Lanny Davis: Ex-Michael Cohen attorney says 'there’s plenty of evidence' for jury to convict Donald Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: Lanny Davis, a former attorney to Michael Cohen, believes there is enough evidence for the jury to convict Donald Trump in the criminal hush money trial.

He dismissed concerns over Cohen’s reliability as the case heads to closing arguments and jury deliberations from Tuesday, May 28, in Manhattan, New York. 

Testimony and documents speak for themselves, says Lanny Davis 

Davis argued that the jury didn’t even need Cohen’s testimony to convict Trump but that the reimbursement bills were enough for the jury to conclude. 

“The testimony and the documents speak for themselves," Davis said on MSNBC. 

"In the testimony from Donald Trump’s adherence and loyalists, David Pecker, Hope Hicks testified that the money that Donald Trump directed Michael Cohen to give to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, to keep her quiet before the election” he added, according to The Hill. 

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents in the case which marks the first criminal trial of a sitting or former president.

Prosecutors claim Trump illegally covered up hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the weeks before the 2016 election to buy her silence over an alleged past affair, to impact elections, which he denies.

Allen Weisselberg's testimony is the key to determine Donald Trump's fate

Cohen’s testimony has come under criticism given his perjury for lying under oath. He is being questioned for reliability and accused of acting on his own to disburse hush money.

Davis, who represented Cohen in that case, said he instructed him to admit to lying in 2019. 

“In February 2019, I said, ‘Michael, the only way you’re going to be believed is to own your lies, and admit them on national television under oath before Congress,’ and that’s what he did,” Davis told the news station.

Davis argued that the “smoking gun” in the case is not Cohen’s testimony, but evidence from former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, who signed documents recording reimbursement payments from Trump to Cohen for keeping Daniels quiet.

“Documents speak for themselves. Believe your lying eyes is what’s going to happen in the jury room. They don’t have to use anything that Michael Cohen said,” he said.

Michael Cohen was paid back, alleged Lanny Davis 

Davis says all the jury has to do is believe Weisselberg’s documents and know they were "reimbursements that Michael Cohen was paid back," the money he gave to Daniels. 

He added, "And that’s enough for them to convict beyond a reasonable doubt without relying on Michael Cohen at all."

Even though not predicting the outcome of the case Davis called the claims against the former president, also the presumptive GOP nominee for the White House, an “impairment of our democracy.”

Trump could face as much as four years in prison as well as be named a felon.

“There’s plenty of evidence here for the jury to convict beyond a reasonable doubt,” Davis said, adding “But whatever happens, I will respect the jury’s verdict.”

Internet reacts to Lanny Davis' claim Donald Trump could be convicted 

"He didn't pay off anyone for a crime committed. He paid his lawyer who acted alone by all admissions," wrote an X user in support of Trump.

"Cohen was caught lying within his own testimony on the stand during this trial. This is a sham of a trial," the user added. 

"Democrat prosecutor. Democrat judge. Holding the Republican frontrunner. Keeping him off the campaign trail," wrote one more user, slamming the trial.

"Threatening him with imprisonment if he responds publicly to their allegations against him. This is how you rig an election. The 2024 presidential election has been rigged," the user added. 

"Without those documents he would’ve gotten away with it. Plus there was no “Legal Retainer” for all those payments confirmed by the witnesses," one X user noted. 

"Toss the traitor in jail already. He knows he's guilty. We know he's guilty and the jurors know he is guilty as charged," commented one on YouTube.

"I don't get why people keep using Trump's former status as president as a reason for him not to be jailed," wrote another. "No one is above the Law! Dump the Trump," wrote one more. 

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