Michael Cohen says he is “not surprised” that former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony charges as the 45th president became the first commander-in-chief to be criminally convicted on Thursday.
In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America” on Friday morning, Cohen said that his 21 hours on the stand during the trial was incredibly tough.
“Whether it was on direct or on cross-examination, the whole thing was very tough,” Cohen said. “It was emotionally draining. You have to be perfect. I knew that any mistake that I made would … become the topic of conversation that would just explode. And so I really just needed to stay focused. It wasn’t easy with Todd Blanche. He’s a meanderer as it goes to questioning.”
Cohen also told Stephanopoulos that he was done lying and takes full responsibility for his role in the case.
FILE PHOTO: Former attorney for former U.S. President Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, speaks to the press after attending the Trump Organization civil fraud trial, outside New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., October 25, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
Mike Segar/Reuters
“I want people to also remember, I take responsibility for what I did … I shouldn’t have done it,” Cohen said. “I don’t ignore my responsibility. I accepted it and in part went to prison for it.”
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The former president pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing. After the verdict was read, Trump railed against the judge, and called the trial “rigged [and] disgraceful.”
It took the jury 10 hours to come to their decision on Thursday and sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention.
“The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5, by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here,” Trump said after exiting the courtroom following his conviction.
After a prolonged wait, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen has finally commented on the guilty verdict handed down to his former boss, Donald Trump. Cohen, who has been cooperating with federal investigators for several months, expressed little surprise at the outcome of the trial.
In a statement released through his attorney, Cohen stated, “I have been saying for years that Donald Trump is a criminal and a fraud. Today’s guilty verdict only confirms what I have been saying all along.” Cohen went on to express his hope that justice would finally be served and that Trump would be held accountable for his actions.
The guilty verdict comes after a lengthy investigation into Trump’s business dealings and alleged ties to Russia. The trial, which lasted several weeks, saw numerous witnesses testify against the former president, including several former associates and business partners.
Cohen’s comments are just the latest in a long line of criticisms he has leveled against Trump since breaking ties with him in 2018. In recent months, Cohen has become increasingly vocal in his condemnation of the former president, accusing him of a wide range of crimes and unethical behavior.
While Trump has denied any wrongdoing and continues to maintain his innocence, the guilty verdict is sure to have far-reaching implications for his future. With the possibility of further legal action looming, it remains to be seen what the fallout from this trial will be for the former president.
In the meantime, Michael Cohen’s comments serve as a stark reminder of the tumultuous relationship between him and Trump, and the ongoing legal battles that continue to plague the former president. As the dust settles on this latest chapter in the saga of Donald Trump, one thing is clear: the repercussions of this guilty verdict will be felt for years to come.
