has denied any sexual encounter with Daniels, facing 34 felony counts in total.
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As the key witness for the prosecution, Cohen’s credibility has come under intense scrutiny. Speaking on Fox News, Rep. Matt Gaetz challenged the reliability of Cohen’s testimony, stating, “Michael Cohen in this circumstance was dog-walked through a jungle of lies, but the biggest lie he told—he was caught lying on the stand,” Gaetz claimed. He pointed out inconsistencies in Cohen’s statements, particularly that Cohen had not discussed finalizing the deal with Trump, casting doubt among the jurors about the prosecution’s arguments.
“Because he never spoke to Trump about the closure of this deal he supposedly orchestrated, and the jury was aghast. And even the jurors who I think want to convict Trump walked out of that courtroom with their shoulders slumped because they knew Michael Cohen blew this case up. Anyone who relies on Cohen, they lose,” added Gaetz.
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Intense Scrutiny in Court
The trial’s tension focused on a specific phone call on October 24, 2016, which Cohen asserts was to update Trump about the payment arrangements with Daniels. Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, during a heated cross-examination, suggested that the call might have been about other matters, such as harassing phone calls Cohen had received. Cohen admitted that the conversation also touched on these calls, yet he insisted that discussions about the Daniels payment occurred through Keith Schiller, Trump’s bodyguard.
The argument escalated when Blanche questioned the practicality of discussing both topics within a brief call lasting just one minute and 36 seconds. Cohen maintained his routine of promptly informing Trump about significant issues, noting, “I always ran everything by the boss immediately, and in this case it could have been just saying, ‘Everything’s been taken care of, it’s going to be resolved.’”
Blanche sharply countered, emphasizing the need for solid evidence over mere beliefs, “We are not asking for your belief,” he told Cohen. “This jury doesn’t want to hear what you think happened.”
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Rallying Support and Political Divides
Throughout the proceedings, Gaetz, along other prominent Trump supporters, has made his presence felt in the Manhattan courtroom, signaling strong solidarity with Trump. Their attendance highlights the trial’s high stakes and the deep political divides it has revealed.
As the trial continues, the testimonies of Cohen and other key witnesses are being meticulously examined, reflecting on Trump’s legacy and his future political prospects.
