NEW YORK — The “MVP” of lying, or the defendant’s “right hand man?” An ex-employee with an “ax to grind,” or Trump’s “consigliere?” It may be former President Trump sitting at the defense table, but in closing arguments Tuesday, his one-time fixer, Michael Cohen, was front and center at Trump’s hush money criminal trial. Attorneys mentioned Cohen’s name more than 150 times as they made their final pitches to the jury as to whether Trump should be convicted in the first criminal trial of a former U.S.
president. Closing arguments were still ongoing as of Tuesday evening, with the judge keeping the jury well past their normal dismissal time to finish summations in a single day. The jury’s deliberations are expected to begin on Wednesday after the judge delivers his final instructions, and how the 12 New Yorkers perceive Cohen’s credibility is expected to be a central issue.
A defense slide displayed during final summations plainly read: “Case Turns On Cohen.” Trump attorney Todd Blanche looked to portray Cohen as a serial liar, noting he has admitted to lying under oath and pleaded guilty to federal crimes. His closing argument echoed his days-long cross-examination of the state’s star witness.
Invoking professional sport legends Michael Jordan and Tom Brady, Blanche asked jurors if they had heard of the acronym “GOAT,” which means “greatest of all time.” “Michael Cohen is the GLOAT. He’s literally the greatest liar of all time,�.