Donald Trump’s Attorneys Go After ‘Obsessed’ Michael Cohen

Trump attorney Todd Blanche questioned former Trump fixer Michael Cohen about his previous loyalty to former President Donald Trump during Tuesday’s cross-examination, portraying Cohen as “obsessed” with his former boss.

After asking Cohen if he admired Trump and saw parts of himself in the former president, Blanche asked the witness, “You were actually obsessed with President Trump, weren’t you?”

In response, Cohen answered, “I don’t know if I would characterize the word ‘obsessed’. I admired him tremendously.”

Cohen, the star witness in the hush money case, has offered testimony over the last two days, detailing his previous allegiance to Trump, the payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, the reimbursement he allegedly received and the downfall of his relationship with Trump. After Tuesday’s lunch break, the defense began their cross.

Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to the money that was paid to Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty and has denied Daniels’ claims that the two had a sexual encounter.

Trump and Cohen have had a long history that dates back to 2006 when the two were introduced by Trump’s oldest son, Don Jr. From there, Cohen quickly became a self-described “fixer” for Trump who went to great lengths to show allegiance to his boss. Those efforts included the hush money payment that is central to this case.

Blanche asked Cohen on Tuesday if he enjoyed working for Trump, to which Cohen answered, “Very much so.” He testified that he had read The Art of the Deal twice and admitted to calling the book “a masterpiece.”

Blanche then asked Cohen about the positive comments he made about his former boss in 2016, questioning if those statements were true.

In response, Cohen said, “At that time, I was knee-deep into the cult of Donald Trump.”

Pressed about his remarks describing Trump as “generous” and “compassionate” among other words, Cohen said, “That’s how I felt, so it was the truth.”

During direct examination, Cohen told the court that he regretted doing things for Trump that he “shouldn’t have” but that he didn’t regret working for the Trump Organization.

“As I expressed before, some very interesting, great times,” Cohen reflected. “But to keep the loyalty and to do the things that he had asked me to do, I violated my moral compass and I suffered the penalty, as did my family.”

Blanche kicked off Cohen’s cross-examination by confronting the witness about a comment Cohen had made referring to him as a “crying little s***.”

Cohen said, “That sounds like something I would say.”

Throughout his cross-examination, Cohen presented an aloof demeanor and offered evasive answers that often frustrated Blanche. The two men sparred over semantics as Cohen repeatedly said “probably” before his answers, which pushed Blanche to question whether Cohen doubted his own responses.

Cohen will return to the stand for the rest of his cross-examination on Thursday when the trial resumes.