May 20, 2024 - 12:29
By cnbc.com

Trump trial heads into home stretch as Michael Cohen returns for hush money testimony

Michael Cohen, the former lawyer and fixer for Donald Trump, resumes testimony under cross-examination at the hush money trial for the ex-president.
Trump's trial may soon be in sight but a big question is whether he will take the witness stand in a New York courtroom.
The Republican is charged with falsifying business records related to reimbursing Cohen for a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

The end of the criminal hush money trial of Donald Trump may soon be in sight, as testimony from his one-time personal lawyer Michael Cohen resumes Monday. Now, one big question looms over a New York courtroom: Will the former president take the witness stand?

Cohen is a key witness against Trump, and prosecutors have already said he will be their last witness in the trial. Trump's lawyers are expected to wrap up his cross-examination Monday.

Trump's attorneys hedged last week when asked by Judge Juan Merchan if they would call any defense witnesses at all to testify in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Trump told a reporter last month, "I would testify, absolutely."

But doing so would carry major risks for Trump, including the danger of being angered and rattled by cross-examination by prosecutors, and giving an answer that supports their case.