'Time to pay the price': Michael Cohen slammed after Trump's lawyer gets him to admit he lied to Robert Mueller

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In the intense courtroom drama surrounding former Trump attorney Michael Cohen's testimony, it seems the line between truth and deception has been sharply drawn.

Over two days of testimony, Cohen was grilled about his past lies and the intricate web of deceit woven during his time working for Donald Trump. However, his struggles to admit to his own falsehoods have been a focal point.

Donald Trump's lawyer gets Michael Cohen to admit his lies

During cross-examination by Todd Blanche, Cohen's difficulty in categorizing his false statements became apparent. Despite acknowledging he was “untruthful” and that he was “inaccurate," Cohen hesitated to label his actions as outright lies.

It was only after persistent questioning that he finally conceded, stating, "I'll say it's a lie." The admission punctuated his acknowledgment of deceiving special counsel Robert Mueller's team, particularly regarding discussions about a Trump Tower project in Moscow, Politico reported.

Blanche's interrogation delved further into Cohen's selective memory regarding conversations with Trump and Hope Hicks about the infamous Access Hollywood tape. “I was being deceptive,” Cohen admitted. “I was trying to be protective. … I was trying to be loyal.”

Prosecutors, anticipating attacks on Cohen's credibility by Trump's legal team, confronted his history of falsehoods head-on.

Cohen's admission of lying to Congress about potential Russian ties during the 2016 campaign underscored the gravity of his deceit. His guilty plea in Mueller's investigation, particularly regarding the Moscow project, further cemented his culpability.

Under Susan Hoffinger's scrutiny, Cohen faced questions about his involvement in a hush money scheme involving Stormy Daniels and his denial of tax evasion during Trump's civil fraud trial. Claiming innocence in the latter, Cohen attributed his fabrications to "loyalty" and "in order to protect” Trump, the Associated Press reported.

The emotional toll of his legal battles and fallout with Trump was palpable as Cohen recounted the upheaval caused by FBI raids and subsequent guilty pleas. “How to describe your life being turned upside-down? Concerned. Despondent. Angry," he told Hoffinger.

Initially reassured by Trump and buoyed by ongoing legal support, Cohen claimed his eventual disillusionment stemmed from his family's intervention. “My family, my wife, my daughter, my son, all said to me: ‘Why are you holding onto this loyalty? What are you doing? We’re supposed to be your first loyalty,’” he told jurors.

Michael Cohen slammed following his testimony

However, Cohen's testimony faced quite a backlash on social media, with many deriding his perceived lack of credibility and attempts to deflect blame.

"Cohen is a 'lying dog-faced pony soldier'," one quipped on X.

"Seriously. You need to question Cohens sanity at this point. His stories are like mazes, and everything he’s done is someone else’s fault," another wrote.

"All he does is lie," a comment read.

"Get a grip, man! You're not a victim, you're a villain. You lied, you got caught, and now you're trying to blame everyone else for your own actions. The world is sick of your lies and your crocodile tears. It's time to face the music and own up to your mistakes. No more excuses, no more blame. You're a criminal, and it's time to pay the price," someone else fumed.

"I'm surprised Trump hasn't fallen out of his chair laughing at this clown's performance," another chimed in.

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