Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) took aim at Michael Cohen outside a New York courtroom on Monday as former President Trump’s former counsel took the stand at his secret trial.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Vance attempted to diminish Cohen’s credibility as he began his testimony. Cohen, who made the $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 at the center of the case, is expected to be the prosecution’s star witness in the case.
“This guy is a convicted felon who admitted in his deposition that he secretly recorded his former employer, that he only did it once, supposedly, and that it was supposed to help Donald Trump. Does any reasonable, sensible person believe anything Michael Cohen says? I don’t think they should,” Vance he said.
“And I really think his testimony is going to hurt any reasonable juror, and I hope we get some of them,” he added.
Vance — a would-be Trump running mate — was joined by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (RN.Y.) in New York City to show support for the former president. Vance also criticized the gag order issued against Trump and criticized several other key players in the hush money case.
“Number one, what the president is prevented from saying, which is a disgrace, is that every single person involved in this prosecution is practically a democratic political agent,” Vance said.
Trump is under a gag order that prohibits him from insulting witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court staff or the judge’s family. That doesn’t stop him from talking about the judge overseeing the case or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D).
“Now look, whether you love Donald Trump, whether you like Donald Trump, whether you are a Democrat or don’t care about politics, what is happening inside that courtroom is a threat to American democracy,” Vance said.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot have a country where you can prosecute your political opponents instead of persuading voters.”
Vance also took to social media platform after attending the trial, saying he is “convinced that the main objective of this trial is psychological torture.”
Tuberville, who joined Vance and Malliotakis outside the courtroom, also described the courtroom as “depressing” in comments to reporters.
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to Cohen paying Daniels before the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied the case.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
