Internet weighs in as Michael Cohen testifies about Trump's 'sign-off' revealing ex-president's intimate role in hush money scheme

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Donald Trump's ex-fixer, Michael Cohen, took the witness stand on Monday, May 13, revealing striking details about how the former president was intimately involved in the hush money case.

Cohen, a star witness of the historic hush money trial, testified before the 12-panel jury that Trump personally approved the hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, according to the Associated Press.

The testimony of the former president's personal attorney, who turned into an adversary, had been eagerly awaited for weeks. This anticipation stemmed from the fact that the hush money payment to Daniels, which lies at the core of the case, was facilitated through him.

Michael Cohen testifies Trump 'signed-off' everything

"Everything required Mr. Trump's sign-off," Cohen testified in the court.

The former fixer also shared episodes of Trump's reaction to the impact of his affairs getting out during the 2016 presidential campaign.

"We need to stop this from getting out," Cohen quoted the real estate mogul who was anxious about his standing with the female voters if the Daniels story got out.

He also remembered Trump's response upon being informed about Playboy model Karen McDougal's allegation regarding an extramarital affair. According to his testimony, Trump messaged Cohen, saying, "Make sure it doesn't get released."

"What I was doing, I was doing at the direction of and benefit of Mr Trump," the former attorney said. 

McDougal was later paid $150,000 to hide the sex scandal after the GOP nominee received a "complete and total update on everything that transpired."

The testimony shed light on how Trump personally signed off on the payment to quash the negative stories, which could adversely affect his bid for the highest office.

Though Cohen's intimate knowledge of his client's activities that were allegedly directed at influencing the 2016 election made him a star witness, his history as a convict could pose a sizeable risk to the prosecution.

Cohen was sentenced to three years of imprisonment after pleading guilty in 2018 to violating campaign finance laws by making the hush money payments.

Trump faces 34 counts for falsifying business records to cover up the payment to Daniels during the final days of his 2016 campaign. Cohen paid the money, and the ex-president later reimbursed it, naming it legal fees.

Internet reacts to Michael Cohen's testimony in Trump's hush money case

Weighing in on Cohen's testimony of Trump personally signing off the hush money payments, netizens sided with the ex-president. They said it was not legal and pointed at Cohen's history of lying under oath.

One user wrote, "Still not illegal." Another asked, "And it was a crime for Trump to 'sign off?'"

"And yet no sign-off proof. No text, no voicemail, no call, no signature. Zip Zero Nada," a user added. A response read, "Is prosecutor Susan going to tell us what the crime was? All this wasted time with this show trial and they still haven’t told us.."

Another person argued, "Did Michael Cohen tell Trump that this would violate campaign finance laws? No."

Someone else wrote, "So.. where’s the sign off from Trump. And why he say this before. He’s a freaking liar.." [sic]

"Except Cohen is a convicted liar so nothing he says can be taken a face value," an individual chimed in. [sic]

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