Michael Cohen

He also ruled that potential witness and former FEC member Bradley Smith will not be allowed to give his opinion on the case or on federal election law.

Robert Costello tells a congressional panel that the former president had nothing to do with Mr. Cohen’s plan to pay ‘hush money’ to Stormy Daniels.

Mr. Cohen detailed his involvement in buying potential tabloid stories, which led to the 34 counts of falsifying business records at the core of the trial.

‘The 34 counts, ladies and gentlemen, are really just pieces of paper,’ the former president’s attorney said of the indictment. ‘None of this was a crime.’

Justice Juan Merchan recently issued several rulings as the April 15 trial date is fast approaching, and defense attorneys appear to be appealing each one.

The judge cited ‘Cohen’s ongoing and escalating efforts to walk away from his prior acceptance of responsibility for his crimes’ in his decision.

But his bid to prevent testimony from Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels was rejected by judge.

Former President Donald Trump and his legal team derided the case as ‘election interference.’

Mr. Cohen filed his civil action against former President Donald Trump in December 2021.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ordered lawyer David M. Scwartz to provide copies of cited case law or explain why he should not be sanctioned.