Michael Cohen keeps posting bizarre TikToks, despite ‘repeated’ pleas from prosecutors ahead of testimony in Trump hush money case

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the ongoing legal case involving former U.S. President Donald Trump and his former lawyer Michael Cohen. It focuses on Cohen's recent social media activity, including a livestream showing Trump behind bars, despite prosecutors' requests for him to stay quiet about the case. The article also covers the tensions between Trump's lawyers and prosecutors over Cohen's public statements, as well as details about the hush money payment case and the potential defense case.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Michael Cohen's Social Media Activity

1. What has Michael Cohen been doing on social media related to the case?

• Cohen has been posting "bizarre TikToks", including a livestream that showed Donald Trump behind bars.
• Cohen wore a white T-shirt with a picture of President Trump behind bars during the livestream.

2. How have prosecutors responded to Cohen's social media activity?

• Prosecutors have "repeatedly pleaded" with Cohen to stay quiet about the hush money case, but he has continued to speak out about it anyway.
• Prosecutors admitted they have "repeatedly, repeatedly asked the witnesses not to" make public statements about the case, but they have no legal remedy to stop Cohen from doing so.

3. What action did the judge take in response to Cohen's social media activity?

• At Trump's lawyers' request, the judge directed prosecutors to "communicate to Mr. Cohen — yet again — that the judge is asking him to refrain from making any more statements about this case" or about Trump.

[02] Tensions Between Trump's Lawyers and Prosecutors

1. What is the main issue between Trump's lawyers and the prosecutors?

• Trump's lawyers are upset that Cohen is allowed to publicly comment on the case, while Trump himself is barred by the court's gag order from bashing Cohen or the jury.
• Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche said "it's becoming a problem every single day that President Trump is not allowed to respond to this witness, but this witness has continued to talk."

2. How did the prosecutors respond to the request to expand the gag order?

• Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said the witnesses, including Cohen, are "not subject to the gag order and we have no remedy if they engage in those activities."

[03] Details of the Hush Money Case

1. What is the key allegation regarding the hush money payment?

• Cohen is expected to testify about his role in paying $130,000 in hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, allegedly at Trump's behest, to silence her story about having sex with Trump.

2. What is the background of Cohen's involvement in the hush money payment?

• Cohen has done prison time for a campaign finance crime based on the same hush money payment.
• Cohen worked as one of Trump's closest advisors and personal attorney for 12 years.

3. How did Trump's stance on Cohen change over time?

• In 2018, Trump initially defended Cohen as a "fine person with a wonderful family" that he "always liked & respected."
• However, after Cohen pleaded guilty to a federal campaign finance crime for his role in the hush money scheme, Trump wrote on Twitter that if anyone is looking for a good lawyer, they should "not retain the services of Michael Cohen!"