Michael Cohen Begins Testifying Monday. Has Trump Started Biting His Fingernails Yet?

Anticipation continues to build regarding Michael Cohen’s testimony, scheduled to begin on Monday. Donald Trump’s former attorney/fixer has undoubtedly stirred up some of that anticipation since he has been steadily trolling his former boss on social media for weeks. So much so, in fact, that this has led Judge Juan Merchan to warn prosecutors to tell Cohen to knock it off with the taunts and jabs at Trump ahead of his testimony in the hush-money case, The Associated Press reports.

And Cohen has already agreed to acquiesce to the judge’s demands.

“despite not being the gagged defendant, out of respect for judge merchan and the prosecutors, i will cease posting anything about donald on my x (formerly Twitter) account or on the mea culpa podcast until after my trial testimony. See you all in a month (or more). #TeamCohen.”

Despite not being the gagged defendant, out of respect for Judge Merchan and the prosecutors, I will cease posting anything about Donald on my X (formerly Twitter) account or on the Mea Culpa Podcast until after my trial testimony. See you all in a month (or more). #TeamCohen pic.twitter.com/fzuQAffQRm

— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) April 24, 2024

Of course, Cohen had been firing tweets at his former boss that definitely stirred up social media users, especially this one:

Hey Von ShitzInPantz…your attacks of me stink of desperation. We are all hoping that you take the stand in your defense. pic.twitter.com/FVsWbRnNkB

— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) April 22, 2024

That post has received over 3,000 responses and has been viewed at least 1.4 million times.

It’s understandable that Cohen has been mocking his former boss since he spent nearly three years in prison, with much of that being home detention due to the pandemic after being sentenced for campaign finance violations and other crimes, the AP reports here. Trump threw him under the bus, after all.

Perhaps Cohen’s testimony could be considered a coda to the dramatic and seamy testimony provided by Stormy Daniels earlier this week as she recounted her alleged tryst with the former president in 2006.

Trump still denies ever having sex with Daniels because that’s typical behavior for him. He’s pure as the driven snow, right?

Prosecutors have definitely been careful in building their case ahead of crucial testimony by Cohen, who arranged the $130,000 payout to Daniels to keep her from going public prior to the 2016 election. And Cohen’s testimony should have Trump biting his fingernails because everything up to this point in the hush-money trial will be tied together by the time Cohen concludes his time on the stand. It’s the lynchpin of this case.

Judge Merchan’s warning is a clear indication of just how powerful Cohen’s testimony may be. Cohen is definitely the biggest fish in this trial as the prosecution’s key witness, and he’s also the most complicated. Formerly one of Trump’s most loyal cronies, he turned a corner after pleading guilty to federal charges and is now one of his most vociferous enemies, routinely attacking Trump on social media.

I’m sure Trump’s attorneys will cast aspersions and try to argue that Cohen, who is now disbarred is gunning for his former boss after serving time in prison. I think it can be safely assumed they will try to say Cohen shouldn’t be believed.

The AP reports that two unnamed sources said Cohen is expected to begin testifying on Monday. Trump did a lot of sweating and was in a feisty mood when Daniels testified and I’m sure he’ll be in an even worse mood when the former attorney testifies.

The former president’s attorneys complained earlier this week after Cohen appeared in a social media video wearing a shirt that depicted a figure resembling Trump behind bars. The attorneys argue it’s unfair that Trump has to obey a gag order that doesn’t allow him to speak publicly about witnesses (even though he’s been doing it anyway) but Cohen is free to lambast Trump.

“It’s becoming a problem every single day that president trump is not allowed to continue to talk,” said defense attorney Todd Blanche.

Trump being Trump, as he stood outside the courtroom he used a few carefully couched words that addressed the allegations centering around the case, and of course, this was about his allegedly falsifying his company records to deep-six the hush money reimbursements to Cohen. Trump’s lawyers have been trying to portray the entries in the ledger that forms the centerpiece to this trial as nothing more than pro forma actions performed by a Trump Organization employee.

“a very good bookkeeper marked a legal expense as a legal expense,” Trump said. “he was a lawyer, not a fixer,” an obvious reference to Cohen.

I think this is as close to fingernail-biting time as it can get for Trump. Cohen’s testimony is going to open plenty of doors that have long been closed. Things are going to get explosive. And of course, there’s a chance that Trump may still skate, but that scenario seems to grow darker by the day.

I’m looking forward to Monday, aren’t you?

Support the site with a subscription today and see no more ads!

Go Ad-free Now!