Former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York resumes on Friday, and a key witness in the case, his former lawyer Michael Cohen, is expected to testify on Monday.
Cohen's testimony indicates that the prosecution is reaching the final stretch of its case, almost a month after this trial began. He is expected to testify that Trump understood that records related to the reimbursement checks to Cohen would be falsified to cover up the fact that they were tied to the purchase of the Stormy Daniels story.
This week's testimony oscillated between sex and accounting. A furious back-and-forth between prosecutors and Trump's lawyers concluded Thursday, as they dueled with the adult film star. Stormy Daniels in the stands for the second day.
The defense accused her of “making up” the details of an alleged 2006 sexual encounter between her and Trump. Daniels kept his account.
prosecutors testimony obtained which included both graphic descriptions of the encounter and details about the hotel suite where Daniels said it happened.
Trump's lawyers also accused Daniels of using the story to generate personal income and fame, which she denied. Daniels was paid $130,000 for the rights to his story from former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen days before the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors have charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to alleged reimbursements to Cohen for the payment. Trump has entered a plea of not guilty and denies having a sexual encounter with Daniels.
After Daniels finished testifying Thursday, prosecutors called a Trump Organization accountant and a former White House executive assistant. These witnesses were used to present evidence showing how Trump personally signed his checks, sent by Trump Organization staff to the White House, while he was president.
Prosecutors have not said who they will call Friday after former White House aide Madeleine Westerhout concludes her testimony.
