Former president Donald Trump’s trial key witness, Michael Cohen, testified on Monday, admitting that he stole millions of dollars from the company of his ex-boss.
The Republican candidate’s former lawyer told jurors that he stole from the Trump Organization after his 2016 holiday bonus was reduced to $50,000 from $150,000 which he usually received, BBC reported.
In addition, Cohen claimed to have paid $50,000 to a tech firm for artificially increasing Trump’s standing in a CNBC online poll about businessmen's wealth. Cohen admitted that he gave the firm only $20,000 in cash, but he sought full reimbursement for it.
The first-ever criminal trial of a former United States president seems to be coming to an end after weeks of relentless court hearings.
The closing statements are expected to take place next week.
Trump is facing 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to cover secret payments made to adult star Stormy Daniels to hide their secret affair before the 2016 US presidential elections.
After Cohen’s admission, Trump's lead defence lawyer Todd Blanche told Justice Juan Merchan to throw out the case.
He said: "Without Mr Cohen, there is no case, and he not only lied repeatedly in the past under oath, but he lied in this courtroom."